The engagement party was a masquerade of knives and silk. Yoochan stood at the penthouse balcony, champagne flute in hand, watching Seoul's skyline glitter like a circuit board. Inside, Yena laughed with investors, her diamond mask catching the light like shattered ice.
Seojun materialized beside him, voice low. "The Parks' security found explosives in the vents. Joonho's sending a message."
Yoochan sipped champagne. "Let him."
"People could die."
"People always die."
Seojun grabbed his arm. "This isn't you."
Yoochan turned, his owl mask shadowed and hollow. "You never knew me."
A drone whirred overhead.
---
The first explosion tore through the Parks' headquarters across the street. Glass rained down as screams rippled through the party.
Yena stumbled onto the balcony, her mask askew. "What the hell—?"
Yoochan pointed. A swarm of Kang Tech drones circled the burning tower, their red lights blinking like demon eyes.
"Joonho's calling card," he said.
"Evacuate!" Seojun yelled, dragging Yena inside.
Yoochan lingered, watching flames consume the Park logo. His phone buzzed:
Joonho: Happy engagement, Maknae. P.S. Check the roof.
---
The rooftop helipad was a wind-whipped inferno. A drone hovered, its cargo bay open. Inside: Miyoung, gagged and bound.
"Mother!"
She shook her head wildly, eyes wide. Go back.
The drone's speaker crackled. "Choose, Maknae." Joonho's voice dripped mockery. "Save her, or save them."
A screen lit up: live footage of the party below. A second drone fleet descended, armed with canisters of neon-green gas.
Nerve agent. Untraceable. Lethal.
Yoochan's earpiece screamed—Seojun: "The vents! Gas everywhere—!"
Miyoung met his gaze. Let me go.
He stepped forward.
She shook her head again, tears streaming. Live.
The drone banked toward the Han River, Miyoung's silhouette shrinking into smoke.
Yoochan turned, sprinting downstairs.
---
Chaos. Guests clawed at sealed exits. Yena hacked the security panel, cursing. "Override's locked!"
Yoochan shoved her aside, fingers flying. His future-memories guided him—passcode: the patriarch's birthday.
The doors hissed open.
"Go!" Seojun herded the crowd out.
Yena grabbed Yoochan's wrist. "The gas—neutralize it!"
"No time." He pulled her into the stairwell.
"You knew!" She slammed him against the wall. "You knew and let them—"
"I warned you." He broke free. "This is war."
A canister shattered behind them. Green fog billowed.
---
They reached the lobby as the gas hit. Bodies collapsed, convulsing. Seojun dragged a child from the elevator, his suit singed.
"Help them!" he screamed at Yoochan.
Yoochan kept running.
Yena followed.
---
The safe house was a crypt. Yoochan scrubbed his hands raw, the bathroom mirror reflecting a stranger.
Yena leaned in the doorway. "Your mother?"
"Gone."
"And Seojun?"
"Dead or a hero. Same thing."
She laughed bitterly. "We're perfect for each other."
His phone lit up—Sooyoung: Got Miyoung. River docks. Come alone.
---
The docks reeked of fish and gasoline. Sooyoung stood under a flickering lamp, Miyoung unconscious in a wheelchair.
"She's sedated," Sooyoung said. "Joonho's men shot her full of something. It's… bad."
Yoochan touched his mother's pulse. Faint. Fading.
"Price?"
Sooyoung's gaze hardened. "The USB. And you disappear."
"No."
"You're out of moves, Yoochan. The Parks are done. The Kangs want your head. Your only play is to run."
Miyoung stirred, her whisper paper-thin. "Yoo… chan…"
He knelt. "I'm here."
Her hand brushed his cheek. "Let… go…"
A gun cocked.
Sooyoung aimed at Miyoung's temple. "The USB. Now."
Yoochan laughed. "You're working for Joonho?"
"For myself." Her finger tightened on the trigger. "I want out."
Headlights sliced the dark. A black van skidded to a halt.
Joonho stepped out, applause slow and mocking. "Bravo, Maknae. You almost moved me."
---