As he made his way toward the first floor, his pace gradually slowed again when someone caught his attention in the lobby. A man was striding across the polished marble floor toward the elevator.
The stranger moved calmly, his posture straight and steady. There was no visible rush in his movements yet something about him radiated urgency at the same time. His face remained expressionless, his gaze fixed forward with a cold intensity that seemed to cut through the surrounding space.
It was the kind of presence that made people instinctively step aside.
Wukyeong froze slightly.
Even standing several steps away, he could feel the weight of that man's aura—heavy and intimidating. His eyes followed the stranger unconsciously. And before he could even realize what he was doing, his feet began moving.
He found himself walking toward the elevator.
Was he drawn to the man? Or was it the strange pressure radiating from him pulled him along?
Wukyeong couldn't quite tell. All he knew was that something about the stranger felt intense.
By the time the elevator doors slid open, both of them stepped inside.
The silence around them felt thicker than usual. Wukyeong stayed quiet for a moment, watching the man from the corner of his eye. The stranger's face remained completely unreadable as he reached forward and pressed a button.
Third floor.
[??]
Wukyeong's gaze flickered. Interesting.
"You seem to know where you're going," he remarked casually, his tone almost playfully as if he were testing the man's reaction.
The stranger didn't respond. Not a word.
The elevator hummed quietly as it began its ascent. Wukyeong shifted his stance slightly before stepping a little closer.
"If you're here for that..." He said slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I can lead you there. I know my way around."
This time, the man finally reacted. His head turned slowly... it was Kiyonari. Their eyes met and in that instant, Wukyeong knew he had the man's full attention.
"... I can get you there fast," Wukyeong added with a small grin. "No hassle at all."
Kiyonari's lips pressed together slightly, his stare turning colder.
"You do?" He asked quietly.
Wukyeong's smile widened.
"Yeah. If you're—"
BAM!
The sentence never finished. In the blink of an eye, Wukyeong's back slammed violently against the elevator wall. The impact knocked the breath straight out of him as Kiyonari's hand seized his collar and drove him backward with a crushing force. His forearm pressed tightly against his throat, pinning him in place.
"W-What?!" Wukyeong choked, his hands instinctively grabbing at the man's arm.
Kiyonari's face loomed inches away now. Up close, the darkness in his eyes looked even more terrifying.
"If I find out you're trying to trick me," Kiyonari said, voice low and filled with quiet venom, "I might just snap your neck right here, right now."
A cold shiver shot straight down Wukyeong's spine.
"Woah—wait!.. relax!" He gasped quickly, raising both hands in surrender.
"Relax, man! I'm not tricking you. I'm telling the truth! Okay?!"
The pressure on his throat didn't ease. If anything, it tightened.
Wukyeong swallowed hard, panic creeping into his voice.
"I'll get you there!" He blurted out desperately. "I swear!"
"Lead the way then."
Kiyonari's voice came out low and steady, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it... sharp enough to make the air inside the elevator feel heavier. It wasn't a request, rather a command.
Wukyeong swallowed.
"Y-Yeah... but first, let go of me," he said, forcing the words out despite the pressure against his throat.
For a brief second, Kiyonari simply stared at him. Then without another word, his forearm pressing against Wukyeong's neck withdrew, and the hand clutching his collar released him just as abruptly as it had grabbed him. The sudden freedom made Wukyeong stumble slightly forward, coughing under his breath as he instinctively rubbed the side of his neck where the pressure had been.
But the tension didn't disappear.
Kiyonari remained standing directly behind him.
Even though he had stepped back, his presence still loomed over Wukyeong like a silent threat. His eyes followed every movement carefully as if expecting him to bolt or attempt something reckless.
Wukyeong straightened himself slowly, adjusting the wrinkled collar of his shirt where Kiyonari had grabbed him. His fingers smoothed down the fabric while he took a steady breath, trying to regain a bit of composure.
But his mind was anything but calm.
Seriously... who is this guy?
The thought rang loudly in his head. How is he so strong?
Wukyeong's mind raced.
Is he an Alpha?
The possibility made his stomach tighten slightly. Alphas were already intimidating by nature, but the aura radiating from this man felt different. His eyes flickered subtly toward the reflection in the elevator's metal panel.
Kiyonari stood behind him, tall and still, his expression carved into cold determination. There was something about the way he carried himself.
The strength behind that single shove had been overwhelming—far beyond what he expected from a random stranger. It hadn't even looked like Kiyonari had used much effort. The speed alone had been terrifying.
But none of those questions made it past his lips. For now, they remained trapped inside his thoughts, unanswered and swirling. The elevator continued its slow ascent toward the third floor, the quiet hum of the machinery filling the space between them.
