Choi San, a revered and feared mafia boss, reigns over Seoul's underworld with an iron fist, his influence extending seamlessly across both legal and illegal domains. But his empire is shaken to its core when his beloved daughter, Eun-ji, is kidnapp...
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The silence in the car on the drive back was comfortable at first, filled with a sense of warmth and ease after the playful banter at headquarters. But the moment we stepped into the quiet of San's place, something shifted. There was a tension in the air, subtle at first, but it grew, simmering beneath the surface, waiting for something to ignite it.
San had barely shut the door behind us when he turned to me, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious, almost cold. He took a deep breath, the kind that usually preceded something big. Something I knew I wasn't going to like.
"Wooyoung," he started, his voice low and controlled, "I need you to stay out of this next mission."
I blinked, his words hitting me like a punch. "What?" I asked, my voice already laced with anger. "Stay out? What are you talking about, San?"
He crossed his arms, looking down at me with an intensity that sent a chill through me. "It's too dangerous," he said firmly, his tone unyielding. "Viper's people have been gathering in larger numbers, and Blaze has been getting desperate. I need you to stay back this time."
I clenched my fists, feeling anger bubble up, threatening to boil over. "Are you serious? You can't just bench me like I'm some rookie! I've been there every step of the way. You don't get to decide when I'm in or out, San."
His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer, his intimidating presence looming over me. "I'm not 'benching' you, Wooyoung," he said, his voice a controlled rumble. "I'm trying to keep you safe."
"Safe?" I scoffed, my voice rising. "Is that what this is about? You think I need protecting? That I can't handle myself out there?"
He sighed, but it was filled with frustration, his jaw tightening as he looked down at me. "This isn't up for debate. I've made my decision."
"That's the problem, San!" I shouted, stepping up to him, meeting his intimidating gaze head-on despite the growing knot of anger and hurt twisting in my chest. "You think you can make decisions for me like I don't have a say! I've been part of this every step of the way—fighting, risking just as much as you. You don't get to decide that I don't belong there."
His expression darkened, and I could see the frustration simmering in his eyes as he took another step closer, his stance imposing, his jaw clenched. "I'm doing what's best for you, Wooyoung. This is bigger than your pride. You don't understand the risks here."
"Oh, don't give me that!" I snapped, anger overtaking any hint of fear. "I know exactly what's at risk, San. I've seen the same things you've seen, and I'm not some fragile thing you need to protect. I'm not backing down from this."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, threatening tone that I hadn't heard from him before, one that made a chill run down my spine. "You don't understand, Wooyoung. You're a liability if you're out there, especially if your emotions get in the way."
