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Karina couldn't stop staring. The girl in the courtyard had an unassuming beauty—soft, effortless, and entirely captivating. Her heart raced, an unfamiliar feeling she hadn't allowed herself to experience in years. A slight furrow crossed her brow as she realized how long she'd been standing there, watching.

She clenched her fists, forcing herself to turn away. This was a distraction, she told herself, nothing more. She had built walls for a reason. With brisk steps, she left the campus, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement, and returned to the AESPA mafia's base.

When she entered the sprawling underground complex, she was met by a sight that brought a rare smile to her lips. Giselle was leaning casually against the grand table in the central room, her hair now a shocking shade of pink.

"Well?" Giselle asked, twirling a strand of her newly dyed hair. "What do you think? Spicy, right?"

Karina raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "What possessed you to do that?"

Giselle shrugged. "Life's too short for boring hair. Plus, I figured you could use a little fun around here. You've been looking... tense lately." Her gaze sharpened slightly. "Something on your mind?"

Karina hesitated for a fraction of a second, but Giselle caught it. She always did.

"Don't tell me the great Karina Yoo has finally found someone worth daydreaming about," Giselle teased, smirking.

"Don't be ridiculous," Karina snapped, brushing past her to sit at the head of the table. She exhaled, trying to shove the image of the girl's smile out of her mind. "We have more important things to discuss."

Giselle laughed, plopping into the seat next to her. "Sure, boss. But if you keep acting like this, I'm going to start digging. And you know how persistent I can be."

Karina shot her a glare but said nothing. She couldn't admit it, not even to herself, but the simplicity of that girl's face and the warmth of her presence had left a mark she couldn't quite shake.

the next day [;)]

Karina straightened her leather gloves, the smooth material fitting snugly over her hands as she prepared for the day's mission. The AESPA mafia had received intelligence about a rookie group called RIIZE—seven members, each with unique talents, operating under the shadowy guidance of a figure known only as Mr. SM.

Despite their recent rise in the underworld, the group was already making waves. Efficient, ruthless, and dangerously ambitious, RIIZE had drawn Karina's attention not just because of their growing influence but because of their connections. They had reportedly lost a member recently—an asset so valuable that it left a ripple through the entire criminal network.

Mr. SM had publicly downplayed the loss, calling the member "replaceable." But Karina wasn't one to take surface-level intel at face value. If someone could shake a group like RIIZE, there was more to the story than met the eye.

"You ready for this?" Giselle's voice cut through Karina's thoughts. She entered the room, her pink hair tucked under a sleek black cap. She tossed Karina a file. "Their base is on the outskirts of town. Security's decent but nothing we can't handle."

Karina opened the file, skimming through photos and profiles of RIIZE's members. They were young but dangerous. Her gaze lingered on a name highlighted in red: Hong Seunghan.

"That's the guy they lost," Giselle said, leaning over her shoulder. "Apparently, he was their strategist. Real sharp. Rumor has it he vanished on purpose—didn't agree with Mr. SM's leadership."

Karina's lips tightened. A strategist leaving a mafia group was no small deal. If Seunghan had truly gone rogue, he could either be an ally or a threat.

"Why are we stepping into their mess?" Karina asked, her tone even.

Giselle grinned. "Because it's not just their mess. RIIZE has been interfering with our supply routes. Irene would've never let that slide, and neither will you."

Karina nodded, her jaw tightening. "Fine. Let's move."

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Karina and Giselle approached RIIZE's makeshift base—a warehouse on the edge of the city. The air was thick with tension, and Karina's sharp eyes scanned for any signs of movement.

They slipped inside silently, navigating the shadows. The sound of voices reached them—a heated argument between RIIZE members. Karina signaled for Giselle to hold position as she moved closer.

"Mr. SM doesn't know what he's doing," one voice hissed. "He let Seunghan go without a fight, and now we're scrambling to fix his mess!"

"Keep your voice down," another warned. "We've got enough problems without you badmouthing the boss."

Karina leaned against the wall, her mind racing. If RIIZE's loyalty to Mr. SM was wavering, this mission could be more than just about securing territory.

A soft noise behind her made her whirl around, knife in hand, only to come face-to-face with a figure she hadn't expected: a young man with sharp features and an unreadable expression. His presence was quiet yet commanding.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice low but firm.

Karina didn't answer immediately, studying him instead. She recognized him from the file. This was Seunghan, the one Mr. SM had dismissed so easily.

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