Missions (Part 8)

The Life of Aurelius Valemont: Missions (Part 8)

The final bell rang, and the classroom slowly emptied with the usual mix of chatter and dragging footsteps. I stood up, slinging my bag over one shoulder, ready to head out when a hand tapped my shoulder.

"Let's go to the basketball court. Now," Seojin said, his voice low but firm, eyes unreadable.

I gave him a slight nod. There was something in his tone—controlled, intentional. He wasn't asking. He was leading me into something.

But before we could step out of the classroom, Minjun's voice cut through from behind us. "Don't you think you have some practice to do, Jaewon?"

I turned slightly, trying not to let my face betray anything.

He approached, casual but alert. "I'll go with you both," he added. He looked at Seojin, and they exchanged a brief, silent nod—as if something unspoken had already been agreed upon.

Strange.

The three of us made our way down the corridor and out to the open basketball court. The air was crisp, the golden light of late afternoon stretching across the painted lines of the court. There were no other students around—conveniently quiet.

Seojin picked up a basketball from the rack and spun it once on his finger before tossing it toward me. "Show us what you've got today, Jaewon."

I caught it cleanly and smirked a little. "Sure."

We moved into a casual 3-man drill. I bounced the ball between them, testing the waters, before dribbling in and taking a clean jump shot. It hit the rim and bounced in. Another shot, smoother. Another, straight through the net. I'd been practicing—more than enough to match Seojin now.

He raised an eyebrow. "You've improved," he said, catching the ball. "A lot."

I shrugged lightly. "Guess I finally stopped skipping my morning drills."

Minjun crossed his arms, watching me closely. "You always this athletic back in Canada?"

I blinked. "Huh?"

He repeated, slow and deliberate, "You said you're Korean, but from Canada, right? When did you move back again?"

"Oh," I said casually, pretending to dribble idly with one hand. "We moved a year ago. My parents thought I needed to… get in touch with my roots."

Seojin narrowed his eyes slightly. "You were homeschooled?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Because of my condition. Nothing serious now, but I was pretty weak when I was younger."

They didn't say anything for a few seconds.

Then Seojin passed the ball back to me. "And what condition was that?"

I let out a short laugh and rubbed the back of my neck like it was something awkward. "Ah, do I have to get into that? Just some autoimmune stuff. Not the most glamorous backstory."

Minjun still stared. "Must've been hard… being isolated like that."

I looked down at the ball. "Yeah. But I got used to it."

He stepped closer. "And yet here you are—ace student, rising idol, star athlete." He tilted his head. "Some recovery."

I gave him a playful grin. "What can I say? Korea's air is better for me."

They both stared at me. Two predators circling.

I didn't flinch. I smiled and casually shot the ball again—swish.

Seojin leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Jaewon… or whatever your name really is..."

I glanced at him, still smiling. "You're overthinking it."

Minjun watched me one last time before saying, "If you're lying… we'll find out eventually."

I just laughed, walking toward the bench and grabbing my bag. "Then I guess I'll have to stay interesting enough to keep you both guessing."

As I walked off the court, I could feel their eyes still on me.

This mission… was getting personal.

"So… Jaewon, right?" Minjun said, his tone light, but his gaze sharp as he dribbled the basketball once and smoothly shot it toward the hoop. The ball sailed through the air and hit the rim—clean. It bounced once before Seojin caught it effortlessly.

Seojin turned to me, spinning the ball in his hand as he stepped closer. "What's your English name?" he asked casually, but there was a certain edge in his voice, and those calculating eyes didn't blink. "If you're from Canada, you'd have one, right?"

I didn't flinch. I let out a soft chuckle, brushing imaginary dust off my jacket as I leaned against the pole. "It's John Lee," I answered smoothly, offering a gentle smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Simple and easy to remember."

Seojin passed the ball back to Minjun without looking away from me. "Right, John," he echoed, voice slow and deliberate.

Minjun caught the ball, but neither of them moved. They were still watching me, looking for cracks.

But my smile held. Calm. Friendly. Harmless.

