"good afternoon sir, i am yoon jeonghan, chairman of yoon corp. and the acting ceo of CJ tech company, i would like to help you with your problem," he says, not even letting the man respond back. his voice calm, sharp, like he’s done this a thousand times before.

"i believe that your son currently faces a lawsuit and backlash from the public, and no lawyer is able to represent you, not even your own legal managers."

"how do you know that? that thing is extremely private matters," the man’s voice tight, filled with suspicion.

"know that i do not really want to pry into your matters, especially about your son, but i’m doing this out of courtesy and because i want someone to know and investigate the person suing you. and because i know we only have one enemy."

the line goes quiet. not even a breath from the other side.

"okay… how will you help?" the man finally speaks, voice low, cautious.

"i won’t really help personally, but i am here to recommend someone that would help you. hong joshua of hong law firm."

"hong joshua?"

"yes… your child’s first love," jeonghan rolls his eyes, annoyed he even had to say it, fingers tapping lazily on the desk.

"how do you know that? how far do you know about me and my son?"

"nothing too deep into your family, just the basics. but the reason i know that is because i am close to hong joshua. i grew up with him and saw your son so many times, too much for my liking, honestly."

silence again. the weight of words lingering.

when he heard nothing from the other line, jeonghan sighs, impatience creeping in, "hong joshua will surely help you, and never tell him or your son that i called you. got it?"

"sure… are you—" jeonghan ends the call, not in the mood for small talk.

the room feels heavier after the call, the tension not leaving.

"what’s your next plan?" wonwoo asks, his voice low, flipping through one of the files lazily, though his eyes sharp, catching every detail. the four of them still in the office, lights dim, papers scattered like pieces of a puzzle no one wants to solve.

"have you held the funding of choi jae hyung’s campaign?" jeonghan shifts his gaze, his fingers steepled under his chin.

"yes. i’ve also started investigating the board members and talking to them one by one about how things will be in the future. there are 5 people on that board that are the most loyal to choi jae hyung. i’m still trying to find leverages on them," mingyu responds, his posture relaxed but his words sharp.

"good. that’s good. you have to—"

the sudden opening of the door cuts jeonghan off mid-sentence. vernon stood there, his expression unreadable, cool as always. behind him was a man—not familiar.

if vernon was the embodiment of calm and calculated, the man was the opposite. his stance relaxed, like he didn’t care about the tension in the room, hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket. there was a slight grin tugging at the corner of his lips but his eyes. his eyes were sharp, even though he hides the fact that he was scanning and observing everyone in the room.

"boss, he said he knows you..." vernon explains, his voice low, cautious, glancing at jeonghan who’s giving him that sharp, questioning look.

jeonghan leans back slightly, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze cold and unreadable. "but i don’t know him. isn’t it in our rules to inform me first before anything, especially when it comes to new people?" his tone is controlled, but there's a thin layer of irritation underneath.

"i’m sorry, boss," vernon replies quickly, his posture stiff, almost defensive.

"i was about to, but this man insisted that you know him. he also said that hong joshua told him to come here. i figured it was urgent, and that you’d allow it since… it’s joshua." vernon’s voice trails off, clearly uneasy.

jeonghan’s jaw tightens. the mention of joshua always brings a shift in the room’s atmosphere, like a name heavy with unspoken things. he glances towards the door. "did he send you?" his voice sharpens, eyes narrowing slightly as they land on hoshi.

"yes..." hoshi starts, but then hesitates, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "well, no, but i came here because of him."

jeonghan raises an eyebrow, a flicker of interest breaking through his usual stoicism. there's skepticism in his eyes, but also curiosity.

"come in then," jeonghan says finally, his voice cool, but with a hint of intrigue.

they settle into the office. vernon gives one last glance before quietly slipping out to return to his post, the door clicking shut behind him. hoshi is left standing there, surrounded by jeonghan, wonwoo, mingyu, and jun. the air feels thick, the kind of tension that wraps around your chest, tight and unrelenting.

"start talking," jeonghan commands, leaning forward slightly, fingers under his chin, watching hoshi with eyes that miss nothing.

hoshi clears his throat, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, clearly feeling the pressure. "i’ve been with joshua hyung for quite some time now. when all his friends were taken away, i stayed. i helped and protected joshua from the enemies, just like i promised my friend seungcheol... and because it was my job."

"my name is kwon soonyoung, or hoshi. it’s nice to finally meet you guys. i’ve heard so much about you." hoshi tries to smile, but it falters under the weight of their stares.

mingyu shifts uncomfortably, his gaze flicking toward jeonghan, worried. jeonghan doesn’t react, his face unreadable, just the slight tilt of his head as if weighing hoshi’s words.

"no worries," hoshi continues quickly, sensing mingyu’s tension.

"i didn’t learn about you guys from suspicious people, no. no. i knew you guys because of joshua. we got drunk the other day, and we just became honest about each other's lives. he mentioned all of you—most especially you, sir." hoshi gestures towards jeonghan with a small, respectful nod.

jeonghan’s eyes narrow, curiosity seeping through his composed exterior. "what did he say about me?"

hoshi hesitates, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, trying to soften the tension. "i’m sorry to say this, but… it’s for me to know and for you to find out yourself, sir." his tone is polite, careful not to overstep, but there’s a subtle playfulness in his words.

jeonghan’s face remains stoic, but something flickers in his eyes—annoyance? amusement? it’s hard to tell. his fingers drum lightly against the table, his mind spinning with thoughts of joshua, the weight of their complicated history pressing against his chest.