*****
When the elevator finally chimed and the doors slid open, the third floor greeted them with an unsettling quiet. Both men stepped out at the same time, their shoes landing softly on the thick carpet that lined the hallway. The corridor stretched long in both directions lit by dim golden wall lamps that cast faint shadows along the patterned walls.
Deafening silence engulfed the supposedly place hosting a wealthy guests and a private auction.
Wukyeong shifted his weight as he stepped forward, then paused. He turned slightly, glancing back over his shoulder at the man behind him.
"Hey," he said. Kiyonari looked up from behind him, his expression still guarded.
"Before anything," Wukyeong continued, lowering his voice slightly, "I'll just warn you not to roam around alone."
Kiyonari raised one brow faintly.
"Hm?"
Wukyeong cleared his throat, scratching lightly at the back of his neck as if unsure how to explain it.
"It's just that... the situation around here has gotten worse," he said slowly. "More like something happened, that's why."
His eyes flickered briefly down the corridor before returning to Kiyonari.
"Just try not to wander off by yourself, sir." He added, "Stick with me if possible."
Then after a brief pause he muttered more quietly, "Please..."
There was something oddly sincere in that last word. Kiyonari didn't immediately understand the reason behind the warning. Still, he didn't question it either.
To Kiyonari, however, his main objective hadn't changed. All that mattered was finding Soo-hyun. So he simply stayed silent. One that meant agreement.
Wukyeong nodded once and began walking, and Kiyonari followed a few steps behind him as they moved down the long hallway.
Their footsteps echoed softly along the corridor, the only sound breaking the otherwise eerie stillness. The tension between them lingered like an invisible weight. Neither man spoke, but both remained keenly aware of the other's presence.
They continued down the corridor until they approached an archway that curved toward another wing of the floor.
Just before they turned—footsteps suddenly pounded behind them. Kiyonari stopped instantly. He spun on his heel, his gaze snapping back toward the direction they had come from. Several men dressed in black rushed through the hallway at full speed, passing by the far end of the corridor.
Their movements were frantic, and their voices low but urgent as they searched room after room.
Kiyonari's eyes narrowed. Something was clearly wrong. His curiosity flared immediately.
"What's that?" He asked, turning back toward Wukyeong. "What are those men doing, running around like that?"
Wukyeong sighed sharply, the sound heavy with annoyance.
"Well, like I said," he replied, rubbing the side of his neck. "The situation here isn't great right now."
Then he waved his hand dismissively. "Just forget about it," he added quickly. "C'mon, we're almost there."
He clearly wanted to drop the topic, but Kiyonari couldn't. Those men had caught his attention too strongly to simply ignore it. Without another word, he turned around and began walking in the opposite direction. Where the men were headed to.
Wukyeong's head snapped quickly toward him. "Hey—!"
He rushed forward and grabbed Kiyonari by the arm, stopping him in place.
"What the hell are you doing?!" He hissed nervously. "Didn't I tell you to just ignore it?!"
Kiyonari frowned deeply, pulling his arm slightly free.
"You expect me to ignore that like it's nothing?" He shot back.
Wukyeong let out a dramatic sigh, dragging a hand down his face.
"Okay... obviously you're not understanding the terms here."
Kiyonari blinked, brows furrowing. "What term?"
Wukyeong stared at him for a moment. Before letting out another long breath.
"Ha..." He muttered. "I'm guessing if I don't answer that, you'll snap my head off, right?"
Kiyonari didn't respond. But his silence was answer enough.
"Figures..." Wukyeong mumbled under his breath.
He crossed his arms loosely and leaned back slightly against the wall before finally explaining.
"To put it shortly," he said, "one of tonight's products went missing."
Kiyonari's eyes sharpened.
"The boss promised the VIP guests that he'd prepare something special for the auction tonight," Wukyeong continued. "But now that this happened... the whole thing might get postponed."
"Now, every attendee are supposed to be gathered in the waiting room. So, I'll escort you there..."
[!!]
Kiyonari's heart skipped. He had already suspected it. But hearing it confirmed made his chest tighten. Still, he needed to he sure.
"This product..." He said slowly, watching Wukyeong closely.
"... is it an elite Omega by any chance?"
Wukyeong froze. His eyes widened slightly as he stared at Kiyonari.
"Yeah..." He answered cautiously. "But how'd you know that?"
His brows slowly knitted together in suspicion.
Only the VIP guests and employees knew about the elite Omega being auctioned tonight. To everyone else, it was supposed to be a secret attraction. And yet this stranger, who looked like nothing more than an ordinary attendee, knew about it.
Unless...
Wukyeong clenched his fists slightly.
"Who are you?" He asked suddenly, his tone dropping cold.
"Did someone send you here?"
Kiyonari was clearly puzzled.
Wukyeong's voice hardened further. "Did she send you here?" He demanded. "To tell me this is over?" The defensiveness in his tone was unmistakable.
Kiyonari frowned.
