INFERNO| 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐧

ᴘʀᴏʟᴏɢᴜᴇ: ɪʀᴏɴ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ

.·:*¨¨* ≈ᴄʜᴏɪ ꜱᴀɴ≈ *¨¨*:·.

The room is dark, the only light coming from a single bulb hanging low above the table, casting long shadows on the walls. The air is thick with cigar smoke, the kind that clings to your clothes and makes it hard to breathe. My men sit around the table, their faces barely visible through the haze, but I can feel their eyes on me. I know what they're thinking, though none of them would dare say it aloud.

They fear me. And they should.

For years, I've ruled this city with an iron fist, building an empire that stretches from the gutters to the glass towers of Seoul. I've dealt with men in suits and men in shadows, and I've crushed anyone who thought they could challenge me. I've earned my place at the top, not through deals or compromises, but through sheer, ruthless power. And everyone in this room knows it.

But tonight, things feel different. There's an edge in the air, a tension that goes beyond the usual business. I can see it in their eyes, the way they avoid looking at me directly, the way their hands tremble ever so slightly when they reach for their drinks. They know something's wrong.

I tap my fingers on the table, a slow, steady rhythm that echoes in the silence. It's the only sound in the room, aside from the occasional creak of the old building settling. My mind is racing, though I keep my face still, emotionless. I've heard the whispers, the rumors that something's brewing within my ranks. Disloyalty. Betrayal.

I've dealt with betrayal before. I've dealt with it harshly.

But this time is different. This time, it's personal.

I think of my daughter, Eun-ji. My little girl. The only pure thing in my life, the only thing I've ever truly cared about. I've kept her safe, shielded from this world, away from the violence, the bloodshed, the corruption that defines my empire. But no matter how much I've tried to protect her, I knew there would always be a threat lurking in the shadows. I just never thought it would come from within.

I clench my jaw, my fingers still tapping on the table. Hours ago, I got the call. A man's voice on the other end, cold and detached. "We have her," he said. Just like that. No demands, no threats. Just the simple, devastating truth. My daughter is gone. Taken.

I didn't react when I heard the words. I don't react to anything. Emotions are a weakness, and I can't afford to show weakness—not now, not ever. But inside, I felt the rage bubbling up, threatening to consume me. Whoever took her is playing a dangerous game, and they'll pay dearly for it. I'll make sure of that.

But what cuts deeper than the kidnapping is the knowledge that this was an inside job. Someone in this room, someone I've trusted, has betrayed me.

My eyes scan the faces around the table, each one trying to hide their fear, their guilt. But they can't hide from me. I know them too well.

"When I give you power," I say, my voice low, but clear enough to make every man at the table stiffen, "I expect loyalty."

No one says a word. They wouldn't dare.

"There's a snake among us," I continue, my gaze sharp, piercing. "Someone who thought they could outsmart me. Someone who thought I wouldn't notice."

The silence stretches on, heavy and suffocating. I can almost hear their hearts pounding in their chests.

"Jung-ho," I say, turning to my right-hand man, the only one I still trust.

"Yes, boss," he responds immediately, sitting up straighter in his chair.

"Find out who it is," I order, my voice as cold as ice. "I don't care how long it takes. I don't care what you have to do. I want names."

Jung-ho nods, his expression grim. "Consider it done."

I lean back in my chair, watching the others. They know what's coming. They've seen what I do to traitors. If any of them know something and aren't speaking up, they'll wish they had. I'll make sure of that.

"I'll give you one chance," I say, letting the words hang in the air. "If you know something, say it now. If you don't, and I find out later, you won't get another chance."

The room is dead silent. No one speaks. No one even moves.

I rise slowly from my chair, the legs scraping against the wooden floor as I stand. The room feels smaller now, the walls closing in, the tension so thick it's almost unbearable. I walk around the table, my steps slow, deliberate. My men sit still, their eyes forward, their hands clasped in front of them. No one dares to look at me as I pass.

I stop behind Seok-min, one of my oldest lieutenants. He's been with me for years, but loyalty can waver in anyone. I place a hand on the back of his chair, and I can feel him tense beneath my touch. Good. He should be nervous.

"The person who took my daughter," I say, my voice barely above a whisper, "they think they've won. They think they've beaten me."

I let the silence stretch, waiting for the weight of my words to sink in.

"But they've made a fatal mistake," I continue. "Because there's nothing in this world I won't do to get her back. And when I find out who's behind this, when I find the person responsible, they'll wish they'd never been born."

I see Seok-min's hands tremble slightly, just for a moment, but it's enough to confirm what I already know. Fear is a powerful tool, and I use it well.

I return to my place at the head of the table, my eyes scanning the room one last time. These men, my most trusted, my most loyal—or so they claim. One of them is lying. One of them is responsible for this. And I will find out who.

"This city will burn if it has to," I say, my voice calm, steady. "No one betrays me and lives to tell about it."

I glance at Jung-ho, and he knows what needs to be done. He always does. Without another word, I turn and walk toward the door, my hand resting on the handle. I pause, my back still to the room.

"Bring me their heads," I say quietly, then step out into the dark hallway.

As I walk down the corridor, the dim light flickering above me, I can feel the rage building inside me, a storm waiting to be unleashed. I've dealt with betrayal before, but this—this is different. This is my daughter. And there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for her.

The men behind me will tear the city apart if I ask them to. They'll turn over every stone, hunt down every lead, spill as much blood as it takes. And they'll do it without question, because they know what I'm capable of. They know that failure isn't an option.

Jung-ho will handle the search, but I'll be watching. I'll be waiting. And when the time comes, I'll be ready.

Ready to destroy anyone who stands in my way.