Sinu Han

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___________The chaos around Gangseo Cinema was just starting to settle when the sound of engine roars filled the air.

More cars.

A matte-black van screeched to a stop, and several men in leather jackets stepped out in formation. They moved silently, like trained dogs waiting for a command.

Then the last one emerged—Wearing sleek dress shoes, a pressed black shirt, and holding...

...a tiny pink puppy in his arms.

Brad whispered, "...Is that... a dog?"

The man walked calmly, each step echoing across the cracked pavement. He stood beside Robert Choi and looked down at the scene before him: bodies groaning, his men scuffed and bruised, and a few teenagers holding their ground.

The air grew colder.

He spoke quietly, his voice soft and controlled.

Black Bear (the boss):

"And here I was wondering why you didn't regroup at headquarters, Robert.""Fighting kids?""And here I thought we were better than that."

Robert Choi bowed slightly, though sweat glistened down his temple.

Robert:

"Boss, it's... not what it looks like. These brats—"

Black Bear raised a hand, silencing him.

He crouched down, gently placing the pink puppy into the arms of one of his henchmen.

Then he stood up straight, gaze locked onto Hyunwoo and Jake.

Black Bear:

"You've caused quite the mess in my territory, kids.""Gangseo isn't your playground.""I don't know if you're brave... or just stupid."

Jake wiped blood from his lip, not stepping back.

But before anyone else could speak—

A voice, calm and low, slid through the air like a blade.

Voice:

"That's not how you welcome people, Mr. Black Bear."

The gang members and teens alike turned toward the alley beside Gangseo Cinema.

A lone man walked into the open.

He wore a casual long coat and slacks, hands tucked into his pockets.His hair was parted neatly down the middle, tied at the back—clean and effortless.He looked like someone who didn't belong in this mess—Yet carried himself like he owned it.

Hyunwoo narrowed his eyes.He knew that man.

Jake stiffened, recognition flashing across his face.

Samuel hissed,

"...Sinu Han."

The true leader of Big Deal had arrived.

But he wasn't here with bluster or backup.Just his steady stride and unreadable expression.

He stopped a few meters from the crowd and glanced at Robert and the Black Bear boss—calm, unreadable.

The Black Bear boss stared hard.

Black Bear Boss:

"Sinu Han. So you crawled out of whatever hole you've been hiding in.""Came alone?""You always were bold... or stupid."

Sinu smirked, but didn't look at him.His eyes were on Jake.

Sinu:

"Jake Kim."

Jake took a step forward, his jaw tight, posture guarded.

Jake:

"Sir... if you're here to help so you can drag me into Big Deal again... I have to refuse.""I told you before—I'm not into that gangster stuff."

Sinu paused.Then he gave a short chuckle, light and surprisingly genuine.

Sinu Han:

"Relax. This isn't about that.""I'm not here to recruit you."

He turned to the Black Bear members and raised his voice just enough to be heard.

Sinu Han:

"I'm here because you used the name 'Big Deal.'""Whether it was a joke or pride or desperation...""The moment you said you were Big Deal...""That became my business."

His tone sharpened with conviction.

Sinu Han:

"That's what Big Deal is about.""We don't leave those words empty.""If someone throws down our name... I'll answer."

Jake's eyes widened, taken off guard by that.

There was no malice. No manipulation.

Just principle.

Brad whispered,

"...He came just because of that?"

Hyunwoo watched Sinu carefully, now understanding.Sinu didn't care whether Jake was officially a member.He cared that someone wore the flag—even briefly.

And that meant something.

Black Bear boss's smile faded.

The air turned cold again.

And the tension?About to snap.

The Black Bear members closed in on Sinu like shadows swallowing the last light. A blade hovered dangerously near his throat—cold steel kissing skin.

Everyone stood still.

Samuel narrowed his eyes, his breath catching. This is it, he thought. The moment I finally see the strength of Big Deal's leader.

But instead of rising with power...

Sinu dropped.

He dropped to his knees.

Not out of strategy. Not cool. Not confident.

He slammed to the ground like a man at the end of his rope. His knees scraped on gravel. His hands trembled as they pressed flat against the pavement.

"P-please..." he stammered, voice cracking with urgency. "Have mercy on them. I'm begging you. Please."

Everyone froze. Even the Black Bear boss tilted his head, taken aback.

"Wait... what?"

"I'm serious!" Sinu's voice rose, cracked and raw. "Spare them—I'll do anything. Just let them go."

A slow grin spread across the Black Bear boss's face.

"Oh?" he said, amused. "Would you lick my feet if I forgave them?"

Sinu didn't hesitate.

"I'll serve you with my tongue for life if I have to!" he shouted, eyes wide, desperation oozing from every pore. Sweat beaded down his forehead. His voice pitched high. "Just please—don't hurt them!"

Jake stared, stunned. Samuel's mouth fell slightly open. Even Brad and Jason exchanged looks of disbelief.

