**Arc 2: Chapter 23 – Strategic Allies**
The atmosphere in Jae-min's apartment was tense. Papers, sticky notes, and diagrams covered the coffee table, each detailing Lionheart's known connections and potential weak points. Jae-min leaned back on the couch, staring at the chaos in front of him.
"This isn't sustainable," he muttered to himself, rubbing his temples.
Elyra appeared in her usual dramatic fashion, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the coffee table. "You look like you've been chewing glass. What's eating you?"
"I can't keep fighting Lionheart alone," Jae-min admitted. "Eric Hwan's move to postpone the press conference bought me time, but it's not enough. I need allies, people who can hit them where it hurts."
Elyra tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And here I thought you wanted to be the lone wolf hero. Refreshing to hear you admit you need help."
Jae-min shot her a look. "Do you have any useful input, or are you just here to tease me?"
She smiled sweetly. "Always both. But fine, here's an idea. Why not loop in So-ra and Yumi? They've got connections, and Yumi's position at a gaming company could give you some leverage."
Jae-min considered it. So-ra had already proven herself invaluable as a friend and strategist, and Yumi's insider knowledge was a resource he hadn't fully tapped into yet.
"Alright," he said, standing up. "Let's see what they can bring to the table."
---
Later that day, Jae-min met So-ra and Yumi at a quiet café near her office. So-ra, ever the composed professional, was already seated with a notebook open. Yumi arrived a few minutes late, her face flushed from rushing over.
"I'm here! Sorry, traffic was crazy," Yumi said, sliding into the booth.
Jae-min waved it off. "No problem. Thanks for coming on short notice."
"What's going on?" So-ra asked, her tone sharp and direct.
Jae-min took a deep breath. "I need your help. Lionheart is gearing up for something big, and if we don't act fast, they're going to steamroll every small project in the esports community."
Yumi frowned. "That explains a lot. People in my office have been tight-lipped lately, like they're hiding something."
"So what's the plan?" So-ra asked, pen poised over her notebook.
Jae-min leaned forward, lowering his voice. "We need to hit them on two fronts: expose their tactics to the public and undermine their influence within the industry. Yumi, can you get me access to anything that might prove Lionheart's involvement in shady deals?"
Yumi hesitated. "I can try, but if I get caught, I could lose my job."
"I won't let that happen," Jae-min said firmly. "Anything you find will be worth it, but only if you're comfortable."
She nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Okay. I'll see what I can do."
"So-ra," Jae-min continued, "I need you to help me build a coalition. Other small developers, independent creators—anyone Lionheart might target. If we can unite them, we'll have a fighting chance."
So-ra smirked. "I like a good challenge. Consider it done."
---
As the meeting wrapped up, Jae-min couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the cusp of something huge. The odds were stacked against them, but with So-ra's sharp mind and Yumi's access to the industry, they had a real shot at making a difference.
Elyra materialized beside him as he walked back to his apartment. "You're finally learning to delegate. I'm so proud."
He rolled his eyes. "It's not about pride. It's about survival."
Elyra grinned. "Survival's more fun with friends, though."
Jae-min couldn't argue with that.
---
The following day, Yumi called him, her voice trembling with a mix of excitement and fear.
"Jae-min, I found something," she said.
"What is it?" he asked, sitting up straight.
"There's a hidden folder on the company server," she explained. "It's encrypted, but I managed to pull a few files before anyone noticed. They're emails between Eric Hwan and some investors. They're talking about... buying off certain media outlets and silencing critics."
Jae-min's blood ran cold. This was the smoking gun he'd been waiting for.
"Send me everything," he said. "This changes everything."
Yumi hesitated. "Jae-min, are you sure about this? If this goes public, Lionheart won't just sit back and take it. They'll come after you."
"Let them try," he said, his voice steely. "I'm not backing down."
---
By the time Jae-min got home, Elyra was already reviewing the files Yumi had sent.
"This is gold," she said, scrolling through the documents. "With this, you can blow Lionheart's whole operation wide open."
Jae-min nodded, his mind racing. "We need to be smart about this. If we leak everything at once, they'll just spin it as fake news. We need a coordinated plan."
Elyra smirked. "Lucky for you, I'm a genius at strategy."
Jae-min couldn't help but smile. For the first time in weeks, he felt like he had the upper hand.
"This is just the beginning," he said.
"And it's going to be one hell of a ride," Elyra added.