Chapter 3: The Golden Prince

The underground nightclub remained loud and alive beneath Victor Kaine’s office, but upstairs, silence filled the room heavily.

Victor leaned back in his chair while studying Kim Taehyung with growing curiosity.

Most people trembled in front of him.

Taehyung didn’t even blink.

Min Yoongi, however, looked far less relaxed than usual.

He quietly watched the armed guards standing near the door before leaning closer to Taehyung.

“If we survive tonight,” Yoongi whispered, “I’m charging you emotional compensation.”

Taehyung ignored him.

Victor let out a quiet laugh.

“You two are interesting.”

Yoongi smiled politely.

“That’s one word for it.”

Victor placed his glass down slowly.

“Let’s stop wasting time. I have a job for you.”

Taehyung crossed his arms.

“What kind of job?”

“A delivery.”

Yoongi immediately looked suspicious.

“Illegal delivery?”

Victor smirked slightly.

“In my world, legality is flexible.”

Taehyung remained calm.

“What’s the catch?”

Victor’s eyes darkened slightly.

“The package belongs to a businessman who recently stopped cooperating with me.”

“And?”

“And I dislike disloyal people.”

The meaning behind those words was obvious.

Yoongi sighed softly.

“Murder. Wonderful.”

Victor ignored him.

“If you succeed, you’ll earn more money in one night than you’ve seen your entire life.”

Taehyung’s expression remained unreadable.

Money.

Power.

Influence.

The very things he had promised himself he would obtain.

Victor slowly stood.

“Well?”

Yoongi glanced toward Taehyung carefully.

He already knew that look in Taehyung’s eyes.

Once Taehyung decided something, nobody could stop him.

“We’ll do it,” Taehyung answered calmly.

Victor smiled.

“Good.”

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of Raventon City, luxury chandeliers glowed brightly inside the Jeon family mansion.

Elegant music played softly while wealthy guests laughed among themselves during a private business gathering hosted by Edward Jeon.

Politicians.

Businessmen.

Celebrities.

All gathered beneath one roof.

But none of it interested Jeon Jungkook.

He stood alone near the balcony, quietly staring outside at the city lights beyond the mansion gates.

A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

“You look like you’re planning to escape.”

Jungkook turned slightly.

Park Jimin walked toward him holding two glasses of champagne.

Jimin looked flawless as always, dressed elegantly in black while his silver rings reflected beneath the lights.

Jungkook accepted one glass thankfully.

“I might.”

Jimin smirked.

“You say that at every party.”

“Because every party feels the same.”

Jimin leaned against the balcony railing beside him.

“That’s because rich people only know how to talk about money and themselves.”

Jungkook laughed quietly.

“True.”

For a moment, both stayed silent while listening to the distant music inside.

Then Jimin looked toward him carefully.

“You’ve been quieter lately.”

Jungkook stared down at his untouched drink.

“I’m tired.”

“Of what?”

“Everything.”

Jimin’s playful expression softened slightly.

Jungkook rarely admitted his feelings openly.

“Your father bothering you again?”

Jungkook sighed.

“He wants me involved in the company full-time after graduation.”

“And you don’t want that.”

“I don’t want a life where every decision is already made for me.”

Jimin studied him silently for a second.

“You ever think about disappearing?”

Jungkook looked at him curiously.

“All the time.”

Jimin smiled faintly.

“Maybe we both should.”

Before Jungkook could respond, Edward Jeon’s voice suddenly echoed from inside the ballroom.

“Jungkook.”

Both immediately turned.

Edward Jeon approached them with several businessmen following behind him.

Power surrounded him naturally.

His expression remained calm but authoritative.

“The guests want to meet you.”

Jungkook forced a polite smile immediately.

“Of course.”

As Edward walked away again, Jimin leaned closer and whispered dramatically,

“And there goes your freedom.”

Jungkook laughed quietly despite himself.

“You’re not helping.”

“That’s what best friends are for.”

Later that night.

Rain once again covered Raventon’s streets.

Taehyung and Yoongi stood outside a luxurious hotel while watching several black cars parked near the entrance.

Yoongi adjusted his jacket nervously.

“So let me understand this correctly.”

Taehyung remained focused on the building.

“We take the package and leave.”

“And by package, Victor definitely means something illegal.”

“Probably.”

Yoongi stared at him blankly.

“You say that way too calmly.”

Taehyung finally glanced toward him.

“Nervous?”

Yoongi scoffed.

“No. I just enjoy being alive.”

Taehyung smirked faintly before starting toward the hotel entrance.

Inside, wealthy guests filled the grand lobby while piano music played softly nearby.

Neither Taehyung nor Yoongi belonged in places like this.

And everyone noticed immediately.

People glanced at their simple black clothing suspiciously while whispering quietly among themselves.

Yoongi leaned closer.

“I hate rich people.”

Taehyung ignored him while scanning the room carefully.

Then suddenly—

his eyes stopped moving.

Near the center staircase stood someone dressed entirely in black.

Sharp eyes.

Soft features.

Elegant posture.

Jeon Jungkook.

For a brief moment, the noise around Taehyung disappeared completely.

Jungkook turned slightly—

and their eyes met.

Something strange passed between them instantly.

Not fear.

Not curiosity.

Something deeper.

Jungkook stared at the unfamiliar stranger standing across the lobby.

Danger surrounded him naturally.

But strangely…

his eyes looked lonely.

Taehyung couldn’t look away either.

Yoongi noticed immediately.

“Oh no.”

Taehyung blinked slightly.

“What?”

Yoongi looked between them knowingly.

“You’re staring.”

“I’m not.”

“You absolutely are.”

Before Taehyung could reply, several armed men suddenly entered through the hotel doors.

The atmosphere instantly changed.

One guard shouted loudly,

“Nobody move!”

Panic erupted across the lobby.

Guests screamed.

People began running in every direction.

Yoongi cursed immediately.

“Well,” he muttered, “this night officially became terrible.”

But Taehyung barely heard him.

Because across the chaos-filled room—

Jeon Jungkook was still staring directly at him

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