"From the moment I saw you, I could tell you were also a master of a special mythical technique," Alfredo said.

"I said—"

"No need to pretend," Alfredo cut in. "I already told you I’d let you go if you answered honestly. Besides..." his grin returned, calmer this time, almost knowing. "Aren’t you curious to know what kind of technique I’m using?"

The more he spoke, the more Yohan began to feel it.

This man might actually be like him.

He wanted to keep denying it, to stay cautious, but the truth was... he was far too curious.

Ever since he found the Wellness Technique guide, he had been searching for answers—answers he was slowly beginning to believe he might never find.

Where did it come from?

Who created it?

Were there others like him?

Even after meeting with the Baker he hadn’t made any progress, maybe Alfredo was the first real clue.

Yohan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Special mythical technique... is that what it’s called?"

Alfredo stared at him for a second, then let out a quiet laugh.

"So you really don’t know."

There was genuine amusement in his expression now.

He slowly slid the dagger back into place beneath his jacket, then ran a hand through his brightly colored hair before reaching into his pocket.

He pulled out a card.

"Here," he said, holding it out with a sigh. "Give me a call."

He turned to leave, but just as he reached the exit, Gunjoo came rushing in, nearly colliding with him.

"Alfredo?" Gunjoo muttered, looking past him to where Yohan stood beside Izumi.

"Don’t worry about me..." Alfredo said quietly as he brushed past him and walked out.

Gunjoo stood there for a moment, at a complete loss for what to do. His eyes shifted back to Yohan, whose expression made it look as though he had just seen a ghost. He stood there staring blankly into space, unmoving.

"What happened?" Gunjoo asked, his voice tense.

Yohan didn’t answer immediately. His face remained distant, like his mind was still trapped somewhere else.

"Nothing..." he said at last, though even he didn’t sound convinced.

Then, as if forcing himself back to reality, he stepped toward Izumi.

Without a word, he grabbed the iron chain around her neck and snapped it apart.

Gunjoo froze.

It wasn’t a particularly thick chain, but it was still solid iron. For an ordinary human being, breaking it barehanded should have been impossible.

A chill ran down his spine as he stared at the broken links lying on the floor.

Just what exactly... was Yohan?

"Y-You’re taking the girl?" he asked hesitantly, though he already knew the answer.

"Yes. I can’t leave her here. I hope you don’t plan on making it a problem."

"N-No. I already suspected you would do that. I knew from the start that you were only pretending about everything. You’re not the type of person to go around using people for your own gain."

"What makes you think you know me so well?" Yohan asked.

"It’s obvious what kind of person you are. We’ve met enough times for me to know that in a situation like this, you would always choose to save the girl. And if that’s your decision, I can’t change it. But like I said... Mason is going to come after you for this."

"He better not. Because if he does, I’ll be forced to come after all of you."

Yohan stepped closer, his voice low and cold.

"Look me in the eyes when I say this—that would be the worst possible outcome."

A chill ran through Gunjoo. He believed him completely.

He wanted to avoid that outcome by any means possible.

"T-That won’t be necessary," he said quickly. "I’ll figure something out."

"Your coat."

Yohan stretched out his hand.

"Of course!"

Gunjoo hurriedly took it off and handed it to him.

Yohan turned and draped it over Izumi’s shoulders. She continued to frown, but she didn’t reject the gesture.

"I’ll lead you out," Gunjoo said.

He guided them through a different route, away from the main hall where the shooting was happening, until they reached an open underground garage. The place was quieter, the distant chaos of the building sounding muffled from there.

He stopped beside one of the cars and handed Yohan the keys.

"You can leave from here without being spotted,"

"I can’t leave without Jenna,"

Yohan pulled out his phone and made a call.

— 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Jenna had just thrown herself behind a corner as bullets rained against the wall beside her.

Concrete dust scattered into the air.

Her phone rang at that exact moment.

She answered immediately.

"I found her." his voice came from the other end.

"Good... I can’t talk right now, so just get Izumi out of here."

The line went dead.

Jenna lowered the phone and checked the magazine in her handgun.

Only a few shots left.

She let out a quiet sigh, pressing the gun briefly against her forehead as she steadied herself.

Then she lowered it, her expression hardening.

She was prepared to give up everything—even her own life—just to protect her.

Because if she failed, her mother and younger sister were as good as dead.

That was what Izumi’s safety meant to her. Even if all she managed to do was distract the gangsters long enough for Yohan to get her to safety...

Just then, a car came crashing through the wall and into the large hall, sending concrete, glass, and people flying into chaos.

The deafening sound froze everyone for a split second.

"Jenna, come on!" Yohan shouted, pushing open the front passenger door.

Jenna stared at him in shock as the gangsters scrambled in confusion, shouting over one another.

For a moment, she couldn’t process what she was seeing.

"What are you waiting for? Let’s go!" he yelled again, snapping her back to reality.

Her body moved before her mind could catch up.

She sprinted toward the car, bullets and screams erupting behind her, and threw herself into the passenger seat.

The moment the door slammed shut, Yohan stepped on the accelerator.

The car shot forward, tires screeching against the concrete floor as they tore through the warehouse exit and disappeared into the night.