Even if everything about me was a lie.

Hours passed, and the three of us eventually collapsed onto one of the benches near the court, catching our breath. I wasn't actually tired—at least not compared to Father's brutal training sessions back at the estate—but I made sure to fake a few heavy breaths to keep up the act.

Minjun suddenly pulled out his phone as it buzzed. His relaxed posture stiffened as he read the message, his brows furrowing. "Jaewon," he said, his tone flat and serious. "Grandfather—the principal—wants to see you in his office."

I blinked. My eyes narrowed slightly. Why now? Did Chan-Woo Gong finally discover my true identity?

Before I could respond, Seojin let out a snort. "What did you do? Bully someone or something?" he asked, grinning as he tossed his towel over his shoulder.

I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. "Not that I know of."

Then Seojin straightened and gave my shoulder a light pat. "Well, I'm coming with you."

Minjun nodded in agreement. "Me too."

I let out a soft chuckle—not genuine, but believable enough. "Guess I won't be going in alone then," I said, standing up with them.

Still, my mind was racing. What is Chan-Woo Gong planning?

It was strange—no, suspicious—that a "normal" principal would summon a student to his office at 5 p.m. The school was nearly empty, the halls echoing with every step. Only the three of us—or maybe four, if you count whoever else was lurking—remained.

As we walked down the corridor, I felt it. Trained eyes on me. Not just one or two—dozens. Maybe hundreds. Watching. Tracking. Every movement. Minjun and Seojin flanked me like guards, their expressions unreadable. Their silence was heavy, almost rehearsed.

We arrived.

The principal's office door stood open, the soft ticking of the clock inside sounding louder than it should. There, sitting comfortably behind the desk, was Chan-Woo Gong.

Father's former second-in-command.

He had escaped my father's hand years ago. And anyone who escaped the devil's grip and lived to tell the tale wasn't just lucky—they were dangerous.

I clenched my fist subtly. Something wasn't right. Not just the quiet hallways. Not just the stares. I could feel it—outside the building, beyond these walls. Dozens, no… hundreds. My senses weren't wrong. Something big was planned.

Chan-Woo Gong leaned back in his chair, eyes sharp, smile faint. "Lee Jaewon…" he repeated slowly. "Age eighteen. Born and raised in Canada. Homeschooled because of an illness, huh?"

He smirked.

I sighed, relaxing my shoulders and raising my hands in mock surrender. "Did I do something wrong, sir principal?"

Minjun and Seojin silently took their seats on the leather sofa, their eyes on me—but there was no surprise in them. Just calm calculation.

Chan-Woo chuckled softly. "No. But… you've grown tall." He eyed me up and down. "How tall are you now, 'Jaewon'?"

I kept my voice smooth and composed. "Six foot four, sir."

His chuckle deepened. Minjun smirked, and Seojin simply crossed his arms.

"I know, I know. You've really grown up… Aurelius."

There it was.

I dropped the act with a quiet sigh, lowering my hands and giving a small shrug. "Looks like you know me well, Chan-Woo Gong."

Neither Minjun nor Seojin flinched. No shock. Just… confirmation. They'd known all along.

Chan-Woo leaned forward, elbows on his desk. "May I ask you to remove your mask, 'Lee Jaewon'?"

I reached into my eyes and took out the brown contact lenses, blinking as my natural deep blue returned. "I'm not wearing a mask," I said casually. "Just dyed my hair and switched my eye color."

His expression turned cold. "You look exactly like him."

I knew who he meant.

"Victor Valemont," he continued. "Same eyes… same height. Let me guess—your hair's raven black underneath?"

I nodded slightly. "Correct. You really are his second-in-command."

He laughed—half amused, half hollow. Then, silence.

Finally, he spoke again, his tone darker. "So. What brings you here, Aurelius? Was that you who took the documents from my daughter-in-law's vault?"

I held his gaze, unwavering. His question wasn't a guess—it was a confirmation. He already knew.

