The night breeze softly swept across the rooftop of an abandoned building in the middle of the city. But inside, a major plan was beginning to take shape — not by Jung Kok, nor by Jung Joon. But by someone standing far from the light, arranging the chess pieces without anyone noticing.
Min stood in front of a whiteboard inside a secret room within one of the long-abandoned properties owned by the Han family. On the board were photographs: Jung Kok, Jung Joon, Hwang, Choi Dae-gun, and several other area leaders. Each was connected by thin threads showing relationships, loyalties, and the potential for betrayal.
Min placed a marker on one particular name — "Lee Sang-hoon", one of the young leaders recently appointed by Jung Kok. His face remained calm, but Min's eyes gleamed with a kind of satisfaction only someone who knew more than anyone else could feel.
A few days earlier...
A weapons convoy — part of false information deliberately leaked by Min — had been attacked. Just as planned, Jung Kok received word that the information had been compromised. Three men were quietly captured, and Jung Kok ordered them to be interrogated thoroughly — without Jung Joon's knowledge.
"One of them used to be one of our own," Min said in a private meeting with Jung Kok. "He served under your father, before being dismissed. Looks like he's still loyal to Choi Dae-gun."
Jung Kok clenched his jaw. "If they've started infiltrating our ranks, we need a new way to filter out who's still loyal. We can't trust anyone right now."
"Not even your brother?" Min asked.
"Especially not him."
Min nodded.
Meanwhile, in an old warehouse district, Jung Joon was meeting with Choi Dae-gun again.
"Your people are starting to move," said Dae-gun, watching his men practice their shooting drills. "But I've noticed something... our intel is leaking."
"Leaking? From who?" Jung Joon looked uneasy.
"That's what I want to know. If you've got eyes inside your brother's organization, make sure they're clean. Or this whole thing will collapse before it even begins."
Jung Joon nodded. "I'll check. I'll vet my men personally."
But he didn't know — the leak wasn't from anyone on his side.
That same night, Min sat in his room. His phone rang — an unknown number flashed on the screen. He answered.
They spoke.
Min smiled.
He ended the call and returned to the confidential documents laid out in front of him. All of the Han organization's financial records, secret assets, weapons storage locations.
One morning, Hwang summoned Min to his room.
"I know you're the one I can trust the most," said Hwang softly.
Min bowed respectfully. "I'll remain loyal to this family — I've come to see this as my own family."
Hwang just looked at Min for a long moment. "Thank you, Min."
A secret meeting between several regional leaders was held by Jung Kok. He knew the situation was becoming more critical.
"I need all of you united," said Jung Kok. "The enemy isn't from outside. He's already among us. We can't let our father's history repeat — bloodshed among brothers."
But one of them — Lee Sang-hoon — simply listened without saying a word. After the meeting, he immediately dialed a special number.
"He's getting suspicious. We need to accelerate the plan."
At the other end, a voice replied, "Keep doing your part. I'll take care of the rest."
The conflict was now on the brink of explosion. Two brothers. One family. One organization — and one traitor in the shadows holding all the strings.
And in silence, someone wrote a new name at the top of the whiteboard: "LEGACY."
But this time, beneath it, was one name written in bold capital letters:
"*."
(To be continued...)