The Eye of the Typhoon.

This phrase usually refers to the calm, windless center within a destructive tropical cyclone, but it has also evolved to hold broader meaning in modern society.

Now, it can mean one of two things: either something seemingly fine but soon to be engulfed in turmoil, or someone, or something, that stays calm amidst chaos. In the latter sense, it perfectly describes the existence of Yujin as she becomes the focal point of the Dark Zone community from October into November.

Yet, as countless internet users speculate, their curiosity cannot unlock the secrets tied to Yujin.

"Yujin, reveal the truth!" "It’s all going to come out eventually!"

Despite the vocal demand for transparency, no amount of crowd opinion can break through concrete with a spoon.

To elaborate further—those who took it upon themselves to be “informants” and preached everyone’s right to know were usually just people with too much time and energy, and they were far from the mainstream opinion.

These self-proclaimed informants, whether their claims were serious or exaggerated, were rattling even those who had been mere spectators of the chaos. However, just a few days into Yujin’s military background controversy, things began to unfold with remarkable clarity.

"Take down the article." "What?" "Take it down, you worthless idiot! Do you know how high up this has reached because of you?" "I-I’m sorry! Aaargh!"

The first to go down were the cyber-leeches and the so-called “journalists” who tried to exploit the situation for clicks. Unluckily for them, Yujin’s legacy was built on a foundation that only grew more impressive with time, leaving trivial matters quickly forgotten. In simpler terms, they’d long since overlooked the fact that Yujin had alluded to her abilities in the past without repercussions—a costly oversight. But there was more to their downfall than that.

"...What’s this?" "A partial file on Yujin’s U.S. military record that was previously classified. It’s been cross-verified. Consider it a response to the public’s curiosity." "..." "As someone with your expertise, I’m sure you understand what this means."

Classified U.S. military records and an awakened individual—two unrelated matters that, once combined, create a volatile reaction. The conclusion of this situation was swift and inevitable.

Resolution wasn’t public-facing; rather, it happened behind closed doors. Yujin suddenly found herself backed by a colossal legal team, nearly equivalent to a military unit, and not long after, many were served cyber-court orders as a warning.

The cyber-leeches who had briefly decorated the forums were extinguished like fireworks, and those who’d crossed the line saw their channels dismantled, leaving only ripples in their wake.

The message was crystal clear.

"There must’ve been a reason for that, right?" "Idiots, that’s why you shouldn’t mess around when things are still murky."

It’s common sense. If someone with over 1.7 million subscribers were lying on such a large scale, it would only take a few minutes for the whole situation to explode into a tribunal of truth. Especially when dealing with things easily verified through cross-checking, like her status as an awakened individual or her U.S. military service.

Passed down from Logan and confirmed by Yujin herself, this tale reached the ears of prideful U.S. military members, and by the fifth day, no concrete proof debunking it had surfaced.

It should have been obvious long ago.

"…Could it be true?"

No one knows for sure. But after triggering two simple yet critical points—awakened status and military service—without any rebuttal, the game was over. Those who spread slander and conspiracies saw themselves sinking into oblivion.

The fervor within the Dark Zone community hadn’t been extinguished; it merely shifted to a new topic.

"Wait, so can Yujin still compete? Represent Korea?" "If that were a problem, Dice would be out already, you fool." "Oh."

The question of whether a soldier can join the Dark Zone. Easily answered by looking at the number of veterans in pro leagues and coaching roles globally. How could anyone stop them from using the skills they’d honed?

Next came the issue of nationality, which was quickly resolved by proof of Yujin’s pledge before turning 22—essentially a promise to uphold her duties as a Korean.

Regardless of personal feelings, it was time to accept the truth. Aside from her intriguing presence, Yujin had no flaws to exploit. Her past and present actions were spotless, and it would likely stay that way.

The conclusion was inevitable.

Within a week, everyone, aside from the most persistent critics, had reached the same realization.

"We’re hopeless. No point in hoping for an answer."

Perhaps, that was the truest answer.

"…Wow." "How did you even…." "Haha, I’ve been planning this for a while. I’ve grown a lot thanks to Yujin, and with the prize money from the tournament, we can relax and enjoy. Congrats to both of you on placing first and second in the Asian qualifiers!"

Behind Harmony’s grin was a sprawling indoor pool, a poolside BBQ buffet, and fully prepped cabanas.

Yujin and Dice’s minds momentarily froze as they took in the surreal scene, compliments of the generous cat’s wallet.

"Ah, if I’d known, I wouldn’t have eaten breakfast." "No worries, Dice. Even if we can’t finish everything, it’s not a problem, right, Yujin?" "I appreciate the attempt to turn me into a vacuum cleaner."

Pop! A cork flew into the air, followed by the sound of food sizzling on the grill, champagne, and Mongolian beef pizza, along with all sorts of luxuries stretching into the private pool area.

This was an experience far removed from the everyday—a moment not easily repeated. Despite it being just the beginning, the opulence was already breathtaking.

"How much did you spend on all this?" "Well, who earned it for me in the first place? Don’t worry, if we’re strapped for cash, we can always stream. I even booked a wine bar for the evening."

With a sigh, Yujin reached out to stretch Harmony’s cheeks while Dice attempted to sneak away, only to be stopped by a swift tail around the neck.

As they settled in, it was clear that most of the food would end up in Yujin’s bottomless stomach, but neither Dice nor Harmony had any complaints as they enjoyed the experience.

"I’ve never seen a place like this before. The facilities…." "Yujin, have you never been to a place like this before? Really? You seem like the type who frequents luxury shopping malls and hotels…ouch!"

Slap! Dice's hand left a red mark on Yujin’s back—a testament to the slap’s evolution into a powerful weapon over time.

It was a relief that the three of them were dressed in sensible swimwear, not skimpy attire. Long-sleeved rash guards and shorts that were more appropriate for the pool’s casual ambiance than the beach.

"Think about it. Awakened individuals can appear anywhere, anytime. How would a cartel even form?" "True. What if I woke up with a tail tomorrow?" "Then it’s karma." "Since when does karma come with rewards? Wait—where are you taking—Aaah!"

Splash! Dice flew into the water, emerging moments later, dripping wet but unfazed by the warm water.

Yujin, amused, tossed her some lamb ribs from the table’s grill, which Dice enthusiastically devoured despite the heat.

"That was hot! You’re really something." "You want to touch my tail?" "…Yes."

That’s the carrot-and-stick approach for you. Yujin’s tail flicked playfully as Harmony and Dice took turns petting it, while Yujin continued to enjoy the meal.

"What about swimming? Do you really swim like an anaconda?" "Strange curiosity you’ve got."

Of course, Yujin was an excellent swimmer—though someone like Christopher, who reached insane speeds, was even faster. For Yujin, the allure of competitive swimming was always tempered by the limitations placed on awakened abilities in professional sports.

"If we swam together, within an hour, you’d be begging to get out of the water." "Three hours in the pool?" "Come on!"

The whining was quickly subdued as Yujin launched into a lecture about awakened individuals, but Dice and Harmony dashed into the pool before she could finish, much to her amusement.

It only took twenty seconds before Yujin had to haul them both out. After a thorough warm-up, they all finally settled into the water for some much-deserved fun.

"Woohoo! Why is this so fast?" As Harmony and Dice clung to Yujin’s tail, they marveled at her speed in the water.

This impromptu water adventure, filled with unorthodox games, lasted quite a while. Though lacking structure, it was undeniably fun.