[27] Joanne

The fight at the baseball field earlier that morning provided Zeke and Jihyo a clue on Sana's actual whereabouts: The E-World Amusement Park.

Jihyo wanted to go and rescue Sana immediately right then and there, but Zeke stopped her, reasoning that going there unprepared would mean certain death, and they had to plan out their steps first.

Knowing that Jihyo would be restless if they don't plan soon enough, Zeke decided to go to Minhyuk and ask for a meeting that same day, to formally begin their plan of rescuing Sana and the other prisoners as well. Minhyuk, Minji, Hyungwon and Hangyeol participated in the meeting as well.

April 12, 2023, 8:06pm, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.

Hangyeol arrives last in the meeting. As he opens the door, he sees everyone in different places inside the office.

Zeke and Jihyo were next to each other, standing near the door. Minhyuk was seated infront of his desk. Minji was sitted in front of him, and Hyungwon was standing next to her.

"Hi..!" Hangyeol exclaimed, clearly out of breath. "Whew! Sorry I was late. I had a really bad time at the comfort room. My bowels aren't cooperating lately."

"It's because of all the tteokbokki you've been eating!" Minji said, frowning. "You've been visiting the medical area for three days in a row for this. I told you not to eat alot of it or else you'd get diarrhea!"

"You can't blame me, the food stalls make really good tteokbokki! Blame them, not me!" Hangyeol remarked as they all laugh.

"Okay, okay, tone it down. Now that everyone is here, we'll formally start the meeting." Minhyuk said as they all looked at him.

"E-World Amusement Park is huge. And with your recent discoveries, it's safe to assume that this place---as well as the closest structures around it---is automatically Koul'in territory." Minhyuk began. "The first thing we have to do is to, of course, do an expedition around the location, to check if anything is worth noting."

"Hmm. I can do one tomorrow just for this. I'm expecting Jihyo-ssi and Zeke-nim to come join us so the expedition would be alot easier. And yes, Hangyeol, you're also needed here." Hyungwon said with a sigh. "This is more of a covert expedition, you see, and it's going to be only us, and two people from my team so that we can move freely."

"YES!" Hangyeol said as he pumped his fist. "Been wanting to have an expedition with you all... and finally I get my chance to shine! I promise, Jihyo-ssi, Zeke, I'll do what I can to help!"

"Oh, why thank you, Hangyeol." Jihyo smiled.

"Okay, moving forward. Your covert expedition near E-World is just Phase I of the actual plan." Minhyuk added. "Now, I'm currently in talks with the other settlers for this, and I'll update you of the next steps once you've done the expedition. For now, we gotta know what we're facing."

"Okay. Noted, Mr. Minhyuk. Thank you." Zeke said as he bowed.

"Now, get some rest, and tomorrow is the start of the expedition." Minhyuk said as they all thanked him and slowly started to get out of his office.

"Oh, before I forget... Jihyo?" Minhyuk suddenly spoke.

"Hmm, yes Minhyuk-nim?" Jihyo turned around.

"Tomorrow will be for expeditions only. Please, whatever you do, don't try going to E-World on your own, okay? It's really risky." Minhyuk added.

Jihyo just looked at him.

"Look, I know you're utterly worried---"

"Yes, I understand. I know I can't, Minhyuk-nim." Jihyo suddenly replied with a sigh. "Zeke already told me that we should definitely wait and plan first. It's the right thing, but... I cant help but be really pissed off.  I can't do anything right now. Plan, wait, scout... these are long, tedious processes. I wish there was a faster way to save Sana..."

Minhyuk took a deep breath.

"I wish that too, you know. For this whole thing to be quicker than what it is now. I'm pretty sure that when Zeke stopped you, he was hesitant himself. It brought him no joy to see you feel hurt like this because you have to delay, retreat, and plan first so that you'll have a higher chance of success in saving Sana later on. I mean, figuring out Sana's wherabouts and having the chance to attack the place immediately, right then and there, is considered an opportunity, after all. And when opportunities come, usually, you grab them, right?" Minhyuk asked.

Jihyo nods.

"Yeah. Usually it works that way indeed. But in this case... some opoortunities---regardless of how high of an importance they are---aren't really worth the risk." Minhyuk continued. "Well, it doesn't mean we don't have another shot at it in the future, though. We do. We just have to be careful and prepared about it. And this is sort of a cliché, but you got us. And I guarantee you, we'll have that opportunity once we finish preparing, and seize it with perfection."

Jihyo slightly smiles.

"Thank you for this, Minhyuk-nim. I guess I needed to reassurance of some sort, because I've been feeling all over the place since I had hints about Sana's location. I just didn't want to admit it." Jihyo muttered.

"No worries, Jihyo. Look, dont think about it too much now, okay? The important thing agenda right now is rest." Minhyuk replied. "And make sure to get. handful of it."

"Will note this, Minhyuk-nim. Goodnight, see you tomorrow." Jihyo replied as they she finally went out, and had a good night's rest.

April 16, 2023, 8:11am, Outskirts of E-World Amusement Park, Daegu, South Korea.

It was another day, and it was time for the expedition.

Zeke, Jihyo, Hangyeol, and Hyungwon drove towards a building a few blocks away from E-World using a worn out military truck. They were well-equipped and ready for the expedition ahead.

For some reason, the air around the place was a lot colder than usual, and they all felt a fog-like atmosphere blanketing the area towards the park itself.

"So that's why we haven't seen any notable features of the park at this distance... It's all fog." Zeke said.

"And it's freaking colder in here! Brrr... I-It's like I'm in an icebox... I should've brought a thicker jacket..." Hangyeol said as he covered his head with a hoodie and covered his face with a face mask. Hyungwon and Jihyo did the same as well.

Zeke was still unaffected by the growing cold. He was only wearing a thin, dark blue hoodie this time around, and a face mask that covered his mouth and nose.

"Y-y-you still aren't freezing at this rate?!" Jihyo exclaimed, shivering from the cold.

"No... can't feel a thing at all." Zeke replied. "Just feels like I'm in an airconditioned room."

"How warm are you exactly?!" Jihyo said as she scoots closer and sticks to Zeke. She feels warmth radiating around Zeke's body, significantly reducing the coldness she felt and stops her from shivering. She relaxes and closes her eyes, just feeling the warmth.

"Wow... So warm... Can I stick with you like this?" Jihyo said. "Are you okay with it, Zeke?"

"I... uh..." Zeke stutters as he blushes. "I could just... make a rocket seal on your hand so that we can cover more area and we don't stick together incase something happens."

"O..oh, right, better idea. Sorry." Jihyo scoots a bit away from Zeke, blushing as well as she reaches out her hand. Zeke then generates a rocket seal on her palm, and it creates a small stream of soft flames that seemingly withstands the icy winds around them.

"It's... amazing how warm these seals are. It's... just at the right temperature." Jihyo said as she just observes the flame curiously.

"G..got room for one more...?" Hangyeol said as he holds out his hand. Zeke generates a rocket seal for him.

"Aaaahh... That's better... Wait, how many of these can you make?" Hangyeol asked.

"I've tried it out during training... and the maximum I can do at the same time is two..." Zeke replies.

"Oh... Wait! Hyungwon! I'm sorry, there aren't any seals left for you..." Hangyeol said.

"No need. I have warming packs inside my coat." Hyungwon replied. "Now, if you all are ready, we have to explore a bit further down this fog. Let's go."