Chapter Text
The faint moonlight filtered through the small, latticed prison windows, casting narrow, uneven lines of light across the wooden floor of the cell. A heavy silence enveloped the ward; a silence broken only by the soft cough or snore of a lone inmate.
Jungkook, with his dark, disheveled hair shadowing his deep-set eyes, leaned against the wall. His gaze was piercing, as if he could see into anyone's soul and discern their intentions, fixed on the figures surrounding him. His tall stature and imposing physique commanded attention even when seated. His broad shoulders and muscular body, evident even beneath the coarse gray prison uniform, cast a shadow of power and resilience over the cramped cell.
Inside the cell, five other prisoners were present. Yet, no one dared to crack a joke or ask an unnecessary question. Each of them, though some were older than Jungkook, maintained a respectful distance, staring at him with a mix of fascination and curiosity. Their fascination stemmed from the vast amount of knowledge this man possessed, and their curiosity from the new insights they were soon to receive from him. Since Jungkook was the only one in that group, and arguably the only inmate in the entire ward who read books daily, they all trusted his high level of literacy and information.
When Jungkook was sure they were all, as usual, watching him with expectant, eager eyes, he let out a small, subtle smirk and decided to speak. His deep, resonant voice echoed in the small cell.
"You know… every nation has a myth about its beginning. But some myths aren't just stories. Some are like mirrors. They show you who you are and where you stand. The Japanese are no exception. They also have a legend about the world's origin. A myth of gods and chaos and disorder."
He paused, mentally reminding himself that his narration style needed to be understandable to everyone.
"Before heaven and earth separated, the world was full of chaos. Darkness and light were intertwined. Nothing was clear… But one day, from the heart of this turmoil, two primordial gods emerged, named Izanami and Izanagi. The first gods to possess the power of creation. These two gods were equipped with a golden spear that could shape the world. Izanagi and Izanami plunged that spear into the chaotic seas, and when they pulled it out, a single drop dripped and fell. That drop became the first island in the world. That island, Japan, was the beginning of everything. Izanagi and Izanami built their first shrine on that island, and then decided to create other beings. But their first attempt failed. The children they bore were incomplete. They realized they had made a mistake… and their mistake was that Izanagi, the male god, had allowed Izanami, the goddess, to take the lead in the mating ritual. That's why, when they tried again, and followed the correct customs that said the man should take the first step, the result was that the world became full of life."
Jungkook paused slightly, his serious gaze fixed on the ceiling, as if seeing something beyond those cold walls. Then he continued in a calmer tone.
"But the story doesn't always stay this beautiful. Izanami, when she gave birth to the god of fire, herself burned and died. Izanagi, in a fit of rage, killed the fire god. But then he realized he couldn't live without Izanami. That's why he went to the underworld to bring her back."
The eyes of one of the inmates, the youngest in the group, sparkled, and he whispered softly, "What deep love…"
Jungkook fixed his gaze on him and said, very casually, "But love doesn't always have a good ending. In fact, love isn't for everyone."
He took a deep breath and continued, "When Izanagi reached the underworld, he saw that Izanami was no longer the same. Her body was decayed and falling apart. That's when he realized nothing of the Izanami he knew remained. So he had to flee. But Izanami swore she would always follow him. And from that day forward, death always follows life. Death is life's greatest reality…"
All the prisoners, as if enchanted, stared at him, waiting for him to continue his story, but suddenly the sound of the cell lock broke the silence between them. The iron door opened and a guard, with a tired face and bored demeanor, stood in front of the cell, threw a plastic bag he was holding at Jungkook’s feet and said to him: "Jeon Jungkook. Get dressed quickly and follow me. You're going somewhere else."
All eyes turned to Jungkook. Without showing any reaction, Jungkook slowly rose. His tall stature and broad shoulders cast a relatively large shadow over the small cell. He took off his prison uniform and put on his black turtleneck and jeans. Those were the clothes he was wearing the last time he was arrested. When he finished, he walked towards the door without looking at the guard. At the last moment, he turned back to his cellmates and bid them farewell with a nod.
The voice of his elderly cellmate, whom he had known for a long time, was the last thing he heard: "Sometimes think of heaven too, Jeon."
Jungkook, without turning back or reacting, exited the cell.
