Chapter 37 — Thailand: The Other Side
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Morning sunlight flooded the massive glass windows of Bangkok's most elite university.
Students were rushing across the huge campus lawns, some holding coffee, some running with laptops, some barely awake.
The university was known for producing future business tycoons, politicians, and power brokers of Southeast Asia.
And today…
The campus felt unusually tense.
Because they had returned.
Thailand University Campus
A black sports car screeched into the parking lot.
Students immediately started whispering.
"Is that—"
"Yeah."
"The F4 are back."
The doors opened.
First stepped out Kavin, adjusting his sunglasses lazily.
Then MJ, scrolling through his phone like he owned the place.
Next came Ren, quiet as always, his hands in his pockets.
Then Gorya, carrying her bag like a normal student — though nothing about the attention around her was normal.
And finally—
The driver door opened.
Thyme.
Tall. Confident. Chaotic energy walking on two legs.
He slammed the door shut and stretched.
"Ugh. University again."
MJ laughed.
"Bro you literally run half the businesses in Bangkok. Why are you complaining about classes?"
Thyme shrugged.
"Because classes are boring."
Students around them whispered.
Some were excited.
Some were terrified.
Because everyone knew one thing.
Where F4 went… chaos followed.
Classroom Chaos
Inside the lecture hall, students had already filled most seats.
The professor entered with a stack of papers.
Then stopped.
Seeing the five students walk in.
The entire class turned.
The professor sighed.
"Oh wonderful. The famous group has returned."
Thyme smirked and dropped into a chair.
"Missed us?"
The professor ignored him.
"Sit down before I decide attendance matters today."
Everyone laughed nervously.
Gorya sat between Ren and MJ.
Kavin leaned back casually.
Thyme spun his pen like he had zero concern about anything in the world.
But the professor suddenly spoke again.
"Before we start, I will warn everyone."
He tapped the board.
"Midterm rankings will determine internship placements for major corporations."
Students started murmuring immediately.
"Top ranks get access to international business programs."
"Low ranks…"
He looked around.
"Will struggle."
Thyme leaned back and whispered to MJ.
"Sounds dramatic."
MJ smirked.
"Everything in Asia is dramatic."
Gorya elbowed him.
"Maybe you two should try studying this time."
Thyme looked offended.
"I study!"
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"You studied once. In 2022."
The whole group laughed.
Meanwhile — Thailand Underworld
Far away from the university noise…
In the heart of Bangkok's financial district…
A private elevator opened.
Five figures stepped into a hidden underground chamber.
Lights flickered on.
A massive digital map of Southeast Asia lit up across the wall.
Shipping routes.
Trade networks.
Hidden ports.
Smuggling channels.
And at the center of it all…
A symbol.
A black dragon crown.
This was the headquarters of Thailand's most powerful mafia organization.
Dragon Crown.
The organization that controlled:
Trade routes
Weapons flow
Information networks
Hidden economic channels
And no one in the world knew who its leaders truly were.
Except the five people standing there.
Thyme leaned against the table.
His playful university persona gone.
His eyes now cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Gorya crossed her arms.
MJ activated the digital display.
Ren studied the map silently.
Kavin poured himself a drink.
MJ spoke first.
"We have movement."
Thyme didn't react.
"From where?"
MJ tapped several blinking signals.
"India."
"Philippines."
"Eastern Europe."
Ren frowned slightly.
"That's unusual."
Kavin nodded.
"Very unusual."
Gorya leaned forward.
"Independent movements?"
MJ shook his head.
"No."
Then he zoomed the map further.
"Organized."
Thyme finally straightened.
His expression slowly shifting.
MJ continued.
"Multiple underground groups are preparing operations."
"Simultaneously."
Silence filled the room.
Then Kavin muttered.
"That usually means one thing."
Ren finished the sentence quietly.
"A gathering."
Thyme's eyes darkened slightly.
"International mafia gathering?"
MJ nodded slowly.
"Possibly."
Then he added another point.
"One group is expanding unusually fast."
The screen zoomed again.
A name appeared.
Lotus Shadows
Thyme stared at the screen.
"Phoenix…"
MJ shrugged.
"No identity confirmed."
Gorya spoke calmly.
"But powerful."
Ren crossed his arms.
"If groups across continents are moving…"
Kavin finished.
"Then the underworld is waking up again."
Back to University
Later that afternoon.
The five walked across campus again.
Students moved out of their way instinctively.
Gorya sighed.
"Sometimes I wish life was normal."
Thyme laughed.
"You dated me. Normal disappeared long ago."
MJ looked at his phone.
"Economics assignment due tomorrow."
Thyme stopped walking.
"…What assignment?"
Kavin burst out laughing.
Ren shook his head slowly.
"You didn't read the message."
Gorya facepalmed.
"Of course he didn't."
Thyme groaned.
"University is a scam."
Night — Dragon Crown HQ
The five gathered again that night.
More reports had arrived.
International movement.
Hidden alliances.
Unknown leaders.
MJ placed a final file on the table.
"This is the biggest concern."
Thyme opened it.
One sentence.
Just one.
"Several young mafia leaders have appeared in different countries."
Thyme raised an eyebrow.
"Young?"
MJ nodded.
"Yes."
Gorya looked thoughtful.
"New generation."
Ren whispered.
"Or a new war."
Kavin finished his drink.
"Either way…"
Thyme closed the file slowly.
His expression unreadable.
"Things are about to get interesting."
Behind him the Dragon Crown symbol glowed on the wall.
Across the world…
Different leaders were rising.
Different empires were moving.
And none of them yet realized…
Their paths were slowly leading to the same place.
A gathering that could change the entire underworld.
Or destroy it.
To be continued…