The Hunt Begins III

Jinyoung sat in the corner of the bustling café, sipping on his Starbucks drink, seemingly lost in thought. To any passerby, he appeared like an ordinary middle schooler—messy hair, short in stature, and dressed in a simple white hoodie. He looked carefree, even naive, but there was a sharpness in his eyes, a depth hidden behind the innocent exterior.

A phone was pressed to his ear, his tone calm but calculated. "Trust me, hyung, Goo Kim isn't the type to move a muscle unless he sees some profit." He leaned back in his seat, watching the baristas behind the counter as they went about their work. "Unless someone pulled his strings, he wouldn't have come to H-High without a plan. Someone's definitely playing in the middle. The best way is to throw out some bait. They'll get greedy, and it'll be easier to catch them this way."

The voice on the other end was deep and authoritative. "I know someone's involved, but don't do anything stupid, Jinyoung. Don't get Toji mixed up in this. It'd be embarrassing to involve him in something as trivial as this."

The call ended, leaving Jinyoung to his thoughts.

He stared out of the window, his mind churning over the pieces of information he had gathered. The Five Major Crews of Seoul, each controlling a distinct region, had always been in competition. They operated like a chessboard, with each group positioning its members to gain territory or power. The gangs were divided by the Han River into five regions: North, West, East, South, and a wildcard area that floated between all of them the central Seoul now ruled by division.

The Workers controlled the South, dominating the Gangnam area. Their operations were more like a business than a gang, making them hard to trace. Members were often dressed as professionals, blending into the city without drawing attention. Jinyoung knew they were an unpredictable group, driven by profit and capable of playing long, strategic games.

The East was controlled by Hostel, a gang that had been quiet recently. They had no reason to involve themselves with Division, which made them a non-issue in Jinyoung's mind. The West was the territory of Big Deal, but Jake Kim, the leader, had already been dealt with—currently rotting in jail for illegal betting and scams. That left the North, controlled by God Dog, the most aggressive crew as of late.

God Dog's leader, Johan Seong, had been making moves, defeating smaller gangs in the northern districts and absorbing them into his own. Though God Dog was unlikely to attack Division directly, their growing influence was impossible to ignore.

Jinyoung's instincts told him the Workers were likely behind the recent movements, but God Dog's sudden aggressiveness couldn't be ruled out. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the café bell chiming. The door swung open, and a group of young men entered, their presence immediately altering the atmosphere.

Jinyoung's eyes narrowed as he recognized the man in the center. "Jinchang," he muttered under his breath, his tone icy.

Jinchang, the vice president of God Dog, was hard to miss. Dark hair, piercing eyes, and thick eyebrows gave him an intimidating presence. Three silver piercings decorated his face—two above and below his right eyebrow, and one on the side of his nose. His menacing grin sent a wave of tension through the café, and the casual atmosphere quickly evaporated.

"Good to see you know me," Jinchang said, stepping closer to Jinyoung, his grin fading as he lowered his voice. "Makes things easier."

The God Dog members surrounded Jinyoung's table, their expressions cold, confident. Jinchang leaned in, his face now inches away from Jinyoung's, but just as he was about to say something, the screech of chairs being pushed back filled the café. The God Dog members turned, their eyes widening at the sight.

A group of Division members had entered the café, each one wearing black jackets emblazoned with a large red 'D' on the back. They were armed with metal bats, brass knuckles, and chains. The café had quickly transformed from a casual meeting spot into a powder keg of tension.

"But it's too bad you don't know much about me," Jinyoung said, his previously naive expression vanishing. His eyes hardened as he locked gazes with Jinchang. The calm middle schooler was gone, replaced by someone far more dangerous.

Jinchang, though, didn't seem fazed. He scanned the room, taking in the Division members who had shown up. "No Kevin? No Joseph?" he looked disappointed. "Looks like you've got a lot to learn, kid."

As if on cue, the café door swung open again, this time revealing a towering figure—a bald man with a muscular build, holding two Division members in his grip. He effortlessly tossed them to the ground like ragdolls, the thud of their bodies hitting the floor echoing through the room.

Jerry Kwon had arrived.

