Hearing Min Jun's words, Anashia gave a strangely toxic smile. He knew everyone in the Dragon Palace was living a massive lie. The unbelievable story of Alia becoming a mother of five at eighteen and marrying them all off—Anashia finally brought the real truth behind it to light.
Min Jun: "Fine, end this labyrinth. What is Alia's real age? And Viktor's? I know she became a mother at 18. That means they must still be very young!"
Anashia pulled an old document from his pocket and held it before Min Jun. His eyes were filled with a terrifying mystery.
Anashia: "What you know is a fabricated story spread by the Petrov family. The world thinks Alia is a woman of 40 or 45, but the real truth is known only to me, Viktor, and Alia. Alia's real age is only 24 years. And Viktor Petrov is only 29 years old."
Min Jun was completely stunned. The diamond locket almost slipped from his hand.
Min Jun: (Dumbfounded) "What are you saying? 24? You mean when Alia was first with us in Moscow, she was just a teenager? And 29-year-old Viktor has fooled the entire world into thinking he's some vastly experienced Mafia Lord?"
Anashia: "Yes. Viktor is incredibly cunning. He hid his age behind his gravity and power. And he groomed Alia from a young age, so even though she's known as a mother of five today, she is still a young woman. That's why you and I are so obsessed with her body. She isn't an older woman; she is an eternally youthful volcano."
Min Jun finally understood why he felt such a strange freshness when he touched Alia. Viktor had kept a 24-year-old woman imprisoned behind the mask of a mother and mother-in-law. This secret sparked a new devilish idea in Min Jun's mind. If Viktor's true age and Alia's mystery were exposed, the very foundation of the Petrov Empire would crumble. Anashia snatched the locket from Min Jun's hand in one swift motion and shoved it into his pocket. A cautious and stern look appeared in his eyes. Min Jun's greed was no longer amusing to Anashia; rather, it triggered a sense of insecurity.
Anashia: "I won't give this to you. Don't covet it, Min Jun. If you push this further, whatever friendship and brotherhood remains between us will be ruined forever. This locket and Alia—both are very personal to me."
Min Jun seethed with rage, but he knew that when Anashia became serious, it was dangerous to provoke him. He shifted the conversation and looked at Anashia.
Min Jun: "Fine, keep it. But you told everyone's age except your own. What is your real age? You're Viktor's childhood friend, so how old are you?"
Anashia looked at his reflection in the window glass. Then, with a subtle smirk, he said
Anashia: "Viktor is 29, but I'm slightly older than him. My real age is 31 years. In these 31 years, I've seen the dark world of the Dragon Family with my own eyes. When Alia first entered my life, she was a flower. And I was that crazed bee who wanted to tear her apart with my 'Hypersexuality'."
Anashia fell silent. Three days later, a breathtaking meeting took place between Viktor Petrov and Min Jun's father in a secret mafia hideout in Seoul. But today, Viktor's glasses and that devilish smirk held a whole new meaning.
Everyone assumed Min Jun's father was much older than Viktor, but the truth was different. They were actually almost the same age. As they sat across the chessboard, the battle of prestige and power became perfectly even.
Viktor: (Placing his veined hands on the table, voice deep) "Everyone thinks I am your son's father-in-law and that you are much older than me. But today, in this privacy, let's bring our true identities to light. You and I both know there is barely any age difference between us."
Min Jun's father placed his expensive cigar in the ashtray and smiled. His age was also around 30, just like Viktor's. As the head of the Dragon family, he too wore a mask of age to maintain authority over the mafia empire.
Min Jun's Father: "Spot on, Viktor. This world is a grand stage. If we hadn't portrayed ourselves as 'experienced' and 'elderly,' running this mafia empire would have been impossible. But why the sudden visit? Just to brush up on our new family ties?"
Viktor remained silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice that made the smile fade from the other man's face.
Viktor: "I came to find out does your son know that his father and his mother-in-law are of the same age? And does he know that the person he forced himself upon belongs to me? I didn't come today as an ally; I came to warn a Dragon who has reached into another man's lair." Viktor placed his glasses on the table. His pupils were burning like volcanic lava. He stared fixedly at Min Jun's father, whose real name was Park Do-hyun.
Viktor: (In an extremely calm yet murderous tone) "How many times did I warn your son, Do-hyun? I gave him repeated signals not to lay eyes on my Alia. But your son crossed the line. He thought I was blind; he thought I was merely playing the part of an elderly father-in-law."
