Leo's phone rang a few minutes to midnight.
The sharp vibration dragged him out of sleep, cutting through the quiet darkness of his room. For a second, he lay there disoriented, staring at the ceiling as the ringing continued.
A call at this hour only meant one thing.
Emergency.
He groaned softly, reached for his phone, and unplugged it from the charger. The screen lit up his face.
Jipan.
Leo immediately answered.
"What is it, Jipan?" he asked, his voice still heavy with sleep.
"We finished the screening."
Leo sat up slowly.
Something in Jipan's tone told him that wasn't the whole story.
"You found the bug?" Leo asked.
There was a pause.
Then—
"Yes. Yes, we did, man. We found the bug."
Leo's exhaustion vanished instantly.
Adrenaline rushed through him like fire.
He jumped out of bed, pacing the room, running a hand through his hair as excitement surged through him.
"Are you serious?" he whispered, trying to keep his voice down. "You're not messing with me?"
"I'm dead serious."
Leo clenched his fist.
Finally.
"What about the other thing Kro asked us to check?" he continued quickly. "Did you find anything?"
"Of course," Jipan replied. "And her suspicions were right. Kro's a genius."
Leo stopped pacing.
"There's no Fang among the new recruits," Jipan went on. "No one even related to that name. That guy's a fraud."
Leo exhaled deeply, relief flooding through him.
"I knew it," He muttered, shaking his head. "I knew we wouldn't get fooled. We're always ten steps ahead."
Jipan chuckled.
"I know."
Leo wiped his face, trying to steady himself.
"So… who is it?" he asked quietly. "The bug."
There was a brief silence.
"Prepare to be shocked."
Leo's heart skipped.
Then Jipan said the name.
Leo froze.
"…What?"
His voice barely came out.
"That's not possible."
He shook his head, disbelief written all over his face.
"That wasn't even on my list."
Not even a possibility.
And yet—
It made sense.
Too much sense.
...
Morning came too quickly.
At Krosmetics Headquarters, the meeting room was nearly empty.
Everyone else had already left, but Sue remained seated, her hands clasped tightly together. Across from her sat Kro, calm as ever, her files neatly arranged in front of her.
"I think she came to my house yesterday," Sue said, her voice trembling slightly. "It was a total mess."
Kro didn't look surprised.
"I knew she would," she said flatly. "That's why I asked you to let Zoe stay with me. Humans are very predictable."
Sue blinked.
"Hu… humans?"
Kro froze for a fraction of a second.
Then she leaned back slightly, correcting herself.
"What I mean is… we, as humans, are predictable," she said smoothly. "From the way you described her, it was easy to anticipate her next move."
Sue nodded slowly, though something about the statement lingered in her mind.
"I'm scared to go home," she admitted. "What if she's waiting for me?"
Kro leaned forward.
"You have to go home, Sue," she said firmly. "And if she shows up, you act clueless."
Sue hesitated.
"I'm not a good actress."
"You don't need to be," Kro replied. "Start with confusion. Something like—'You sent my daughter to another school, how would I know where she is?'"
Sue tried to imagine it.
"And if she doesn't believe me?"
Kro's expression hardened.
"Then you look her straight in the eyes and say—" she paused, her voice turning cold, "—'I want my daughter back. Don't give me that shit. You lost her. I'll kill every one of you, I swear to God.'"
Sue stared at her.
Even knowing Kro was just acting… It was terrifyingly convincing.
She swallowed.
"I… I don't think I can do that."
Kro gathered her files and stood.
"Don't underestimate yourself," she said softly. "You're stronger than you think."
Sue managed a small nod.
But doubt still lingered.
...
AZARADAN
In the Blood Mountains of Azaradan—
A man walked into fire.
Qin stood at the entrance of the witch's cave for the first time in twenty-five years. His heart pounded violently against his chest. But he did not turn back. He removed his boots, left his sword behind, and stepped inside.
The cave had changed.
There were no bones.
No stench.
Only black, thorny roses lining the walls, surrounding a blazing fire well at the center.
Qin took a deep breath.
"It is I, Qin," he called out, his voice echoing through the cave. "General of Azaradan's army."
The flames stirred.
"Show yourself, great witch. I need you."
A violent gust of wind exploded from the well, throwing him against the wall.
Pain shot through his back, but he forced himself to stand again.
"I am here to fulfill my wish!" he shouted. "The wish I made twenty years ago!"
Silence.
Then—
The roses ignited.
One by one, flames consumed them until the entire cave burned.
The heat became unbearable.
"Approach the well," the witch's voice commanded.
Qin hesitated.
The flames roared.
"Are you scared?" she mocked.
"No," he stammered. "I'm not."
Suddenly—
She appeared behind him.
Her burning arms wrapped around his waist.
Her head rested against his shoulder.
His body went rigid.
"If you're not scared," she whispered, "why aren't you moving?"
"I thought I'd burn," he admitted.
"That means you don't trust me."
"I do!"
She released him and moved toward the well.
The flames subsided instantly.
"Where is she?" the witch asked calmly.
"She'll come," Qin replied. "I'll send her to you myself."
The witch's gaze sharpened.
"You still haven't told her the truth," she said. "Time is running out."
"I will," Qin insisted. "But I need something from you."
"I know what you want."
Her lips curled into a smirk.
"But are you sure?"
"Yes." His voice hardened. "I want Bukka dead before his son's coronation."
The witch watched him carefully.
"Very well," she said.
"It is done."
Relief washed over Qin's face—
Until she spoke again.
"But here's something you don't know."
His smile faded.
"If I kill Kro, I take your kingdom."
His heart dropped.
"And if Kro kills me… your kingdom survives."
She tilted her head.
"But you won't."
Qin's breath caught.
"Wh—what?"
"You heard me," she said calmly. "Your real enemy isn't Bukka."
She smiled.
"It's Kro."
Then she vanished.
Darkness swallowed the cave.
And Qin stood alone—
Condemned by his own wish.
...
Back at Krosmetics Headquarters—
Ukraine hurried through the lobby, carrying lunch for his team.
He was halfway to the elevator when—
"Ukraine!"
He turned.
A man approached him.
Familiar.
Yet not.
"Afternoon," the man said, extending his hand. "I'm Leo."
Ukraine shook it.
"Nice to meet you."
They let go.
"Are you here to see Misaki?" Ukraine asked.
Leo shook his head.
"No."
His expression shifted.
"I'm here to see you."
Ukraine frowned slightly.
"I have a question."
"Sure," Ukraine said.
Leo stepped closer.
His voice lowered.
"What do you want from Kro?"
Ukraine's heart stopped.
And in that moment—
Everything changed.
***