"What are you on about?"
"Huh?"
Wukyeong paused.
He studied Kiyonari's face carefully and noticed that genuine bewilderment there. Then it hit him.
No... it's not him. So who is he, really?
He straightened slightly.
"If you're not him," Wukyeong said slowly, "then who are you? Why are you here?"
Kiyonari's expression grew serious.
For the first time since they met, something deeper surfaced in his gaze. One that was driven by urgency rather than anger. He clenched his fist slightly before answering.
"I'm here... for someone." His voice remained steady.
"I need to save them."
His jaw tightened faintly.
"I'm worried something bad has happened to him."
Him. Wukyeong caught that immediately.
I know that he's here.
The man's eyes flickered in realization.
"... Is it Director Je?"
The name hit Kiyonari like a sudden shock. His expression froze.
For a brief moment, the cold composure he had maintained cracked slightly. His eyes widening just enough to reveal the emotion beneath concern and tension. Something fiercely protective.
That reaction alone confirmed everything.
Wukyeong exhaled loudly in relief. "Gosh, you scared me there," he muttered, rubbing his forehead. "For a second I thought I really was done for."
Kiyonari remained silent, still processing the sudden shift in conversation. As Wukyeong's expression softened and he gave him a bright, reassuring grin.
"No worries, man," he said casually. "I'm not an enemy." He pointed at Kiyonari lightly.
"I can help you find him."
Kiyonari narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, right..." Wukyeong said, scratching his cheek sheepishly. "Sorry for the late introduction."
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small wallet.
"My name's Lee Wukyeong," he said with a grin. "That's my real name, by the way."
He flipped the wallet open and held it up in front of Kiyonari. A badge gleamed under the hallway lights.
"I'm an undercover detective."
Kiyonari's expression stiffened. "You're with the police...?"
"Yup," Wukyeong replied easily.
He slipped the badge back into his jacket and folded his arms.
"So why don't we help each other out here... mister secretary."
[!!]
Kiyonari blinked in shock. "How did you know that I was—"
"I kinda had a hunch when you said you were looking for someone," Wukyeong interrupted.
There was only one person desperate to find his boss like this. And that's you, Mr. Soo Kihyun.
Then he tilted his head slightly, revealing a small earpiece tucked discreetly into his left ear.
"And also because..." He said tapping it lightly with his finger.
[You idiot. You didn't have to tell him that...]
A voice crackled quietly through the device—an agent giving all information to him, though only Wukyeong could hear it. He simply smiled.
"It's alright," he replied casually and beamed, glancing back at Kiyonari. Who was still standing there stunned.
*****
As they continued walking through the dim corridor, Wukyeong began explaining everything in greater detail. His tone became firm.
"Me and my team have been working on this operation for nearly 1 year and 3 months."
They had to build connections, and gain the trust of those people inside the network.
Through careful work, they were able to uncover layers of illegal activity far beyond what they had originally expected. It was part of a much larger criminal structure.
The group operating behind the scene was an organization known as Ru2, a powerful syndicate deeply embedded in the black market. Associated in countless illegal operations; money laundering, financial scams, and most notoriously, secret auctions that trafficked human beings to the highest bidders.
"And somehow, this organization always slipped through any investigation."
The biggest obstacle, was that many powerful elites and influential individuals are wealthy enough to cover and protect the organization.
"That's why we had no choice but to infiltrate the place before making a move."
Wukyeong slowed slightly as he crossed his arms, glancing ahead of them down the hallway while continuing his explanation. "It just so happened," he said firmly, "that we received intel about Mr. Je being kidnapped by the same organization."
His voice carried a subtle edge as if even he hadn't expected the case to become complicated.
Beside him, Kiyonari listened without interrupting. He walked silently the entire time, his expression hardened with focus. It was clear that he absorbed every word carefully.
The tension in his posture was unmistakable, his jaw tightening as though holding something back. Finally, after several seconds of quiet thought, he spoke.
"So, did you find out who was behind it?" He said slowly, his voice calm but heavy.
Wukyeong blinked at the sudden question, slightly surprised by the directness of it. "Hm?"
[...]
He hesitated.
Kiyonari's eyes narrowed faintly. "Whoever's behind this could also be the one responsible for Director Je's kidnapping."
[Sir, this isn't really the time to say anything to a civilian.]
The hallway seemed to grow quieter at those words. Wukyeong stopped walking for a moment. His expression looked as if he had anticipated this question.
"I can't tell you any more than I can," he admitted.
His gaze lingered on Kiyonari before he continued. "But there's one person who stands out among them that you're probably familiar with."
Kiyonari's steps halted.
Slowly, he turned his head over his shoulder and looked at Wukyeong. The detective met his gaze and spoke the name clearly.
"Kwon Jisung."
For a moment, the corridor felt frozen in time.