Mentioning the youngest member of the Ling Clan, even those who have never seen his face nod knowingly and say: ‘Ah, that person…….’, He is one of those famous figures that everyone knows.

The Ling Clan is a prominent clan in the business world. Particularly in China and neighboring Southeast Asian countries, where the Chinese community is robust, the name is widely recognized in both political and business circles.

The family head, Ling Houlong, leads the clan. Though he is over 70, he commands the family with sharper acumen than his eldest son, who is nearly 50. Everyone, including the Ling Clan’s chief physician, predicts he will have a long life.

Everyone knows he is not an old man who can be easily brought down. From his youth to this day, he has been a ruthless individual, never hesitating to use any means to strengthen the family. Many have long waited for a chance to strike at him, and there are those who have attempted to infiltrate his inner circle to cause harm.

From a young age, he faced death numerous times, and each time he survived, he became even stronger and more ruthless. By the time he reached 50, no one could touch him anymore.

Back then, no one could fathom what might have turned Ling Houlong into such a cruel, heartless person, devoid of any compassion.

His eldest son, nearing the age of thirty, already had a son of his own, making him a grandfather at a relatively young age.

While on a business trip in a small village, he encountered a young woman under twenty and immediately fell head over heels. He brought her back and placed her in a separate house. It seemed he had guards stationed to ensure she couldn’t leave until she was pregnant, suggesting she may not have entirely gone with him willingly.

There was nothing surprising about Ling Houlong taking another wife. Even though she was his seventh, adding an eighth or ninth wife would not have been unusual. He often married, only to grow bored soon after.

Indeed, Ling Houlong was overjoyed beyond measure to have a youngest son, a child even younger than his own grandson, as if he had seized the entire world.

He doted on this youngest son and declared that no one was allowed to harm him. He always kept the child within the home and within his sight. Although he also cherished his eldest grandson, it was nothing compared to his affection for his youngest son.

Perhaps if the woman had been stronger and more ambitious, the balance of power within the family might have shifted. Ling Houlong was deeply devoted to her and would listen to any of her wishes.

However, she constantly appeared melancholic and anxious, with a shy and timid nature, always fearing that something might happen to herself or her son. Perhaps that was wisdom. She knew she could face trouble from other women in the family, and while Ling Houlong could protect her, if anything were to happen, it might already be too late.

Perhaps because of this—or perhaps because his older brothers, being grown, saw no need to compete with a newborn, or because they still feared their fierce father—the youngest son was raised in an environment of exceptional love and care, becoming a cherished child who encountered no difficulties.

As a result, the youngest son of the Ling Clan became famous even before he was born. As he grew, that fame only increased, fueled by his father’s boundless love. At first, people whispered behind his back, saying the father was too infatuated with his young wife, but as the boy grew a little older, they began to say: ‘It’s no wonder he dotes on the boy like that.’

The boy grew up surrounded by the deep love of his parents, truly an endearing child. With a beautiful face like his mother’s and a cheerful, gentle nature, he attracted everyone’s affection. He was also remarkably intelligent and clever, prompting people to say: ‘If I had a child like that, how could I not love him endlessly?’

This was the youngest son of the Ling Clan.

Yuri Gable had also heard much about the boy. Not in great detail, just rumors surrounding him. A beautiful face identical to his mother’s, outstanding talent that allowed him to enter UNHRDO with perfect scores at a very young age, and a polite, kind young man.

Yet from the very first moment he met this much-talked-about young man, Yuri thought to himself: ‘This person resembles his mother? He’s more of a replica of his father.’

Yuri had met both his parents once before. It was on Ling Houlong’s 60th birthday. He hadn’t been invited, merely happened to visit on that day, around ten years ago.

At the time, he came to meet the eldest son of the family and was incidentally invited to stay for the festivities. From afar, he caught sight of a very young beautiful girl—truly stunning.

He had heard that the boy’s mother had caught Ling Houlong’s eye when he was over 50, marrying him very young at the age of 20. Though she was now in her thirties, her youthful face still held a sweetness and purity, like a hydrangea blossom, easily enchanting those who met her. And the man by her side, around 60, didn’t need to say a word; anyone who saw him would instantly think: ‘That man is the head of this family.’ He exuded an imposing aura that made it unmistakably clear. His presence was powerful, like a giant tiger in human form.

One would have to be this powerful to become the head of this family. Yuri nodded in agreement as he recalled that moment.

No matter what, the aura of the young man standing before him now was exactly like that of his father. At least, that’s what Yuri thought.

He understood why people said the boy resembled his mother. Just by looking at his face, it was clear that the son had inherited her exceptional beauty.

However, unlike his mother, who had a melancholy air, like a hydrangea drenched in May rain, the son was like a peony blooming brilliantly in the sunlight. Though he appeared charming, he radiated a sense of danger that made others wary.

