The city is always the same—or at least pretended to.
Lucas didn't.
He stood on the rooftop of a building opposite KangTech's main office, black coat flapping lightly in the wind. Below, cars and streetlights painted the streets like veins in the dark.
Rafael was beside him, quietly setting up a laptop.
"All set," Rafael said. "The cameras are hacked. Security systems disabled. You're clear for fifteen minutes."
Lucas didn't respond immediately. He only looked at the building across the street, the headquarters of the company that destroyed his family. Every glass wall, every lit office, every desk—it was all a target.
"È tutto pronto."
(Everything is ready.)
He tapped the laptop gently. A floor plan appeared on the screen. Lucas's finger traced a path.
"Tonight," he said calmly, "they see nothing… and feel everything."
---
Inside KangTech Headquarters
Employees were finishing late reports, unaware their systems had been silently compromised.
Chairman Han paced his office, phone pressed to his ear.
"Yes, monitor all servers. Nothing leaves this building. And… yes… check Lucas Lee."
Even from here, he could sense that Lucas had begun moving.
---
Outside — The Strike
Lucas moved like a shadow. Silently, efficiently. By the time security realized the first screen had been disabled, Lucas had already extracted files from the server and left behind a small, black envelope on the CEO's desk.
Inside the envelope:
"I know everything."
No name. No signature. Just a warning.
The CEO read it and froze.
He felt it deep in his chest—the same fear everyone whispered about.
Lucas had returned.
And Lucas never failed.
---
Later — Back in the Car
Lucas reclined in the backseat. Rafael handed him a drink.
"You didn't even break a sweat," Rafael said.
Lucas tilted his head.
"Il rischio è la mia alleata."
(Risk is my ally.)
Rafael smiled faintly. "I think the city itself fears you."
Lucas didn't reply. He never bragged. But inside, he felt… satisfaction.
---
Meanwhile — Jinwoo
Jinwoo sat in his apartment, phone buzzing constantly.
Lucas had just made the news: KangTech's "secure files" had been breached overnight. No one knew how. No one saw anything.
Jinwoo stared at the headlines.
"Impossible," he muttered.
"Who… exactly is Lucas Lee?"
Even after ten years, Lucas still amazed him. And infuriated him.
But Jinwoo knew something.
This wasn't just about the files.
It was the beginning of a war.
And Lucas was already ten steps ahead.
---
Night — Ari's Apartment
Ari sat by the window, phone in hand.
A message came from Lucas:
"Tutto sotto controllo."
(Everything is under control.)
She smiled faintly.
Even though she didn't fully understand everything Lucas was doing, she trusted him.
And she worried.
The city slept.
But Lucas never did.
And tonight…
KangTech learned that the devil had returned.
---
The First Retaliation
The morning sun had barely touched Seoul when the first call came in.
Rafael picked it up, frowning.
"They're moving faster than expected. Vehicles, men… they're coming toward the warehouse."
Lucas didn't flinch. He had been expecting this.
"Bene," he muttered.
(Good.)
"Let them come."
---
The Warehouse
KangTech's men arrived in black SUVs, at least a dozen armed guards. Their leader, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, stepped out and shouted orders.
"This is the place! Search every inch!"
Lucas was already inside, unseen, perched above on the second-floor catwalk. He had entered hours earlier through a service entrance Rafael had found.
He crouched silently, observing, calculating every step.
"Troppo prevedibili."
(Too predictable.)
He smiled faintly, not because he enjoyed it—but because it made his next move effortless.
---
The Strike
One by one, KangTech's men checked the warehouse. They didn't notice the cameras being silently hacked, lights flickering, doors locking behind them.
Lucas had prepared small traps—nothing lethal, just enough to confuse, slow, and humiliate.
A crate tipped over with a loud crash. Men swore and ran toward the noise, only to find… nothing.
Another man tried opening a side door—locked.
"Impossible!" he shouted.
Lucas finally stepped into view, calm, black coat brushing against the metal railing.
"Good morning," he said quietly.
The men froze.
He leaned over slightly, eyes sharp.
"Chi di voi vuole spiegarmi perché invade la proprietà sbagliata?"
*(Which of you wants to explain why you're trespassing?)
The scarred man stepped forward, pistol raised.
Lucas's hand moved in a blur, grabbing the barrel, twisting it away. The gun went off into the ceiling harmlessly.
"That was… fast," the man muttered, wide-eyed.
"Fast?" Lucas said, voice calm, deadly. "I'm precise."
By the time KangTech realized, Lucas had already secured the files, disabled their communication devices, and locked the doors electronically.
The men were trapped.
"Uscite."
(Leave.)
Lucas's tone left no room for argument.
One by one, they fled, humiliated and furious.
---
After the Battle
Lucas stood in the middle of the empty warehouse, files in hand, looking over his silent victory.
Rafael entered.
"Files are secure?"
Lucas nodded.
"Yes. And they'll remember tonight every time they step into a warehouse again."
Rafael shook his head.
"You make it look easy."
Lucas smiled faintly.
"Non è questione di facilità… è questione di mente."
(It's not about ease… it's about the mind.)
---
Meanwhile — Ari
Ari was waiting outside, leaning against her car. Lucas walked toward her, calm, victorious.
"You didn't tell me it was dangerous," she said, frowning.
"I didn't want you involved," Lucas replied quietly.
"But you're here. Always in the middle of danger," she said softly.
Lucas looked at her briefly.
"Solo perché mi importi."
(Only because I care.)
Ari blinked. His words were soft, almost gone in the night air—but clear enough to reach her heart.
"I…" she hesitated. "You're impossible, Lucas."
He smirked faintly and didn't answer.
Some things didn't need words.
The city was theirs—for now.
But Lucas knew one thing:
KangTech would strike back harder.
And next time, it wouldn't just be files and humiliation.
It would be blood.