This... is the guy who tried to recruit Jake?This is the leader of Big Deal?

Hyunwoo just pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Serve with your tongue, huh," he muttered.

The Black Bear boss cackled like a villain in a cheap movie.

"In that case—cut off his tongue first."

One of his men stepped forward, knife in hand, grinning.

Sinu's face twisted into full-blown panic. His eyes darted between the blade and the thug. He swallowed.

"D-dammit," he muttered. "I really thought that would work..."

And in a flash—

CRACK!

Sinu exploded upward, fist swinging like a whip. The thug's body spun before collapsing like a sack of bricks, unconscious in one brutal hit.

Silence.

All the drama, all the panic, all the begging—gone.

As if it had never existed.

Sinu stood, dusting his knees, his expression now unreadable. The air hung thick with tension.

He turned slowly to face the man holding the blade—Mr. Black Bear, leader of the gang whose name still carried fear in this district.

Sinu's voice was steady, but sharp like glass.

"Mr. Black Bear," he said. "I don't mind a fight. Really, I don't."

He took a step forward, casually picking up the knife the fallen thug had dropped earlier. He held it loosely, blade down, more like a peace offering than a threat.

"But tell me something... Are you sure killing me here would be enough?"

Mr. Black Bear narrowed his eyes but didn't speak.

Sinu kept going, tone calm—almost too calm.

"If you kill a defenseless man, the leader of Big Deal no less, what do you think the public will say? What do you think your enemies will say?"

He tilted his head slightly, meeting Black Bear's gaze without flinching.

"They'll call you a coward. A man who couldn't win unless his enemy was on his knees. A man too afraid to fight fair."

The Black Bear members shifted uneasily, some glancing at their boss. The weight of Sinu's words began to sink in.

"Adults like us," Sinu continued, "we care about reputation, don't we? Status. Image."

He held the knife out, handle first, offering it to Mr. Black Bear.

"So... if you're going to take me down, let's do it the right way. Fair and square."

The court was silent. All eyes were on the two of them—one standing calm with a knife, the other silent, calculating.

Mr. Black Bear didn't speak for a long moment. Then finally, with a low exhale, he turned his head slightly and muttered:

"...Go."

His men looked at him in surprise, but he raised a hand. That was enough.

"You heard the man," Sinu said without looking back, his voice echoing with quiet confidence. "Let us go."

One by one, the Black Bear members stepped back, clearing the path.

Jake, Samuel, and the others stood still, processing what just happened.

Only Hyunwoo moved first, walking beside Sinu with a look that said, That was insane.

Sinu didn't smile, didn't smirk. He simply kept walking forward, eyes fixed ahead.

As if it had all gone exactly as planned.

The group finally got far enough from Black Bear turf to catch their breath.

Sinu, who had been holding it together with a fake accent and fake toughness, finally let the mask fall. He dropped onto a bench, groaning dramatically.

"Ugh... terrifying. I seriously thought I was gonna die back there."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Wait... Didn't you have an accent earlier?"

Sinu blinked. "Accent? I'm from Seoul, man."

"But you sounded like some countryside ahjussi..."

"That's just for intimidation. Don't tell anyone."

Despite the chaos, everyone managed a tired chuckle. Even Jake cracked a smile.

Sinu stretched his arms out with a sigh. "Anyway. You all survived. That deserves something. How about we stop by Big Deal Street? I'll treat you to something hot."

Jake looked at Hyunwoo. "You coming?"

Hyunwoo shook his head, his expression quiet.

"I'll go home. You guys enjoy."

Jake frowned. "What? After all that?"

Hyunwoo turned to him, more serious now.

"You fought like hell today. For your people. For what you believe in. It wasn't because you wanted to be a gangster."

Jake stayed silent, his jaw slightly clenched.

Hyunwoo stepped closer.

"If this path—protecting others, fighting for them—is what you think is right, then walk it. Don't let anyone, not even our father, make you doubt yourself."

Jake looked away. "Even if it makes me like him?"

"You're not him," Hyunwoo said firmly. "You hate the way he lived—how he treated women, the kind of man he was."

Jake stayed silent, his fists clenched.

"But the way he protected others?" Hyunwoo continued. "That part... you respect, don't you?"

Jake gave a slight nod, the tension in his jaw loosening.

"So don't let anyone—not even him—make you doubt yourself," Hyunwoo said. "You're walking your own road now."

Jake let out a quiet breath and gave a faint smile. "That's a lot more dramatic than usual. You okay?"

Hyunwoo rolled his eyes. "Maybe you're rubbing off on me."

Both of them laugh a bit.

Hyunwoo gave a short nod.

"You're not him. You never were."

Then he turned to leave.

"See you around, Jake."

Jake watched his back for a long moment, breathing steady.

Sinu came up beside him and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"You alright?"

Jake gave the faintest of smiles.

"I am now."