The beauty he inherited from his mother, combined with his father’s aura, set him apart. If his mother embodied fragility and timidity, the son carried the strength of a tiger, making one instantly feel a sense of unease.

No, it was genuinely dangerous.

In just a brief moment, as those dark eyes glanced over Yuri, he felt an intense discomfort, as if that gaze had just pierced him with a venomous needle.

It was truly unsettling.

“Such beauty in his youth…….”

Yuri muttered to himself, which caused the man walking a few steps ahead to glance back, his eyes seeming to ask: “What did you just say?” Yuri quickly shook his head, signaling it was nothing. The young man resumed his stride, seemingly uninterested in what was happening behind him, having no inclination at the moment to pay attention to anything else.

Yuri sighed. The German man facing off against the young, beautiful man was equally dangerous—so much so that no one even considered him human anymore.

Somehow, though the young man didn’t outwardly show the same menace as the German, he still made others feel the danger hidden within.

Thankfully, Yuri was perceptive in situations like this. Otherwise, he likely wouldn’t have earned Kyle’s trust in this assignment.

He must be lucky. His abilities were strong, yet he always felt his success was partly due to good fortune. Things usually went smoothly for him—even when tasked with finding a genius in hiding, someone everyone was looking for.

In truth, that ‘luck’ stemmed from his sharp intuition, and right now, it was warning him that this situation did not look promising.

Indeed, anyone aware of the people present would agree that this situation was exceptionally dire.

It seemed the cause of it all was the young Asian man awkwardly standing between the other two.

Jeong Taeui, the younger brother of the genius everyone was searching for, was with the German man, Ilay Riegrow—a person best avoided if one valued their life.

Before they arrived on the island, Yuri had been enjoying his own moments of peace and tranquility.

At Kyle’s request, Yuri had spent nearly a year traveling far and wide in search of Jeong Jaeui’s whereabouts. After journeying to remote locations, he finally found a lead and, with a hint of confidence, had come to this island.

Yuri was a conservative thinker in his work, and he had certainly considered the possibility that Jeong Jaeui might not be on this island. Although he knew Jeong Jaeui might not actually be here, with a probability greater than half, he guessed that the man was either hiding on the island or had been concealed here.

Now, everything seemed to be nearing its conclusion, and Yuri felt pretty good. Though his expressions were typically sparse, since arriving on this island, he’d felt relaxed and at ease. Not only because everything was about to wrap up, but also because this place was an island, a land surrounded by the sea, somewhere he’d gladly pay to visit.

The job would soon be over – once he found Jeong Jaeui – the contract between him and T&R would come to an end as well. A few days ago, he’d received a contract extension proposal, and other organizations had expressed interest in working with Yuri Gable, having recognized his skill and capabilities.

Yuri hadn’t yet decided whether to extend his contract with T&R or to move on to a new place. But either way, he planned to stay on the island for at least a month to relax once his job was done. The thought of spending days immersed in the sea, without any worries or work obligations piling up, brought him a deep sense of peace.

But just as he sensed that the job was nearing completion, two people arrived.

His boss’s younger brother – Ilay Riegrow – and the younger brother of the person he was searching for – Jeong Taeui.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jeong Taeui.”

When Yuri went to Dar es Salaam Airport to pick up the two, he shook hands with the young man who reached out, studying him gradually and thinking to himself.

“Ah, so this is the young man rumored to be the ‘god of luck.’”

Not long ago, the madman Rick had torn through T&R’s Intelligence Bureau searching for someone, acting like a wounded, crazed tiger and drawing attention throughout the industry. Everyone was abuzz with gossip. It was unbelievable—what had made him so furious? Who was the person that had thrown him into turmoil before suddenly disappearing? What would happen to him? These stories quickly spread.

Some time later, Yuri finally heard that Rick had found that person. It was a rather intriguing incident, though Yuri didn’t pay much attention, thinking it was unrelated to his own mission. Still, he couldn’t ignore the fact that the two central figures of that story had both ended up on Seringe Island.

“Jeong Jaei’s younger brother? Traveling with Rick? Is his body really still in one piece?”

It was no surprise that Yuri asked James such a question. The fact that Rick had frantically searched for someone and finally found them, only for that person to remain unharmed, was a huge shock. It turned out that Jeong Jaeui and his brother seemed to share the same stroke of luck; it was astonishing that Jeong Taeui was still safe after being hunted by Rick.

In any case, the two looked in fine shape when they appeared at Dar es Salaam airport. Just a few days later, Yuri had brought them to Seringe.

That lucky young man was still safe after being entangled in a dangerous link with Rick, but it seemed that his luck might not hold up that night. No, Yuri couldn’t quite decide if it was good or bad luck, but it seemed to lean more toward the bad.

