**Arc 2: Chapter 14 – Setting the Trap**
Jae-min tapped his pen against the edge of the coffee cup, a small smirk playing on his lips. Across the table, So-ra watched him skeptically, her arms crossed. They were back at the café, the buzz of chatter and clinking dishes providing the perfect backdrop for their planning session.
"You've got that look again," So-ra said, narrowing her eyes.
"What look?" Jae-min asked innocently.
"The one that says you're about to do something insane."
Jae-min laughed. "Trust me, this isn't insane. It's strategic."
"Strategic," she repeated, her tone flat. "Right. So, are you going to tell me this 'strategy,' or do I have to guess?"
Jae-min leaned forward, lowering his voice. "We're going to use Han Joo-sung's own arrogance against him. If he thinks he's smarter than us, he'll overplay his hand."
So-ra raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do we make that happen?"
---
Elyra materialized beside Jae-min, perched on the edge of the table like a smug cat. She waved a hand, and a glowing panel appeared in front of him.
**"Task unlocked: Expose the Fraudster! Reward: +1% conversion rate for personal earnings."**
Jae-min suppressed a grin. This was just the motivation he needed.
"We bait him," Jae-min said, turning back to So-ra. "We make him think we're desperate—like we're willing to negotiate, but only on our terms. He'll push for more, and when he does, we'll have the proof we need to take him down."
So-ra tilted her head, considering. "Okay, but how do we bait him without actually giving him anything?"
Jae-min's grin widened. "Leave that part to me."
---
The next morning, Jae-min sat in front of his laptop, crafting an email to Han Joo-sung. It was polite but hesitant, the tone carefully calculated to sound like a small developer wavering between principles and opportunity.
**Subject:** Re: Potential Collaboration
Mr. Han,
After our meeting, I've been giving your proposal a lot of thought. While I have some reservations, I recognize the potential benefits of partnering with someone of your expertise.
Perhaps we can discuss a more balanced agreement? I'd like to explore this further.
Best,
Jae-min (on behalf of So-ra Development Studio)
---
"That's… surprisingly professional," Elyra remarked, peering over his shoulder.
Jae-min shrugged. "Gotta play the part."
"You're good at this," she said, her tone teasing. "Almost like you've done it before."
"Let's just say I've learned a thing or two about manipulation," Jae-min replied with a wink.
---
The response came faster than expected. Han Joo-sung suggested a follow-up meeting, this time at an upscale restaurant downtown. Jae-min and So-ra arrived early, scanning the room for hidden microphones or recording devices.
"I still don't get why he'd pick a public place," So-ra muttered.
"Arrogance," Jae-min replied. "He thinks he's untouchable."
Han arrived shortly after, his smile as fake as the expensive watch on his wrist. He wasted no time diving into his pitch, sprinkling buzzwords and empty promises like confetti.
"So, here's the deal," Han said, leaning forward. "I'm willing to give you 30% of the profits—far more generous than most partnerships. In exchange, you hand over the source code for your mod. That way, we can optimize it for mass production."
So-ra clenched her fists under the table, but Jae-min rested a hand on hers, calming her.
"That's… tempting," Jae-min said, feigning hesitation. "But 30% still seems low considering the work we've put in."
Han chuckled, his tone condescending. "You have to look at the bigger picture. With my resources, your mod could reach millions. Isn't that worth a little compromise?"
Jae-min nodded slowly, pretending to consider. "Maybe. But we'd need some assurances first."
---
Unbeknownst to Han, So-ra had set her phone to record the entire conversation. Every lie, every veiled threat, every slimy sales pitch was being captured in crystal clarity.
By the end of the meeting, Han was practically drooling over the prospect of owning So-ra's work. He left the restaurant smug and overconfident, blissfully unaware of the trap he'd walked into.
---
Back at So-ra's apartment, the two of them replayed the recording, pausing every so often to marvel at Han's audacity.
"This guy," So-ra said, shaking her head. "He's unbelievable."
Jae-min grinned. "And now we have everything we need to ruin him."
Elyra appeared, clapping slowly. "Well done, team. I have to admit, this was fun to watch."
"Don't celebrate yet," Jae-min said. "We still need to make sure this goes viral."
"Leave that to me," So-ra said, her confidence returning.
---
The next day, So-ra uploaded the recording to the developer forum, framing it as a cautionary tale for other creators. Within hours, the post gained traction, with developers and gamers alike rallying behind her.
Han Joo-sung's reputation crumbled almost overnight. By the end of the week, his company had issued a public apology, but the damage was done.
So-ra sat back, watching the chaos unfold on her screen with a satisfied smile.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Jae-min said, leaning against the back of the couch.
"Better than I expected," So-ra admitted.
Elyra appeared beside them, her expression smug. "Congratulations, you two. Mission accomplished."
The system dinged, and a new notification appeared in front of Jae-min.
**[Task complete: Expose the Fraudster! Reward unlocked: +1% conversion rate for personal earnings.]**
Jae-min couldn't help but grin. "And we got paid for it, too."
So-ra gave him a curious look. "What?"
"Nothing," Jae-min said quickly, waving her off. "Just thinking about how awesome we are."
So-ra laughed, the sound light and genuine. For the first time in weeks, it felt like the tide was finally turning in their favor.