Flashback Scene: The Aftermath and Introduction to The Elites
The echoes of the battle had barely faded when Y/n found herself being escorted through the grand halls of the kingdom's castle. Her battle didn't necessarily produce a wound on her body, but as the adrenaline from the fight started wearing off, she felt so damn sleepy. She kind of knew that she's going to be stiff tomorrow morning.
Finally, they stopped before a large, ornate door. Soobin knocked twice, then pushed it open, revealing a spacious room filled with maps, scrolls, and strategic tools. At the center stood Kazuha, the queen, her regal presence commanding the room. Around her, a group of individuals turned their attention to Y/n.
"Ah, Y/n," the queen said, her voice warm but authoritative. "Welcome on your first day here. Please, step forward."
Y/n took a deep breath and moved into the room, feeling the eyes of the others on her. Kazuha gestured for her to stand beside her, and Y/n noticed the varied group assembled around the table.
"These are The Elites," Kazuha continued, her gaze sweeping across the room. "A special force created to handle the black-market organization. Each member here has been chosen for their unique skills and dedication towards the kingdom."
The queen began the introductions, her voice clear and confident. "An Yujin, a fellow demon," she said, indicating a tall figure with sharp features and a determined expression.
Yujin nodded at Y/n, a glint of recognition in her eyes. "Welcome to the team, Y/n."
"Kim Chaewon, a clever and powerful witch," the queen continued, motioning to a woman with an air of mystery and confidence.
Chaewon gave Y/n a small knowing smile. "It's good to have another strong magic user with us."
"Yeonjun and Kai, our agile and fierce beasts," the queen said, pointing to two young men with athletic builds and an aura of raw strength.
Yeonjun offered a friendly grin. "Glad to have you, Y/n. We'll make a great team."
Kai simply nodded, his eyes assessing but not unfriendly.
Both of them didn't show the appearance of being a beast. They had strong and intimidating auras, but they seemed like a soft boy.
"And Soobin, a human with unparalleled strategic mind," the queen finished, indicating a calm and composed young man with a keen, analytical gaze.
Soobin inclined his head slightly. "I look forward to working with you, Y/n."
"That's just a short introduction for all members. You can talk with them after this meeting is over." The queen turned back to Y/n, her expression serious. "This team is our best hope against the black-market organization, especially its mastermind. Each of you brings something invaluable to the table. I trust you'll work together to achieve our goal."
Y/n felt a swell of pride and responsibility. She glanced around the room, meeting the eyes of her new teammates.
Kazuha smiled, a hint of warmth in her eyes. "Now, let's get to work. We have much to discuss and plan."
Kazuha glanced around the room, ensuring she had everyone's attention. With a subtle nod, she gave Soobin the signal to begin his explanation.
Soobin stepped forward, unfurling a large map of the kingdom and its surrounding areas on the table. He pointed to a marked spot along the coast. "This is Diture," he began, his voice calm and precise. "Recently, we've observed unusual activity here. Increased shipments, secretive meetingsâit's clear something significant is happening."
He paused, letting the information sink in before continuing. "Our initial lead came from Kim Minji, a servant and helpful follower of Lady Hyein. She reported that people from black-market attacked her family first. Two people eventually found dead at the location, so our people have been tracking these activities by themselves for weeks, providing crucial information that has led us here."
Soobin continued, "Minji told me that Diture Coast might be a key location, as it's the biggest coast we have. Using a small and desolate coast would be extremely risky, that's why they try hide behind thousands of daily transactions at Diture Coast."
Queen Kazuha intervened, her voice firm. "Minji will be part of this operation, but as support. She is not a member of The Elites, but her knowledge and skills will be invaluable to our mission."
Y/n's heart tightened at the mention of Minji's involvement. She had seen Dani being attacked before, and the thought of another family member being in danger gnawed at her. Yet, she kept her concerns to herself, knowing this wasn't the time to voice them.
Soobin resumed his briefing, pointing to the map again. "The identity of the mastermind behind these operations remains unknown. If we were to launch an attack on Diture now, we risk losing our only lead. Our objective is to gather more intelligence, identify the mastermind, and then strike decisively."
Yujin, the fellow demon, raised an eyebrow. "So, what's the plan? We can't just sit and watch."
Soobin nodded, anticipating the question. "Indeed. Our next move involves covert surveillance and infiltration. We need to uncover more about the operations at Diture without alerting them to our presence. This means staying under the radar and gathering as much intel as possible."
Chaewon, leaned forward, her eyes sharp. "And once we have enough information?"
Soobin's gaze was steady. "Once we have enough information, we will formulate a targeted strike to dismantle the operations and capture the mastermind. Patience and precision are crucial here."
The room fell silent, Kazuha spoke once more, her tone resolute. "This mission is of the utmost importance. The black market poses a severe threat to our kingdom. I'm sure it's heavily related to missing people in our city. I trust each of you to do your part and work together to bring this organization down."
As the weight of the mission settled on everyone, Y/n's mind kept drifting back to Minji. Why didn't Minji tell her beforehand? And the thought of keeping this as a secret from Hanni, Dani, Haerin, and Hyein...
"We won't let you down, Your Majesty," Yeonjun said, his voice filled with conviction.
Kazuha nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I know you guys won't."
As the meeting concluded, Kazuha dismissed The Elites, leaving them in the strategic room. The atmosphere, previously tense, now lightened as the members began to interact more casually.
Y/n lingered near the map table, her mind still racing with thoughts of the mission and Minji's involvement. She glanced up to see Yujin approaching her, a friendly smile on her face. That was unexpected, because Yujin didn't smile when she was introduced to her.
"Hey, Y/n," she greeted, her tone relaxed. "Quite the introduction, huh?"
Y/n smiled back, finding comfort in the familiarity of another demon. "Yeah, it's a lot to take in. But I'm ready for it."
Yujin nodded, leaning against the table. "I know the feeling. It's good to have another demon on the team. Makes it feel a bit more... balanced."
Y/n chuckled. "I guess we have to stick together, right?"
As they talked, the rest of The Elites began mingling around the room. Chaewon joined the conversation, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, Y/n, how did you end up here?"
Y/n glanced at Chaewon, appreciating her directness. "I made a small chaos back at the festival, trying to help someone. It turns out that the queen was there, and she saw potential in me, I suppose. And I've had my share with the black market."
Yeonjun and Kai, the beasts, wandered over, their presence adding to the camaraderie. Yeonjun grinned, his energy infectious. "Well, it's good to have you. We could use your magic in this fight."
Kai, more reserved, simply nodded in agreement. "We'll need all the help we can get."
"We have a solid team. If we work together, we can pull this off," Soobin, having finished discussing some final details with the queen, joined the group, his strategic mind already working on the next steps.
The conversation flowed naturally, each member of The Elites contributing their thoughts and experiences. Despite their different backgrounds, a sense of unity began to form.
Y/n found herself gravitating towards Yujin, her easy-going nature put Y/n at ease, but nothing beat the comfort of her real family, which currently at home.
"Do you ever get used to it?" Y/n asked quietly, her gaze distant.
Yujin considered the question, she knew what Y/n referred to, "The prejudice? Not really. But you learn to rise above it. Prove them wrong with every step you take."
Y/n nodded, her words resonating deeply. "Thanks, Yujin. It's good to know I'm not alone in this."
"You're definitely not," Yujin assured her. "We've got each other's backs, no matter what."
As the evening progressed, The Elites continued to bond, their conversations shifting from strategy to personal stories and shared laughter. The room, once filled with the gravity of their mission, now echoed with a sense of determination.
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Happy birthday, Pham Hanni ð¥³