The Thirteen Shadows / SEVENTEEN FF

Chapter 24: Dangerous Newcomers

The days passed swiftly as Maya and Aera finalized preparations for Aera's departure to the States. 

Meanwhile, in the meeting room, all the members had gathered, some physically present and others joining via screens from overseas. There was an air of tension in the room as Seungcheol prepared to address the group.

He began by focusing on DK, who had just returned from the club incident in Gangnam. "DK," Seungcheol said, his tone both authoritative and resigned, "was that one kill really necessary?"

DK, looking calm and slightly confused by the question, replied with a shrug, "Well, he didn't want to listen to me, and neither did his colleagues. The idiot didn't even know the name 13 Shadows, so I killed him. Made the rest of the group a lot more cooperative afterward."

Seungcheol sighed, clearly exasperated. DK's methods were ruthless and often reckless, but effective nonetheless. 

"Hopeless," Seungcheol muttered under his breath, realizing that trying to reason with DK was pointless. He moved on, focusing on the real reason for the meeting. "What did you get from the CCTV footage?"

DK uploaded the footage from the night of Aera's incident and paused it at the critical moment. The screen revealed two Ateez members, Wooyoung and Mingi, at the club, mingling with a group of women. Seungcheol's eyes narrowed as he recognized them. "So, it was them," he said coldly. "But who are those women?"

DK zoomed in on the two unfamiliar faces talking to Wooyoung and Mingi before they joined Aera's group. The moment the images sharpened, the room went silent. Seungcheol spoke up, his voice low and ominous. "Hanni and Danielle," he muttered, more to himself than to the room.

Joshua, visibly puzzled, asked, "Who are they?"

Seungcheol leaned back, his face hard with realization. "Looks like the 'baby girls' are trying to make a name for themselves, they are a small, new group called New Jeans." he explained, referencing the up-and-coming female group associated with Ateez. "They're ambitious and very young, but that doesn't mean we'll let them move unchecked."

Joshua still seemed confused, but Seungcheol wasn't in the mood to elaborate. He had more pressing matters to attend to. 

"Jun, The8," Seungcheol commanded, turning to the two members, "you'll take care of them. Get the information we need out of those women. I don't care how you do it. They're in our world, so we make no exceptions for them."

Jun and The8 nodded firmly, both of them cold and calculated in their approach. "Don't worry," The8 replied, "we'll deal with it quickly."

Jun added, "It'll be taken care of. No loose ends."

Seungcheol seemed satisfied with their responses. He shifted gears and updated the rest of the group. "Aera will be in the States for a while, so none of you will have to worry about her interfering in our business. Maya's handling it, and everything is already in place for her departure."

With that settled, the room fell into a more relaxed, yet still tense, silence. Each member understood the gravity of the situation. Ateez's involvement was becoming more brazen, and the 13 Shadows wouldn't stand by idly. The confrontation between these two powerful groups was escalating, and soon, something was bound to break.

Incheon airport

The departure terminal was bustling with the usual chaos of people saying goodbye, some in tears, others in a rush to board. The large glass windows gave a view of planes slowly taxiing away. The scent of coffee from nearby kiosks mixed with the sterile air of the airport. Maya and Aera stood near the gate, their luggage tucked nearby.