Chapter 58: Womp Womp
Zenith Vista, Nova Lumina
Moon was deep asleep in his room.
So was Kai—wrapped in a blanket like a human burrito.
Suddenly, Kai's phone buzzed, vibrating noisily on the side table.
"Mmm… what the hell…" he groaned, squinting at the screen through one eye.
He picked up the call, not bothering to sit up. "Hello?"
James's voice came through, bright and energetic. "Yo Kai hyung , just giving you a heads-up—we'll be there tomorrow . You two should head to Zenith Vista. We'll meet there."
Kai, still half-asleep, frowned. Zenith Vista? He turned his head lazily, looked out the window, and recognized the landscape. "...We're already at Zenith Vista."
"Oh? That's great news!" James chuckled.
Kai ended the call without another word, flopped back down, and muttered into his pillow, "This could've been a text, James…"
---
11 hours later…
The house teleporter flared to life in a burst of blue light.
James stepped out, looking extremely satisfied, his hand on his stomach like he had just devoured a 10-course feast.
Man, that roast beast stew was divine… he thought, humming to himself.
He walked straight to Moon's room, cracked the door open, and peeked in.
James pushed open the door to Moon's room.
The light filtering through the curtains was soft—an amber hue hinting at late afternoon. Moon was curled under a blanket, only the mess of his black hair visible, slightly against the fabric.
James stepped closer and leaned down.
"Moon-hyung, wake up! Time to rise!"
Moon groaned, his voice muffled in the pillow. "Tch... why are you so loud…"
He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. His hair was tousled, his shirt wrinkled from sleep, and his expression pure irritation.
He blinked groggily. Then squinted at James. "Wait… it's you? When the hell did you get here?"
James grinned, unfazed. "Just arrived. Thought I'd give you a royal wake-up call."
Moon let out a tired sigh. "You could've knocked. Or... not come."
James chuckled, brushing past the jab. "We got summoned to a clan meeting yesterday as I told you. Pretty serious stuff. I… ended up challenging Daren Hale in front of everyone."
Moon froze mid-yawn.
He lowered his hand and gave James a long, deadpan look. "…You challenged who?"
"Daren Hale," James repeated.
Moon stared at him blankly for a few seconds, then slowly blinked. "Okay but—who the fuck is Daren Hale?"
James laughed awkwardly. "Right. You wouldn't know. Long story."
He sat on the edge of the bed and began explaining—about the meeting, the sudden clan announcement, the mounting pressure, and how Daren Hale— from the Hale Clan, one of the prodigies in line for a high-rank posting. And how, despite the odds, James had stepped up.
Moon didn't say anything for a while. He simply reached over to the drawer by his bed, pulled out a slim cigarette case, and lit one with a flick of his finger.
The soft glow of the ember highlighted the calm in his eyes as he listened. Smoke trailed lazily upward as he leaned back against the headboard.
James kept talking, trying to summarize the whirlwind of emotions, the pressure of the crowd, the sheer strength Daren had shown—and how he'd barely made it out without getting completely humiliated.
When he finally finished, Moon let out a long, slow exhale. The smoke curled around his face like mist.
Then, in a low voice, flat and blunt, he said:
"You did good."
James blinked.
"But," Moon continued, "don't ever try that new move again in live combat unless you've drilled it a hundred fucking times in training."
His tone sharpened slightly—no longer sleepy, but serious.
Moon glanced sideways at him. "Raw techniques in real fights? That's how you die. Or worse. Master it first, or you'll be your own worst enemy."
James's smile faded just a little.
He lowered his gaze, nodding. "Yeah. You're right. I got carried away…"
Idiot. Of course he's right. That move nearly tore my arm out of its socket.
Moon took another drag and muttered, "Tch… You're lucky Daren didn't take your head off."
He flicked the ash off the tip and stood up, cracking his back with a grunt. "Anyway. You're alive. So whatever. Next time, call me if someone starts shit."
James smirked. "Noted, hyung."
Moon gave him a light shove toward the door. "Now get out of my room. I need to pee."
---
Moon checked the time: 5 PM.
He stretched his arms, cracked his neck, and went downstairs.
Meanwhile, James walked into Kai's room to wake him up too.
Moon opened the fridge. It was depressingly empty—just some half-melted chocolate and an open bag of stale chips.
"No food… chef uncle really ditched us this time." He sighed, grabbed the snacks, and started munching anyway.
Soon, James returned downstairs with Kai in tow.
Moon offered them chips with a lazy hand.
Kai glanced at the bag. "Hard pass."
James followed suit. "No thanks. I still respect my digestive system."
Moon shrugged and resumed munching.
---
Kai casually said, "I sold all the extra Echo, ores, and extra weapon we got from the last exploration. Got around 25 million. Way more than I expected."
Huh. That's… a lot, James thought, eyes widening slightly.
Kai pulled out a card and handed it to him. "Here's your 5 million cut. Just scan it and input your bank details. It'll go through instantly. They deduct 1% as bank fees."
Moon raised an eyebrow, still chewing. Wait— 5 million?!
Kai handed over two more cards. "These are Ruby's and Minji's. You can give it to them when they come."
James smiled. "Nope, that's all you. They're coming tonight for a celebration. I suggested it, actually."
Kai nodded slowly. Fair enough. A small get-together won't hurt.
---
Moon, by now, had finished every last crumb. His face was smeared with chocolate and chip dust like a 5-year-old left unsupervised.
He walked to the sink, rinsed the plate, and then scrubbed his face clean.
He walked over to Kai and asked, "So… party tonight or what? I'll go out and eat if not."
James raised his hand. "There is a party. Just go shower and get dressed."
Moon didn't argue. He turned and walked off toward the bathroom.
Kai followed soon after, heading to his own room.
But as he closed the door, a strange feeling passed through his chest.
What am I forgetting? It's right there… just out of reach.
---
Moon finished first. He walked out wearing a simple t-shirt and joggers, drying his damp hair with a towel.
Kai emerged shortly after in a soft yellow t-shirt and loose trousers.
The living room now looked like a casual celebration hall.
There were drinks of all kinds lined up, appetizers steaming under lids, and mood lights glowing softly.
Kai blinked as he stepped down.
Moon stepped into the living room and looked around, a bit impressed himself.
But the moment his eyes locked onto the perfectly grilled steak, his mouth watered like a dog in front of a butcher shop.
"Just a taste—"
SMACK.
James slapped his hand away.
"Wait for everyone!"
Moon winced and groaned. "Tch… sadist."
He dropped into the sofa, sulking like a kid who'd been grounded. I should've just eaten in the shower…
Kai smirked slightly. He walked over to the drink table, admiring the selection.
Gin, whiskey, aged rum… whoever stocked this knew exactly what I like.
Kai wasn't a heavy drinker—but he enjoyed alcohol the way others enjoyed music: with appreciation and control.
Moon, on the other hand, hated the stuff. One sip and he acted like he'd licked acid.
---
Five minutes later, the door buzzed.
Minji and Ruby stepped in, casually dressed—black jackets and trousers.
Nothing flashy. Just cool and relaxed.
But the moment they entered, the atmosphere subtly shifted. Warmer. More electric.
Ruby gave him a quick smile. Moon blinked—and quickly looked toward the steak.
The night had just begun.
To be continued...