[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."

They ventured slowly into the area as they pass through several buildings. The winds grew colder and colder, and the air around them grow thicker by the minute. The visibility in the area seemed to reduce further and further as they continued to walk.

"Are we... heading towards the right direction? I can't see jack shit..." Zeke said.

"Yup, yup. We are." Hangyeol replied.

"How could you tell? It's so blurry around these parts..." Jihyo asked.

"You see, Jihyo-ssi, being a night guard isn't just the only job I had. I also worked part-time as a delivery service rider for years. That's why I know the twists and turns of this city like the back of my hand!" Hangyeol said as he grins. "Look, you'll soon see a stop sign in a few seconds as we walk."

And sure enough, they pass by a stop sign despite the foggy atmosphere.

"Wow. That's... you're like our GPS!" Zeke said.

"This is why I asked him to come. He knows these parts better than I do." Hyungwon added.

"With your skills you can probably go home to your family if you wished to!" Jihyo said.

"Ah, hehe, well..." Hangyeol suddenly fell silent.

"...I don't have a family, Jihyo-ssi. I live alone." Hangyeol suddenly said.

"Why? Where are they...?" Jihyo asked.

"My mother died due to cancer. And my father? He abandoned me. Said I was a failure and he doesn't want a son like me. And he left me here in Daegu, on my own."

Jihyo was at loss for words. She didn't know a jolly person like Hangyeol had a past like this.

"I....I'm sorry. I'm sorry for asking." Jihyo replied as she looked at him. "I didn't mean to..."

"It's fine, Jihyo-ssi. I'm going to prove him wrong someday, and he better be ready for it!" Hangyeol replied as he grinned once more.

As they continued to press on the cold fog, Zeke hears an unusual rustling sound from one of the buildings.

"Someone's here." Zeke said.

The four of them immediately became alert of their surroundings. Soon enough, something stirs and a shadow passes by around them.

"Is it another Koul'in..?!" Jihyo asks.

"I don't know, but we gotta stay alert." Hyungwon replied.

Suddenly, Hyungwon feels a cold bullet narrowly miss him from behind. He turns and sees more bullets come at him. His eyes widen.

"Everyone, behind---!"

Hyungwon gets shot on the thigh as more bullets come in.

"Argh!" Hyungwon kneels in agony as he held his wound.

"HYUNGWON!" Jihyo exclaimed as more shots were fired towards the team.

"Son of a---!" Zeke immediately lunges to cover Hyungwon as he deflects the bullets with his fiery Manifest, but the bullets are quicker, and he gets shot in several areas of his body as well.

"Hnngh...!" Zeke suddenly falls to the ground, as his muscles spasm. "What?! I can't... move all of the sudden..!"

Hyungwon notices the bullet wound on his thigh freeze over, and the muscles around it spasms uncontrollably. He notices the same reaction on the bullet wounds on Zeke's body.

"Ggh...! The bullets... They can render you incapable of movement..! Be careful!" Hyungwon exclaimed as he writhes in pain.

"Nope... not going to involve myself in that!" Hangyeol said as he went behind Jihyo.

A mysterious figure soon appears running toward them, and she looked like a woman. She had a motorcycle helmet, and a thick, black jumpsuit with white pearl-like sequins as a design. She was wearing some sort of thin, Koul'in exoskeleton all over her body that barely covers her jumpsuit, and she was wielding what seems to be two pistols that was probably made from Koul'in technology as well.

She points her otherworldly guns at the four, and the weapons glows in icy power.

Jihyo, being the only one capable of parrying her attack, immediately rushes toward the enemy as the armored enemy fired her icy rounds.

Jihyo deflects the icy bullets with ease using her mystical cane, much to the armored lady's surprise.

"This one's fast...!" The armored woman thought.

Jihyo swings her Manifest as it turns into a katana. The armored figure blocks with her arm, and retaliates by shooting one of her handheld guns, but it misses as Jihyo was faster.

The armored lady then slams Jihyo's face with her gun, and she was forced to kneel. She fires a shot at Jihyo's face, and to her surprise, the powerhouse of TWICE dodges at point-blank range.

The bullet misses Jihyo by just centimeters wide, and it tears through her face mask and half of her hoodie, revealing her angelic face.

The armored lady looked surprised as she looks at Jihyo's face. She backs a little bit as Jihyo pursued her.

Jihyo's sclera started glowing, and her fist crystallizes in pure light. She swings it at the icy assailant.

"Flashlight Meteor...!"

"Jihyo-unnie..?" The armored lady suddenly spoke.

Jihyo stops mid-way in her attack, her fist barely touching the armored lady's helmet. She soon lowers her fist as the glow on it fades.

"Jihyo-unnie...?" Jihyo reiterated. "Wait, who are you?"

The lady backs and slowly removes her helmet, and despite the icy fog, Jihyo recognizes her immediately.