Jerry Kwon, the sword of Big Deal and Jake Kim's right-hand man, stood by the door, his massive frame practically shaking with anger. His eyes still burned from the humiliation he and Jake suffered at the hands of Toji Park. That memory was seared into his mind—Toji wiping the floor with both of them, as if they were nothing more than insects to be crushed. Big Deal had a score to settle, and Jerry was ready for blood.

Jinyoung felt the tension radiating off Jerry like a heatwave, but he remained seated, seemingly indifferent to Jerry's presence. He knew exactly what Jerry wanted—a fight, a chance to redeem himself after his crushing defeat. But Jinyoung had other plans, ones that didn't involve throwing Division into chaos over something as predictable as revenge.

Jinyoung's world abruptly went black as he felt a sharp, sudden blow to the back of his head. The cafe, the noise, the murmurs—it all seemed to disappear in an instant. His body swayed for a moment before his legs gave way beneath him, collapsing onto the floor with a dull thud.

The last thing he saw before darkness consumed him was Jerry Kwon's towering figure at the door, his furious gaze boring into the scene like a storm ready to break.

Jinyoung's vision swirled, blurring into nothingness.

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As Zack, Mira, Daniel, and Haeun walked down the school hallway toward the library, the atmosphere was a blend of excitement and anxiety. Midterms were approaching, and while they were all preparing for the exams, the group's dynamic was far from ordinary. Zack, as usual, was busy trying to impress Mira. His athletic frame moved confidently beside her, and though he pretended to be casual, his compliments were anything but subtle.

"You know," Zack began, his voice casual but with a slight edge of nervousness, "I always wondered how you stay so calm during exams, Mira. You don't even seem to stress out at all."

Mira raised an eyebrow, half-turning toward Zack. "Is that supposed to be a compliment or an observation?" she asked, trying to sound annoyed, though the light shade of pink creeping up her neck suggested otherwise.

Zack scratched the back of his head, chuckling nervously. "A compliment. Definitely a compliment," he clarified, though he looked like he was second-guessing his words as soon as they left his mouth. He grinned at her, a bit sheepishly. "I mean, you're always cool under pressure. It's impressive."

Mira's face reddened further, but she rolled her eyes as if dismissing him. "Well, not everyone freaks out like you do, Zack. Maybe you should try studying ahead of time for once."

"Oh, I do study," Zack replied quickly, trying to defend himself but failing to hide his embarrassment. "I just… have a different style. You know, last-minute cramming and all that."

Mira huffed, the corners of her lips twitching as she tried to suppress a smile. "Right. Some style."

But the way her voice wavered slightly and the pink tinge in her cheeks betrayed her annoyance. Zack noticed but didn't seem to care; he was too busy watching her reaction, finding it adorable even if she was clearly pretending to be annoyed.

Daniel, walking just a step behind them, had been observing the interaction. Seeing how Zack's compliment affected Mira gave him an idea. He glanced at Haeun, who was walking quietly beside him. She looked peaceful, her eyes focused ahead, almost lost in thought. Daniel, trying to emulate Zack's approach, cleared his throat.

"Hey, uh, Haeun," Daniel began, his voice a little too loud and awkwardly chipper, causing Zack and Mira to turn their heads slightly, already sensing trouble.

Haeun blinked and looked at him with her usual polite smile. "Yes, Daniel?"

He hesitated, then launched into what he thought was a compliment. "Your... um... your hair smells really nice. Like, not in a weird way, but, you know, like shampoo, but good shampoo, not cheap stuff. Like... fresh laundry? But softer?"

The words hung in the air, and for a split second, time seemed to freeze. Zack's jaw almost dropped, and Mira's face flushed again, but this time out of pure secondhand embarrassment. They both exchanged horrified glances, unsure of how to process what Daniel had just said.

Haeun, ever the innocent and somewhat oblivious, simply smiled at Daniel. "Oh! Thank you, Daniel. I use that floral shampoo from the store. I guess it works well."

She seemed genuinely appreciative, which only made the whole situation even worse. Zack covered his mouth to stifle a laugh, while Mira's eyes widened as if silently screaming at Daniel to stop.

