Sujin approached the door and slowly opened it.
"Huh? How did you get back so soon?" she asked in surprise.
Vin Jin grabbed her shoulder. "From now on, don't open the door for anyone until I return. Do you understand?"
Sujin's eyes widened. "Why? Did something happen?"
Vin Jin smiled and tapped her forehead. "Don't worry, silly. Just remember—don't open the door for anyone until I get back."
Sujin nodded, confused. Vin Jin's smile softened. "Good. Now close the door and lock it."
Sujin did as he instructed. Vin Jin turned and started down the stairs. Bodies littered the stairwell. He crouched down and grabbed one guy by the hair, yanking his head up. "Who the fuck sent you?"
The goon didn't answer—just raised his middle finger. Veins bulged on Vin Jin's forehead. He punched the guy in the face, knocking him unconscious.
As he stood, more people rushed in. Vin Jin sighed. "Phew... There were more of you? Who sent you? And why are you attacking us?"
The attackers didn't answer. They just kept coming. Vin Jin shook his head. "Go ahead. Make my day."
He cracked his knuckles as the first wave of attackers rushed up the narrow stairwell. The tight space worked in his favor—they couldn't surround him here.
The lead goon swung a metal pipe. Vin Jin sidestepped and grabbed the man's wrist, yanking him forward into the wall. Before the attacker could recover, Vin Jin's elbow smashed into his temple. He dropped.
"Next," Vin Jin muttered.
Three more charged at once. Vin Jin ducked under a wild punch, then grabbed the second attacker's arm. His fingers dug into the pressure point just above the elbow, squeezing hard. The man screamed as Vin Jin twisted, forcing him to his knees.
Without releasing his grip, Vin Jin pivoted and used the man as a shield when the third attacker tried to kick him. The impact made his human shield grunt in pain.
Vin Jin released his grip and drove his fist into the third attacker's stomach. The man doubled over, gasping. A quick knee to the face sent him tumbling backward down the stairs, taking two others with him.
"Is that all you've got?" Vin Jin called out, descending a few steps. More shadows shifted below. "How many idiots did they send?"
A massive man—easily twice Vin Jin's size—pushed through the group on the second floor. A scar ran across his cheek, and his eyes were cold and dead.
"You talk too much, kid," the man growled.
Vin Jin grinned. "Tonight, we dine in hell!"
The scarred man charged forward, surprisingly fast for his size. His fist came at Vin Jin like a sledgehammer. Vin Jin blocked with his forearm, absorbing the impact. As the man's momentum carried him forward, Vin Jin grabbed his jacket with both hands, dropped low, and flipped him over his body.
The scarred man flew through the air and crashed into the railing with a thunderous crack. The metal bent but held. He slumped against it, dazed.
"That's gonna hurt tomorrow," Vin Jin said.
Four more rushed up from the second floor. Vin Jin met them halfway. The stairs were too narrow for them to attack together—perfect.
The first threw a punch. Vin Jin slipped inside his guard and grabbed his shoulder, pressing his thumb hard into the nerve cluster. The man howled as his arm went numb. Vin Jin swept his legs and sent him tumbling down the stairs.
The second tried a low kick. Vin Jin blocked with his shin, then closed in fast. His hand clamped around the man's elbow and twisted sharply. The joint popped out of place with a sickening crack.
Two more came at him from different angles. Vin Jin dropped into a crouch, barely dodging a baseball bat that smashed into the wall behind him. From his low position, he drove his shoulder into one attacker's stomach, lifting him off his feet.
The other swung the bat again. This time, Vin Jin caught it mid-swing with his left hand. The attacker's eyes went wide. Vin Jin yanked the bat forward, pulling the man off balance, then slammed his palm into his nose. Blood sprayed.
"That's for wasting my time," Vin Jin said, letting him drop.
He reached the second-floor landing. Bodies littered the stairs behind him, groaning in pain. His knuckles were bleeding and his shirt was torn, but his eyes remained sharp and focused.
A door burst open and five more attackers poured out. Vin Jin's jaw tightened.
"Seriously? How much are they paying you?" he muttered.
These ones looked different—they moved in formation, spreading out to surround him. One carried a knife, another wore brass knuckles. These weren't random thugs.
The knife guy lunged first, blade aimed at Vin Jin's side. Vin Jin spun and caught the knife hand with both of his own, stepping close so the blade couldn't reach him. He twisted the arm hard, forcing the attacker to his knees. The knife clattered to the floor. Vin Jin's knee came up and cracked into the man's jaw.
The guy with brass knuckles threw a hook from the left. Vin Jin leaned back—the metal fist passed inches from his face. He grabbed the extended arm at the shoulder and bicep, his fingers finding the muscle beneath. He squeezed and twisted simultaneously. The man screamed and dropped to one knee. Vin Jin's elbow came down on the back of his neck.
Three left, and now they were scared. Vin Jin didn't give them time to think. He charged forward.
His shoulder checked the first man hard, knocking him into the wall. The second tried to grab him from behind, but Vin Jin bent forward and threw him over his shoulder. The attacker crashed into the third man.
Both went down. Vin Jin was on them instantly, striking throats, stomachs, and temples. They stopped moving.
The landing was clear except for groaning bodies. Vin Jin straightened up, wiping blood from his lip.
He started down to the first floor. Halfway down, a voice echoed from below.
"Impressive, Vin Jin. You've grown since I last saw you in Cheonliang."
Vin Jin stopped and looked down into the lobby. Two men stood with their hands in their pockets, both wearing white tracksuits.
Vin Jin's jaw tightened. "...Kojima?!"