Chapter 45: The Past of Jack and Juan : Epilogue

Part 1: A Glimmer of Hope

The air thrummed with jubilation. Cheers echoed through the Final Council headquarters as everyone celebrated Jack's hard-fought victory. Relief and admiration shone in their eyes. Jack, battered but unbowed, stood amongst them, a newfound sense of authority radiating from him.

"You did it, Jack!" Tom boomed, clapping him on the back with enough force to nearly knock him over. "You showed Juan what it means to be a real leader!"

Jack smiled, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes. He glanced towards the empty space where Juan had once stood, a pang of regret momentarily clouding his victory. Juan had slunk away, defeated and humiliated.

Part 2: A Vanishing Act

Days turned into weeks, then months. The initial euphoria of Jack's leadership gradually gave way to a gnawing concern. Shin Baek, the wise mentor and former leader, had vanished without a trace. No one, not even his closest associates, knew where he had gone.

Jack mobilized the Final Council's resources, searching for any clue, any lead. All they found was a single, cryptic note left behind: "Don't try to find me. It's for your own safety. A very big threat approaches."

Jack's jaw clenched as he reread the note for the hundredth time. Shin Baek's words were a chilling premonition, a burden of responsibility added to his already heavy load. He vowed to find Shin Baek, no matter the cost.

Part 3: A Rising Star

Across the river, in Gangdong, a different kind of storm was brewing. Juan, fueled by his defeat at Jack's hands, embarked on a campaign of ruthless conquest. He challenged, defeated, and absorbed every major gang in Gangdong with relentless precision.

Gang leaders whispered his name in hushed tones, a mixture of awe and fear. Juan, once an orphaned street fighter, had become the undisputed ruler of Gangdong, his name synonymous with power and brutality.

Part 4: A Fateful Encounter 

Back in Present ,

The bustling port of Gangseo thrummed with activity. Cargo ships loomed on the horizon, their silhouettes stark against the setting sun. Jack, deep in thought, strolled along the docks, lost in the labyrinth of his own anxieties.

Suddenly, a voice, cold and sharp, cut through the air. "Jack Seo," it drawled, laced with a hint of mocking amusement.

Jack spun around,. Standing before him, beneath the fading light of the day, was Juan. But this wasn't the defeated fighter he had last seen. This Juan exuded an aura of power,

Chapter 45: End