25:HNH Associates [5] : Epilogue/Incheon:Prologue
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James turned back around and lowered himself into the chair. This time, his aura had changed—no more sly smiles or playful tones. His expression was a flat blade, honed and cold. Elbows planted on the armrests, legs firm on the ground, he stared dead into Yuujin's eyes.
"You know what impact your arrival had on my plan… don't you?"
Yuujin set the glass of water down, the faint clink echoing in the cold room. He waited a beat before answering.
"I.... have an idea about it."
James's voice cut in immediately.
"You absolutely destroyed it."
Yuujin's gaze tightened. His eyes widened slightly, but his face otherwise didn't move.
"You absolutely destroyed my plan after you defeated Joongoo Kim and Kitae Kim in Incheon."
A faint twitch ran through Yuujin's calf muscle under the table.
"My connection with Kitae Kim? Diminished. He's back in Mexico for a few days… And Joongoo? I don't even know where the hell he is."
James leaned back slightly, running a hand through his hair, his tone sharper now.
"And that—" he adjusted his posture, leaning forward into the shadows, "—is why I had to create an alternative to my plan. And…"
He lowered his chin, letting the dim light cut across his face. His voice grew heavier, the air in the room almost freezing.
"This is why you're a Black Tag."
Yuujin's eyes widened again. He was leaning forward now, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tightly together.
"At first," James continued, "I decided to remove you from the game I started. But then… I realized you'd make a perfect pawn."
From the side, Nobure's jaw tensed. His eyes flicked to James Lee—there was fear there, the kind you only have when you've seen something before.
"So," James said, leaning forward, voice dripping with quiet authority, "what do you think, Yuujin Jin? Are you ready to be my pawn?"
Yuujin's voice came back low, controlled.
"Would you let me go if I said I'm not?"
James smirked.
"You are certainly smart."
He tilted his head back and sighed, eyes scanning the ceiling like he was recalling something only he could see. Then, without looking at Yuujin, he asked:
"Mr. Yuujin… do you want to know what happened before you arrived? From our perspective?"
Yuujin swallowed once, slow and deliberate, then gave a short nod.
James's smile returned—but it was a different kind of smile. The kind that comes before bad news.
"Get ready for a peak story, Mr. Yuujin."
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17 Hours Earlier – Before Yuujin's Arrival
⟨Incheon⟩
A black sedan rolled into a city that looked like it had been bombed years ago and never rebuilt. Buildings leaned at strange angles. Windows were nothing but jagged teeth of glass. Streetlights hung dead over cracked pavement, and burnt-out cars sat like carcasses by the roadside.
The sedan came to a stop just past the city limits. The air was heavy with silence—no dogs barking, no wind, just the faint sound of something dripping nearby.
The rear door opened.
A mountain of a man stepped out, the weight of his boots crunching the gravel underfoot. He wore a deep red shirt with white vertical stripes, sleeves rolled, a jacket slung casually over his broad shoulders. His black trousers moved with his stride, steady and deliberate. In his hand, a wooden axe—its blade still dark with dried blood.
He stood there for a moment, looking out at the devastation like he was taking in a masterpiece.
"Ahh…" he exhaled, almost in appreciation.
"So this is the kingdom with two kings."
His voice fell few octaves.
"Incheon."
Then, without breaking his stride, he turned to the sedan and said over his shoulder, his eyes were hollow but he still had a faint smirk on his face, then he said with deep,sharp and dangerous tone.
"Come'on,Let's go hunting."
The nature name this man, a name that was a omen to Kings and was a blessing for a Jester.
The name was...
Kitae Kim.
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Next Chapter: Kitae Kim in Incheon....
Author's Note:Rushed a little