The woman's expression twisted with anger.
"How dare you say something like that in front of me?
You're truly insufferable."
I looked at her calmly.
"Do you want to know how I dared?"
She scoffed.
"Hah… bold, aren't you? Go on."
I smiled faintly.
"There's a difference between a woman… and a prostitute.
If you call a prostitute what she is, she gets angry and says, 'This is my job.'
But a real woman? She'd laugh… and say, 'I'm not a prostitute for you to call me that.'"
I tilted my head slightly.
"So… now you understand how I dared?"
Her face darkened with fury.
"Look at him… seems like someone has a death wish.
Does that mean you're ready to die?"
I let out a quiet chuckle.
"Look at her… she wants to kill me.
But does your leader want that?"
I shook my head.
"I don't think so.
Your leader wants me alive."
A man stepped forward.
"Call me '0'. Ignore her… she won't lay a finger on you."
I smirked.
"Thanks, '0'. But that's a strange name.
I'll call you 'Ta' instead."
I paused.
"It's an honor for you… to be named something close to me."
He nodded slightly.
"Thank you for the name.
Now… will you come with us to our headquarters, or do you prefer to stay here?"
I sighed.
"This isn't a discussion. It's pointless.
I don't like being kidnapped."
I glanced around.
"Whatever. I'll go with you… but I have two conditions."
"What are they?" he asked.
"First… remove these restraints.
Second… I want to make a call. I need to inform someone that I'll be away for work."
Ta replied calmly:
"Fine. We accept your conditions."
I shook my head.
"They're not conditions.
They're obligations."
The woman snapped:
"You're unbelievably rude. We agreed because you're important.
You should be thanking us."
I looked at her, unfazed.
"I don't repeat myself… even if I'm speaking to a prostitute.
These aren't requests.
You will comply—whether you like it or not."
Her footsteps echoed loudly through the warehouse as she stormed toward me.
"Listen carefully. I am NOT a prostitute.
Say it again… and I'll break your face."
I leaned forward slightly.
"A… pros… ti… tute."
She lunged.
Her hand shot toward me—
I ducked.
Slipped past her.
Then drove my head straight into her stomach.
She dropped to her knees, gasping.
When she looked up at me… fear filled her eyes.
I stared down at her with cold superiority.
"See that?
Now you understand the difference between us?"
My voice lowered.
"Don't pretend to be strong when you don't even know your opponent.
Remember that for the rest of your life."
⸻
Clapping echoed behind me.
As I started to turn—
Ta suddenly grabbed my head.
"Don't look behind you. Focus on us.
If you turn around… you won't have a head left."
I laughed.
"Who's behind me? Your leader?
Why doesn't he act like a man and show himself?"
A strange voice came from behind.
"It's fine, '0'. Let him see me."
I turned…
…And then I froze.
Not from fear…
But from what I saw.
A child.
Torn clothes.
Body covered in wounds.
A laptop in his hands—the source of his voice.
Rage surged through me.
I nearly shattered the chair beneath me.
Ta moved instantly—slamming me to the ground and pinning me.
The voice spoke again:
"I am the leader.
It doesn't matter if you see me… what matters is that I see you."
I stared at him coldly.
"Then it's your honor… to see me.
But what exactly are you afraid of?"
I smirked.
"I'm restrained. I can't do anything."
He replied calmly:
"Relax… we won't harm you.
But you already know how we caught you."
A pause.
"You let yourself get captured… to uncover the organization.
Am I right?"
I laughed.
"What a stupid assumption.
You won't harm me?"
I shook my head.
"You're amusing.
Are you really an organization… or just a circus of killers?"
He answered smoothly:
"Don't worry. We're entertaining you… for the sake of our hostage."
A pause.
"Nino."
⸻
Everything inside me snapped.
I stood up.
Lifted Ta off me—he looked genuinely shocked.
I threw him aside—
But chains lashed across my head.
Pain exploded as he bound me again.
I spat blood and looked toward the "leader."
"Look at you… trying to provoke me.
You really are clowns."
My eyes sharpened.
"What do you want from me?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"To kill you."
I smirked.
"You can do that right now."
He paused… then said:
"You're not an opponent…
No… you're a monster."
⸻
A scream echoed behind me.
I frowned.
"Who was that? One of your people?"
"No," he replied.
"A girl… she was spying on our conversation."
A pause.
"And you know exactly which girl it is."
Rage surged again. I struggled against the chains.
The leader continued:
"Relax. It's not Nino…
It's the girl with the glasses."
Relief hit me—
…But why?
Because it wasn't Nino?
Or because I didn't care about the other girl?
I spoke coldly:
"If you so much as touch Nino… or any of her friends…"
My voice dropped.
"You'll regret it."
⸻
Silence filled the room.
Then, one by one… they left with their leader.
⸻
Once they were gone—
I moved.
Shifted my hands… slowly… carefully.
Left. Right.
Again.
The chains loosened slightly.
I slipped my right hand free.
Then—without hesitation—dislocated my left.
Pulled it out.
Reattached it.
The restraints fell away.
⸻
I stood up.
And then I saw it.
A body.
Stabbed.
Pinned to the wall.
Beneath it… written in blood:
"Cooperate with us… and we'll leave you alone."
⸻
End of Chapter 30