The streets were slick with rain as Hana and Kaito hurried through the narrow alleys of the city. The sound of their footsteps was drowned out by the steady downpour, the hiss of water against asphalt creating a steady rhythm that matched the racing of Hana's heart. She pulled her hood tighter around her face, the cold air biting at her skin, but her mind was elsewhere.

Kaito walked beside her, his face hidden beneath his own hood. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, and his shoulders hunched against the cold. Every few steps, he would glance sideways at Hana, as if gauging her mood. She was silent, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes fixed on the path ahead.

"Hana," Kaito said finally, his voice low. "Are you sure about this?"

Hana didn’t answer immediately. She was focused on the meeting that lay ahead, the potential fallout of what she had done. The Ledger had worked, but that didn’t mean the outcome would be in their favor. The official had reached out, yes, but his reasons were still a mystery. Was he scared? Desperate? Or was this some kind of trap? She wouldn’t know until they met him, and even then, nothing was certain.

"I’m sure," Hana said, though her voice lacked the conviction she hoped it would carry.

Kaito stopped walking, grabbing her arm gently to pull her to a halt. "Hana. I need to hear you say it like you mean it. Are we doing the right thing?"

She turned to face him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What’s the alternative? Sit back and let them keep winning? Let them destroy more lives? I can’t do that, Kaito. I won’t."

He held her gaze for a long moment, then sighed and released her arm. "I just don’t want you to regret this. You’re playing with fire."

"I know," Hana said quietly. "But if we don’t act now, they’ll keep getting away with it. This might be the only chance we have to stop them."

Kaito nodded slowly, his expression still clouded with doubt, but he didn’t argue further. They continued walking, the silence between them heavy with unspoken fears. The rain had lessened to a light drizzle by the time they reached the small café where the meeting was to take place. The neon sign flickered above the entrance, casting an eerie glow on the wet pavement.

"Is this the place?" Kaito asked, glancing around the empty street.

Hana nodded, pulling her hood down slightly to peer through the windows. The café was nearly empty, save for a few patrons scattered at the far end. The man they were meeting was sitting in a corner booth, his face partially obscured by the shadows.

"That’s him," she whispered, her heart rate spiking as she recognized the official from the research she’d done. His name was Seo Joon, a low-ranking bureaucrat who had ties to the people responsible for her family’s downfall. He wasn’t directly involved, but he knew enough to be dangerous. And now, he was here—looking like a man on the edge.

Kaito glanced at him, then back at Hana. "Alright. How do you want to play this?"

"We go in, sit down, and listen. Let him talk first. We don’t give away anything until we know what he wants," Hana replied, her voice steady despite the tension coiling in her gut.

Kaito nodded. "Got it. Let’s go."

They stepped inside, the warmth of the café a stark contrast to the cold outside. The scent of coffee and damp wood filled the air, and the low hum of conversation buzzed softly in the background. As they approached the table, Seo Joon looked up, his eyes darting between them nervously.

"You’re late," he said, his voice shaky.

"We’re right on time," Hana replied, sliding into the booth opposite him. Kaito sat beside her, his presence a silent but palpable threat.

Seo wiped his brow with a napkin, glancing around the café as if expecting someone to jump out from the shadows. "I... I wasn’t sure you’d come."

"We’re here," Kaito said curtly, folding his arms across his chest. "Now, why don’t you tell us why you wanted this meeting?"

Seo shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his fingers fidgeting with the edges of his napkin. "I... I don’t know who else to trust. Things are... complicated."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Complicated how?" Hana asked, leaning forward slightly. Her voice was calm, but inside, she was straining to keep her emotions in check.

Seo hesitated, his eyes flicking to the door as if contemplating an escape. "They’re watching me. I’ve been working for them for years, but now... things have changed. They’re paranoid. They’ve started monitoring everyone—especially the ones who know too much."

"And you know too much," Kaito said, not a question but a statement.

Seo swallowed hard, his face pale. "Yes. I know things. Things that could ruin them. But if they find out I’m talking to you... I’m a dead man."

"You’re already a dead man if you stay silent," Hana said bluntly, her eyes locked on his. "They won’t let you live once they suspect you’re a liability."

Seo’s face contorted in fear, and he wiped his brow again. "I don’t have much time. They’ve already started closing in. I can feel it. I need protection. I need... something to keep me alive."

Kaito exchanged a glance with Hana. This was exactly what they had hoped for—a man on the edge, ready to talk. But there was still one crucial question left unanswered.