Upon reaching the warden's office, he was sure: something was off. He'd been in prison for years and couldn't recall anyone being transferred or released at night.
The man, without preamble, immediately got to the point and said, "Orders from above: you're to be released."
Jungkook frowned briefly and asked, "From above? Who am I for them to know me from above?"
The man shot him a sharp look and replied, "Nobody. I know. I was surprised myself when the national intelligence agency sent word to release you immediately. I still think a mistake's been made, and they'll probably bring you right back here. I don't know. Maybe they figured out you're good with a knife and might use you for some of their dirty work. It wasn't within my power to inquire about the reason. I just have to obey. Whatever the reason, enjoy your freedom until then."
He leaned back in his chair and, lighting a cigarette, said, "I told them to pack your belongings into a bag. Pick it up at the main entrance and leave."
Jungkook shrugged and exited the room without asking any more questions. Not that he didn't have questions—he did. He just knew he wouldn't get answers. Until he was out of there, he wouldn't understand what awaited him.
With slow, heavy steps, he walked out of the grand gate of Seoul Central Prison. The cold night air hit his face, but he didn't even blink. He took a deep breath and looked around. A strange silence permeated the deserted street in front of the prison. The dim yellow streetlights cast long shadows of his figure on the asphalt.
He shoved one hand into the pocket of his black jeans, held his bag with the other, and started walking. He hadn't gone more than a few meters when he heard footsteps behind him.
He let out an audible scoff and muttered under his breath, "Told you it wasn't normal."
He slowly turned towards the sound and saw four men dressed in black, with their hats pulled low, standing in the darkness. One of them held a baseball bat, and another, a chain that he was swinging gently in the air. The other two, more heavily built, had nothing visible, or so it seemed.
He rotated his neck, dropped his bag on the ground, and pulled his hand from his pocket. He waited for them to initiate the attack.
It didn't take a second before one of the men lunged at him. But Jungkook didn't even flinch. When the bat swung down at him, he easily dodged and, with a swift movement, delivered a heavy punch to the assailant's stomach. The man's groan echoed in the silent night, and he fell to the ground along with the bat in his hand.
It wasn't a bad start. The exercises he did every morning had kept his body ready.
The remaining three charged him simultaneously. The chain spun in the air, but Jungkook quickly caught it, wrapped it around his hand, pulled the man towards him, and kneed him in the chest. At the same time, one of the heavily built men kicked his knee, and another struck him in the back with a stick. He hissed in pain and stumbled, but he fought with all his might to stay on his feet.
The two men, intoxicated by their partial victory, paused for a moment, and this gave Jungkook the chance to prepare for their next attack. Again, one of them tried to hit him in the head with the bat this time, which Jungkook caught with his hand, and with his foot, he kicked the man between his legs. Hearing the man's pained groan, he didn't miss the opportunity and moved towards the only man from that four-person group still standing with the club in his hand. Just as he was about to deliver his final blow to that man's head, the simultaneous click of multiple gun safeties caught his attention and made him freeze.
"Bravo, Jeon, bravo… You put on a good show. I liked it. So you're as dangerous as Sage said!"
The voice came from his right, so he turned that way and faced a very small army of men, big and small, with all sorts of weapons aimed at him.
A short man approached him, a smile on his face, and said in the voice he’d heard just seconds ago, "There wasn't supposed to be a fight. I just had orders to pick you up from the prison and take you to the boss. But I was bored and asked them to entertain me with you, and I must say… it was excellent, Jeon!"
Jungkook frowned and, with a hostile tone, staring into the man's eyes, asked, "What exactly do you want from me? And who the hell is Sage?"
The man took a step closer, and now, his face was visible in the dim streetlight. Black hair, full lips, and languid eyes in which one could see a mix of madness and danger. He pressed the tip of his gun to the center of Jungkook's chest and replied, "Drop that baseball bat, and like a good boy, get in the car with me, and you'll get answers to your questions, Mr. Gorilla."
Then he smirked and walked away from him. He addressed his men, ordering, "Tie his hands and put him in the car."
He also gave a pathetic look to the three men lying on the ground and said, "Gather up these useless ones too. Shame on you, so many men, and you couldn't handle one."
"Yes, Mr. Park."
"Yes, sir."
