Bloodlines and Shadows
The Night District smelled like sweat, smoke, and fresh danger.
Jihoon walked with a limp. His ribs still ached from the rooftop party. His hoodie stuck to the dried blood on his side, and every step echoed louder than it should have. This part of the city didn't sleep. It stalked.
The deeper he went, the more the glow of Gangnam's skyline faded behind dirty brick, flickering neon, and narrow alleys. There were no influencers here. Just wolves.
His phone buzzed.
[New Mission Unlocked]
Mission: Cleanse the Street
Objective: Defeat 3 Gang Thugs in the Night District
Reward: ₩1,000,000
Bonus: No weapons used = +₩500,000
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Jihoon scoffed.
"No warm-ups, huh?"
He looked down at his bandaged knuckles. He wasn't at full strength. The last fight still lived in his body. But there was money on the line—and more than that, there was momentum. He couldn't lose it.
He stepped into a shadowed alley, eyes scanning.
The first one came fast. A lookout leaning on a wall, tapping a smoke. Jihoon didn't hesitate. He grabbed the guy by the collar, yanked him forward, and drove his knee into the man's nose.
Bone cracked.
The thug dropped like a bag of bricks.
[1/3 Thugs Defeated]
Jihoon backed off, hands up. He knew what came next.
Two more figures moved from behind a dumpster—taller, heavier, and carrying pipes. One of them clicked his tongue and grinned.
"Look who's been making noise," he said. "The dropout with cash. Boss didn't like what you did to Minjae."
Jihoon said nothing.
"Thought you were funny? Slapping him in public? Driving up in rented Lambo like some drama star?"
Jihoon kept his fists loose and his stance tight.
"I don't care what you think," he muttered. "Let's get it done."
One of them rushed with a wide swing. Jihoon ducked low, but the second attacker jabbed forward with a sharp elbow that caught him clean across the jaw.
His vision swam. He staggered back.
Another swing. Jihoon caught the metal pipe with both hands, twisting his body to redirect the force. It ripped from the thug's grip, but pain shot up Jihoon's side from his ribs.
He ignored it.
He stepped forward, slammed his head into the thug's nose, then drove a punch into his gut.
The man collapsed, wheezing.
The second thug hesitated.
Jihoon's eyes flared.
"You still wanna go?"
But something was off. The thug wasn't looking at Jihoon anymore.
He was looking past him.
Jihoon turned.
A girl stood in the alley's entrance.
She didn't belong here. Leather jacket zipped halfway, combat boots, black jeans. Hair tied back in a clean braid. Her eyes, though—cold, calculating. Like she wasn't looking at him, but measuring him.
The thug who remained cursed under his breath, backed away, and ran.
Jihoon tilted his head, still breathing hard.
"You gonna finish me off too?"
She shook her head. "If I wanted you gone, you'd be on the ground already."
"Thanks for the support," he muttered.
"I didn't do it for you."
She walked toward him and handed over a compact med patch. Jihoon took it slowly, eyes never leaving hers.
"Who are you?"
"You're not the only one being watched."
His phone buzzed again.
[System Warning: Unknown faction detected. Risk level: Moderate. Monitoring behavior.]
Jihoon's eyes narrowed.
"You're not Blood Fang. They've been trying to jump me since I entered this zone."
"I'm not with them," she said.
Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "So who then?"
She paused.
"I'm with the Serpents."
The name rang a faint bell. A rival mafia group—smaller, quieter, but said to have influence outside the city. Blood Fang ruled Gangnam. But the Serpents? They were different. Organized. Surgical.
"And what does a Serpent want with me?"
"Nothing yet," she replied. "But our boss is watching. You're loud. You're reckless. You're effective. We don't like Blood Fang either. So if you make more noise in their direction… that works for us."
Jihoon took a breath, thinking.
"Why not recruit me directly?"
She studied him.
"Because we don't recruit punks chasing clout. But if you survive long enough… someone will talk to you."
"And if I don't?"
"Then Blood Fang kills you. Simple."
She turned to leave.
"Wait," Jihoon said. "What's your name?"
She paused for half a second.
"Call me Jae."
Then she was gone—like smoke, like she was never there.
Jihoon leaned against the wall, letting the pain settle. His ribs screamed. His knuckles were throbbing. But his mind raced.
The Serpents were watching him now. Not as prey… but maybe as a weapon.
He looked down at the med patch she gave him. It wasn't cheap. It had a Serpent logo printed in the corner. Legit gear. Probably black market.
He applied it slowly. The sting faded instantly.
His phone buzzed again.
[Optional Mission Unlocked]
Mission: Follow the Snake
Objective: Trace the identity of the woman who intervened
Reward: Unknown
Risk Level: High
Note: Your presence is no longer a secret.
He exhaled.
Too many eyes. Too many agendas.
And the worst part?
He was starting to enjoy it.
Elsewhere — Night District Control Room
Cigarette smoke curled through the dimly lit room.
The Blood Fang boss leaned over a monitor, watching Jihoon's street feed in silence.
He crushed the cigarette in his ashtray, grinding it with two fingers.
"Kid's not just lucky," he muttered. "He's dangerous."
A man beside him in a black suit nodded.
"What do you want to do?"
The boss's eyes didn't leave the screen.
"Put a price on his head. Small for now. I want to see who bites."