Shin Ryujin
Third member of ITZY

Hailing from JYP Entertainment's 4th generation girl group ITZY, Ryujin is a talented member who serves as the group's main rapper and center. She's in the same company where Jihyo also works, so they both know each other well.

Jihyo was shocked at her face reveal. She was totally not expecting Ryujin underneath the helmet, and more so, clad in alien armor.

It felt like she was an audience at the show "King of Masked Singer", only that they're not in a stage, but in a foggy apocalyptic scenario.

"...Ryujin..?!" Jihyo backed a bit as her Manifest returns to a cane.

"Jihyo-unnie... It's really you..! Oh.. I'm sorry I attacked you and your companions... The fog was too thick and your faces are all covered so thought you were Koul'ins..." Ryujin said as they both hug each other out.

"It's okay now. I get it. It's foggy and you didn't know." Jihyo replied. She feels Ryujin sob a bit, so she hugs her a bit tighter and gave her back rubs.

On the far end of the road, Zeke, and Hyungwon were lying on the snowy ground, their eyes shut tightly as they tried to ignore the pain of their wounds. Hangyeol, on the other hand, who was still having a hard time seeing due to the fog, watches as Jihyo went from fighting the enemy, to slowly hugging her, much to his surprise.

"Oh my god, has Jihyo-ssi turned into the dark side...?" Hangyeol thought as he scratches his head.

Ryujin pulls away, and wipes her tears.

"Now... I have a lot of questions... But my friends need some medical assistance first. Do you have something that could treat them...?" Jihyo asked.

"Yes, yes." Ryujin replied as she brings out two small, cylindrical containers with a small prick at the end.

"These are antidotes." Ryujin said as she gives one to Jihyo. "The guns I wield... they don't kill, but they immensely immobilize the opponent with a toxin. Usually, it fades after a few hours so its a hard process, but these antidotes will reduce the pain a bit and allow them to move better until it completely fades away. All you have to do is just inject them, and it should work their charm."

"Alright... let's go then." Jihyo said as they rushed back toward Zeke, Hyungwon, and Hangyeol.

The three of them looked shocked as Jihyo returns to them with the armored lady without the helmet on, realizing they just fought Shin Ryujin. Jihyo rushes to Zeke's aid, while Ryujin goes to Hyungwon.

Hyungwon blushes as he sees the ITZY member kneel in front of him. The sight of Ryujin clad in alien armor caught him in a trance, in awe of her beauty.

Ryujin was his ultimate bias after all.

"Hi..." Ryujin said as she prepares to inject the antidote. "What's your name? I'm Shin Ryujin."

"L... Lee Hyungwon." Hyungwon replies as he stutters. "I know you. You... You're from ITZY."

"Oh, so you're familliar with me! Glad to know! Look... I'm sorry if I shot you. I thought you were enemies... I sincerely apologize." Ryujin repiled. "Here's the antidote for the bullet wound. Please, hold still."

Ryujin injects the antidote on Hyungwon's thigh as he grunts in pain. The freezing bullet wound slowly fades but it leaves a mark on his skin, and soon, he is able to move a bit again.

"There... again, I apologize..." Ryujin said as she pouts.

"It's alright. Th-thank you for shooting m--- I mean, thank you for treating me." Hyungwon stutters even more. Clearly, he was out of words.

"The usually calm Hyungwon, stuttering in front of a Korean idol?" Hangyeol said as he stifled a laugh. "This is a sight to see!"

"Another jab at me, Hangyeol, and I'll definitely shoot you." Hyungwon said as he glared at him.

"Okay, okay, geez. It's just a joke. Calm down." Hangyeol replied nervously and Ryujin chuckles a bit.

Jihyo injects Zeke with the antidote as Zeke grunts. The wounds slowly fade, and leaves marks on his skin. Zeke slowly opens his eyes and breathes a sigh of relief.

"Ahhh... finally, I can move again..." Zeke said. "What just happened?"

"Turns out our enemy here is actually a friend in disguise." Jihyo smiles as she points at Ryujin. Zeke looks as Ryujin waves.

"Hello. Hehe. Sorry for the trouble." Ryujin said as she waves.

"O-oh." Zeke was taken aback by Ryujin's appearance. "Wow. Hi, hello. I'm Zeke Alcantara. It's an honor to meet you, Miss Ryujin." Zeke smiles.

"Please," Ryujin replied. "You're a friend of Jihyo-unnie, so no need for honorifics. Just call me Ryujin, Zeke!"

"Alright, I'll note of that." Zeke smiles and nods.

"Now... I know you need answers, and I have questions, too. But this place isn't the right place to discuss it. Let's go back to my place just close here."

"You... have a place?" Jihyo asked.

"Yep. I'll tell you everything there." Ryujin replied as they all helped Zeke and Hyungwon get up. They soon slowly left the foggy area and went to Ryujin's place.