They had been on the road for more than an hour and had just left Seoul. The road led towards a secluded, mountainous area, and everyone was irritatingly silent. Park sat in the passenger seat and seemed to be texting someone. It was still dark, and it appeared to be past midnight. It didn't matter, though, because apparently, his night was going to be long.
He closed his eyes and tried to think of all the possibilities and calamities that could befall him, but his mind was utterly blank. He had no idea what kind of person Sage was or what debt he might be owed. He just had to put his mind to work and get out of this alive. Alive and victorious.
They were on the road for about another hour, and he had to endure that agonizing silence, until finally their black van stopped, and its doors opened onto a large warehouse, which looked like something between a modern castle and a military base. Park got out first, and then two of the armed men who had been sitting next to Jungkook during the journey escorted him out of the car and led him inside.
His attention was fully focused on his surroundings. After passing through the entrance, they entered an open space filled with scrap and garbage. Many people, without even looking at them, were busy sorting and collecting waste, talking loudly among themselves. From places he didn't know where, he could hear the loud sounds of cutting iron, welding, and even hammering. As they got closer to the building, a strong odor hit him, making him grimace.
Hours earlier, when the warden told him that his release order had come from "above," he thought he was going to be taken to a military base, or at least a building full of mafias and gangsters… But all he'd gotten so far was the stench of garbage and a feeling of despair.
Finally, they crossed the compound and entered the main building. Inside the warehouse, it was a large, empty space. Sharp white lights from the ceiling cast deep shadows on the floor, but they did nothing to warm the place. The only thing he saw there were five elevator doors, and next to each elevator, an armed man.
"This way, Jeon."
The familiar voice of the man who had earlier pressed his gun to Jungkook's chest reached his ears, and he turned his head towards him, seeing him moving with one of his men towards an elevator next to which "SAGE" was written.
The armed man standing next to him pushed him forward, causing Jungkook to give him a dangerous look before moving towards the elevator. He swore that if his hands weren't bound, he'd settle the score with every single one of them, then go after Sage, finish him off too, and return to his normal life.
To his surprise, only Park, one of his armed men, and Jungkook got into the elevator. These people were either very smart or their overconfidence had led them to such foolishness. He could easily take care of both of them right there.
"The elevator is equipped with a sensor button. Make one false move, and I'll activate it, and its lasers will take care of you."
Park's voice, which seemed to have read his mind, broke his train of thought and made him look at him. That little creature had an eyebrow raised and a ridiculous smirk on his face.
"And besides… you haven't even seen me fight! Don't think just because you're big you can handle Park Jimin."
Jeon just let out an audible scoff and said nothing more. He had no intention of being hit by a bullet or a laser before seeing Sage. He could always come back for this "little creature" later and crush every single one of his bones.
When they reached the designated floor, his eyebrows involuntarily shot up in surprise. Once again, this Sage and his crew had managed to surprise him a little. At least this floor was genuinely chic, and one could walk through it without one's nerves being frayed by loud noises or one's stomach turning from a bad smell.
They passed through a relatively wide corridor whose walls were adorned with paintings in various styles from artists of different nations and stopped in front of a large wooden door with exquisite carvings. Jimin, without saying anything or asking permission, gently opened the door and, before entering, turned to Jungkook and whispered, "Stay silent until you hear your name."
Jungkook gave him an unreadable look and didn't respond. Jimin opened the door, went in first, then Jungkook entered the room, and finally, the same armed man who had been with them since the beginning of the night followed.
As soon as he stepped into that room, he understood from the tense atmosphere and the number of people present that he truly had to wait his turn. The tension was so heavy that no one even noticed their presence.
He looked straight ahead and saw a young man whose face was covered in blood, sitting on one of the single sofas, with another man standing over him.
The young man was blond, wearing black jeans and a matching button-down shirt with three buttons undone, holding several bullets in his hand. Without any weapon… His gaze was serious, and all his attention was on the injured man on the sofa. His lips—
A man's angry, decisive voice grabbed all his attention and made him subtly shift in place to be in view.
"I warned Yoshida… I told him I'd only sell him my weapons if he used them himself. But what did your father do? Not only did he not use them himself, he sold them to my enemies. And even if I could overlook that, I absolutely cannot tolerate the fact that he brought my weapons into North Korean territory. I worship my country, I'm cooperating with my country's intelligence agency, and your father wants to portray me as a traitor to the nation. He wants to tarnish Sage's name."
