**JU CORP, Hanmiryeong**
"You can't even take care of one useless teenager?" A man's voice resounded through the room, laden with disappointment and frustration. The heavy scent of tobacco and rum hung in the air.
"He is but someone who never had an Essentia. Was it so hard taking him out of the equation?" The man's narrowed eyes reflected his annoyance. "Hanmiryeong is mine! But all of you had to ruin it! Dayu!"
"Sir Ju…" A bald man with a neck tattoo bowed. his expression calm.
"What are we doing? Why aren't we trying to kill that man?"
"We are doing our best to create an opportunity, but since Ethan Kai arrived, he has been staying in the mansion. However, this is not surprising, considering he is a weakling without Essentia. He is currently under the protection of Master Wu and Master Jihoon."
"Two masters are protecting him?"
"Yes. The mission failed because Master Jihoon was with the target during the attack. Moreover…" Dayu hesitated.
"Moreover, all videos of the fight have been removed. All files of Ethan Kai have been deleted. What we have is his old picture. We can't—"
"Shut the hell up!" Ju Hyunwoo's temper flared. "What do you mean by a picture? Is this the 1900s? Can we not hack into a satellite to find him? Stop talking about nonsense and get to the point! What are we doing to get rid of that useless heir?"
"We have surveillance—"
**BANG**
A loud crack echoed, and the table before them turned into ashes, leaving the executives frozen in shock. "Is this the only thing we have? Surveillance? It's been two days since he arrived, and all you are going to tell me is... we have been watching them? How dumb can you be?"
"But—"
"We are living in Hanmiryeong! The Li Family is already moving. We cannot let them win." Ju Hyunwoo uttered, then he glared at Dayu. "Send a Master to deal with him."
"We only have two masters, if something happened, the other guild will—"
"Send one of them. I don't care who, as long as we take care of that successor."
"I understand. I will do as you say," Dayu bowed before leaving the meeting room.
---
**Pureun Mubeopdan, Also Known As Blue Outlaw Cartel Hideout, Jeonghae City**
"So, the executives are gathering today to pay their respects?" Mark Leong snorted, raising an eyebrow at his grandfather. "Then what are we doing here, grandfather? Isn't this the best time to meet that Heir?"
"The Heir has no Essentia. He is nothing but walking trash," the old man playing opposite him said, his gaze on the board. He sighed. "I would be surprised if he would last another day."
"What does that mean?"
"The assassination attempt failed last time because of that punk Jihoon. These past few days... those old geezers are not moving because they want to see who would dare stand next to the successor. They think that Old Kai must have left an expert next to that useless grandson of his. It's been two days. By now, they must have noticed something that finally made them move."
"Then are we just going to sit here, grandfather?"
"What can we do?" The old man finally lifted his gaze, showing a wizened face and a large scar on his right eye. "We are just going to watch and see them fight. Do not worry... In the end, we will reap the largest profit."
---
**Hanamachi City, Capital of Hwangju**
"You called for me, Father?" a man wearing a rugged black kimono and a weathered leather patch covering his right eye walked into a room separated by delicate paper walls. The soft, diffused light from outside gently filtered through the translucent paper, casting a warm glow within the space. Still, this was not enough to diffuse the tension inside the room.
"How was your training, Hayashi?"
"Good," Hayashi answered his father, his eyes glued on the large figure sitting in front of him.
"I believe it is time that you receive your first mission."
Hayashi lifted an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to the sword next to his father.
"I want you to eliminate someone," his father continued. "Someone useless, yet guarded by two powerful masters."
"I understand."
"Saito will give you the details. We, the Kurokawa-kai, never fail."
"Yes, father." Hayashi bowed, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "Failing is not an option, it's a betrayal."
"Good….Very good!" His father, the leader of Kurokawa-kai, beamed like the proud father he was. "On your way."
"Yes." Hayashi gave his father another bow before leaving the room.
"Tell me, Saito…" The smile on Kurokawa Fujimoto's face vanished when Hayashi left the room. "Among everyone, who do you think has a higher chance of killing that child from the Kai Family?"
An older man wearing a black suit appeared behind him. He respectfully gave Fujimoto a bow before he answered. "Oyabun, if I may be blunt, I believe it is the young master Hayashi. He is the strongest and most logical among the children his age. Although he is only twenty, he has accomplished more in training his Essentia compared to your other sons."
"What of Yumi?" Fujimoto asked.
"Young Miss Yumi is indeed strong, but she—she is too hot-headed. She is rash and careless. She—" Saito hesitated, searching for the right words to describe Yumi's temper.
Yumi, the youngest daughter of Kurokawa Fujimoto, was a tempest waiting to be unleashed. Her temper was like a roaring fire, fierce and unpredictable.
She possessed a quick, incendiary nature that could flare at the slightest provocation. Passion fueled her actions she is very difficult to contain or predict.
Yet, amidst the flames of her temper, there lay a sense of loyalty and protective instinct. Yumi cared deeply for her family and the Kurokawa-kai, and her fury would blaze even brighter if she perceived a threat to those she loved.
"Continue," Fujimoto said.
"Miss Yumi is very passionate. Although she is only nineteen, she understands everything and deeply cares about the family. Her Essentia is quite powerful, but we need to temper her impulsiveness, or it might just become her downfall."
"Good…" Fujimoto nodded. "Send Yumi to kill that child as well."
"Master?"
"Let's see who among my children can accomplish this mission the fastest and reward them."
"Yes, Oyabun," Saito gave Fujimoto a bow before he left the room.