— What?... — Ryu Sungyeon didn't even immediately realize he'd breathed it out loud. — One billion—just for entry?
Silence echoed off the walls. The air was thick with the smell of dust and cheap coffee. Oh Rian leaned back on the edge of the table and spoke as if it were an everyday thing:
— For those playing in these leagues, a billion is pocket change for a warm-up.
Sungyeon scoffed, glancing at the peeling walls. A pile of old monitors, wires, mattresses, plastic chairs—this "organization" looked like an appliance repair club.
— Do you people even have these billions? — he asked with the most genuine irony.
Rian answered without a shadow of a doubt:
— Of course not.
— And how do you plan to participate?
— You have the money, — Kang Jihan interjected, without looking up from the screen.
Sungyeon froze, then slowly articulated:
— You... want to bet my money?
— Not bet—invest. You yourself said you know how to gamble. So show some confidence.
— Invest, — Sungyeon grimaced. — It's nice to hear my savings are turning into a shared fund.
Jihan shrugged.
— Better than letting it gather dust in a safe.
Sungyeon restrained himself from lunging. Fortunately, Rian, the only one who seemed remotely sensible, spoke up:
— If you make it into the top five, the organizers will offer you a choice—money or the invitation. You need to take the invitation.
— And what do you do with it next?
— We'll attend the West Medical reception.
— And what are you looking for there?
— That's not your concern, — Rian said calmly, but something cautious flickered in his gaze.
Sungyeon realized: this "tournament" was just a cover.
— So all this fuss is for some piece of paper?
— Correct, — Jihan confirmed.
— Then why not buy a ticket or hack the system?
Rian smirked:
— Because the security is government-level. Even your hypnosis won't work if you can't get inside.
Ah, that's why they need me...
Sungyeon looked at them thoughtfully. West Medical—a global pharma giant, a corporation that controlled half of Lyran's bio-market. He knew they conducted experiments that were later dismissed as "accidents."
— And where is all this happening?
— Mao-Ko Colony, — Jihan said, as if squeezing out poison. — A parasite city. Three days of games, then—silence.
Sungyeon smirked.
— You must really love stunts.
I Hun looked away from the monitor:
— So, is Ryu Sungyeon with us now?
Sungyeon raised an eyebrow.
— And if you hadn't found me? What then?
— We would have found someone else, — Jihan muttered. — Would've married Im So Lin and gone with her invitation.
— No, seriously. You didn't even have a backup player?
Rian nodded toward I Hun:
— He was supposed to be the one.
Sungyeon looked at the sniper—he stood motionless, like a statue. Yes, the perfect face for poker.
— So the buy-in was already in place, you just decided to replace a pawn with a queen. Clever.
He leaned against the back of the chair, rattling the handcuffs slightly.
— But you know what? I don't feel like part of the team. I'm a hostage, and you're executioners on a waiting list.
— If you understand your place, just do as you're told, — Jihan cut him off.
Sungyeon smiled with the corner of his mouth.
— But you know it yourselves. Without me, you won't get anywhere. Even if I fail—you lose nothing. Only one vampire disappears. Isn't that right?
His words hung in the air. No one objected. Sungyeon felt Jihan's irritation shoot up his spine.
— That settles it. Let's at least pretend we're civilized. Let's sign a contract.
— A contract?! — Jihan scoffed.
Sungyeon turned to Rian, almost softly:
— Otherwise, I'll be working at gunpoint. You won't get far with that kind of motivation.
He glanced at Lo Dan:
— He yells at you too, right?
— Huh? Yeah... constantly.
— See? — Sungyeon nodded. — He even pressures his own people. Let alone me.
He tore a sheet of paper from Lo Dan and started writing right on his knee.
Kang Jihan—Party A. Ryu Sungyeon—Party B.Party B undertakes to obtain one VIP invitation from "West Medical" for Party A.Upon receipt of the invitation, both parties cease contact.Until the mission is completed—no threats, violence, or harm.In case of violation—the contract is voided.
He handed over the paper. — Clear and honest.
Jihan took the sheet, wrote by hand at the bottom:
In case of deceit or escape, Party B forfeits his life.
— Are you insane?! — Sungyeon flared up.
— It's not a threat. Just balance, — Jihan smirked.
Rian tiredly ran a hand over his face.
— Enough. Sign it and let's get this over with.
Sungyeon nodded. The paper crinkled under his fingers. Signatures, prints—all in form. He immediately photographed the contract and sent it to the cloud.
— Now, no harm, right? — he held out his hands.
Jihan reluctantly removed the handcuffs. Cold metal slid over his skin, leaving pale marks.
— When is the tournament?
— In a month, — Rian replied.
— A month... — a hint of relief flickered in Sungyeon's voice. — Enough time to prepare.
He had already gotten up, but Jihan blocked his way:
— I'm coming with you.
— Why?
— The contract doesn't prohibit observation.
— You'll be spying.
— Call it what you like.
Sungyeon turned to Rian:
— That's a breach of contract!
— He's not going to cause harm, — Rian said calmly.
Sungyeon clenched his fists.
— Wonderful. At least the signatures are real in this cage.
The light of Lyran struck his eyes when they stepped out. Jihan walked beside him, like a shadow.
— Let's go eat, — he said, as if they were old friends.
— I'm not hungry.
— You're lying. You look like you haven't eaten in a hundred years.
Sungyeon turned away toward the window. The city flowed past—neon, holograms, blinding light. A lump sat in his chest—anger, exhaustion, and bewilderment.
— By the way, — Jihan threw out casually, — don't try to use hypnosis. It won't work anyway.
— Why?
— While you were asleep, I injected you with the drug "Blue-5." It suppresses your abilities. It's effective for forty-eight hours.
Sungyeon stared at him.
— You... what did you do?
— Test it if you want.
He didn't believe him, but he still exposed his finger to a beam of light. No burning, no smoke. Only a tremor beneath the skin.
— How... is that possible?
Jihan smirked:
— Welcome to a world where the sun doesn't kill.
Sungyeon closed his eyes.
For the first time in many years, he felt genuine fear.
If he won't let me go—I'll leave on my own.
Even if I have to tear this city apart, along with its light.