So this man was Sage. He stood behind a walnut wood table, directly opposite the sofa where Yoshida's son was sitting, lighting a cigar. He was tall—though not as tall as Jungkook himself—and streaks of gray could be seen in his hair, and he wore prescription glasses. For a man who had been heavily betrayed, he was overly calm and composed. He took a deep puff from his cigar and continued speaking.
"What's worse… I overlooked all his mistakes and invited him here, invited him to explain to me himself why he did that to me, but he didn't come. He knows himself that I don't invite just anyone. He knows that when Sage invites him, he must come… he must come so that I don't have to trouble my men and kidnap his only son to bring him here and make him understand in another way…"
The young man, whose fear was clearly visible in his eyes, spoke up.
"Father has important matters—"
But Sage immediately cut him off.
"Nothing is more important than coming to someone who has given you the chance to explain, justify, and atone for your betrayal. But well, since he hasn't come, I'll have to waste a few more of my bullets."
The young man immediately stood up and pleaded with a trembling voice, "Boss, please… We can solve this without bloodshed."
Sage motioned with his hand for the man to sit, and the blond boy placed his hand on the injured man's shoulder, forcing him to sit down.
Sage continued, "Don't be afraid… You won't die. Taehyung is going to make you swallow some bullets, and with those same bullets you swallowed, you'll go to your father and tell him Sage has given him three weeks to collect every single weapon and bullet he brought into North Korean territory and return them to me. Otherwise, after three weeks, I'll empty all these bullets into both your brains."
The young man, now crying, tried his best again to prevent it from happening.
"Please, Sage, Boss… let me call him, we can fix this."
This time, the blond boy, whose name Jungkook now knew, spoke up.
"Shhh… Don't be afraid. They're not that big. You can swallow them. There's water here too. After a bullet, you can drink some water to help it go down. When you get home, you can go to the hospital and have them removed."
Then, with his free hand, he firmly grabbed the man's jaw and said calmly and gently, "Open."
The entire time that blond boy was forcing bullets down the injured man's throat, Jungkook glared at Sage with fury, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists. He just wanted it to be his turn, for his hands to be unbound, so he could ruin that beautiful blond's face with his fists and beat Sage like a dog.
Perhaps his gaze was too fixed on Sage, because he finally noticed it and looked at him with a mix of surprise and pleasure.
"Looks like we have another guest… Come forward, young man."
Then he immediately looked at the blond and said, "Taehyung, that's enough. Take him away."
Taehyung obeyed without a word and asked his men to take care of the injured man but didn't move from his spot.
Jimin nudged Jungkook, forcing him to move. When he reached the spot where the Japanese boy had been sitting moments earlier, he frowned and fixed his serious, hostile gaze on the blond boy, who had a large drop of blood dried at the corner of his lip but was unaware of it. That boy had a mischievous smirk at the corner of his lips, his gaze calm but full of daring. He was so audacious that he even took a step back to let Jungkook take a precise look at his entire body.
And well, when he got his wish, his smirk widened, and his eyes sparkled with joy. That boy was beautiful, and he knew he was beautiful, and he was using his beauty to achieve what? Jungkook frowned, and just as he was about to take a step, Jimin reached out and with his thumb, wiped the blood from the corner of Taehyung's lip, pulling the two of them out of the tense bubble they were caught in.
Sage, who until then had been sitting behind his desk, cigar in hand, observing, spoke. "You must be Jeon Jungkook. Sit."
Jungkook's tone, however, was as sharp and hostile as his gaze. He had now taken his eyes off that beautiful blond boy and fixed them on Sage.
"No need to sit. Tell me what you want, so I can leave."
A faint smile appeared on Sage's lips, and he replied, "You're very impatient… But since I'm also quite tired today, let's make this meeting the way you want it: short, quick, and to the point."
Jungkook let out a sarcastic laugh and, with a sidelong glance at the blond, said, "Yeah. If you're going to force any bullets down my throat, do it quickly so I can go."
Sage's smile deepened, and he said, "No need. You haven't betrayed me, Jungkook, have you?"
