The kitchen instantly turned into a battlefield. Although Maria and Alia launched an attack using their CIA skills, Viktor and Anashia were not ones to back down. They weren't just any criminals Viktor was a powerful Russian Mafia Lord, and Anashia was a cunning Korean Dragon Lord.
Anashia used a swift martial arts move to break free from Maria's grip. Despite being intoxicated, his body remained incredibly agile. Meanwhile, Viktor used his massive build and muscular strength to seize Alia's wrist.
Viktor: (In a cold, deep voice) "CIA agents? Retired? Did you think you could take down a Russian Mafia Lord with ice-cold blood in his veins with just a kitchen knife, Alia?"
Viktor twisted Alia's hand, causing her long red nails to dig into her own palm.
On the other side, Anashia pinned Maria against the wall. While Maria tried to utilize her techniques, she struggled against the dark combat tactics of Anashia's Korean Dragon gang.
Anashia: "You come into the Dragon's den and try to threaten the Dragon? The underworld of Seoul runs through my fingertips. Your old training is nothing but a joke to me."
Anashia tightened his grip on Maria's throat, and Viktor grabbed Alia by her hair, pulling her close. Under the bright kitchen lights, a power struggle between four formidable individuals had begun. On one side, two former female agents whose honor had been dragged through the dirt; on the other, two international emperors of crime blinded by their own power.
Viktor: (Whispering in Alia's ear) "Tonight will be even more painful than last night. We will pluck those red nails of yours one by one."
Though Alia turned blue with pain, there was no defeat in her eyes yet. She knew that if they couldn't win with brute force, they would have to win with intellect. When a Mafia Lord and a Dragon Lord unite, ordinary fighting is not enough. Alia's fire as a Mafia Queen shattered in an instant. Seeing Maria being choked by Anashia, Alia could no longer remain steady. She realized that competing with these two monsters in terms of physical strength was impossible right now. Tears began to stream uncontrollably down her face.
Alia: (Screaming through her tears) "Anashia! Please, let her go... I'm telling you, let her go! She has done nothing wrong!"
Viktor tightened his grip on Alia's hair, making her writhe in pain. Alia's long red nails were now clutching the kitchen floor as she struggled helplessly.
Alia: (Sobbing) "Viktor, I will do whatever you want. Do whatever you wish to me, but don't kill Maria. I'm begging you, let her go!"
Seeing Alia's helplessness, Viktor and Anashia burst into demonic laughter. A Russian Mafia Lord and a Korean Dragon Lord both were savoring this moment. To them, Alia's tears were the ultimate victory.
Anashia: (Loosening his grip on Maria's throat slightly but not letting go) "See that, Viktor? The CIA lioness is now crying like a kitten before us. Let Maria go? Why? She was just starting to see the real show."
Viktor pulled Alia's face very close to his own. His cold breath brushed against her tear-stained cheeks.
Viktor: "Cry, Alia. Your tears only heighten our intoxication. The weaker you become, the more pleasure we derive."
Prostrate on the kitchen floor, Alia was now begging for her life and Maria's. Her red nightdress had turned a deeper shade of crimson, soaked in her tears. In this dark Seoul night, Alia's royal pride had been dragged into the dust. Alia's pitiful cries filled the kitchen air. Anashia stared at Maria's blue-tinted face for a moment, then burst into demonic laughter with a sense of sinister satisfaction.
Anashia: "Fine, Alia. I'll grant your precious friend a temporary release. But remember, this isn't mercy—it's just a timeout in the game."
With that, Anashia suddenly let Maria go. Maria crashed onto the floor, coughing violently as she struggled to catch her breath. The dark bruises from Anashia's fingers were clearly visible around her neck.
From the floor, Maria looked up at Alia. The fire of her former agent self was still flickering in her eyes, but her physical injuries had left her weakened.
Meanwhile, Viktor still hadn't let go of Alia's hair. He yanked her face upward, forcing her to look directly into his eyes.
Viktor: "See? At your request, Anashia spared her life. Now tell me, what will you give us in return for this favor? Will you serve us with those long red nails, or will you pass out and surrender like you did last night?"
Though Alia was broken by tears, a profound hatred was beginning to take root within her. She caught Maria's eye for a split second. Maria seemed to be signaling something to her—perhaps a secret code from their old CIA days.
Brushing the damp hair from her tear-stained cheeks, Alia whispered in a low voice—
Alia: "Whatever you want... I will do it. Just don't hurt her anymore."
