Somewhere Underground
The room had no windows.
Only a single hanging lamp swayed slightly from the ceiling, its weak yellow light cutting through layers of cigarette smoke. Shadows clung to the concrete walls like living things, stretching and shrinking with every movement.
At the center sat a man in a black leather chair.
His face was half-hidden in darkness, sharp features barely visible. One hand rested calmly on the armrest, fingers tapping slowly—once, twice—each sound echoing unnaturally loud in the silent space.
"Did you find him?"
His voice was low. Controlled.But the air froze the moment the words left his mouth.
The men standing below straightened instinctively.
One of them stepped forward, swallowing nervously."Boss… we've narrowed it down."
Another voice followed quickly, overlapping in eagerness to report."We got word from the capital. A student matching his description—quiet, sharp-eyed—has been seen around Capital University."
The tapping stopped.
The man in the chair lifted his head slightly.
"…Capital University?" he repeated.
"Yes," the second man nodded. "We're still confirming. He keeps a low profile. No records that stand out too much, but the age matches. Background matches. Too clean."
Too clean.
That alone was enough to confirm suspicion.
The boss let out a slow breath, something between a laugh and a sigh.
"So he really crawled into the light," he murmured. "Studying like an ordinary boy."
A third man, who had been silent until now, leaned forward. His tone was cautious—but calculated.
"Boss… there's something else."
The boss glanced at him.
"Speak."
"I heard that a group of students from Capital University are heading to Qingyun Mountain tomorrow," the man said. "An academic field trip. Cultural studies. The timing is… convenient."
The room went still.
Qingyun Mountain.
The name carried weight. Remote terrain. Weak signal. Dense forests. Tourists during the day—but isolation once deeper inside.
The boss's fingers curled slightly.
"You think," he said slowly, "he'll be among them?"
The man nodded."There's a high chance. The department organizing it overlaps with his major."
Another subordinate added, excitement slipping through his voice,"If he's there… we won't have to touch Capital University at all."
No cameras.No school authorities.No city surveillance.
Only mountains and fog.
The boss leaned back, fully disappearing into shadow now. Only his eyes reflected the dim light—cold, sharp, predatory.
"…Kidnap him," he said quietly.
The word landed heavily on the concrete floor.
"Not in the city," he continued. "Not where rules exist."
A pause.
"On the mountain."
The men exchanged glances. None dared to question him.
"We'll move before dawn," the boss added. "Blend in as hikers. No blood. No noise."
His voice hardened.
"I want him alive."
Because some answers could only be taken—not asked for.
"Yes, Boss," the men replied in unison.
The lamp flickered.
Smoke thickened.
And somewhere far above, under the same night sky, a young man packed his bag for a field trip—unaware that the mountain he was heading toward had already become a hunting ground.