||ᴄʀɪᴍsᴏɴ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs|| ᴘᴏɴᴅᴘʜᴜᴡɪɴ ғғ

3

Lunch was quiet and tense. Palm sat at the dining table with Joong and Dunk, barely touching his food. The silence between them felt heavy, filled with unspoken words and questions. Every bite Palm took felt mechanical, his mind racing with thoughts of his brother, Pond. Where was he? Why hasn't Joong or anyone told him anything yet?

After the meal, Palm looked up at Joong, the impatience clear in his voice as he broke the silence. “Phi Joong, now please tell me. Where is my brother? Huh? Where is Pond?” His voice cracked slightly as frustration and worry began to overtake him.

Joong let out a sigh, his face serious. “Palm, calm down. Let’s go to the office room, and I’ll explain everything.” He stood up, motioning for Palm to follow.

Palm followed closely behind, his heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and dread. As they walked through the grand mansion, every step felt heavier than the last. The walls of the mansion seemed to close in on him as they approached the office room, where the truth he had been waiting for was about to be revealed.

Joong opened the door to a large office space. The room was dimly lit, with shelves full of files, maps, and documents scattered across the desk. It had a somber atmosphere, as though many important decisions had been made there, decisions that shaped lives. Joong gestured for Palm to sit down on the leather chair across from the desk. Dunk, who had been silent for most of the time, stayed back, giving Palm a reassuring smile before leaving the room.

Once Palm sat down, Joong took a seat across from him, his face filled with a mix of hesitation and sadness. “Palm, first I need you to calm down. I know you’re confused, and I know you have a lot of questions. But hear me out fully, okay? Let me explain everything, and after that, you can ask me anything.”

Palm nodded, though his confusion was apparent. “Okay, Phi...”

Joong took a deep breath, leaning forward slightly. “Your brother, Pond, is not who you think he is. He’s not just your brother, Palm. He’s the leader of the Blackshadows—the most feared mafia organization. He’s not just any leader—he’s known as the most ruthless, cold, and feared man in this world. His name alone strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies. He’s built the Blackshadows into what it is today, and everyone here follows his command without question.”

Joong smiled sadly. “I know, Palm. To you, he’s your brother. But to the outside world, he’s something entirely different. He’s not just feared—he’s untouchable. His word is law here.”

Palm was silent for a moment, trying to process the information. “But... where is he now? Why isn’t he here?”

Joong sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “Palm, your brother has always been this way—cold, distant. But there’s one person who has always been by his side, the only one who truly understands him. His childhood friend, Joe.”

Palm frowned, still struggling to make sense of it all. “Joe? I’ve never heard of him.”

“That’s because Joe and Pond are like shadows themselves. Wherever Pond is, Joe is. They are inseparable, and their bond is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. There’s no Pond without Joe, and no Joe without Pond. They’re not lovers,” Joong added quickly, noticing Palm’s look of confusion, “but their connection runs so deep that even we, his closest friends, can’t come between them. Their loyalty to each other is unwavering.”

Palm’s brows furrowed. “So... what does this mean?"

Joong leaned back in his chair, looking away for a moment before meeting Palm’s eyes again. “Palm, I can tell you this—if anything happens to Joe, Pond would tear the world apart to protect him. And if anyone were to harm Pond, Joe wouldn’t rest until he destroyed whoever was responsible.”

Palm swallowed hard, nodding. “Okay. But... I need to see him, Phi. I need to know he’s okay,” his voice barely a whisper, hoping for a glimmer of hope.

Joong’s expression changed instantly, his eyes clouding with sorrow. His voice trembled as he spoke, his own emotions breaking through the mask of composure he’d been holding. “Palm...” Joong’s voice cracked, and he took a deep breath, fighting to control himself. “He’s dead, Palm. Pond is dead... and we couldn’t do anything to help him.” His voice wavered, thick with pain, as he struggled to hold back the tears that glistened in his eyes.

Palm’s world came crashing down. His heart stopped for a moment, and his mind went blank. “Wha... what?” Palm stuttered, disbelief coloring his voice. “What are you saying, Phi Joong? How... how could this happen? My brother...?”

Joong sniffled, wiping a tear that had escaped. His sadness gave way to anger, and his eyes darkened with fury as he clenched his fists. “Betrayal, Palm. Betrayal did this,” he said, his voice low and full of venom. “There’s nothing more dangerous in our world than betrayal. And when it comes from someone you trust... someone you thought would never hurt you... it destroys everything.” His voice shook, filled with rage and grief. “Pond trusted the wrong people, and they stabbed him in the back. We couldn’t save him.”

Palm’s breath caught in his throat, his body trembling with shock. His brother, the one he had looked up to his whole life, was gone. Dead. It felt like the ground beneath him had disappeared. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he stared at Joong, his voice breaking. “How... how am I supposed to tell our mother this? How... how could this happen?”

Joong’s face softened, but the sadness in his eyes remained. “I know, Palm. I know it’s hard to believe. But this is the truth. Pond’s death wasn’t just a random attack. It was planned. Cold. Ruthless. And the people who did it... they’re still out there, living their lives like nothing happened.”

Palm’s tears finally spilled over, the weight of everything crushing him. He had come here to find his brother, but now he was learning that Pond was gone, and nothing could bring him back. His mind raced, questions swirling. How could this have happened? Why had no one told him sooner? His heart ached with a mix of grief and confusion.

Joong’s voice broke through Palm’s thoughts. “Palm, listen to me,” he said, his tone serious but gentle. “I will tell you everything about your brother’s life—what he did, how he lived. But you need to understand something.” Joong’s eyes hardened again, filled with a deadly determination. “You have to catch the people who betrayed Pond. You have to find them, and you need to kill them, one by one. Avenge him, Palm. Don’t let them live happily after what they did to your brother.”

Palm shook his head, the tears still streaming down his face. “I... I don’t know if I can, Phi Joong. I don’t know if I’m strong enough...”

Joong reached out and grabbed Palm’s shoulder, his grip firm. “You are strong, Palm. You have to be. Pond didn’t deserve to die like this, and those responsible can’t be allowed to walk free. You need to do this, not just for yourself, but for your family, for your brother’s memory. I’ll be with you every step of the way, but this is something only you can do.”

Palm’s chest tightened with grief and anger, his emotions at war with each other. But somewhere deep inside him, a fire started to burn—a need for justice, for vengeance. He couldn’t let his brother’s death go unpunished. He wiped his tears, looking back at Joong with resolve.

“I’ll do it,” Palm whispered, his voice shaking but determined. “For Pond... I’ll do it.”

Joong nodded, his expression softening slightly as he saw the change in Palm. “Good. We’ll start with the people closest to him. I’ll tell you everything, and together, we’ll find the ones responsible for Pond’s death.”

Palm swallowed hard, his heart heavy with grief but his mind sharp with a new purpose. He would find them. He would make them pay.

For his brother.

---

So Pond is dead... then where is Phuwin?🤔

From next chapter it gonna be the flaskback... So tune into it to know what happened to Pondphuwin...