Deadly Riddle

Profesor Lee sat in his dimly lit room, the walls lined with shelves of books, test tubes, and complex scientific equipment. He let out an eerie laugh, his eyes gleaming with madness. It was the kind of laugh that echoed with a mix of triumph and insanity, as though he was fully aware of the chaos he had set into motion. The strange compound he had created was far more than just a breakthrough in chemistry—it was a ticking time bomb, and he reveled in the power it gave him.

"I've done it," he muttered to himself, a twisted grin spreading across his face. "I've created something that will change the world. They'll all see. They'll all suffer."

Meanwhile, far away, one of Chairman Kang's most trusted men was hard at work, piecing together the background of Professor Lee. His investigation took him down a dark and unsettling path, uncovering secrets that had been buried for years. As he dug deeper, he discovered a disturbing truth: Professor Lee had a history of mental instability.

A psychiatric evaluation from years ago revealed that the professor had been diagnosed with a severe personality disorder—one that had made him dangerously obsessed with his research. His behavior had become increasingly erratic over time, and rumors circulated that his obsession with creating a perfect drug had driven him to the brink of madness.

It was a chilling revelation. The thought that the professor could be the one behind the recent events sent a wave of fear through the cartel. If Lee was indeed the mastermind, it meant they were dealing with someone far more unpredictable and dangerous than they had anticipated. His mental state, combined with his intelligence, made him a formidable adversary—someone who could slip through the cracks and outmaneuver even the most careful plans.

Determined to find him, the cartel members launched an intense search for Professor Lee. They scoured his known locations, interrogated his former colleagues, and followed every lead they could find. But each time they thought they were close, he vanished again, like a ghost.

No matter how hard they tried, there were no clear signs of where he might be hiding. He had covered his tracks well, and the more they searched, the more they began to doubt whether they would ever catch him. The professor had outsmarted them at every turn.

Back in the lab, Lee's laughter grew louder, echoing off the walls as he stood before a new batch of the drug he had perfected. He knew it wouldn't be long before they came after him. But that didn't matter. He had already prepared for it.

"I've played this game before," he whispered to himself. "And I always win."

As his laughter filled the room once again, the cartel's men continued their fruitless search, unaware that the professor was always one step ahead. The race against time had begun, and the stakes had never been higher.

It turns out, the culprit was none other than Professor Lee. He had secretly mixed his experimental concoction into a barrel of narcotics, a dangerous blend that would drastically alter the drug's potency. He did this without anyone noticing, believing that his creation would be the key to controlling the underground world of drug trafficking.

The drug was originally intended to be a breakthrough, an advanced formula that could enhance the effects of existing narcotics, making them more addictive and lethal. Professor Lee knew that with his knowledge, he could manipulate not only the market but also the power structures behind it. He was willing to sacrifice everything for his vision—no matter the cost.

The members of the cartel, unaware of the professor's involvement, had continued to distribute the drugs, completely oblivious to the changes that had been made. As the new batches reached the streets, users began to show signs of unusual behavior—violent outbursts, extreme paranoia, and a heightened addiction to the substance. This was unlike anything the cartel had seen before, and it didn't take long for them to realize that something was terribly wrong.

As the chaos unfolded, the cartel began to piece together the clues. They traced the changes back to Professor Lee, who had been the only one with the knowledge and resources to pull off such a drastic alteration. The truth was horrifying: the professor had not only created a more dangerous drug but had done so with malicious intent, all in the name of his twisted ambition.

Now, the cartel was not just searching for him to stop his plans—they were hunting him down to protect their empire. But even they knew that Professor Lee had become far more dangerous than they had ever anticipated, a mad genius who had already set his plan into motion and would stop at nothing to see it succeed.

That night, Min Joon stayed over at Jae Hyun's house. They were watching the news when something shocking made their eyes widen.

"A new type of monster, resembling a zombie, has appeared in Gangnam. It's called Necroflora. The creature is covered in slime and green fungus, its legs twisted and decayed like those of a zombie, but with patches of moss and glowing mold spreading across its body," the reporter announced grimly.

"What the hell…" Jae Hyun muttered under his breath, his eyes glued to the screen.

The broadcast continued, showing horrifying footage of the creature stumbling through the streets of Gangnam, attacking anyone who came near. People screamed as they tried to flee, while others froze in terror. The once-vibrant streets of Gangnam now resembled scenes from a post-apocalyptic nightmare.

"Authorities have issued an emergency response," the reporter added. "Special units and police have been deployed across Gangnam to contain the threat. Residents are urged to stay indoors and report any sightings immediately. However, containing these creatures has proven to be increasingly difficult, as they emerge unpredictably from abandoned buildings, dark alleys, and even underground."

Min Joon turned to Jae Hyun, his face pale. "This is insane. How did it even get this bad?"

Jae Hyun shook his head, his jaw tightening. "I don't know, but this isn't just random. Something—or someone—caused this."

Meanwhile, across town, the leader of the cartel and his men were also watching the news from their safe house. They exchanged uneasy glances as they realized the situation was spiraling out of control. With Gangnam in chaos and the government focusing all its resources on battling the Necroflora, the cartel's operations were crumbling. They made the decision to abandon their plans and flee South Korea before they got caught in the crossfire.

