The cold night air clung to the damp alleyway, the dim glow of flickering streetlights casting eerie shadows on the brick walls. A hushed tension filled the space as two groups of men faced each other—Hwang Hyunjin’s mafia and their long-time rivals, the gwun-woo Syndicate.

At the center of it all, Hwang Hyunjin stood tall, his sharp gaze locked onto the opposing leader, a smirk tugging at his lips. Dressed in a sleek black suit with a blood-red tie, he exuded power. Beside him, Kim Seungmin appeared deceptively delicate in his oversized hoodie, hands shoved into his pockets. He looked out of place—like a boy who had stumbled into the wrong part of town. But Hyunjin knew better.

“Let’s make this simple,” Hyunjin’s voice sliced through the silence. “One fight. Winner takes the money. No weapons.”

Gwun-woo’s leader scoffed, stepping forward. “Fine. But I choose my opponent.” His gaze flickered over Hyunjin’s men before settling on Seungmin. He chuckled. “This one. He looks like he’ll break with a single hit.”

A quiet murmur passed through the crowd, but Seungmin remained still. He felt Hyunjin’s eyes on him, unreadable but intense. No words were exchanged, yet something unspoken passed between them.