“Eun-bi.” Hawk’s voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the silence like an ice pick, driving straight into Eun-bi’s ears.
Hearing her name on his lips made Eun-bi flinch sharply.
“Why do you think I’ve let you live this long?” Hawk walked slowly closer, his tall frame casting a huge shadow over Eun-bi, curled up on the ground in the light.
Eun-bi’s teeth chattered as a muffled whimper escaped her throat.
She didn’t dare answer.
*Was it pity?* *Was she a backup source of intelligence?* *Or was an even crueler torment waiting for her?* Every possibility made her blood run cold.
“Not pity.” Hawk seemed to read her thoughts.
“Your ability may be a joke compared to mine, but in this world, it’s still…
a scarce resource.” His gaze swept over her scar-covered arm; the witch’s self-healing struck him as laughable.
His eyes finally settled on her face, which even torture had failed to strip of its delicacy, and he said, “Besides, death would be too cheap for you.
Valuable things should be used to their fullest.” Hawk handed his wine glass to Andy behind him, slid both hands into the pockets of his robe, and looked down at her.
“I’m giving you a chance, Eun-bi.” A faint flicker of disbelief lit Eun-bi’s eyes, then was swallowed by deeper fear.
“Work for me.” Hawk’s voice was firm.
“Become a tool in my hand, a sharp, obedient tool.
Prove your worth.
Prove you’re worthy of the life I’ve spared.” He leaned down slightly, and the crushing pressure almost suffocated Eun-bi.
“Right now, you have a chance to prove yourself.
A ‘pledge of loyalty.’ Complete it and you pass the assessment.
You will become my employee, with all the benefits and protection that come with it, and live a very happy life in this sun-drenched city.
No one will force you to do anything you don’t want to do…
except me, of course.” “If you refuse…” Hawk paused, his tone casual.
“Koo Ziyun will be here to end your suffering, quickly and efficiently.
I guarantee the process will be much shorter than what you endured in the interrogation room, but it definitely won’t be pleasant.” Eun-bi’s heart pounded wildly, as if it might burst through her chest.
*Work for him?* *Become a tool of this man who was like a demon god?* *Betray the Busan base?* Each thought made her dizzy, going against everything she had been taught since childhood.
But the words “stay alive” and “live better” were like a candle flame flickering in the darkness, weak yet stubbornly pulling her in.
She remembered Hawk’s overwhelming power that crushed everything, the cold, controlling look in his eyes during the interrogation, and the intertwined physical and psychological pain…
A strange, twisted emotion quietly took hold.
He was too powerful, strong enough to make even a witch of Koo Ziyun’s caliber submit.
So powerful that she despaired, and in that despair a trace of morbid attachment grew: perhaps obeying someone that strong wasn’t the worst choice?
Especially since this powerful man was offering her a way to live, even if it was a thorny path that meant selling her soul.
And from the sound of it, she could live quite well.
The seeds of Stockholm syndrome quietly took root in the soil of extreme fear and despair.
Her breathing quickened, and her body no longer trembled from fear alone; a fierce inner struggle mixed with it.
She lifted her head and, for the first time, got a clear look at Hawk’s face.
That handsome, cold face looked like a sculpture in the light, his eyes deep enough to swallow everything.
“I…” Her voice was hoarse and dry, barely coherent.
“I…
don’t have a choice, do I?” “You have a choice.” Hawk straightened up, his tone cold.
“A way to live, or a way to die.
Choose.” Eun-bi’s gaze drifted past Hawk and landed on Koo Ziyun, who was leaning against the bar.
Koo Ziyun’s eyes were as empty and indifferent as ever, as if she were looking at something already dead.
Eun-bi knew that if she said “no,” or even hesitated a few seconds longer, this woman, Koo Ziyun, a legend among witch covens, would end her as easily as crushing a bug.
“I…” Eun-bi drew a deep breath, and that single breath seemed to take what little strength she had left.
She closed her eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice, part relief, part utter defeat.
“I choose the way to live.
I’m willing to work for you, Mr.
Hawk.
I’m willing…
to prove my value.” “Very good.” Hawk looked unsurprised, as if everything had been under his control all along.
He took the wine glass back from Andy’s hand, his tone returning to its earlier calm.
“Ziyun, get her injuries treated, clean her up, and put her in something presentable.
Let her rest for the night.
Tomorrow, brief her on the task.
It’ll be simpler than crushing an ant.” Koo Ziyun nodded and walked toward where Eun-bi lay on the floor.
Eun-bi flinched instinctively as Koo Ziyun approached, but under Hawk’s cold gaze, she forced herself to relax and let Koo Ziyun help her up.
Before leaving the room, she took one last look at Hawk.
In those once defiant eyes, there was now only total submission and a trace of something indescribable and complicated.
The door closed softly.
Andy looked at Hawk.
“Are you sure you want to keep her?
A monster from Busan?” Hawk swirled the port in his glass, the deep red liquid catching the light with an eerie gleam that reflected in his dark eyes.
“Monster?
Andy, in this world, power is neither good nor evil.
What matters is who holds the reins.” He gazed out the window at the endless sprawl of prosperity.
“Bates Capital has fallen, but the greedy vultures will never disappear.
We need more claws and fangs of our own to tear them apart.
She’s sharp enough, and beautiful enough…
Most importantly, she already knows what happens if she betrays me or disappoints me.” He drained the wine in his glass.
“And that fear will become the strongest collar of all.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS larsen051 Creation is hard, cheer me up!