Kai stared at the blank screen of his phone for a few moments, trying to steady his breathing. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, panic barely held at bay. Minseo’s terrified face flashed in his mind—her wide eyes, her muffled scream—and the sense of urgency grew in his chest. He didn’t have time to waste.

His fingers moved quickly over his phone, searching for anything he could use to trace the video. He wasn’t a hacker, but he knew enough about technology to try something. It was clear whoever had sent him the video was watching him, but they had made a mistake. They had shown him where they were holding Minseo, even if only briefly.

The video’s metadata revealed little—just a general location ping, but it was enough to give Kai a rough area to start his search. He stared at the coordinates on his phone, the small map glowing faintly in the dark. The place was on the outskirts of the city, an old industrial zone that had long been abandoned.

His heart raced. He had to go. He had to save Minseo.

Kai shoved the phone back into his pocket, pulled the Ledger out of his bag, and stared at it. His fingers hovered over the cover, tempted to open it. Maybe he could write the location, maybe the Ledger could help him find the person behind this without any more risks. But he hesitated. The Ledger was powerful, yes, but it came with consequences. He still didn’t understand all the rules—and he wasn’t willing to gamble Minseo’s life on something he didn’t fully control.

With a frustrated growl, he shoved the Ledger back into his bag. He had to do this the hard way. He had to track them down, find them, and then—he’d decide what to do next.

Kai moved quickly through the quiet streets, his thoughts racing faster than his feet could carry him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that every step brought him closer to something he couldn’t walk away from. The shadow of Hana loomed over his mind—her lessons, her manipulation, her own hunger for power. Was he becoming like her? Was this what she would have done in his shoes?

No. He shook his head, pushing the thought away. He wasn’t Hana. He had to do this his way.

As he neared the industrial zone, the streets became quieter, darker, the buildings older and more worn down. The air smelled of rust and damp concrete. It was the kind of place where people disappeared, where the authorities rarely ventured. Perfect for someone who wanted to hide and not be found.

Kai ducked into an alleyway, his back pressed against the cold, crumbling brick. He peeked around the corner, scanning the area. There were a few warehouses, their windows broken and doors locked up with rusting chains. But one building stood out—a small office-like structure with a light on inside.

His pulse quickened. That had to be the place.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

He pulled out his phone again, checking the coordinates one more time. The location matched. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the building. There were no guards, no signs of life, but that didn’t make him feel any better. This felt like a trap.

Kai took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside him. He needed to think. Rushing in would only get him and Minseo killed. He needed to be smart, just like Hana would’ve been. He cursed under his breath at the thought of her again, but he couldn’t deny that her methods had their uses.

He circled the building, staying in the shadows, looking for any sign of movement. There was nothing. The only sound was the faint hum of electricity from the single light in the office. The rest of the place looked abandoned, like it had been left to rot years ago.

Kai’s hands clenched into fists. Whoever was behind this was playing games with him, and they were doing it with a calm precision that unnerved him.

He edged closer to a side door, crouching low and keeping his eyes peeled. The door was slightly ajar, and through the crack, he could see faint shadows moving inside. His breath hitched. They were in there.

He glanced around, checking for security cameras or any other signs of surveillance, but he saw none. Maybe they didn’t expect him to come this far on his own. Or maybe they wanted him to come. Either way, Kai knew he had no choice. He couldn’t turn back now.

His heart pounded in his ears as he pushed the door open and slipped inside. The hallway was dimly lit, a flickering fluorescent light overhead casting eerie shadows on the walls. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional drip of water somewhere deep in the building.

He moved silently, his footsteps barely making a sound on the cracked tiles. Every nerve in his body was on high alert, ready for anything. He didn’t know what he’d find here, but he was prepared for the worst.

As he reached the end of the hallway, he paused outside a door, listening. Voices. Faint, but unmistakable. He couldn’t make out the words, but there were at least two people inside. One of them was a man—his voice low, almost amused. The other voice was muffled, likely Minseo’s.

Kai’s jaw clenched. He couldn’t wait any longer.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open, stepping inside with as much confidence as he could muster. The room was small, filled with old, dusty furniture, and a single overhead light casting long shadows across the floor. In the center of the room, Minseo was tied to a chair, her eyes wide with fear.

And standing beside her was Sato.

Kai’s heart dropped. His worst fear had been confirmed. Sato had orchestrated all of this. The man who had once been a trusted ally was now the mastermind behind Minseo’s abduction—and possibly much more.

Sato smiled when he saw Kai enter, his expression calm, as if he had been expecting this all along.

“Kai,” Sato said, his voice smooth, almost pleasant. “Right on time.”

Kai’s eyes flicked to Minseo, her wrists bound tightly to the chair, a strip of duct tape over her mouth. Her eyes were pleading, terrified, and Kai felt a surge of anger so intense that it nearly knocked the breath out of him.

“Let her go,” Kai growled, his fists clenched at his sides. “Now.”

Sato chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You’re in no position to make demands. You see, Kai, this isn’t about her. This is about you. About what you’re going to do next.”

Kai’s mind raced. He knew he couldn’t fight Sato head-on. Not yet. Not until he knew exactly what Sato’s game was.

“What do you want?” Kai asked, his voice cold.

Sato tilted his head, his smile widening. “Isn’t it obvious? I want the Ledger. I want the power that’s rightfully mine.”

Kai’s blood ran cold. So that was it. Sato had been after the Ledger all along.