Beneath the Surface

The tension in the room remained thick as the gravity of the conversation between Joon-ho, Director Hye-su, and Secretary Hae-won deepened. The director's sharp eyes stayed locked on Joon-ho, her fingers lightly tapping on the armrest of her chair. It was as though she was ready to pounce, waiting for any slip-up, any sign that Joon-ho was holding back.

"How long?" Director Hye-su's first question came swiftly, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "How long have you kept this meeting with the mysterious man a secret?"

Joon-ho swallowed hard, his mind racing for a careful response.

"It's recent," he began, his voice measured. "Only a few days. After the initial incident where the server crashed, I had no idea I'd run into him again. It was purely by chance that we crossed paths this time."

Hye-su's gaze remained fixed on him, her scepticism evident.

"And in all that time, you didn't think to inform us earlier? You didn't feel it necessary to report such a significant encounter immediately?"

Joon-ho could feel the weight of her words pressing down on him, but he stood his ground.

"I didn't want to risk making assumptions or jumping to conclusions without something concrete. When I first saw him, I didn't know who or what he was. It wasn't until we spoke again that I realized he could alter the system itself—make himself invisible to the security protocols."

Hae-won shifted in her seat, her eyes narrowing as she followed the conversation intently, fingers hovering over her keyboard as if waiting for more data to analyze.

"And no one else knows about this?" Director Hye-su continued, her voice unwavering, her interrogation relentless. "Not your teammates, not your friends, not anyone?"

"No," Joon-ho replied, shaking his head slightly. "I haven't told anyone else. I didn't want to cause a panic or drag them into something this dangerous. The only person who knows about him is me."

The rapid fire of questions didn't stop.

"Why didn't the system backfire like it usually does with illegal tampering? We've seen countless attempts to bypass NexaRealm's protocols, and the system reacts instantly. But this man… not a single blip on our radar. How?"

Joon-ho took a breath, trying to remain calm. This was the moment he had anticipated, the moment where every word mattered.

"He's not like anyone I've read online who had tried to hack NexaRealm before. It's not just regular hacking—it's something else. He can manipulate the code, and bend it to his will without triggering any alarms. He's able to slip through the cracks and hide himself in plain sight. That's how he's stayed undetected."

Hye-su leaned back slightly, her eyes narrowing as she absorbed Joon-ho's words. Her mind worked fast, piecing together the possibilities, while Hae-won continued to quietly monitor the conversation.

"Interesting," Director Hye-su muttered under her breath, though Joon-ho couldn't tell if she was speaking to him or thinking aloud. Then her eyes snapped back to him, the intensity never wavering. "So, you're telling me that this man is not only capable of infiltrating NexaRealm but he's also been in contact with you directly. And yet, you've held onto this information for days, withholding it from us. What are you waiting for, Joon-ho? Why meet me now?"

Joon-ho felt a bead of sweat roll down his back. This was the moment he'd prepared for, the moment where he needed to keep his leverage intact. He couldn't reveal everything yet. He needed to play his cards right.

"I… I wanted to make sure I had all the facts before coming to you," Joon-ho said carefully. "I needed to be sure that what I was seeing and hearing was real. And now that I am, I thought it was important to bring this to you. But…" He hesitated, knowing the risk of the next few words. "There's more to this than just what I've told you so far. There are still things I haven't revealed—because I need something in return."

Both Hye-su and Hae-won stiffened at the implication. Director Hye-su's eyes darkened, and her lips curled into a slight frown.

"Bargaining? You're in no position to make demands, Joon-ho. This situation is far bigger than you."

"I know," Joon-ho replied, his voice firmer now. "But that's exactly why I'm asking for something. What I'm holding back is important—important enough that it could help us find him. But I need assurances. For me, and my team."

Hye-su's gaze burned into him, but Joon-ho didn't flinch. The desperation in his eyes was clear, but it was matched by determination. He wasn't backing down.

For a long moment, the room was silent as Director Hye-su regarded him, weighing the truth of his words. Joon-ho's heart raced, but he kept his expression steady, hoping he had said enough to convince her without giving too much away.

The conversation was far from over, but Joon-ho knew that this was just the beginning of the real test. He had cleared the first hurdle—but there were many more to come.

