On the other hand, Ji-ho's day was different today. Perhaps for the first time, every chop, stir, and plating he did had a perfect rhythm. In front of everyone in the kitchen, he showed such skill that it silenced all the doubters.The entire kitchen staff, who until yesterday only counted his mistakes, were now looking at him with slight smiles. One of the chefs said,"Nice plating, Ji-ho. Your hand is getting steadier with presentation."Ji-ho bowed his head slightly with a faint smile."Thank you, Chef."Even the Head Chef's tone was friendly towards Ji-ho now. But some of the other kitchen staff still refused to talk to him.Yes, the mocking comments and secret laughter from before — none of that happened today. There was a dull silence, but one that brought peace to Ji-ho.For the first time, he didn't feel like an outsider in the kitchen; he felt like a professional.He took off his apron, locked his locker, and despite feeling a bit tired, his heart felt light as he left.But often, after moments of peace like these, life delivers its deepest blows.Ji-ho had no idea yet that a storm was quietly approaching on the path of his life.
It was already 11 PM. The entire floor was a high-security zone. Behind thick glass walls, in a dimly lit conference room, the core team of the Black Division was engaged in discussion.Around the conference table sat elite, military-style officers dressed in black uniforms — Min-jae was projecting files, photos, and maps on a large screen using a digital remote. His voice was cold, yet every word carried a hidden wounded pain."In the last six months, 27 new recruits have disappeared," Min-jae said. "They were all from local towns, backward villages, or shelters. All were given the same kind of job offer — no verification, no contracts."An officer in the team immediately asked,"Any records? CCTV? Exit logs?"Min-jae shook his head. "All that has been very carefully erased. Not one of them returned home. The families left behind are either legally powerless or so poor that pursuing the case is impossible for them."That's why they disappear these people so easily, and till now, no one has had any clue about it.
One officer immediately said, "This looks like direct trafficking. We need to catch these people right away. Who knows how many have already fallen prey to them!"Before anyone else could respond, Joon Hyunk gave a firm and cold reply:"No. We cannot do this impulsively; we must act with strategy."All eyes turned to the chief."If we attack them directly, the mastermind behind all this will never reveal themselves. Those people are just pawns in this game. I want the mastermind. And the mastermind will only come forward once we earn their trust..."An officer asked, confused,"Trust? Are you saying we have to pretend to be on their side now?"Joon Hyunk looked at him with a slight smirk. Min-jae stepped away from the screen and stood beside Joon Hyunk. Their presence now dominated the entire room.Min-jae spoke slowly,"Yes. That's exactly what we have to do. Do you know something, officer?"The officer narrowed his eyes and asked, "What?"Min-jae looked at him and said, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." And if we show them that we are also the enemy of their enemy, they will surely come to us for friendship — to gain power for themselves.
A deep silence filled the room. Min-jae continued,"If we want to clean this mess, we have to get into it. Standing on the edge will never let us understand the depth of this mud. Nor will we ever realize how deeply the filth has settled."
Everyone in the room was now convinced by Min-jae's words. The plan was risky, but strategic.Beast showed Ji-ho's profile on the screen and said,"This boy is new there right now, and we are certain that he will be their next target, because all the traits match those of the missing people."
Joon Hyunk finally gave the order,"Start surveillance on him. If he really is a victim, we have to protect him. And maybe he's the person who can lead us to the other missing people. That's why this boy is important for us right now."
The atmosphere in the room was more focused and tense than before. Holographic displays on the walls showed hotel layouts, encrypted files, and staff profiles. Around the conference table, soldiers were ready to perform their tasks.
This was not just a mission — it was a hidden war against an entire system. And in this war, every soldier had a specific role to play.
Joon Hyunk — The team head or chief. He himself was a force to be reckoned with, a beast for criminals and anyone who tried to stand in his way. This was largely true because the beast's body was human, but in reality, he hunted his prey like an animal. He had never felt emotions, which kept his mind always under control. Beast was the son of a mafia boss, which gave him the mindset of both a criminal and a soldier. That's why no one had ever been able to defeat him, not even his own father.
Min-jae — Joon Hyunk's second-in-command. After him, only Min-jae had the authority to give orders to the team. He was highly skilled in computer programming, data infiltration, and surveillance systems. If any powerful system needed to be hacked or cameras installed without detection, Min-jae was an expert in the world of computers.
Major Sang-hoon — Veteran military officer and handler of illegal operations. Over time, he developed a quiet authority. He was the oldest in the team and had known Beast since childhood. Having worked in many dark ops for the army, he now worked under Beast, standing on the edge of the law.
Captain Jin-woo — Sang-hoon's son. Young, brilliant, and dangerously sharp. He was like an encyclopedia of weapons. His mind for tactical warfare and weapons strategy was no less than an AI. The strategies he designed had never failed.
Ground-level Operatives — Several other officers who worked directly under Captain Jin-woo and Major Sang-hoon. Each had specialized training in special operations and deep cover assignments.
Joon Hyunk looked at Jin-woo, as some holograms flashed before him, and said,"Jin-woo, considering this situation... what will your strategy be? You must have understood everything by now."
Without wasting any time, Jin-woo used his sharp mind and began explaining calmly but with focus,"From what I understand about this mission so far, I think Min-jae needs to create a narrative where Mr. Han believes that Min-jae no longer wants to follow the Chief. Maybe he disagrees with the Chief's decisions or is in the mood to betray him."
"Look... after the Chief, the person with the most influence in the team is Min-jae. If Mr. Han believes that a loyal man like Min-jae is going against the Chief, he will immediately try to win Min-jae over. He will think that if Min-jae joins him, the Chief will no longer be a threat to him."