The silence that followed was deafening.
Seojin's pulse pounded in her ears as she stared at the mysterious figure standing over Zhao Wei's unconscious body. The masked man exuded an aura of power, his posture too calm, too controlled, as if everything was unfolding exactly as he planned.
Minji had her gun raised. Kade's grip on his weapon was tight, his body tense with anticipation.
Seojin, however, didn't move.
Her instincts screamed that this man was even more dangerous than Zhao Wei.
The real mastermind.
The masked man stepped forward, his boots clicking softly against the cold floor.
"You've done well, Seojin." His voice was smooth, measured, calculated. "I've been watching your progress for a long time."
Seojin's jaw clenched. "And who the hell are you?"
The man tilted his head slightly, his expression hidden beneath his mask. "You can call me Xiang Wu."
The name sent a chill down Seojin's spine. She had heard it before—in secret intelligence reports, in whispers among the underground networks.
Xiang Wu was one of the ghosts of the old world, an unknown force operating in the shadows. He was rumored to have control over an organization even larger than the Council itself.
Seojin's breath caught in her throat. "You're behind all of this, aren't you?"
Xiang Wu let out a small chuckle. "Oh, no, Seojin. I didn't create the Council. I didn't build the compliance program. That was your dear mother's work." He took another step forward. "But I made sure everything was set in motion for the right outcome."
Seojin's fists clenched. "What outcome?"
His masked face tilted toward the blank monitors where the system had once been. "You think you've won by shutting down the compliance network?" He shook his head, almost amused. "Seojin, that was just one branch of a much bigger operation."
Minji tensed. "You're saying there's more?"
Xiang Wu's tone was casual, as if he were discussing the weather. "Of course. The Council was one piece of the puzzle. A useful one, but not the only one."
Seojin narrowed her eyes. "So what do you want?"
His voice remained calm. "To make you an offer."
Seojin exchanged glances with Kade and Minji.
They had barely taken down one enemy, and now, a greater force was revealing itself.
Xiang Wu gestured toward Zhao Wei's unconscious form. "This man wanted control. He wanted to dominate the world through fear." His gaze flicked to Seojin. "But you? You want freedom, don't you?"
Seojin didn't answer.
Xiang Wu took another step closer. "I don't believe in control, Seojin. I believe in balance. Right now, the world is in chaos. The Council was just a symptom of a greater disease—one that I have spent years trying to contain."
Kade scoffed. "And let me guess—you're the cure?"
Xiang Wu chuckled. "Not the cure. But I am the one who decides who gets to hold the power."
Minji glared at him. "And you want Seojin to work for you?"
His masked face turned toward Seojin. "I want Seojin to help me fix what's been broken."
Seojin exhaled slowly. "And if I refuse?"
Xiang Wu's voice remained steady. "Then the world will burn, and no one—not even you—will be able to stop it."
The room felt smaller, the walls closing in.
Seojin had spent so much time fighting against control, against corruption, against those who wanted to use her. And now?
A new enemy had emerged.
One who didn't need control—he just needed her.
Seojin's mind spun. Could she trust him?
Could she afford not to?
She had shut down the compliance system. She had destroyed the Council. But Xiang Wu was telling her that it wasn't enough—that there was something even bigger lurking in the shadows.
And if he was right…
Then the fight wasn't over.
Not even close.
Kade's voice was sharp. "We don't have to listen to him, Seojin."
Minji's expression was tense. "He's trying to manipulate you."
Seojin's heart pounded. Was he?
Xiang Wu watched her in silence, waiting.
Waiting for her to choose.
Seojin took a deep breath, staring him down. "I don't trust you."
Xiang Wu nodded, unfazed. "That's fair."
She crossed her arms. "But if what you're saying is true… If there's something worse coming—" Her voice hardened. "Then I need to know everything."
A flicker of satisfaction crossed his eyes.
"Good," he murmured. "Then let's begin."
End of Chapter 111
Thoughts for Readers:
Should Seojin trust Xiang Wu, or is he just another manipulator?
What could be lurking in the shadows, even bigger than the Council?
Will Seojin's decision lead her to victory, or has she just stepped into another trap?
Sneak Peek for Chapter 112:
Seojin learns the true scale of the forces at play, and what she uncovers could change everything. As she dives deeper, she must decide—will she fight alone, or will she accept the help of a man she cannot trust?