Director Hye-su leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk in front of her. Her expression was unreadable, though her sharp eyes remained focused on Joon-ho. She could sense the desperation in him—clear, palpable—but desperation alone wouldn't win this game. She needed to see just how deep his resolve truly ran.

"Tell me something, Joon-ho," she began, her tone deceptively light. "You seem to believe that the information you've withheld from us is enough to change your fate. I'd be willing to strike a deal with you because of it. But let me ask you this—what makes you think we can't simply take what we need from you?"

Joon-ho felt the weight of her question sink in. He had expected something like this—an attempt to shake him, to see if he would falter. But he had come prepared. His plan, though born out of desperation, was meticulous. Jin-ho had ensured that. And while the mysterious man remained shrouded in secrecy, even from him, Joon-ho knew one thing for sure: Jin-ho had been careful enough to leave no trace.

He met Director Hye-su's gaze, his voice steady.

"I'm not naïve, Director. I know you have the power to access anything you want. The system is yours to command. But there's nothing there. No record, no footage, no proof of the man's existence. If there was, I wouldn't be sitting here right now. The system would've flagged it already, and you wouldn't need me to tell you anything."

Director Hye-su narrowed her eyes slightly, her lips curling into the faintest hint of a smile.

"So, you're saying there's nothing to find. That I'm supposed to take your word for it?"

Joon-ho nodded.

"That's right. Jin-ho—this man—he's covered his tracks. There's no evidence, no breadcrumbs. He made sure of that. And if I told you everything I knew right now, you'd still be left in the dark. That's why I'm here—to offer you something in exchange. A way to bring him out of the shadows."

For a moment, the room was silent. Joon-ho held his breath, waiting for her next move. He knew this was risky—playing his cards so close to his chest—but he had no other option. He needed to protect his team and his friends. That was the only reason he had come this far.

Director Hye-su studied him, her expression unreadable. Inwardly, she was impressed. Despite the threats she had laid out, Joon-ho wasn't crumbling. His resolve was stronger than she had anticipated. But she wasn't about to let him know that.

"Interesting," she said finally, leaning forward slightly. "But let me be clear, Joon-ho. You and your team are in this situation because of your actions. The in-fighting, the disastrous performance—it's your fault you're here, not mine. You understand that, don't you?"

Joon-ho swallowed hard.

"I do. But you also altered the rules without warning. You pushed us into a corner, and we reacted out of desperation. I'm not excusing what happened, but I'm asking for a second chance—for my team to prove we're better than that. We can still represent Korea in the World Championship. We've earned that spot, and I know we can redeem ourselves."

Director Hye-su raised an eyebrow.

"Redemption, huh? Bold words. But you see, punishing your team wasn't just about the rules—it was necessary. A team that can't work together is a liability. You're a liability. And yet…" She trailed off, her fingers once again drumming softly on the desk.

Joon-ho felt a flicker of hope. She was thinking it over. She was considering it.

"In truth," she continued. "I've already thought about giving Team 2 a chance to redeem themselves. You're right—thanks to Soo-jin, you won the crown back. And despite the chaos, you've secured your spot. But that doesn't absolve you, or Min-jae, from the damage you caused. You both need to reform—learn from this failure."

Joon-ho blinked, surprised.

"You're… considering it?"

"Considering it?" Hye-su echoed with a smirk. "I've already made my decision. The question now is whether you can prove to me that you're worth the risk. But make no mistake, Joon-ho—your leverage here is thin. Very thin. One wrong word, one slip, and I'll use everything you've told me against you."

Her words were laced with a threat, but Joon-ho wasn't rattled. He had been expecting this, and his resolve only hardened. He had come too far to back down now.

"I understand the risk," Joon-ho said quietly. "But I believe in my team. I believe we deserve this chance. And I believe that what I know about Jin-ho can help you—help NexaCorp."

Director Hye-su smiled a thin, dangerous smile.

"We'll see, won't we?"

The conversation shifted, the dynamic between them slowly becoming clear. Director Hye-su wasn't just testing Joon-ho's loyalty or his knowledge—she was testing his strength. She wanted to see if he could withstand the pressure if he had what it took to navigate the complexities of the system she had built.

But Joon-ho, thanks to the careful planning of Jin-ho, had left no gaps for her to exploit. He had prepared for this, and now he just needed to hold his ground.

For now, the upper hand was still his.