The luggage burst open as Daniel Park kicked his way out. He stood up in the middle of the empty intersection wearing nothing but a pair of black underwear. His compact, chiseled body shined under the sunlight like a carved statue.
"Fuck! What just happened?! Did they kidnap me?!"
Daniel scrambled to his luggage and began pulling out pieces of clothing. He hopped on one leg while trying to shove his foot into his pants as fast as possible.
A sharp screeching noise echoed through the street as a red motorcycle skidded to a halt in front of him. The biker sat perched on the machine and stared at him through a dark visor.
"Huh? I thought the old lady said someone was in trouble. All I see is a pervert here."
Daniel froze in an awkward position with his pants only halfway up his thighs. It looked exactly like he was caught exposing himself in public.
He raised his hands and waved them frantically to dismiss the idea.
"I swear this is not how it seems!"
The biker shook their head and muttered a single word that cut through the silence.
"Pervert."
Daniel sighed and accepted his fate while he finished pulling up his trousers. He threw on a shirt and looked at the rider with an exhausted expression.
"Who are you?"
The biker revved the engine and the exhaust produced a deafening roar that shook the surrounding windows.
"It doesn't matter. I thought there was some trouble and came to check. Didn't expect to see a pervert here."
Daniel sighed and adjusted his collar.
"I am telling you, I am not a pervert. My friend just got kidnapped."
The biker tilted their head and turned the handlebars slightly.
"Kidnapped? By whom?"
"I don't know if you know him. His name is Yujae Seon."
The atmosphere around the biker shifted instantly and the idle rumble of the engine seemed to grow deeper.
"Yujae Seon, was it?"
Daniel nodded and stepped toward the red machine.
"Hop on. I might be able to help you."
Daniel chuckled nervously as he looked at the back seat.
"I am getting deja vu. You're not going to knock me out and kidnap me, are you?"
The biker snorted and reached for the throttle.
"I won't ask you twice."
Daniel sighed and climbed onto the back of the bike. He was prepared this time and kept his guard up so he wouldn't fall for another trick.
The biker twisted the throttle and the machine lunged forward with a force that nearly threw Daniel off the back. In his haste to stay on, he wrapped his arms tightly around the biker's waist.
The biker screamed and the motorcycle wobbled for a split second.
"Wh—what are you doing?!"
Daniel looked confused and tightened his grip to keep his balance.
"What?"
"Whatever! Just remove your hands!"
Daniel pulled his hands away and gripped the rear rail instead. He felt like he had offended the person without meaning to.
"I just grabbed on so I wouldn't fall. What is there to get so angry about?"
The biker didn't answer and only sped up until the ruined buildings became a grey blur.
---
After a while, they reached the Speed Circle base and descended into the underground tunnel. Daniel looked at the damp walls and the flickering lights with a suspicious gaze.
"Where are we? This place seems a bit shady."
The biker snorted and pushed open a heavy metal door.
"Follow me."
Daniel followed them into a large room filled with crates and monitors. His eyes landed on a young man with a cut on his lip who was eating pizza with his legs resting on a shipping container.
Daniel called out in total shock.
"Jake Kim?!"
Jake put his legs down and nearly dropped his pizza crust. He stood up and stared at the newcomer with wide eyes.
"Daniel Park?!"
Daniel rushed over to him and looked around the room with a sense of relief.
"So this place is legit. I thought I was getting kidnapped once again."
Jake looked confused and wiped some sauce from his chin.
"What are you talking about?"
"It's a long story."
"Tell me in short."
Daniel let out a long breath and gestured toward the empty street above.
"Little Daniel got kidnapped by Yujae Seon."
Jake nodded slowly at first before the words actually registered in his brain.
"It happens... Wait! What?! Little Daniel got kidnapped?! By whom?! Yujae Seon?!"
Daniel nodded and looked at the ground.
"Yeah."
"How did you find Yujae?"
"He approached me."
Jake paced the room with a look of intense focus. He and Speed crew had been searching for any sign of Yujae's tracks without luck.
Daniel looked around at the strange group of people in the base.
"By the way, what is this place?"
"This is the secret base of the Speed Circle. They are friends of Jaegyeon Na. I have allied with them."
Daniel stared at Jake as if he had grown a second head.
"You allied with Jaegyeon Na?!"
Jake nodded and leaned against the wall.
"It is a long story. I will tell you later. But first, we have to solve the internal problem of Incheon."
Daniel nodded and looked toward the door they had just entered through.
"Yeah. Incheon is scary."
Jake tapped him on the shoulder to soothe him before turning toward the others.
"Let me introduce you guys."
He pointed at the fat guy who had moved from pizza to a bowl of steaming ramen.
"That is Sebastian."
He then pointed at the man who was currently blowing a massive bubble with his gum.
"That's Boknam."
Jake continued the introduction with a wave toward the empty chairs.
"There is also Jaegyeon Na, Sung, and Roy. They are out currently. Lineman is with them."
He finally pointed at the last person in the room who still had their biker outfit on.
"That's Yeowool Ha. She is the daughter of the previous leader of Speed."
Daniel looked at the biker with a puzzled expression.
"Yeowool Ha? Is that a girl's name...?"
Yeowool Ha pulled off her helmet and her long hair fell over her shoulders.
"I am a girl."
Daniel's face turned bright red as he realized why she had freaked out on the bike. He also remembered that he had been standing in front of her in nothing but his underwear earlier.
Yeowool Ha turned to Jake and pointed a thumb at Daniel.
"Your friend is rather strange."
Jake looked back and forth between them.
"What?"
Daniel interrupted before she could say anything more.
"Nothing! It's nothing!"
Sebastian and Boknam walked over to Daniel with curious looks.
"Hey, newcomer. You met Yujae?"
"Your friend got kidnapped?"
Daniel nodded and looked at Jake.
"Yeah. Though I don't know why he did that."
Jake rubbed his chin and stared at the map on the wall.
"Did he do that to pull me out? We are both outsiders. He might have guessed that we are together. If he could bring me out, he would find the Speed Circle."
Daniel looked impressed.
"When did you get so smart?"
Jake snorted and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I am not leading Big Deal with brute force only."
Daniel nodded in agreement. Jake's eyes sharpened as he looked at the exit.
"Anyways, we have to save Little Daniel. So, let's get started."
Everyone in the room stood up and let out a collective shout of agreement.
"Yeah! Find Little Daniel and then take out Yujae to end this internal war!"