But Daniel, perhaps emboldened by her response, continued. "Yeah, I figured... you know, with hair like yours, it's probably really soft too, right? I mean, uh, not that I've touched it or anything, but I bet it's... silky."

Mira let out a small, awkward cough, and Zack was now biting his lip, trying desperately not to laugh out loud. The whole thing was spiraling into a cringe-worthy spectacle, and neither of them could do anything to stop it.

Daniel, seemingly unaware of how bad things had gotten, kept going. "I mean, it must be great waking up with hair like that. Mine's all messy in the morning. But yours probably looks perfect even when you wake up, right?"

Zack finally couldn't hold it in and let out a small, strangled laugh. Mira elbowed him in the side, but she was just as horrified. They exchanged another look, both thinking, What is Daniel doing?!

Haeun, completely unaware of the awkwardness, nodded cheerfully. "It does take some time to brush, but I guess it's not too bad."

Daniel beamed, feeling like he was finally nailing this compliment thing. "Yeah, I bet it's worth it, though. I mean, your hair is like... a waterfall, or like... silk sheets on a bed, or something. Really... elegant, you know?"

Zack audibly groaned this time, slapping his hand to his forehead, and Mira's hand was clenched into a fist, resisting the urge to physically drag Daniel away before he made things any worse. The tension between them was almost unbearable now.

"Daniel," Mira interrupted, her voice tight as she attempted to defuse the situation. "Don't you think we should, uh, hurry? The library's gonna close soon."

"Yeah," Zack chimed in, his voice a little too enthusiastic. "We've got exams to study for. Don't want to waste time... talking about hair."

Daniel blinked, looking at them as if he had no idea why they were both acting so weird. But he nodded in agreement. "Oh, yeah, right. Midterms."

Haeun, still smiling sweetly, glanced between the three of them, oblivious to the awkward energy. "Thank you for the compliments, Daniel. It's really nice of you to notice these things."

Daniel smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Anytime, Haeun. You know, you're really... uh, nice."

As they continued walking, Haeun's phone rang, interrupting the silence. She glanced at the screen and answered quickly, "Sorry, uncle! I was in a hurry. I'm with my friends right now, so I'll call you when I get out of the library. Please have tea and something to eat while you wait. I'll be late… No, no, it's okay, uncle. I'll tell Toji. Thank you."

After hanging up, Mira turned to her, curious. "Who was that?"

Haeun smiled softly. "It's my new driver. After the incident at the school festival, my brother strictly forbade me from going anywhere alone. He appointed a driver for me—he's kind of like an uncle to me. He's very kind and good-hearted. He even has a daughter my age." she said smiling.

Mira grinned, giving Haeun a playful nudge. "Oh, you really are a princess, aren't you?"

Haeun's cheeks flushed, and she shook her head with a shy smile. "I'm not… he's just looking out for me."

Mira laughed, teasing, "A protective brother and a personal driver? Yeah, definitely princess treatment."

The library was just ahead, only a few minutes away, but as Zack, Daniel, Mira, and Haeun walked closer, something felt off.

The normally peaceful shortcut with people going here and there now had grown eerily silent. Mira slowed her pace, glancing nervously at Zack, who, with his heightened instincts, was already on edge. Daniel, still a little awkward from his earlier conversation with Haeun, noticed Zack's shift in demeanor and scanned their surroundings.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from both sides of the road, A large group of people, dressed in similar black jackets and ominous smirks, began closing in on them. The group wasn't just a handful of troublemakers—it was a mob. At least a hundred people on either side, all armed with bats, chains, and brass knuckles. They were completely surrounded.

Zack's fists clenched as he moved in front of Mira and Haeun instinctively, standing in a protective stance. Daniel mirrored him, his heart pounding as his eyes darted from one attacker to the next. Despite the growing fear bubbling inside him, Daniel forced himself to remain calm. This wasn't the first time he'd been in a dangerous situation since acquiring his new body, but this was different. There were too many of them, and they weren't just looking for a fight—they were out for blood.