Yuri knew that Riegrow didn’t discriminate between men and women when it came to finding a partner. So, when he witnessed their closeness on the day they arrived, he wasn’t too surprised. He only felt a pang of sympathy for the young man.

Yet, he was surprised to feel pity for the boy.

One leisurely afternoon, after a swim, he saw the young man spreading out a rough-looking map on the outdoor table, twirling a pen in his hand. At the same time, Riegrow was seated opposite, watching him intently.

Riegrow’s gaze was fixed on the seemingly ordinary young man, his eyes curving slightly in enjoyment, like a cat basking in the sun, never taking his eyes off him for even a second.

“…….”

Once again, Yuri Gable’s intuition was sharp. He could accurately perceive the situation the young man was entangled in. Put simply, the boy’s partner in life had already been decided, and there was no changing it.

A fleeting sense of pity sparked in Yuri’s mind, but he quickly came to terms with it. He thought that, with the young man’s optimistic and cheerful nature, he might never experience true misfortune, regardless of circumstances. Bad luck doesn’t always mean unhappiness.

Yuri was convinced enough to decide he’d wait for the young man to reunite with his brother before concluding this job.

At that moment, however, he hadn’t foreseen the twist that would enter his own life.

“Finally, I found you. I’ve searched everywhere, but there was no word of you. I’m so glad I finally found you.”

Watching the young man staring intently at Riegrow, Yuri silently shook his head. His face revealed nothing special, but inside, he was deeply unsettled.

He knew someone was watching them.

Since the two had arrived on the island, someone had been quietly observing them. Even Anna – the woman who managed the place where they stayed – had mentioned that ‘a distant relative of hers’ had noted that some new guests had arrived. It was obvious enough. They hadn’t been here long, so it wasn’t difficult to detect the unfamiliar presence lurking around.

Who could the observer be? Had they been watching since Riegrow and Jeong Taeui’s arrival, or from the moment they learned of Jeong Jaeui’s whereabouts here? If he considered it rationally, it could be someone searching for Jeong Jaeui – who held a high value – or someone targeting Riegrow, who had enemies scattered around the world. It could easily be either of the two.

When Yuri received the list of guests arriving in Seringe, he saw the name of the famous youngest son of the Ling Clan and heard that the Ling Clan was also interested in acquiring the genius mind of Jeong Jaeui. He suspected that their target was likely Jeong Jaeui.

Many were after Jeong Jaeui, and powerful organizations like the Ling Clan were no exception. While he knew to be cautious, he didn’t think there was too much reason to worry.

But wait…….

“Hey, kid, he’s mine. You can’t touch him.”

Hearing Riegrow’s soft warning directed at the young man, Yuri glanced at all three with a confused expression.

Yuri Gable was quite perceptive, and by this point, he wasn’t foolish enough not to grasp the gist of their exchange. However, the reason he still felt somewhat unclear was:

‘Even after witnessing countless oddities in life, I never imagined I’d see Riegrow and the youngest Ling vying over a young man right before my eyes.’

The world is unpredictable; nothing is impossible. Yet, this truly left him puzzled.

These men, who could enjoy the beauty of women from all corners of the world like a grand feast, were now creating a tense atmosphere over a man who, by all accounts, was quite ordinary, even plain, muttering to himself: “Aigoo, oh my.”

Yuri stood there with the three of them, yet no one even glanced his way, leaving him to feel like a forgotten sack of grain. He thought to himself that life really does bring one strange sight after another.

But it seemed Yuri wasn’t the only one feeling stunned. Right in front of him, Jeong Taeui was also observing them with an expression even more contemplative than his own. His gaze was fixed on the youngest Ling, and it seemed he still hadn’t fully grasped what kind of person the Ling heir truly was. Jeong Taeui looked at the person before him with a puzzled expression, as if the face he’d been familiar with all this time was deceiving him, as though he’d been misled by that beautiful face all along.

Yuri looked at the youngest son of the Ling clan again.

What a beauty. No matter how you look at it, the bright smile could not hide the sharp eyes and expressions underneath, just like his father. But on the surface, he was truly adorable. If he wanted, he could enchant anyone, both men and women alike.

However, it’s all deceptive. If you look closely, he wasn’t normal; like a tiger cub wearing human skin.

The young man named Jeong Taeui seemed quite perceptive in judging others, but surprisingly, he didn’t appear to be. Or perhaps he had been captivated by the youngest Ling son’s smile and hadn’t seen the truth…….. Judging by the atmosphere of the three, it seemed to be the latter case.

Before Yuri found his target – Jeong Jaeui, he felt a bit confused with the current situation. If this awkward situation continued, it seemed like it would become a headache.

He wanted to contact the Ling clan immediately and say: ‘Take your precious gem back,’ but given the current situation, that was impossible. Yuri didn’t know exactly how the Ling clan understood this situation, but it was clear they had realized their precious son was in trouble somewhere, as they had sent many people to protect him.

