The Devil's Smile

The corpse lay at Kaito's feet, its head tilted at an unnatural angle, lifeless eyes staring into nothingness. His heartbeat had steadied, but his grip on the bloodied dagger remained firm. He had seen this coming—Wu-Jin wasn't done with him, and neither was Shen Mu.

A soft knock echoed through the dimly lit room, making Kaito's fingers tighten around the weapon. The door creaked open, revealing Shen Mu, grinning as if this was all some grand joke. "You're still alive," he said, voice light, amused.

Kaito didn't lower the dagger. "You sound disappointed."

Shen Mu chuckled, stepping inside with no regard for the corpse on the floor. "Not at all. In fact, I'm quite impressed." His gaze flickered down to the dead man. "Though I must say, your guest doesn't look too well."

Kaito exhaled. "Why are you here?"

Shen Mu leaned against the wall, watching him with the ease of a man who had never feared death. "Curiosity, mostly. And… I wanted to see if Wu-Jin's new toy had broken yet."

Kaito's jaw clenched. "I'm no one's toy."

A wicked grin spread across Shen Mu's face. "Oh, I know. That's why this is fun."

A Dangerous Offer

Shen Mu's eyes gleamed with something unreadable, but Kaito didn't trust it—not yet. The man was dangerous, far too comfortable in the presence of blood. There was always an angle with him, and Kaito wasn't about to be played like a fool.

Then, Shen Mu tilted his head slightly and spoke in a tone far too casual for the weight of his words. "Tell me, Jin Tae-Hyun… do you want to kill Wu-Jin?"

Kaito didn't flinch, but his mind sharpened instantly. A test. A trap. Or something worse. "Why?" he asked, his voice unreadable.

Shen Mu's smirk widened. "Because I do."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken calculations. Kaito didn't answer, just watched. Shen Mu took that as an invitation to continue. "I see the way you look at him. Like you're holding back a blade." He stepped forward, his presence pressing, suffocating. "And what if I told you I could make that happen?"

Kaito exhaled, his grip on the dagger steady but not hostile. "And what do you get out of this?"

Shen Mu chuckled. "Oh, I don't do things for free, Tae-Hyun. But let's just say… my reasons are personal."

Kaito didn't believe that for a second. But the idea of Wu-Jin dead? That was tempting.

A Moment of Truth

Shen Mu's grin didn't falter as he extended his hand, an offer of something that could either be salvation or damnation. "Join me, Jin Tae-Hyun."

Kaito didn't move. "Join you in what?"

"In killing the devil himself."

A slow exhale left Kaito's lips as he studied the man before him. This wasn't just a proposition—it was a gamble, and one wrong move could cost him everything. He didn't trust Shen Mu, not fully, but he knew one thing for certain. Wu-Jin wouldn't let him walk away from this unscathed. The only question was—would he take the risk now, or wait for a better opening?

Shen Mu's eyes glinted, amusement flickering across his face as if he already knew the answer. "Think about it," he said, turning to leave. "But don't take too long. Wu-Jin doesn't like loose ends."

Kaito remained still, listening to Shen Mu's footsteps fade into the night. He glanced down at the dead assassin at his feet, a grim reminder of what hesitation could cost. His path was narrowing, and sooner or later, he'd have to make a choice.

And this time, there would be no turning back.