Black Venom is one of the most feared mafias in the underground world, ruled by the infamous married couple: Choi San, the strict strategist whose gaze alone can silence a room, and Choi Wooyoung, the charming heart of the family who softens even the darkest corners of their empire. Their syndicate is split in two: one side carefully calculated under San’s iron grip, the other wildly chaotic under members like Bambam, Ryujin, Jihyun, and Soohyun.

Among them is Hwang Hyunjin, San’s most trusted weapon. He is silent, sharp, and terrifyingly cold—his presence alone is enough to freeze the air. Rarely does he speak, but when he does, his voice cuts like ice.

Yet, in this world of blood and shadows, there exists Kim Seungmin, a calm and meticulous young man who serves as an advisor to mafias. Unlike others, he does not fight nor command. His role is to ease tensions between syndicates and warn them of dangers before they arrive. His sharp intellect and unnerving composure make him invaluable.

At a lavish mafia event, where new syndicates are being introduced, Black Venom finds themselves seated close to Seungmin. The encounter is quiet, but electric—where eyes say more than words, and one man in white silk catches the gaze of the mafia’s coldest weapon.

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The ballroom glowed with chandeliers, light refracting off crystal glasses and polished silver. Beneath the glamour, tension thrummed like a taut string. Tonight wasn’t just about champagne and greetings—new mafias were being revealed, and every old syndicate was here to measure their competition.

Black Venom’s table sat at the center of the chaos, their presence impossible to ignore.

San leaned back in his chair, arms folded, his stern eyes scanning the room with calculated patience. Beside him, Wooyoung’s smile was disarming, his tone light and airy as he charmed an approaching syndicate head into lowering his guard. Their contrast was perfect—the balance of flame and steel.

The other half of Black Venom painted a very different picture. Bambam was already laughing too loudly, teasing Jihyun who was throwing sharp remarks back at him. Ryujin tapped her long nails against the wine glass in rhythm, clearly bored, while Soohyun made it his mission to annoy every guard that passed by. Their noise clashed with the dignified atmosphere, but no one dared comment—not when the Black Venom crest glinted proudly behind them.

And then, there was Hyunjin. He sat in silence, posture sharp, his jawline tense beneath the soft shadows of the chandelier. His eyes were unreadable, scanning every detail of the room without a single wasted movement. A predator in human skin. When a careless waiter nearly brushed his chair, Hyunjin’s eyes flickered to him—cold, merciless—and the man stammered an apology before scurrying away.

San didn’t need Hyunjin to speak. His presence alone spoke louder than words.

But it was Wooyoung who first noticed. His gaze drifted, lips curving faintly. “Well… look who they seated beside us.”

At the next table, perfectly aligned with Black Venom, sat Kim Seungmin.

He was a striking contrast to the atmosphere. While mafias dressed in black suits and coats heavy with pride, Seungmin’s attire was effortlessly clean—a white, silky button-up that caught the light with every small movement. Black tailored pants hugged his frame neatly, polished shoes glinting under the table. His posture was flawless, not a slouch in sight.

But what caught Hyunjin’s attention wasn’t his clothes. It was his hands—steady on the laptop before him, typing with precision, his expression calm and unbothered by the chaos surrounding him. Bangs fell naturally over his forehead, brushing his eyes, but his gaze never faltered from the screen.

Hyunjin’s cold eyes lingered. He wasn’t used to silence being so loud.

Seungmin, sensing it, paused mid-keystroke. He didn’t look immediately, as if to remind Hyunjin that he wasn’t intimidated. Instead, after finishing his thought, he turned his head slightly, eyes meeting Hyunjin’s with a quiet sharpness.