The thread between us

The next morning, Jiah sat quietly in her room, deep in thought.

> Why is Ryu Hwan trying so hard to keep everything hidden from me? What could be so serious that he'd rather I know nothing at all?

She glanced outside and saw Ember and the twin brothers laughing together in the living room. A small smile tugged at her lips.

> They're so childish despite being so... powerful. Then again, Ember really is just a kid. Looking at them like this, they seem like three little boys playing—and Ryu Hwan… like their exhausted father.

But her smile faded as her eyes fell on Ryu Hwan. Standing on the far end of the hall, he was on a call, visibly tense. His brows were furrowed, his jaw clenched.

Jiah instinctively got up and walked to her door, watching silently.

> Who is he talking to? And why does he look so stressed...? Should I ask him? No, maybe not... I don't want him to misunderstand. We're just mission partners. Not lovers. And he's a bit... unhinged.

The call ended, and Ryu Hwan turned. His eyes met hers, and he approached her slowly.

"You've been standing here like a statue," he said, voice calm but observant. "Is there something on your mind?"

Jiah flinched a little, then shook her head with a forced smile. "No, nothing. I was just… looking around."

> I can't get too close. He's unpredictable. This isn't a romance. I'm here for a mission, not to question his every move.

Ryu Hwan looked at her seriously. "I might have to leave for a while. There's something I need to handle. But I want you to stay inside, understand? Don't go anywhere. And take care of yourself."

Jiah nodded quietly, but something in his voice made her uneasy.

Meanwhile, in his own thoughts, Ryu Hwan tried to bury the storm rising within.

> I can't tell you everything yet, Jiah. I need to be sure before I involve you. You deserve the truth—but only when I've uncovered all of it. I hope you'll forgive me… for keeping these secrets. It's the only way I know how to protect you.

Without another word, he turned away, giving final instructions to the twins.

"Twins, keep an eye on Jiah."

"Yes, boss," Ha Rin and Ha Jin said in sync, with a playful salute.

And then, in a blink, Ryu Hwan vanished.

---

The day passed slowly. Jiah wandered around the house, flipping through books in Ryu Hwan's study, admiring the rare and antique pieces he'd collected. Her curiosity only grew.

Far away from the peaceful house, Ryu Hwan sat across from Dimitri—an infamous core smuggler, ruthless and greedy. They faced each other like rivals on a battlefield.

"I came to make you a deal," Ryu Hwan said coldly. "The rare cores you stole the night of the blast—I want them. Name your price."

Dimitri let out a twisted laugh, voice mocking.

"The leader of the N1N Zone himself... or should I say, the last heir of the Valley of Dragon Spirits, who doesn't even know how to wield his own powers properly?"

Ryu Hwan's eyes narrowed, fury burning beneath his calm exterior.

He snapped his fingers—and in an instant, a red flame snaked through the air, gripping Dimitri by the throat and throwing him off his chair. Ryu Hwan walked over slowly, eyes like embers.

"For a person like you, I don't even need one percent of my power," he whispered. "Touch you? I don't even have to."

With a flick of his hand, Dimitri's body slammed into the table, breaking it in half.

Ryu Hwan leaned closer, voice sharp. "Tell me where the cores are… or I'll show you what hell really feels like."

Bleeding and shaking, Dimitri gasped, "I—I don't have them, I swear! Please, let me go!"

Ryu Hwan clenched his fist, and the fire around Dimitri's throat tightened.

"I said... where?"

---

Back in the quiet house, Jiah sat on her bed when her phone buzzed.

It was a call from Shin Joo.

"Jiah! Where are you? I've been trying to reach you for days!"

Jiah paused. "It's a long story. I'll explain when we meet."

But Shin Joo cut in, desperate. "Please… I need to talk to you right now. It's about your parents."

Her breath hitched. Her heart began to race.

> My parents...?

She remembered Ryu Hwan's warning: Don't go anywhere.

But this… this was about the people she'd lost.

"I'm coming," she said, ending the call with trembling fingers.

> How will I get out? The twins and Ember won't let me leave. But I need to know what Shin Joo found out—what he knows about my mom and dad…

She clutched the dragon pendant at her neck, eyes falling on the window.

Without a second thought, she leapt out, landing hard—but safe. Then she ran, pressed the dragon symbol on her pendant—

—and vanished.

From behind the curtains, Ember's eyes widened. He'd seen everything.

He rushed inside to tell the twins, flailing his arms.

"What is it?" Ha Rin asked.

"Wait... WHAT? She ran away?!" Ha Jin screamed.

"Ran away?! How?! WHEN?!" Ha Rin added.

"She's dead. We're dead. Boss will roast us alive!" Ha Jin panicked.

Ha Rin smacked his head. "Shut up and let Ember talk!"

Somehow, Ember managed to explain.

The twins stared at each other, stunned.

"…Now what?" Ha Jin whispered.

---

Meanwhile, Jiah reached Seoul and went straight to Shin Joo's home. As soon as he opened the door, he pulled her into a sudden hug—something he had never done before.

Jiah froze.

He pulled away, worry etched deep in his face.

"What's going on?" she asked softly.

"Come inside," Shin Joo said, voice tight.

Inside, her heart pounded. She watched him carefully.

> Why does he look so shaken? What could be so important that a calm man like Shin Joo looks… terrified?

And miles away, Ryu Hwan's battle with D

imitri raged on.

But somewhere in the middle of it all, destiny was shifting.

And the secrets everyone kept—

were about to collide.

To be continued...