"so, why are you here?" wonwoo’s voice cuts through the silence, sharp and direct.

"i’m here to make a deal." hoshi’s voice is steady now, trying to mask the slight tremor of nerves beneath.

mingyu scoffs, leaning forward, his expression dark. "you have the nerve to make a deal with us? we barely know you. you just came here, and all you’ve talked about is joshua this, joshua that. do you think you have leverage over our boss just because you keep mentioning his name?" his voice rises slightly, frustration simmering beneath the surface.

"mingyu-ah," jun says quietly, his gaze sharp as he shoots mingyu a look that says calm down. mingyu grits his teeth but leans back, crossing his arms, still fuming.

"i’m sorry. i didn’t mean it like that," hoshi says quickly, his hands slightly raised in a defensive gesture. "and i promise you, i mean no harm. my intentions towards joshua hyung are sincere. do a background check on me! I’ll gladly cooperate. i guarantee my sincerity."

the room falls into a tense silence, the only sound is the faint hum of the air conditioning. hoshi takes a deep breath, gathering his courage. "the reason i came here… is because i want to join the gang."

the reaction is immediate. mingyu’s eyebrows shoot up in disbelief, jun’s eyes narrow slightly, wonwoo leans forward, his expression unreadable, and jeonghan? jeonghan just stares, his face blank, but his mind racing.

"don’t even think it’s going to be easy," wonwoo says coldly. "we don’t even know you yet."

"yes. i know that. and no rush," hoshi replies, his tone calm, almost too calm for someone standing in front of the most dangerous men in the room. "i’m merely telling you guys."

"what made you decide to join?" jun asks, his voice low, skeptical. "like, what? just because someone told you about us in their drunken state, you got inspired?"

"no… well, maybe?" hoshi admits with a small, awkward laugh, scratching the back of his neck again. "i have no one. i spent years in prison, and the only true friends i had were seungcheol and jihoon… both taken away. when i met joshua hyung, i just felt this need to protect him, to help him with his goals. and when i learned about the mafia, about you guys, i just… i wanted to join. to finally belong somewhere, you know?"

there’s a raw honesty in his words, a vulnerability that lingers in the air. the room goes silent again.

jeonghan leans back, his eyes distant, lost in thought. joshua’s name echoes in his mind, tangled with memories and emotions he’s tries to forget at the moment.

after a long pause, with jeonghan still in his thoughts. junhui finally speaks, to break the silence, his voice calm but firm. "come back to us tomorrow, same time. we will let you know our answer."

hoshi nods, silently turning to leave. he did not want to stay any longer that that. he cannot seem to take the gaze of the four men on him.  the door clicks shut behind him, leaving the four men in the heavy silence.

wonwoo speaks first, his voice low. "what do you think?"

mingyu shakes his head, frustration still lingering. "i don’t trust him. his too smooth with his words. would you really let someone in the group just because he told us a sob story?"

"but there was honesty in there," jun murmurs, thoughtful. "or at least… it felt like it."

jeonghan doesn’t respond immediately. he just stares at the door where hoshi disappeared, his mind still on joshua. for joshua’s sake, he thinks.

"run a thorough investigation on him, i want to know everything about him," jeonghan finally said something. his voice cold and firm, leaving no room for argument.

"and mingyu-ah, bring dokyeom and the report to me at midnight. we will have to visit choi jae ha again."

"copy that," mingyu nods, grabbing his coat and the files before heading out, the door clicking shut behind him.

when he left, jeonghan felt jun's gaze burning into him. he turned slowly, meeting jun’s eyes. "what?"

jun leans back on the couch, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. "i understand that you truly, wholeheartedly love hong joshua. that you’re doing all of this for him. but you have to know when to stop doing things for him. i keep telling you, the reason why he pushed you away was because he didn’t want you to do anything."

jeonghan's jaw tightens, his fists clenching at his sides. "so what! i would do nothing? are you saying that i should just watch him die, suffer, and be tormented? i understand your concern, jun, i really do. but you don’t have any right to say what i should and shouldn’t do."

jun’s eyes darken, his voice rising, frustration dripping from every word. "but whatever you’re doing only complicates things on our part! i see you, jeonghan. you wanted to accept hoshi right there and then. for what? just because he mentioned joshua? he’s always been your weakness, and now, if hoshi were to be a spy, you’ve just given him leverage over you—and over all of us."

wonwoo just looks down, his hands clasped tightly together, refusing to step in between the two. the tension in the room feels like it could snap at any moment.

"i won’t let that happen," jeonghan snaps back, his voice low and dangerous. "i would kill anyone before they could hurt me or any of you."

jun shakes his head, his voice softer now but no less intense. "if you’re doing things to help him, at least be there with him. at least he should be next to you. did you not think that maybe what you’re doing is going against his plan? what if you’re ruining his plans and only making him face more danger? his danger is our danger too, jeonghan."

jeonghan stops. the room falls silent, heavy with the weight of jun’s words. he breathes in sharply, feeling the sting of truth in what jun just said. his mind races, replaying every decision he’s made, every step he’s taken.

and then it hits him.

he knows what hoshi can do for him.