Unlike his subordinates, Sung-jin wore no mask.
His face was a study in contrasts – ageless yet ancient, beautiful yet terrible to behold.
His eyes, pitch black from corner to corner, fixed upon the entering Wraith with an intensity that would have made lesser beings quail.
"Report," Sung-jin commanded, his voice carrying an undercurrent of power that made the very air vibrate.
The lead Wraith bowed low. He was exactly how the rest seemed, in human.
"Lord Sung-jin, I bring news from our encounter with Riei's household. We delivered our ultimatum as ordered, but..."
Sung-jin's eyes narrowed. "But what? Speak plainly."
"There was... an unexpected presence. A young man who claimed to be the Spirit King."
The temperature in the room plummeted.
Frost began to form on the edges of the black stone walls as Sung-jin's power leaked out in response to his surprise.
"The Spirit King?" Sung-jin's voice was dangerously soft. "You dare come to me with such a claim? The Spirit King is a myth, a bedtime story told to gullible lesser spirits and humans".
The lead Wraith stood its ground, though it trembled slightly.
"I understand your skepticism, my lord. But I felt his power myself. Raw, untamed, but undeniably potent. He stood with Riei, and her household acknowledged him as such."
Sung-jin began to pace, each step leaving a trail of ice crystals that shattered moments later. "Describe him. Every detail. Leave nothing out."
As the Wraith recounted the encounter, Sung-jin's expression shifted from disbelief to curiosity, and finally to a kind of hungry anticipation.
When the Wraith finished, silence reigned for several long moments.
"A Spirit King candidate," Sung-jin mused, his voice barely above a whisper. "After all these centuries... how very interesting." He turned to face the Wraith, his black eyes gleaming. "And you say he intervened on Riei's behalf?"
"Yes, my lord. He spoke of diplomacy and peaceful resolutions."
Sung-jin laughed, a sound like breaking glass that sent shivers down the Wraith's incorporeal spine. "A pacifist Spirit King? Oh, this is too delicious."
He moved closer to the Wraith, his presence oppressive and overwhelming. "Tell me, do you believe this... boy... to be the true Spirit King?"
The Wraith hesitated, choosing its words carefully. "I believe he believes it, my lord. And his power, while uncontrolled, was unlike anything I've encountered before."
Sung-jin's lips curled into a smile that held no warmth. "Fascinating. Truly fascinating. But you understand, of course, that I cannot simply take your word for this. Such a claim... it changes everything."
"Of course, my lord," the Wraith responded, bowing its head. "What would you have us do?"
Sung-jin turned away, walking towards a large window that overlooked the shadowy expanse of their territory. "I want to see this supposed Spirit King with my own eyes. To feel his power for myself."
The lead Wraith shifted uneasily. "You mean to enter Riei's territory personally? That could be seen as an act of war."
Sung-jin's laughter filled the chamber once more. "An act of war? My dear Wraith, if this Spirit King is real, war is inevitable. The old balance of power in the Under City is about to crumble."
He turned back to the Wraith, his eyes blazing with an inner fire. "Prepare our forces. We will not strike yet, but I want us ready to move at a moment's notice. And you..." He pointed at the lead Wraith.
"You will personally oversee the surveillance of Riei's household. I want to know every move this supposed Spirit King makes. Every word he speaks, every power he displays. Do you understand?"
The Wraith bowed deeply. "It will be done, Lord Sung-jin."
As the Wraith turned to leave, Sung-jin's voice stopped it. "One more thing. If this Spirit King proves to be genuine... do not engage him directly. He is mine to deal with."
The lead Wraith nodded and quickly exited the chamber. As the doors closed behind it, Sung-jin turned back to the window, a smile playing on his lips.
"A Spirit King," he murmured to himself. "After all this time... Perhaps you'll prove to be the worthy opponent I've been waiting for. Or perhaps..." His smile widened, revealing teeth sharp as razors. "Perhaps you'll be the key to unlocking powers beyond even my wildest dreams."
The shadows in the room seemed to pulse with anticipation, mirroring the excitement of their master. In the Under City, the game had changed, and Choi Sung-jin was more than ready to play.