“……..”

Yuri checked the gun hidden in his chest. The sniper’s scope, aiming at their heads from afar, pointed sharply at their heads, confirming that he was there. He had a feeling they would instantly shoot if anyone so much as touched the young master.

Yuri’s desire for a peaceful solution now seemed unlikely. Shortly after, the youngest also quickly drew a gun aimed at Riegrow.

“Riegrow, a gun.”

This statement wasn’t a threat or intimidation but merely a simple notification of what was about to happen. A calm voice like his eyes conveyed this.

At the same time, Riegrow’s eyes squinted.

Danger was approaching.

The warning echoed in Yuri’s mind.

The laser aimed at his head.

At that moment, Yuri had to make a decision. Would he fight the Ling clan, or face even more troublesome issues?

He had never had to make such a difficult decision in such a short time. But once decided, actions happen very quickly.

Yuri pulled out his gun, aimed at the precious young master of the Ling clan, and pulled the trigger.

*Bang* ── The powerful sound of the gunshot was heard only by Yuri, the bullet grazing the young man’s hand. The gun was equipped with a suppressor, so the shot was very quiet.

At the same time.

There were no screams or groans, only the slightly surprised face of the young man looking at Yuri. As if this was the first time he had seen the person standing there.

The young man’s eyes stared at Yuri with surprise as if the rock over there used the gun, and the next moment, his eyes flared with anger as if blaming him for interfering.

“……..”

Suddenly, Yuri felt awkward, but the expression was so small that no one noticed. Was this what it felt like to accidentally face a beast?

“Kill that brat.”

Yuri didn’t even realize he had sighed, feeling that the future would not be smooth because the person standing next to him – the one whose life he had just saved by a hair’s breadth – Not just once, but to save both him and the commanding Riegrow there.

Yes, if he hadn’t shot the gun out of the young man’s hand, if the young man had really shot Riegrow, he would have to kill him. He couldn’t imagine how terrifying the revenge of the Ling clan would be if he did that. Because he was a calm person who weighed up things he shouldn’t touch.

Yuri replied bluntly, only to wonder if what he had just done was truly wise.

“Do such dangerous things yourself. I have no intention of making enemies with the Ling clan.”

Riegrow glanced at Yuri and smirked. Uttering those words right after aiming a gun at the enemy, even Yuri found it amusing himself.

“Now I realize I was wrong.”

“No, to be more precise, I’ve just put my life in danger.”

Among the three people standing here, he could clearly feel the sniper’s barrel pointed directly at his head. Just a twitch of the trigger far away, and he would have to bid farewell to this world.

…….Well, so there’s nothing to hesitate about.

No regrets, no attachments, if he could merge with the azure sky and the sapphire ocean, perhaps dying wouldn’t feel so bad. If he were buried deep under that beautiful sea, what more could he want?

However, whether fortunately or unfortunately, it seemed the wish couldn’t come true now. Even the terrifying gaze of that young man was directed towards him, and Yuri also felt that the bullet wouldn’t pierce his head.

“What are you doing? Do you want to die?”

A curse escaped from that handsome face. The young man’s face was full of resentment. Not just through his voice, but his eyes truly seemed to want to kill him. While Yuri had guessed that but couldn’t help a bit of anger inside, Jeong Taeui asked the young man with concern.

“Xinlu, is your wound very serious?”

At that moment, as if nothing had happened, the young man’s dark eyes suddenly changed, becoming as pitiful and sad as a little puppy. It was so blatant that Yuri, standing right in front, couldn’t believe it.

“It hurts a lot. I think my wrist is broken. It hurts too much.”

The trembling voice seemed about to cry at any moment, and Yuri could only remain silent.

Indeed, he was fooled after all.

If a gorgeous flower sheds tears, nearly no man can stand firm. Even if that flower is a man, with such beauty.

Behind Jeong Taeui, who was approaching to examine the young man’s wrist, Yuri lowered his gun. And he felt the presence of the sniper aiming from afar. Jeong Taeui had clearly noticed the young boy’s trick, but still looked at his hand with sympathetic eyes. Perhaps he knew that, Taeui knew that he was the target aimed by the sniper.

At this moment, Yuri stood watching them as if he were a third party. More precisely, he was looking at that young man – Ling Xinlu.

He intended to kill Jeong Taeui should he act. The arrogant and self-righteous face declared that if he couldn’t have Jeong Taeui, he wouldn’t let him fall into anyone else’s hands either.

“I will do anything to have you, even use force……..If I can’t, then at least I should bring your body back.”

The young man mumbled as if talking to himself, or perhaps still unsure of what to do, then finally looked at Jeong Taeui and smiled. The smile was still as endearing and sweet as ever.