Back at Jae Hyun's house, the news shifted to reports speculating about the origins of the Necroflora. A familiar name came up—Professor Lee. Rumors suggested that his experiments with narcotics and experimental chemical compounds might have created the monsters now terrorizing Gangnam.

"This… this can't be a coincidence," Min Joon said, his voice trembling.

"What the hell was that man doing in his lab?" Jae Hyun growled, his fists clenching. "If he really caused this, we can't just sit here waiting for the police to fix it. They're already in over their heads."

The two exchanged a determined look. The city was falling apart, and it was clear that no one else was going to uncover the truth or stop the spread of the Necroflora. If they didn't act, Gangnam—and possibly the entire country—could be consumed by this nightmare.

In the middle of their serious discussion, a notification suddenly popped up in their class group chat. It announced that 10 students from their class had been selected to assist the police in handling the situation.

Jae Hyun frowned as he read the message. "What the hell?" he muttered under his breath.

Just then, something on the TV caught his attention. The news anchor's voice was calm but carried an undertone of urgency as she explained, "According to experts, Necroflora moves slowly under normal conditions. However, once they spot a target, they can sprint at incredible speed. They rely on their vision rather than their sense of smell to locate prey."

Jae Hyun turned to Min Joon, his face filled with disbelief. "What is that supposed to mean? They're slow but can suddenly turn into sprinters? How are we supposed to deal with something like that?"

The group chat buzzed again, and the list of ten names appeared on the screen:

1. Min Joon

2. Jae Hyun

3. Seok Woo

4. Ji Hoon

5. Haera

6. Aria

7. Kian

8. Soren

9. Darian

10. Yumi

Min Joon moved closer to Jae Hyun's phone, his eyes glued to the screen as he scanned the names. His stomach churned, and a heavy knot formed in his chest. He could feel the fear rising, and his body tensed.

"We... we're really doing this, aren't we?" Min Joon's voice was barely above a whisper, as though saying it out loud made it all the more real.

Jae Hyun, still processing everything, nodded grimly. "There's no turning back now. We've been chosen for this because we have what it takes. We have to fight."

Min Joon swallowed hard, his thoughts racing. The list of names didn't make it any easier to grasp what was happening. These weren't just classmates anymore—they were now part of something far greater, a mission that carried with it the weight of life and death.

"I don't even know where to start," Min Joon said, his voice shaky as he glanced at Jae Hyun. "I never thought something like this could happen. Not here, not to us."

Jae Hyun clenched his jaw, feeling the same fear and uncertainty. "We start by doing everything we can to survive. We need to be ready for anything. This isn't just about us anymore; it's about protecting everyone else."

Min Joon nodded, trying to steady himself. The mention of Necroflora—those monstrous, terrifying creatures—kept echoing in his mind. He had seen the reports, heard the descriptions, and the thought of facing something so unnatural made his skin crawl.

"This is insane," Min Joon muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But we don't have a choice."

Jae Hyun turned to face him, his expression hardening. "We never really have a choice in things like this. We either fight, or we die. But we will fight—together."

The weight of their new reality settled heavily on both of them. They knew that the days ahead would push them to their limits in ways they couldn't yet understand. But one thing was certain: they weren't going to back down. They were in this together, and they would fight to survive, no matter what came their way.

On the other side, Seok Woo stared at the group chat in panic, his eyes darting from one message to the next as if he couldn't fully comprehend what was happening. His mind raced, his breath quickened. He never thought he'd be thrown into something like this, not in a million years.

Meanwhile, Ji Hoon, sitting casually on his bed, had a mischievous grin on his face. "I knew this was going to happen," he said, his tone light, almost playful. "How about it? I'm joining the fight!"

His nonchalance seemed out of place given the gravity of the situation, but his confidence was unmistakable. He was ready for whatever came next, almost eager for it.

Back at Seok Woo's house, the moment he finished reading the messages, he bolted upright, his heart racing. "I have to prepare," he muttered to himself, but his panic was clear. He rushed downstairs to find his parents, his face pale with fear.

His mother and father, both startled by his sudden appearance, exchanged worried glances. "Seok Woo, what's wrong?" his mother asked, looking concerned.

"I-I'm going to need to protect myself," Seok Woo stammered, his voice trembling slightly. "There's some… crazy stuff happening, and I need to get ready!"

His parents, not fully understanding the gravity of the situation but sensing his fear, immediately started worrying even more. His father, trying to keep calm, patted Seok Woo on the back, though his hand was shaking too. "Don't worry, son. We'll figure this out together."

Seok Woo, however, looked far from reassured. "I'm not sure if you can protect me from... whatever's out there." He glanced around the house anxiously, as though expecting the monsters to show up at any moment.

His mother, always the practical one, sighed in exasperation. "Go grab a flashlight and some snacks, just in case," she said, trying to keep the mood light, though the underlying worry was evident in her eyes.

It was a surreal moment—Seok Woo, normally so level-headed, reduced to a state of almost childlike panic while his parents tried their best to make light of the situation. But deep down, they all knew things were about to get a lot worse.