"Why us?" Hana asked. "Why come to us? You could have gone to the police, or anyone else for that matter. Why reach out to people like us?"

Seo laughed bitterly, his voice low and filled with bitterness. "The police? They’re in on it. Everyone in the system is either bought or too afraid to act. But you... you’ve been making noise. I’ve heard things. People in the higher circles are talking about you, about what you’ve been doing. They’re scared of you, even if they won’t admit it."

Hana felt a chill run down her spine. The idea that people in power were aware of her actions was both thrilling and terrifying. It meant she was making an impact, but it also meant she was a target.

"So you think we’re your best chance," Kaito said, his tone skeptical.

Seo nodded fervently. "You’re the only ones who can stop them. I’ll tell you everything—names, locations, how they operate. But you have to protect me. You have to promise me that."

Hana studied him for a moment, her mind racing. Seo was desperate, scared out of his mind, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t useful. He had information—real, tangible information—that could bring down the people responsible for everything. But trusting him was a risk. He could easily be leading them into a trap, or worse, he could be playing both sides.

Kaito’s voice broke her train of thought. "How do we know we can trust you?"

Seo’s eyes widened, his fear morphing into panic. "You have to trust me! I don’t have any other options. If I wanted to trap you, I would’ve brought more than just myself. Look around. I’m alone. I don’t even have any protection."

Hana glanced around the café, scanning the room for any signs of trouble. The patrons seemed unaware of their conversation, and no one appeared to be watching them. Still, it was too early to let their guard down.

"We’ll protect you," Hana said finally, her voice firm. "But you need to prove you’re telling the truth. Give us something—one name, one piece of information that shows us you’re not wasting our time."

Seo nodded eagerly, leaning forward as if about to share a secret. "Alright. I’ll give you a name. But you have to promise me—if I tell you this, you’ll keep me safe."

"You have our word," Kaito said, though his tone was anything but reassuring.

Seo swallowed, glancing around once more before lowering his voice to a whisper. "His name is Kang Hyun. He’s one of the top people running things behind the scenes. You take him down, and the whole operation will start to crumble."

"Kang Hyun?" Kaito repeated, frowning. "I’ve heard that name before."

Hana’s heart skipped a beat. Kang Hyun was a name she knew well—he was one of the shadowy figures who had been linked to her family’s downfall. She had spent years chasing leads that always seemed to vanish into thin air. And now, here was a man who claimed to have the key to bringing him down.

"Where can we find him?" Hana asked, her voice tight with barely contained urgency.

Seo hesitated, his fear returning. "He’s... hard to pin down. He moves constantly, changes locations every few days. But I know where he’s going to be next. There’s a meeting—a big one. They’re gathering all the key players to discuss their next move. If you hit them there, you could take out half of their operation in one blow."

"When and where?" Kaito pressed, his eyes narrowing.

"Tomorrow night," Seo whispered. "An abandoned warehouse near the docks. They use it for meetings, off the grid. No security cameras, no official records. It’s the perfect place

for them to meet without drawing attention."

Hana felt her pulse quicken. This was it—the opportunity they had been waiting for. If Seo was telling the truth, they could cripple the organization in one strike. But it was risky, too risky. They would be walking into a hornet’s nest, surrounded by some of the most dangerous people in the city.

Kaito seemed to sense her hesitation. "Hana, we need to think this through. This could be a trap."

"I know," she said quietly, her mind racing. "But if it’s not..."

Seo looked at them with pleading eyes. "Please. You have to believe me. I’m risking everything by telling you this."

Hana studied him, searching his face for any sign of deceit. She didn’t trust him—not fully—but she knew they couldn’t afford to pass up this chance. If Seo was telling the truth, this could be their only opportunity to strike back at the people who had taken everything from her.

"We’ll go," Hana said finally, her voice steady. "But if you’re lying to us, you won’t live long enough to regret it."

Seo’s face paled, but he nodded quickly. "I’m not lying. I swear. You’ll see."

Kaito glanced at Hana, his expression unreadable. "We need to be prepared for anything."

"I know," she replied, her eyes never leaving Seo’s. "And we will be."

As they left the café, the rain had stopped, leaving the streets damp and glistening under the streetlights. Hana’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, plans, and fears. Tomorrow could be the day everything changed, for better or for worse. But no matter the outcome, one thing was certain—there was no turning back now.