Anashia took several swigs of wine directly from the bottle on the kitchen counter, staring at Alia's red nightdress with a cruel gaze. Under the bright kitchen lights, a terrifying atmosphere had formed, as the two powerful lords prepared for a new game with their prey. Anashia walked toward Alia, swaying with laughter. Just as Viktor had almost let her go, Anashia suddenly leaned down and grabbed Alia's long hair, twisting it tightly into his fist.
At this sudden and cruel attack, Alia's head snapped backward. Her back arched like a bow from the intense pain.
Anashia: (In an extremely harsh and cold voice) "Viktor showed you too much mercy, Alia, but there is no mercy in the Dragon Lord's den. Your tears, your helplessness—it's all just music to me."
Gripping her hair, Anashia began dragging Alia across the kitchen floor toward the marble table. Alia's long red nails scraped against the tiles as she desperately tried to steady herself.
Alia: (Screaming in pain) "Ah! Anashia... stop... it hurts!"
Anashia didn't stop. He yanked her hair, bringing her face incredibly close to the kitchen counter. The strong stench of alcohol and Anashia's demonic stare made Alia's skin crawl.
Anashia: "Because you fainted last night, our pleasure remained incomplete. Tonight, I will make sure you feel every single moment."
From the floor, Maria tried to stand up again, but Anashia kicked her away. Viktor stood to the side, wine glass in hand, enjoying Anashia's cruelty.
Salty tears rolled down Alia's eyes, dripping from her chin onto her red nightdress. She realized these two lords would follow no rules tonight. Anashia's grip felt as if it were about to tear her hair from the roots. Viktor finished the wine in his glass and gave a demonic smirk. He walked out of the kitchen and, with a cold deliberation, slammed the heavy door shut. The sound of the lock clicking into place rang in Alia's ears like a death knell.
In the kitchen now remained only Anashia, Alia, and Maria, who was still on the floor. With the door closed, the atmosphere became even more suffocating and terrifying. Every escape route was now sealed.
Anashia: (Yanking Alia's hair even tighter) "Did you hear that? Viktor wants to give us some private time. Now, even if you scream in this locked room, no one will come to hear you."
Alia realized Viktor was guarding the door from the outside to ensure no one entered. Anashia suddenly slammed Alia down onto the kitchen counter. Her long red nails scraped against the marble surface. Her red nightdress had become disheveled in the struggle.
Alia: (Breaking down in fear and tears) "Anashia, please... don't do this. Call Viktor... tell him to open the door!"
Anashia didn't say a word but reached for his belt. His eyes showed a distorted expression of intoxication and pure malice. He leaned in very close to Alia.
Anashia: "Viktor won't open the door, Alia. Because he knows that when the Dragon Lord is obsessed with his prey, the consequences of interrupting him aren't good."
Maria, still on the floor, saw that the situation was spiraling out of control. She tried to stand up using the wall for support, but Anashia, without even looking at her, smashed a heavy glass bottle on the floor, warning her that moving forward would make things worse.
Between the four walls of the kitchen, there was now only the sound of Alia's sobbing and the echo of Anashia's cruel laughter. Alia, once a formidable CIA agent, was now a prisoner in her own palace, heading toward a dark fate at the hands of people she once knew. The horror inside that closed kitchen reached its peak. Faced with Anashia's brutality, Alia became completely helpless. Maria, lying on the floor in pain, could no longer bear to watch the scene and closed her eyes tightly. Only the heart-wrenching screams of Alia and Anashia's sinister, demonic joy echoed in her ears.
Alia tried to grip the marble counter one last time with her long red nails, but her body went numb with agony. The sound of Alia's crying was so piercing that it could be heard by the bodyguards standing outside the door.
The guards outside looked at each other, unsettled. Despite having weapons, they stood frozen like statues because the Russian Mafia Lord, Viktor, was personally guarding the door. With a single sharp glance from Viktor, the bodyguards lowered their heads and moved further away. They knew that showing the courage to intervene in what was happening inside would cost them their lives in an instant.
Alia: (In a voice-breaking scream) "Let me go... please... someone save me!"
Alia's pitiful cries pierced through the kitchen walls and echoed down the corridor. Viktor leaned against the door, took out a cigarette, and lit it. Exhaling smoke, he listened to Alia's tormented voice as if it weren't a cry for help, but a melody of supreme satisfaction.
Inside, Maria sobbed quietly. She realized her best friend was suffering the ultimate humiliation in her own home. Eventually, Alia lost consciousness, her red nightdress lying torn and tattered in the dust on the floor.
Outside, the night grew deeper, and inside this royal palace of Seoul, a princess's pride and honor were being dragged into the dirt forever.