The boat creaked under the weight of the waves, rocking gently as it cut through the dark sea. Gi-hun, still with his mind buzzing, couldn’t tear his gaze away from the water. The moon hung high above, casting a silvery sheen on the surface of the ocean. Every so often, a wave would hit the side of the boat, sending a small spray of salty water in the air. It was a long ride, and the ocean seemed endless, stretching far beyond the horizon.

Gi-hun didn’t know how long they had been at sea. Hours, perhaps. Time had blurred the moment they set off. In-ho, who had vanished after the brief exchange on the shore, was nowhere to be seen. Gi-hun felt the weight of the silence, broken only by the sound of the boat slicing through the waves. He wasn’t in the mood to talk. He didn’t care who was guiding the boat. The figure in the front was quiet, focused on steering the vessel through the shifting water, leaving Gi-hun to his thoughts.

He wanted to scream, to shout at the absurdity of it all. But the exhaustion in his bones kept him quiet. He spent a lot of time on this game that never ended, and now this strange deal with In-ho felt like just another twisted chapter. The promise of one day with In-ho in exchange for the silence of the night haunted him. What did it all mean? Was this his chance to finally uncover something important, or was it just another trick, another trap?

He stared into the water, watching the reflection of the stars ripple and distort with every wave. How much more could he take? It felt like the end of the world, with no way out.

Eventually, the boat began to slow, and Gi-hun noticed a faint glow in the distance. He could see lights now-faint but unmistakable. As they drew closer, the port became clearer. It was a small, quiet harbor, the kind of place that felt forgotten by time. The boat docked with a soft thud against the wooden pier, and the man guiding the boat turned to Gi-hun with a slight nod.

“Here,” the man said simply, gesturing to the shore.

Gi-hun stepped off the boat, his legs wobbly from the long ride. He felt the solid ground beneath him but still felt the sway of the ocean in his head. He looked around, trying to make sense of where he was. The place seemed deserted, the air heavy with the scent of salt and wood. A slight breeze brushed against his face, but there was no sign of In-ho yet. The figure who had guided him here was already leaving, his silhouette disappearing into the shadows.

Gi-hun walked forward, following the narrow path ahead. The only sound was the distant crash of the waves against the shore and the soft rustling of leaves. As he walked, he noticed the empty streets. Everything felt too still. The silence stretched on, wrapping around him like a heavy blanket.

Finally, at the end of the path, Gi-hun saw a bridge. It was an old structure, its edges worn and weathered by time. He crossed it quickly, eager to find out what awaited him on the other side. The bridge led to a small plaza, its only feature a modest café on the corner.

In-ho was waiting by the door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He glanced up as Gi-hun approached, his expression unreadable.

“The journey took all night,” In-ho said, breaking the silence with a casual tone. “But we’re here now.”

Gi-hun didn’t respond. He felt too tired to argue, too exhausted to fight. All he wanted was to take a moment to rest, to let the weight of the past few days sink in. He had no idea what In-ho had in mind for the next twenty-four hours, but he knew he had to stay alert. Every step, every moment, was part of a larger plan-whether he liked it or not.

In-ho pushed open the door to the café and stepped inside, and Gi-hun followed him, feeling the exhaustion in his every step. The interior was small, cozy, and dimly lit. The place was empty. A single, slender waitress stood behind the counter, wiping down glasses.

She looked up as they entered and smiled politely, though it quickly faded when she saw the tension between the two men. Without saying a word, she gestured to a table near the window and gave the menus on the surface.

Gi-hun sat down, still too tired to care about much else. He didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to engage with In-ho. But after a few moments of awkward silence, he knew he had to break the stillness. He didn’t want to make this harder than it already was.

“I’ll have a regular coffee with milk,” Gi-hun said, his voice flat. “And a pastry, something sweet.”-In-ho asked for the same without hesitation.

The waitress nodded and walked away. Gi-hun’s eyes drifted toward the window, where the early morning light was beginning to creep into the sky. He didn’t know what to think anymore. These twenty-four hours had felt like a blur of confusion, fear, and false hope. And now, here he was, sitting with the man who had caused all of it.

The pastries arrived quickly, along with the coffee. Gi-hun took a sip, the warmth of the drink a welcome comfort. But as he chewed the pastry, the silence between them felt suffocating. He could feel In-ho’s eyes on him, waiting for him to speak, to ask questions, to make the first move. But Gi-hun was tired of playing his games. He didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

Finally, it was In-ho who spoke. His voice was low, calm, as if the entire world rested in his hands.

“You know, Gi-hun,” he said, leaning forward slightly, “You can ask me anything you want. Anything at all.”

Gi-hun’s gaze flicked to In-ho’s face. His expression was unreadable, his eyes cold and calculating.

“What’s the catch?” Gi-hun asked bluntly, setting his cup down on the table. “I’m supposed to spend a day with you, and I get to ask questions. What’s the real reason you brought me here? What’s your game?”

In-ho didn’t immediately answer. He simply leaned back in his chair, studying Gi-hun. The seconds stretched on, the silence growing louder in its own way.

“Ask what you want,” In-ho said again, his voice a little colder now. “I’m here. But you’ll find that the answers are never as simple as you think.”

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in the next chapter we will learn a little more about In-ho. I will simply use the actual story that made him become a Frontman and I won't distort it much, I was going to write it in one chapter but I decided that I would write a lot about In-ho's stories which will be answers to Gi-hun's questions. and if I didn't divide it into two chapters, they would be too long