A Night Painted in Betrayal
The neon city lights blurred through the rain-streaked window of the cramped apartment as Seonwoo sat alone, the bitter taste of betrayal burning in his throat.
He had trusted Park Jinyoung — the producer who promised to launch his career, who had smiled warmly and whispered dreams of stardom.
But tonight, Jinyoung's betrayal was complete.
The scandal — a fabricated rumor linking Seonwoo to illegal activities — exploded across social media. Videos were doctored, messages manipulated.
And when Seonwoo called Jinyoung, desperate for support, the line was cold and silent.
The Breaking Point
Seonwoo's world shattered overnight.
His few friends vanished, afraid to be associated.
The industry doors slammed shut.
On the cold concrete rooftop of the apartment building, under a sky smeared with thunderclouds, Seonwoo faced his darkest hour.
"I won't be a pawn," he whispered, voice hoarse.
That night, he shed the boy who dreamed of fame and became K — a shadow forged in pain.
Forging the Persona
Becoming K wasn't an act of rebellion — it was survival.
He cut ties with his past, altered his appearance, and learned the unspoken rules of power.
Instead of chasing the spotlight, he studied those who controlled it: the executives who pulled strings, the agents who whispered poison, the trainees desperate enough to betray.
K's world became a game of chess — every move calculated, every ally a piece to be used.
Building an Empire of Influence
K started small, managing side deals and favors for desperate trainees.
His reputation for ruthlessness and discretion grew.
Soon, whispers of K's involvement in agency politics circulated — he was the ghost in the machine, the puppet master nobody saw.
He wielded information like a weapon, dismantling rivals quietly, strategically.
The Cost of Power
But power came with a price.
K watched as people he once considered friends fell victim to his schemes.
He suppressed the growing emptiness inside, convincing himself that emotions were weaknesses he could no longer afford.
His nights became a series of cold calculations, phone calls, and shadowed meetings.
The Encounter with Jiho
Years later, K encountered Jiho — raw talent glowing with potential but burdened by innocence.
K saw himself in Jiho's hopeful eyes.
But he also saw danger — naïveté that could ruin him.
Choosing to mentor Jiho was a calculated risk.
K planned to use Jiho as a weapon to dismantle the corrupt industry from within, all while protecting the boy from the cruelest traps.
A Mentor's Warning
In their first meeting, K's words were blunt.
"This world doesn't reward kindness. You must learn to wear masks, to fight shadows with shadows."
Jiho listened, torn between fear and fascination.
K's mentorship was harsh but necessary — the only way to survive.
A Flicker of Humanity
Despite the darkness, K's moments with Jiho sometimes revealed a flicker of the boy he once was — a man who longed for redemption.
He was torn between using Jiho as a tool and wanting to protect him from becoming the broken soul he was.
But K knew one truth above all: in this world, innocence was a luxury no one could afford.