The leader of the mob stepped forward, a sneer on his face as he surveyed the group. "Well, well, look what we have here. Isn't it Zack Lee? The famous boxer. And you've brought friends. What a surprise."

Zack gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want?" he growled, his fists tightening in anticipation.

The leader chuckled darkly, looking over at Haeun, who was trembling behind Zack. "We're not really here for you. We've got our eyes on the girl. But, if you insist on playing hero, well… we'll have to take care of you first."

Zack didn't wait for any more threats. He lunged forward with a powerful punch aimed straight at the leader's face, his boxing instincts kicking in. His fist connected with the man's jaw, sending him stumbling backward. But before Zack could even catch his breath, three more attackers rushed him from the side.

Daniel reacted quickly, his body moving faster than his thoughts. With a speed and strength that still surprised him, he intercepted one of the attackers, grabbing their wrist and twisting it violently, forcing the man to drop his weapon. Daniel's eyes burned with an intensity that hadn't been there before—he wasn't the same weak kid he used to be.

However, despite their best efforts, it became clear that the odds were stacked against them. More and more of the mob poured in from both sides, overwhelming Zack and Daniel.

Zack fought valiantly, every punch and kick landing with precision, but the numbers were too great. He found himself surrounded, outnumbered five to one. A chain wrapped around his arm, yanking him backward, while another attacker swung a bat at his ribs. Zack grunted in pain but powered through, elbowing one man in the face and kicking another in the stomach. But no matter how hard he fought, they kept coming.

Meanwhile, Daniel was struggling to adjust to the sheer scale of the fight. His new body was strong, but he was still learning how to control it, how to use it efficiently. He ducked under a punch, countered with a knee to his attacker's gut, and spun around to deliver a powerful kick. But the mob was relentless. One man grabbed him by the collar, slamming him into the wall. Another drove a knee into Daniel's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

Despite the pain, Daniel refused to go down. His vision blurred, and he could hear Zack struggling nearby, but he couldn't stop now. Not when Mira and Haeun were still in danger. He pushed off the wall, shoving the attackers away with a surge of adrenaline, but more hands grabbed him, pinning him against the cold concrete.

"Is this all you've got?" one of the attackers sneered, his face inches from Daniel's as he shoved him harder against the wall. "Some big shot you are."

Daniel's head throbbed from the impact, and his limbs felt heavy, but his eyes blazed with defiance. He tried to free himself, but the sheer number of people pressing him against the wall made it impossible. They taunted him, laughing at his futile attempts to escape, while others in the mob focused their attention on Zack, who was barely holding on.

Zack fought fiercely, but the constant hits began to take their toll. A sharp blow to his side sent him crumpling to the ground, gasping for air. He tried to stand, but another kick to his stomach knocked him back down. His vision blurred, "Miraa.." he muttered trying to get up and before he knew it, everything went black.

"Zack!" Mira cried out, her voice shaky as she watched him collapse. Fear gripped her, her hands trembling as she fumbled with her phone, trying to dial for help. Her eyes darted toward Haeun, who stood frozen, her face pale with fear.

Mira quickly stood in front of Haeun, her entire body trembling as she held the phone tightly, her fingers shaking as she pressed the emergency number. But just as she hit the call button, one of the mob members snatched the phone from her hand.

"Going somewhere with this?" he sneered, holding the phone above his head before smashing it against the ground. The screen shattered into pieces, and Mira's heart sank. She had no way of calling for help now.

Haeun whimpered behind her, and Mira felt a surge of determination despite her fear. She stepped closer to Haeun, her voice shaking but firm. "Stay behind me, Haeun."

The two girls were surrounded now, their backs against the wall as the mob closed in. Mira's breath hitched, but she tried to remain strong. She stood in front of Haeun, shielding her friend as best she could, but her hands trembled, and she could feel the cold sweat running down her back.

The leader of the mob walked up to them, smirking as he looked at Mira's futile stance. "What's this? Are you going to protect her?" he mocked, his voice dripping with cruelty.

Mira's heart raced, but she refused to back down. "Don't come any closer," she warned, though her voice quivered.

The leader chuckled. "Cute." He raised his hand, signaling his men to move in.