"What if I did?" I replied calmly, taking a seat across from him without invitation. "Would you call it theft, or just… reclamation?"

Minjun raised a brow, arms resting along the back of the sofa, his body relaxed—but his eyes sharp. Seojin remained quiet beside him, one leg crossed over the other, chin resting on his hand, watching me like a detective studying a suspect he couldn't quite figure out.

Chan-Woo Gong leaned forward, the amusement from earlier wiped clean. "Reclamation? Interesting word choice. You stole highly confidential documents from a classified vault. You breached multiple security systems—ones I personally designed."

"Correction," I said with a small, effortless smile. "I walked through them."

His fingers tapped lightly on the wooden desk. "Why?"

"To know the truth," I answered without blinking. "Truth your daughter-in-law helped cover. The same truth your organization buried beneath polished floors and smiling politicians."

Minjun exhaled through his nose, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "You're bold for someone who's surrounded."

Seojin added, voice low, "You know you're outnumbered. Why walk straight into the lion's den?"

"I've been living among wolves all my life," I said, shifting my eyes between them. "One more den doesn't scare me."

Chan-Woo Gong chuckled dryly. "Still as sharp as I remembered." Then he paused. "So, what's the real reason you came here? It's not just to dance, sing, and play basketball. You're here for something else—something deeper."

I smiled, folding my arms. "Maybe I just missed Korea." which that was a lie.

"Maybe," he said, eyes narrowing. "But maybe not. You're your father's son. And I know that man well enough to know… his son doesn't do anything without purpose."

I stood slowly, walking toward the window behind him, glancing at the school grounds—the shadows of men stationed, positioned, hidden but visible to me.

"I'm not him," I said quietly. "But I know what he's done. What you've done. And one by one, I'm going to tear down every lie he built—including the ones you helped forge."

He didn't react. But his silence was telling.

"Careful, Aurelius," he finally said. "This country still plays by old rules. And the ghosts of the past don't rest easy."

I turned back to him. "Then I'll wake them up."

Chan-Woo Gong leaned back, his fingers laced together across his lap, the playful smirk returning—but colder this time. "You know, I could have you locked away. Erased. No questions asked. All it would take is a word."

"Then say it," I challenged, meeting his gaze. "Let's see what happens."

A flicker of irritation passed through his eyes, just for a second—but it was there.

Instead, he chuckled again and leaned forward. "Or... you could work with me."

I raised an eyebrow. "Work with you?"

Minjun straightened slightly on the couch. "Grandfather."

But Chan-Woo Gong held up a hand to silence him, his eyes locked on mine. "Listen to me, Aurelius. You're smart. Dangerous. A perfect weapon if pointed in the right direction. I know who your father was—but I also know who you are. And believe it or not, I don't want to see you die."

I said nothing, arms crossed, listening.

"You've already infiltrated this school, this system. You've retrieved the vault files. That tells me you're three steps ahead. But being ahead doesn't make you invincible. What you don't know is that there are people watching even higher than me—people who'll burn you alive the moment they feel threatened."

"I'm used to fire," I said coolly.

Seojin finally spoke, arms still crossed, eyes narrowing. "What if you're wrong, Gong? What if he doesn't burn like the rest?"

Chan-Woo Gong gave him a sharp look, but Seojin held it. Then Seojin turned his eyes to me.

"You're not just here for justice, are you?" he said, his voice low. "You want revenge."

"Maybe," I replied with a faint smile. "Or maybe I just want to clean up the mess you all left behind."

Minjun stood now, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walked a few steps closer, his expression unreadable. "So this whole 'Lee Jaewon' thing. It was a cover to take down everything from the inside?"

"No," I replied. "It was a choice. A second chance."

"To be what?" Minjun asked. "A hero? Or another version of your father?"

That one stung—but I didn't let it show.

"I don't need to be either," I said. "I just need to finish what I started."

Silence followed. Chan-Woo Gong's smile faded completely now, replaced by steel. "If you keep going down this path, Aurelius, there won't be any turning back."

"There never was," I said softly.

