Twenty days later, Black Lotus's private office was bathed in a warm dimness, illuminated only by the faint light of a desk lamp. Suhyeon, dressed in an impeccable suit, sat behind his desk, reviewing documents with absolute focus.

Suddenly, the phone rang, breaking the silence. Without raising his voice, Suhyeon calmly picked up the receiver and asked:

"Who's speaking?"

From the other side came a deep, enigmatic voice, with a tone that left no doubt about the importance of the call:

"Suhyeon Kim. We know what you're doing. We want to talk."

Suhyeon closed his eyes for a moment, aware of the gravity of the message, but maintained his firm posture.

"I'm listening. Tell me what you want."

A tense silence took over the line before the voice responded in a measured tone:

"We want to evaluate your potential. Discuss your place in all of this."

Suhyeon slightly tightened his grip on the receiver and, in a cold, calculating voice, replied:

"Very well. Tell me when and where."

The call ended, leaving the room with an air of uncertainty and a new challenge on the horizon.

Six hours later, Suhyeon walked down an elegant yet minimalist corridor of an unfamiliar building. The glass walls reflected his silhouette precisely, multiplying the sense of constant surveillance.

Upon reaching the main lobby, a man in a dark suit, expressionless, approached discreetly and handed him a card. On it, there was only a name: Eugene, and an internal contact number.

Suhyeon took the card without altering his posture and muttered to himself:

"Well, it seems this will be more interesting than I expected…"

Following the implicit instructions on the card, he was guided by a private elevator to an upper floor, completely isolated from the rest of the building.

The door opened to a spacious room, with thick curtains blocking all outside light and a large conference table in the center.

On the other side of the table, standing with impeccable posture, was Eugene. His presence was calm yet imposing; there was no need to speak to demonstrate authority.

Noticing Suhyeon, Eugene barely tilted his head in acknowledgment and said in a calm voice:

"So, it's you… Samuel spoke to me about you. I hope our conversation is… productive."

—

[Eugene]

Height: 170 cm

Weight: 55 kg

Strength: B

Speed: B

Potential: C

Intelligence: SS+

Endurance: A

—

Suhyeon let his gaze sweep across the room before sitting in the chair opposite Eugene, with the usual confidence that characterized him.

"So… what is the test?" asked Suhyeon, maintaining his composure while interlacing his fingers on the table.

Eugene gave a slight, barely perceptible smile and replied:

"It's not a conventional test. We want to understand how far you can go… and how far you're willing to go for your position."

Suhyeon nodded, understanding that the conversation about to begin would not be simple, but it would also be an opportunity to expand his influence and knowledge of the network.

Suhyeon looked at the men standing on Eugene's sides: one, very large, dark-skinned, with hair so flawless it seemed like a wig; the other, surprisingly similar to Eugene, almost a miniature reflection, imitating even his posture and expression.

The room's light stretched their shadows, giving the scene an even more intimidating air.

—

[Yuseong]

Height: 170 cm

Weight: 61 kg

Strength: ?

Speed: ?

Potential: S+

Intelligence: C

Endurance: ?

—

"I can't see their stats…" thought Suhyeon.

—

[Mandeok Bang]

Height: 215 cm

Weight: 178 kg

Strength: ?

Speed: ?

Potential: A

Intelligence: A

Endurance: ?

—

"I'll be direct, Mr. Kim. What I'm looking for in you is to become part of Workers," Eugene said, interlacing his fingers calmly, without taking his gaze off Suhyeon.

"Mmmh… tempting offer, but I'm independent. I don't work for anyone else," replied Suhyeon with a faint smile, leaning back in his chair as if the proposal did not affect him in the slightest.

"You don't have to join Workers," Eugene continued, leaning slightly forward. "You could be an ally. Together we could do interesting business in the future… Are you interested in the offer?"

Silence stretched for a few seconds. Only the distant murmur of the place and the rhythmic tapping of the large man's fingers beside Eugene could be heard, while the other, with very similar features to Eugene, observed with a neutral expression.

"I see… if that's the case, I'll accept," Suhyeon finally said, straightening his back and locking his gaze on Eugene. "But I want you to accept my request."

"What's your request?" Eugene asked, adjusting his glasses, without losing his cordial tone.

"I want you to get me a very specific contact… Mr. Juncheol Yang. I know you have the means to locate him."

Eugene's eyes narrowed just for a moment, though he maintained his polite smile.

"Juncheol Yang…? What the hell would he want with the police captain?" he thought, surprised by the precision of the request.

But his expression didn't change, and his voice remained calm: "Alright. I'll give it to you. I'll mention you, Mr. Kim."

Eugene slid something small and shiny across the table: a golden badge with a precisely engraved symbol. Its surface seemed to capture the light subtly, as if conveying power without boasting.

"This is not just a trinket," Eugene said in a calm voice. "It's a Workers badge: gold with a symbol. It's for executives, combat experts, and compact directors—those who uphold the internal structure of each branch."

Suhyeon raised an eyebrow and picked it up between his fingers, observing the metallic gleam.

"It's not given to just anyone. It's a symbol of respect… and responsibility. You don't need to formally join, but carrying this indicates you're inside," Eugene added, without raising his voice.

Suhyeon kept his expression impassive, but his mind was already processing the implications. This not only marked status, but it opened doors that would otherwise be closed.

"Interesting."

"Consider it a symbol of trust," Eugene added, extending his hand.

Suhyeon shook it without hesitation.

"It'll be a pleasure working together."

"Likewise, Mr. Kim," Eugene replied, smiling with calculated calm.

"Before you go… would you like something to drink?" Eugene asked, now more friendly, lifting his gaze from his desk.

Suhyeon shook his head with a slight smile. "I'll leave that for next time. I don't want to take up more of your time. Besides, I have some things to handle in my territory," he added calmly.

Eugene adjusted his glasses and nodded. "Alright, Mr. Kim. I'll contact you soon regarding Mr. Juncheol Yang."

Some time later, Suhyeon drove through the streets of Gangbuk, neon lights reflecting on the windshield and the distant hum of night traffic accompanying the engine.

"I have to be careful with Eugene… I don't even know what he might be scheming inside. Not for nothing does he have SS+ intelligence," Suhyeon thought, frowning slightly as he turned onto the next avenue.

Suddenly, the flicker of his cellphone illuminated his face in the vehicle's dimness. He slowed down slightly, glancing quickly at the screen. An unknown number.

The message was brief, but enough to tense the atmosphere.

"I'm Juncheol Yang. I heard from Eugene that you were looking for me… let's talk in private another time."

---

Surprise chapter!