The neon glow of Club Zero painted the streets in electric blues and purples, a beacon for those seeking indulgence in the heart of Seoul. Hidden behind an exclusive guest list and guarded doors, it was a sanctuary for the elite—a place where secrets were made, traded, and buried.
Tonight, Audrey and Hana weren't just here to observe. They were here to infiltrate.
Dressed to blend in, Audrey wore a sleek black dress that hugged her form just enough to draw eyes but left an air of mystery. Her dark hair was loosely curled, framing her sharp features. Hana, in contrast, opted for a more rebellious edge—an asymmetrical crop top, a leather mini-skirt, and combat boots, the epitome of effortless defiance. While Audrey exuded quiet intrigue, Hana radiated a don't-mess-with-me aura.
Their target was inside—one of the VIP members known for his frequent presence and deep pockets. If they could get close to him, they might find a thread leading back to the mastermind behind the leaks.
At the bar, Audrey and Hana took strategic positions. They needed to be noticed but not too obvious. It didn't take long.
A man in his early forties, sharply dressed in an expensive suit, leaned against the counter beside them. His smile was practiced, his gaze assessing. "You're new here."
Audrey met his eyes, her ability kicking in instantly. Lies wrapped around him like a second skin, carefully constructed layers of deception. She could see through every feigned charm, every calculated move.
Still, she played along.
"First time," she admitted, sipping her drink with feigned innocence. "A friend told me this place is… unforgettable."
The man chuckled, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Your friend wasn't wrong. But you have to know the right people to experience the best of it."
Hana scoffed, resting her elbow on the counter. "And I suppose you're one of those 'right people'?"
The man smirked, unfazed by her challenge. "Perhaps. I could be. What's your name?"
"Audrey," she answered smoothly. "And this is Hana."
"Seong Jae," he introduced himself, offering a hand.
She took it, her pulse steady. "So, Seong Jae, what does someone have to do to get into that VIP section?"
He smiled, his interest piqued. "For you two? Just follow me."
From across the club, Kenzo and Damian watched the exchange, tension thick in the air.
Kenzo's eyes never left Audrey, his fingers drumming against the rim of his glass. His ability wasn't necessary to know that Seong Jae was dangerous. Everything about the man screamed manipulation.
"She's got this," Damian remarked, sipping his drink. "Audrey's the best at playing the long game."
Kenzo's jaw tightened. "I know."
Damian side-eyed him, a smirk creeping onto his lips. "You look like you're about to fry the guy with your mind."
Kenzo shot him a glare. "That's not how my power works."
"Yeah, yeah," Damian waved him off. "Still, I don't think I've ever seen you this concerned over anyone before."
Kenzo turned back to the VIP section, where Audrey and Hana disappeared through the velvet curtains. His grip on his drink tightened. "We don't know what's in there."
Damian stretched, cracking his knuckles. "That's why we're here, isn't it? They're inside. We've got eyes. If anything goes wrong, we step in."
Kenzo didn't answer. He didn't like unknown variables. And right now, Audrey and Hana were walking into one.
Inside the VIP section, the air was different—denser, charged. The lighting was dimmer, gold and crimson hues casting elongated shadows against the leather seats and glass tables.
Audrey immediately noticed the shift in atmosphere. The laughter was subdued, the conversations hushed but weighty. Power players sat in clusters, discussing things that weren't meant for ordinary ears.
Seong Jae led them to a reserved booth, gesturing for them to sit. "This area is for those who… appreciate exclusivity."
Hana leaned back against the plush seat, arms crossed. "And what exactly are we appreciating?"
Seong Jae's lips curled in amusement. "Privacy. Control. The ability to shape the world as you see fit."
Audrey's mind worked fast, cataloging every detail. This wasn't just a club. It was a hunting ground.
A server arrived with a tray of drinks. Seong Jae handed each of them a glass. "To new experiences."
Audrey raised her glass but didn't drink. Hana followed suit, her fingers tight around the stem. They'd both been in too many situations to blindly trust a drink handed by a stranger.
Seong Jae observed them with intrigue. "Cautious."
Audrey smiled. "Smart."
He chuckled. "I like you two. You remind me of someone I used to know."
"Should we be flattered?" Hana quipped.
"Perhaps," Seong Jae mused, taking a sip of his own drink. "Tell me, Audrey, Hana, do you believe in the power of influence?"
Audrey tilted her head, feigning curiosity. "That depends on who's influencing."
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "The kind of influence that decides who rises and who falls. Who gets remembered… and who gets erased."
