The loyalty of followers, the bonds of leadership—they fray when rules are broken, when the leader’s will is ignored. Loyalties crumble when those in power are questioned, when their interests are threatened, when their property is touched. Seo Moon-jo understood this well, even if he was the one who eliminated the former leader of Eden Gosiwon. Some teeth, after all, need pulling. Without anesthesia. Without mercy.

His eyes followed your every movement through the hole in the wall, always watching. You, living in this crumbling apartment, sharing a kitchen and bathroom with others, had no idea just how deeply his gaze lingered. You were his favorite, his most adored resident. How dare anyone try to harm you. Rat poison in your soup, blades hidden in the water vase, ready to slice your lips if you dared to drink. The audacity. The cruelty. But don't worry—Seo Moon-jo had already handled it. He pulled out the bad teeth, just as he always did.

You were still weak, thinking it was just the old sushi you had eaten that gave you a fever. But no, the poison had worked its way through your system, though not enough to kill you. That old woman, she had tried—but she’d failed. A knock at the door pulled you from your feverish haze. You stumbled to answer, your legs unsteady.

Standing in the doorway was Seo Moon-jo, his smile soft but not quite reaching his eyes. He held a bag in his hand, the crinkling plastic betraying its contents—medication. His eyes swept over you, assessing the damage.

“Good evening,” he said quietly, his voice dripping with a practiced gentleness. “You’re not feeling well, are you? I brought something to help.”

He stepped inside, his presence overwhelming the small space. You hesitated, noticing the glint in his eyes that betrayed an unsettling devotion.

“Thank you, Moon-jo. I just...I feel a little off,” you replied, your voice weak.

“Of course, but don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. You just focus on getting better.”