Jungkook, tired of all these games, exhaled angrily and asked, "What do you want, Sage?"
Sage looked at him in silence for a long, deep moment. Then he whispered softly, "Jeon… Jeon Jungkook, you have a beautiful name. Who chose it?"
When he received no answer, he said, "Alright. Here's the deal: I used to go to a therapist. She was a very knowledgeable and respectable woman… Wait, let me show you."
He picked up a remote from the table, pressed a button, and turned on the television. Jungkook turned towards the TV behind him, and as soon as his eyes fell on the screen, he suddenly took a few steps closer to the television in anger and almost yelled, "Miyuki—where is my mother?"
Sage, without any extra reaction, replied with his infuriating calmness, "Easy… easy. Get closer to the screen. Watch carefully. Your mother hasn't been harmed. See?"
Jungkook's whole body trembled with rage, his eyes were bloodshot, and his attention was on Sage's words.
"Your mother has a very big debt. Not to me… to my people. If it were to me, something could be done because she's worked hard for me, but her debt is to my people."
Jungkook finally tore his eyes away from the TV screen and turned back to Sage, asking, "What debt? She doesn't even need money."
Sage nodded in affirmation and said, "That's right. Her debt isn't financial. My people covered up a murder your mother committed. Your mother owes them a life."
Jungkook laughed loudly and nervously, saying, "Good joke."
Sage just stared at him for a few seconds and then, from one of the drawers, pulled out a file and threw it on the table.
"The victim's file. Take a look yourself."
When Jungkook showed no interest in the documents, he explained himself: "A fifty-five-year-old man who was one of your mother's clients, and according to him, he fell in love with your mother and started harassing her. Stalking her, threatening to kill and rape… All of this happened while you were moving from one prison to another. One night, when this man cornered your mother alone on the street, your mother killed him with a cold weapon she had with her."
"Shut up, shut up, you bastard…" Jungkook yelled, taking a few long strides to reach Sage. He slammed his hands on the table and asked, "And how did you figure out this nonsense?"
No change occurred in Sage's facial expressions or body language. Maintaining the same calm demeanor as before, he replied, "I find out. I have ears everywhere. My people are all over the city. But that's not important now. When I found out, I asked my people to clean up the crime scene, burn the body, and destroy all evidence. And they even promised that if the matter leaked, one of them would take the blame for the murder in your mother's place, and well, all of this comes at a cost. My people did this trusting me and to get their money. And the money they want isn't small. I'm not obligated to give anyone free money. I'll pay them for you, and your mother will stay with me, she'll be safe, so you can work for me here and pay off her debt. Once her debt is settled, both you and your mother are free to go."
Jungkook took a step back and ran a hand through his hair. He exhaled angrily and, staring at Sage, asked, "And if I refuse?"
Sage exhaled and said, "I'll be forced to kill a woman for the first time."
He leaned forward slightly and, staring into Jungkook's enraged eyes, continued, "I know you're shocked and tired right now. I understand. That's why I want to send you away now, for you to rest for two days over the weekend at your mother's house, to give your body and mind some rest… Then say goodbye to your past for a while and come back to me."
Jungkook let out an audible scoff and said, "How do you know I'll come back? How do you know I won't expose you or form a group to take you down in these two days?"
Again, Sage gave him one of those long, deep looks, and after a few seconds, he replied, "You'll come back. You have to come back. You know yourself you have no choice. In two days, at seven in the evening, a car will be waiting for you in front of the café across from your house. Come and pay your mother's debt."
Jungkook, just like him, gave him a long look and nodded several times. Finally, he stopped looking at him, turned his back, and just as he was about to take a step, he heard Taehyung's voice.
"Leave your bag here. We'll keep it for you. After all, you're coming back. I'm sure you can handle everything without your bag too."
He immediately turned towards the voice, his tongue tucked into the corner of his cheek, making eye contact with the blond. He looked at the mole under his eye and replied in a voice loud enough for the others to hear, "I'll come back. I'll pay off my debt. And then one day, out of nowhere, I'll kill your boss too. Be sure of that."
The blond gave him a beautiful, infuriating smile and said, "I'm eagerly waiting for that day."
Jungkook shot the boy a sarcastic smirk and, without another word, walked away from him, following Jimin out of the room.