Audrey's heartbeat remained steady, but her mind sharpened. This was it. The confirmation they needed.
She glanced at Hana, their silent understanding passing in an instant. They were onto something much bigger than they'd anticipated.
Meanwhile, back at the bar, Kenzo's patience was wearing thin.
"They've been in there too long," he muttered.
Damian sighed, setting his glass down. "Relax, genius. They know what they're doing."
Kenzo's eyes flickered toward the VIP entrance. He could feel something was off, but without being inside, he couldn't see what. His abilities didn't stretch that far.
Damian studied him for a moment before smirking. "You know, for someone who claims to be all logic, you sure act different when Audrey's involved."
Kenzo shot him a warning look. "What are you getting at?"
"Oh, nothing." Damian leaned back with a knowing grin. "Just that I've never seen you care this much about someone. It's kind of cute."
Kenzo exhaled sharply. "This isn't about—"
Damian cut him off. "It totally is."
Kenzo's irritation was evident, but before he could retort, the VIP section doors opened slightly. A familiar figure emerged—a server, slipping out unnoticed.
Kenzo's gaze locked onto him. Something about the way he moved, hurried and deliberate, sent alarm bells ringing.
Damian noticed too. "Think he's up to something?"
Kenzo nodded. "I'm going to follow him."
Damian stood, stretching. "Guess that means I get to have some fun."
With a shared glance, they moved, slipping into the crowd. If something was happening inside, they weren't going to wait for trouble to come to them.
Back inside the VIP lounge, Audrey felt it too. The shift. The undercurrent of something more sinister brewing beneath the surface.
Seong Jae smiled, but his eyes glinted with something dark. "Tell me, Audrey… how far are you willing to go for power?"
Audrey held his gaze, her expression unreadable. "Why don't you show me?"
And just like that, the game began.
The dim lighting of the VIP lounge glowed in deep crimson and gold, casting elongated shadows against the polished marble tables and velvet seating. A low hum of conversation surrounded them, mingling with the soft clink of crystal glasses and the occasional burst of laughter from well-dressed patrons.
Audrey and Hana sat with effortless poise, their expressions unreadable as Seong Jae flashed a charming yet calculating smile, sliding their drinks across the table.
"To new acquaintances," he said smoothly, raising his own glass in a silent toast.
Audrey curled her fingers around the stem of the glass, letting its weight settle in her grasp. She studied the golden liquid swirling inside, her instincts immediately on high alert. A lie wove itself into Seong Jae's gesture—subtle, but there. He wasn't just offering them a drink. He was testing them.
Hana, beside her, wore a lazy smirk as she twirled the rim of her glass between her fingers, her body language the epitome of nonchalance. But Audrey knew better. Hana never let her guard down, and she wouldn't start now.
Seong Jae took a deliberate sip of his own drink, dark eyes watching them over the rim of his glass. "Come now, you wouldn't insult my hospitality, would you?"
Audrey gave him a soft smile, tilting her head just slightly. "Of course not."
Bringing the glass to her lips, she allowed the liquid to touch her skin but never took a sip. She let the illusion of drinking linger just long enough before lowering the glass, licking her lips as if savoring the taste.
Hana, ever the opportunist, waited until Seong Jae's gaze flickered toward Audrey. In a movement so seamless it would've gone unnoticed by any ordinary observer, she reached across the table, brushing her hand against another guest's glass, switching them in the blink of an eye. The oblivious man, engrossed in a conversation about investment deals, raised the glass to his lips and drank deeply.
The wait was short.
Minutes later, the man's posture stiffened. His eyes darted around, unfocused, as if the world had suddenly blurred around him. A slight tremor passed through his fingers as he set his glass down with more force than intended.
Then, his breathing quickened.
The murmur of conversation dulled as others at the table noticed the sudden shift in his demeanor. His head lolled forward slightly before snapping back, his pupils dilated, sweat beading along his temple.
Seong Jae merely watched, his expression impassive.
Hana leaned forward, a smirk playing on her lips. "Looks like someone's had a little too much fun," she mused, feigning amusement.
Audrey observed Seong Jae carefully. He wasn't surprised. If anything, he seemed… pleased.
"You're quick," he murmured, swirling his drink idly. "I like that."
Audrey held his gaze, the weight of his words settling in her mind. This wasn't just about the drink. He was studying them, measuring their worth.
Before she could respond, movement caught her eye. Two men, sharply dressed, whispered to each other before one of them discreetly signaled a bouncer stationed by the entrance.
Trouble.