Chapter 25: The Noose Tightens

Jihan stood still, his pulse steady despite the danger. The door behind him had locked with a heavy click, and the voice over the speaker carried a casual menace.

"I have to admit, you've got guts walking into my den."

Jihan didn't respond immediately. Instead, his eyes flicked around the office. Where was the camera? The microphone? His fingers itched to move, but he knew better than to act rashly.

"You're Vega," Jihan said finally, testing the waters.

A low chuckle. "I don't give out my name that easily, kid. But I do know yours. Jihan, the boy who thinks he can play with the big leagues."

Jihan rolled his shoulders, keeping his stance relaxed. "You put a bounty on me. That's a declaration of war."

"You declared war the moment you touched my Syndicate," Vega said smoothly. "Did you really think no one was watching?"

Jihan's mind raced. How much did they know? He had taken down Syndicate leaders, dismantled their operations, but if Vega was talking like this… Had they known all along?

He needed to turn the conversation in his favor.

"Your Syndicate was weak," Jihan taunted. "That's why they lost. If they were truly under Black Crown, they should've been stronger."

A beat of silence.

Then: "Interesting."

A Game of Predators

Jihan heard the faintest sound—movement behind the walls. They were coming.

His eyes flicked to the desk, the computer screen still open. Could he pull more information before they arrived?

Vega's voice returned, amused. "You think fast. But let me ask you this—what's your endgame?"

Jihan exhaled sharply, keeping his expression unreadable. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

A soft chuckle. "See, that's the problem. You're not scared."

The lights flickered. A signal.

Jihan knew what was coming.

The Ambush

The door burst open.

Two men. Armed. One with a stun baton, the other a suppressed pistol.

Jihan moved first.

He lunged forward, grabbing the gunman's wrist before the trigger could be pulled. A sharp twist—CRACK—and the man screamed as his wrist snapped. The gun fell, and Jihan caught it in the same motion.

BZZT! The stun baton came next. Jihan pivoted, sidestepping the strike and driving his knee into the attacker's stomach. The man doubled over, and Jihan brought the pistol down onto the back of his skull. One down.

The first man, still groaning from his broken wrist, reached for a knife. Jihan didn't give him the chance—he fired a single, silent shot into his thigh.

He collapsed.

Jihan exhaled, stepping over the bodies. That was too easy.

He grabbed the laptop, shoving it into his bag. He needed to move.

Escape and Pursuit

As he exited the office, alarms blared through the club. They knew.

Guards rushed in from every corner. Jihan didn't hesitate.

He vaulted over the VIP railing, landing amidst the startled crowd below. Panic spread as people screamed and ran.

Security was closing in, but Jihan was already ahead. He grabbed a bottle from the bar, smashing it against a guard's head before slipping past the chaos.

A side exit—his way out.

Then he heard it.

A voice over the loudspeakers.

"Catch him. Alive."

Jihan's eyes narrowed. Vega wanted him alive?

That changed things.

The Gauntlet

Jihan sprinted down the hallway, heart pounding. He heard the thunderous boots of guards closing in behind him. Six men. Maybe more.

A flash of movement—one of them fired. Jihan threw himself forward, rolling as the bullet whizzed past his ear, shattering a nearby mirror. Glass rained down, but he didn't slow down.

A narrow corridor came into view. He spotted a fire extinguisher mounted to the wall. Perfect.

As he ran past, he grabbed it and hurled it behind him with full force.

BANG! A shot hit the metal, releasing a thick white cloud. The guards cursed as they were blinded by the sudden explosion of foam.

Jihan didn't wait to see the aftermath. He dashed forward, bursting through the emergency exit door.

The Rooftop Showdown

Fresh air hit his face as he emerged onto the rooftop. The city lights stretched below him, but his victory was short-lived.

More men were waiting.

At least four figures stood between him and the rooftop's edge. One of them—a massive enforcer with knuckles like steel—stepped forward, cracking his fingers.

Jihan sighed. They just wouldn't stop coming.

Steel Knuckles grinned. "You made a mistake coming here, kid."

Jihan cracked his neck. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."

The enforcer rushed him.

Jihan sidestepped the first swing, barely dodging the sheer force of it. The air whistled as the fist passed his face.

He retaliated with a sharp elbow to the ribs, but it barely made the big guy flinch. Damn.

Another fist came flying—Jihan ducked just in time. The impact dented the rooftop railing.

He needed to be smarter.

Jihan suddenly rushed forward, surprising his opponent. The enforcer raised his arms to block, but Jihan dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him.

Steel Knuckles crashed onto the rooftop with a grunt.

Jihan didn't waste time. He grabbed a loose metal pipe nearby and swung it with full force.

CRACK! The enforcer's head slammed against the ground, and he went limp.

The remaining men hesitated.

Jihan smirked. "Who's next?"

They didn't get a chance to answer. A helicopter's spotlight suddenly flooded the rooftop.

A voice echoed from the speakers.

"Stand down, Jihan. We have questions for you."

Jihan narrowed his eyes as he recognized the insignia on the side of the helicopter.

It wasn't the Black Crown.

It was something worse.

New Mission Unlocked: Vega's Interest

Objective: Escape the Red Serpent. Learn why Vega wants you alive.

Jihan grinned despite himself. This was getting interesting.