Park Do-hyun gripped his cigar tightly. Hearing his own name from Viktor's mouth, he realized the game was no longer just about political alliances; it had turned into a personal, bloody war.
Viktor: "Park Do-hyun, we both know the importance of 'honor' and 'property' in this mafia world. Alia is not just my wife; she is the pride of my empire. Your son, Min Jun, laid hands on that pride. He forcefully snapped Alia's necklace; he humiliated her."
Do-hyun shifted in his seat. He knew Min Jun was reckless, but he hadn't imagined Viktor knew this much.
Do-hyun: "Viktor, the boy is young, he's hot-blooded—"
Viktor: (Interrupting with a dark laugh) "Young? Are we that much older than him, Do-hyun? I am 29, and you are 30 or 31. We are young too, but we know where to stop. If your son thinks himself a Dragon, remember that I am the hunter who doesn't hesitate to tear a Dragon's wings off. The time for returning that locket is over. Now, it's time to cut off his fingers."
A bone-chilling silence descended upon the room. The veins on Viktor's hands were bulging with intense tension, making Do-hyun realize that tonight, it would rain blood on the streets of Seoul. Viktor leaned back in his chair. Instead of rage, a kind of mocking curiosity played across his face. He glanced at the veins on his hands and then spoke steadily to Do-hyun.
Viktor: "Listen Do-hyun, my account with Anashia is different. He's my childhood friend; what he had with Alia is something I won't bother with right now. Anashia told Min Jun he's 31, but I know his real age is 29, just like mine. Maybe he lied to his brother to maintain authority. I won't lose sleep over those personal matters."
Viktor leaned forward over the table, his gaze piercing into Do-hyun's eyes.
Viktor: "But my real question lies elsewhere. If your eldest son, Min Jun, is 21 or 22, then how is your age only 30, Do-hyun? Does that mean you became a father at 10 or 11? Or is there some secret history of early breeding in the Dragon family bloodline?"
With a devilish smirk, Viktor put his glasses back on.
Viktor: "From Moscow to Seoul, everyone knows the Petrov family's age calculations are messy. But this mystery between your age and your eldest son's age is even more fascinating. Tell me, Do-hyun—are you really his father, or are you too wearing a mask of age to hold onto the Dragon throne, just like me?"
Do-hyun sat stone-still, his expensive cigar frozen in his hand. Viktor's question had struck at the very core of his existence. This mysterious game of ages between the two mafia dons had now taken their personal rivalry to a whole new level. Before Viktor's sharp questioning and devilish smirk, Park Do-hyun could no longer hold back. He realized that nothing remains hidden from a man like Viktor Petrov. He sighed, extinguished his cigar, and leaning over the table, began to tell the whole truth.
Do-hyun: (In a very low, heavy voice) "You're right, Viktor. The Dragon throne is not for a weak or young leader. Today, I'll tell you everything—Min Jun is not my biological son. He is my elder brother's blood. Thirteen years ago, in a bloody conflict, my brother and his wife were killed. Min Jun was just a child then. To prevent the empire from collapsing, I claimed to be his father and took the throne at only seventeen."
Viktor listened intently. There was a strange hardness in Do-hyun's eyes.
Do-hyun: "My real age is 30 years. But before the world, I have to play the role of a 40 or 50-year-old stern father so that enemies don't take me for a novice. Min Jun is now 20. Mathematically, it was impossible for me to be a father at 10, so I fabricated my age. Just like you and Alia did."
Do-hyun now looked directly into Viktor's eyes.
Do-hyun: "The story of Alia being a mother of 5 at 18 was a shield for your empire, just as my story of fatherhood was a way to sustain the Dragon Empire. We are all wearing masks, Viktor. But Min Jun doesn't know I'm not his biological father. He doesn't know his 'father' and his 'mother-in-law' are the same age."
Viktor picked up his glasses and put them on. That familiar smirk returned to his lips.
Viktor: "So we are all passengers of the same fire, Do-hyun. You created a monster while trying to save your brother's son, and I imprisoned my wife in a false identity to save my empire. But the truth is—at this moment, a 30-year-old Dragon and a 29-year-old hunter are sitting in this room. Now tell me, how will you judge what this 'adopted' son of yours did to my Alia? Or should I start the judgment in my own style?"
A heavy atmosphere filled the room. The two mafia dons were no longer just enemies or in-laws; they became partners in each other's darkest life secrets.