Seun-mi Ho moved away from the village of Naraheim, his mind focused on the upcoming mission. The bandits terrorizing the trade route were a serious threat, but he wasn't worried. With his recent upgrades, he knew he had the skills to face them. Besides, the Interface had already started tracing a direct route to their presumed location.

[Route established: Northeast trade route, estimated distance: 2.4 km.]

A slight mechanical sound echoed in his vision as a map appeared in front of him, detailing the path ahead. A bright dot marked his current position, with a line leading to where the bandits had been spotted. He sighed softly, adjusting his cloak before setting out.

The path was narrow, lined with old trees and thick bushes. The wind blew gently, rustling the leaves overhead. The silence of the forest was broken only by the occasional sound of a small animal or the crunch of a branch beneath his feet. Everything seemed perfectly normal until he spotted a figure in the distance, sitting on a rock by the roadside.

The man wore simple, worn-out clothes, like those of an adventurer who had spent too much time on the road. His face was partially hidden by a wide hat, and he seemed distracted, playing with a knife that spun between his fingers.

"Another adventurer?" Seun-mi thought, intrigued.

As he approached, the man looked up and met his gaze. A strange smile appeared on his face, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He rose slowly, sliding the knife into his belt before addressing Seun-mi.

"Hey, you there," he said in a lazy voice. "You're on the road for a mission too, right? I'm trying to find some bandits lurking around here. But all I've found are rocks."

Seun-mi nodded. "Yeah, I'm here for the same reason," he replied, remaining cautious. "Seen anything strange on the road? Ambushes, recent tracks?"

The man shrugged, his posture relaxed but oddly calculated. "Not really. It's pretty quiet, you know? Too quiet, actually. Maybe they're hiding somewhere, waiting for someone like you to show up and serve as a distraction." He let out a soft laugh. "But hey, that's just a theory."

Something about the man's tone put Seun-mi on edge. This character seemed too nonchalant, too comfortable in a situation that should have made him more nervous. But for now, there was no reason to suspect anything more. After all, he could just be an eccentric adventurer.

"Name's Aven," the man said, extending a hand, his smile still as enigmatic as before.

Seun-mi hesitated for a moment before shaking the offered hand. "Seun-mi Ho," he replied curtly.

Aven nodded, as if approving something. "Well, Seun-mi Ho, why don't we team up? Two pairs of eyes are better than one. If we run into those bandits, you'll need backup, right? And I'm pretty good with this knife." He tapped the hilt of the weapon at his belt.

The idea of teaming up with a stranger didn't thrill Seun-mi. He was used to working alone, and he didn't like the thought of relying on someone else, especially someone who seemed so... shady. Yet, refusing outright might raise suspicion. He decided to play along, at least for now.

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"Why not," he replied in a neutral tone. "But if we run into them, stay back. I don't need dead weight."

Aven laughed, a laugh that sounded fake, as if it were a pre-programmed response to such a remark. "Ah, I like that! Direct, no nonsense. Yeah, you're right, I'll let you do the heavy lifting. I'm more the type to strike from the shadows when the opportunity presents itself." He threw an exaggerated wink.

Seun-mi clenched his teeth but said nothing. He resumed his march, Aven at his side, and they ventured deeper into the forest.

---

After an hour of walking, they finally reached the trade route. The path was wide and bordered by tall trees that formed a natural archway overhead. The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground.

"This is where the bandits were last seen," Seun-mi murmured, more to himself than to Aven.

But something was wrong. The road was deserted. No sound, no sign of life. The silence was oppressive, almost supernatural. Seun-mi squinted, searching for clues around him, but everything seemed too calm, too perfect.

"Weird," he muttered as he advanced cautiously.

Suddenly, without any warning, a shimmering circle appeared beneath his feet. Complex runes lit up around him, forming a strange pattern etched into the ground. Before he could react, a cage of energy shot up from the ground, trapping him in a glowing prison.

"What?!" Seun-mi exclaimed, trying to draw his weapon, but his arms were unable to pass through the energy barriers. He immediately felt paralyzed, the magic of the cage blocking all movement.

"Damn, a trap," he thought, his mind racing to find a solution. But before he could think of his next move, he heard a laugh behind him.

"Oh, you really walked right into that one, didn't you?"

Aven stood a few meters away, a smug grin stretching across his lips. There was no longer anything aloof or detached about him. He seemed perfectly at ease, in complete control of the situation.

"You see, it was pretty easy to trap you. You're skilled, I'll give you that, but you lack suspicion. You thought I was just a regular player, another adventurer on the road. But actually, I work with the mercenaries."

Seun-mi tried to move, but the cage's walls glowed brighter with each effort, tightening the pressure on his limbs. He clenched his fists, glaring at Aven.

"Traitor," he spat through gritted teeth.

Aven shrugged, as if it didn't matter. "Traitor, honest man, it's all about perspective. You see, the bandits we're looking for? That's me and my buddies. We set up this trap to lure in an adventurer like you, someone talented. Someone we could either eliminate, or... use."

Seun-mi's eyes narrowed. "Use?" he repeated, trying to grasp the meaning.

"Oh, I think you're much more valuable alive than dead," Aven said, crossing his arms, his smile widening. "You see, you've got potential. A lot of potential. And my employers are looking for people like you. People they can mold, if they play their cards right."

Seun-mi felt a wave of anger rise within him. He had dealt with mercenaries and criminals trying to manipulate adventurers for their own gain before. But he had never been caught in a trap as clever or as destabilizing as this.

"Let me out, and we'll see if you can still smile after that," he said in an icy tone.

Aven burst out laughing, a laugh that echoed strangely in the quiet forest. "Oh, you're funny. I like your style. But no, I think I'll let you stew for a bit. My friends will be here soon, and we'll have a little chat about your future. You'll see, it's not so bad working for us. We pay well, and we even let you keep your skin." He threw a provocative wink at Seun-mi before turning away.

"See you later, Seun-mi Ho. Sweet dreams in your little cage." And with those words, Aven walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the trees, his laughter echoing through the forest.

Seun-mi Ho remained silent, his mind boiling with anger and frustration. He had underestimated this man, and now he was trapped. But he knew it was only a matter of time before he found a way out of this prison. He wouldn't let these mercenaries decide his fate. Not now, not ever.

"This won't end like this," he murmured, his eyes burning with determination.

End of Chapter 12.