𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 |니키˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚

2.4🦢

Japan; Okayama; 27-8-2026

Jiyoung's legs burned as she pushed herself forward, her mind racing alongside her frantic heartbeat. The narrow alleyways and deserted streets stretched out before her, dark and uninviting. But it didn't matter. She couldn't stop now.

She glanced over her shoulder, her breath coming in short bursts. No sign of Jay or Riki. Not yet.

The recording device weighed heavy in her pocket—a reminder of the evidence she carried. It was her only leverage, but it was also her greatest liability. If Jay recovered, he would come after her, and now, with Riki involved, the stakes had just skyrocketed. Jiyoung's pulse thrummed in her ears as she made her way toward the meeting point with Sunghoon.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed when she finally reached the run-down diner they used as a safe house. The neon sign flickered ominously above the entrance. Her hand trembled as she pushed the door open, the faint chime of the bell barely audible over her ragged breathing.

Sunghoon was waiting in the back booth, his posture tense as he nursed a cup of coffee. His eyes snapped up to meet hers the moment she walked in, and relief washed over his face.

"Jiyoung," he said, standing up as she approached. "What happened? You were supposed to check in hours ago."

Jiyoung slid into the seat across from him, her body still buzzing from the adrenaline of the night. "I ran into Jay... and Riki."

Sunghoon's eyes darkened at the mention of their names. "You're lucky to be alive. Did they find out who you are?"

She shook her head, her fingers brushing the recording device in her pocket. "Jay didn't recognize me. Not yet. But Riki... he saved me." She could hardly believe the words as they left her mouth. The weight of them settled awkwardly between them.

Sunghoon's brow furrowed. "Riki saved you?"

Jiyoung nodded slowly, the memory of the gunshot still fresh in her mind. "He shot Jay. Said something about not touching what's his. It wasn't out of kindness. It was more like... a warning."

Sunghoon leaned back, processing her words. "Riki's dangerous, Jiyoung. He's not just some crime boss playing games—he's unpredictable. If he's marked you as 'his,' that means he's planning something."

Jiyoung's jaw tightened. "I don't need his protection. And I'm not letting him or Jay control me. I've got the recording. This is the evidence we need to take them down."

Sunghoon eyed her warily. "That recording is valuable, but it's also a death sentence if they catch wind of it. You can't afford any more close calls."

"I know," Jiyoung muttered, her fingers tapping anxiously on the table. "But we're running out of time. Riki's already onto me. And Jay... he won't stop until he finds me again."

Sunghoon sighed, rubbing his temples. "We need to be smart about this. We'll analyze the recording and see what we can use, but from now on, you have to lay low. No more solo missions."

Jiyoung's defiance flared. "Laying low won't help us. We need to act. Riki's too careful—he'll clean up any trace of his operations if we don't move fast. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it gets."

"I know," Sunghoon said, his voice tight. "But we're not dealing with amateurs. Riki has connections everywhere. And Jay—he's relentless. You can't take them both on by yourself."

Jiyoung bit her lip, the weight of Sunghoon's words sinking in. He was right. As much as she hated to admit it, going after Riki and Jay alone would be suicide. But she wasn't about to back down now. She had come too far, risked too much. Yongbok's death... The thought hit her like a punch to the gut, and she felt the familiar wave of grief threaten to overtake her.