He sighed, slowly leaning back in his chair, fingers tapping the armrest. "Fine. I'll let you go—for now—considering you stole my documents."

I gritted my teeth. "Your documents? They belonged to the Valemonts. They belong to VARAK."

I stepped forward, tension humming in my chest. Minjun and Seojin tensed instinctively, prepared to step between us, but Chan-Woo Gong lifted his hand, signaling them to stay back.

"Tell me," I said, voice low and firm as I approached, "why did you betray my father, Chan-Woo Gong?"

He scoffed—arrogant, unbothered. "Your father is a monster. I thought you'd figured that out by now. Especially since your mother died because of him."

The moment he uttered that word—mother—my steps faltered. His smirk widened, cruel and knowing.

"I know he's a monster," I growled. "He's the devil himself."

"Oho?" His voice dripped with mockery. "Then why do you still serve him like a loyal dog? I did what was right. I betrayed him because someone had to. I was once like you, Aurelius. I wore the leash. I followed orders. I bled for him."

My hands curled into fists. My breath caught, and emotion surged against my ribs.

"You don't know anything," I snapped, my voice cracking. "OF COURSE I KNOW HE KILLED HER. I MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT—BUT I KNOW. I KNOW!" My voice echoed in the room, raw and shaking. "But if I don't obey him… if I so much as hesitate, the people I cherish most will die!"

For the first time, I let it slip. The perfect mask cracked—shattered. Seojin and Minjun stared at me, stunned, like they were seeing me for the first time.

Chan-Woo Gong slowly sat back in his chair again, almost… satisfied. "Good," he said quietly. "I'm glad you know. Maybe now, you're finally waking up."

He leaned forward, tone turning persuasive. "You're being threatened, right? Then join me. I can protect them. And you'll survive."

I lunged, grabbing his collar and yanking him halfway across the desk. "You have no idea what you're talking about. You don't know him like I do."

He didn't flinch. Didn't blink. Just smirked. "Oh, but I do. He may be powerful—but at least with me, you have a chance. At least I can protect the people you love."

I froze.

Then he added, softly, "What if… one day, your mission is to eliminate one of them?"

My grip loosened. "What…?"

I blinked, staggering back. I hadn't thought of that. Not once.

Chan-Woo Gong exhaled, resting his hands calmly on the desk. "I've been there, Aurelius. Before I left, your father gave me one final mission: to kill my wife. She stole the same documents you just took."

He met my gaze without an ounce of mercy.

"I obeyed. Because if I didn't, my grandson… my son… and I would all die. So I killed her, with my own hands. For their sake."

He leaned back, his voice colder than ever.

"And now… I wonder how long before you become just like me."

I stormed out of the office without a word, my footsteps echoing down the empty hallway. Rage and confusion twisted inside me like a storm I couldn't control.

I mounted Shadow Jr., my matte-black scooter motorcycle, and sped off into the night—its engine humming low, the city lights blurring past. My hands gripped the handles tightly as thoughts of Chan-Woo Gong's words echoed in my head.

You may never know... what if your mission is to eliminate your precious?

I reached the hotel, parked in the shadows, and took the elevator to my floor. Once inside my suite, I checked the documents. They were still intact—hidden where no one could find them. But I hadn't completed the mission. Not because I was outnumbered. Not because he was too powerful. But because…

He knew me. Better than I wanted to admit.

I sighed heavily and dropped onto the bed, the weight of everything pressing against my chest. My body surrendered to exhaustion, and I drifted into sleep before I even realized I'd closed my eyes.

The next day, I didn't go to school. I didn't show up at the idol trainee center. Lee Jaewon didn't exist today.

Instead, I sat in the silence of my hotel room, blinds drawn, a notebook in front of me, papers scattered across the desk. I was planning. Calculating. Searching for a weakness.

Eliminating my enemy should have been easy.

If only he wasn't surrounded. If only there weren't always students, eyes, guards.

Now… he was watching his back. Every second.

He knew someone was coming.

And I had to be smarter than him.

End of Chapter 57.