In a silence where not even the sound of shoe heels clicking on the marble floor could be heard, he stood like a giant shadow. His custom-made suit fell strangely smooth along the curves of his bursting muscles, and his tie constricted his neck without a single wrinkle.

Even the brilliant lights of the banquet hall could not lift the deep shadows cast over his eyes. He was neither the protagonist of the party nor a guest. He was a 'living shield' isolating his charge from every danger present.

"Team Leader, target confirmed. 3 o'clock, dressed as a waiter."

Despite the urgent voice coming through the earpiece, Kang Min-jae's eyes remained calm without a single ripple. He had already detected the man's unnatural gait and the slight weight shift inside his jacket five minutes ago.

He began to move slowly, yet with the heavy momentum of a massive tank. People instinctively parted to both sides, pushed by the sheer intimidation he radiated as he passed. The moment the assassin's hand reached into his coat, Kang Min-jae's massive hand snatched his wrist. The sound of bones grinding and screaming was buried under the music. Without a change in expression, Min-jae whispered into the assassin's ear in a low, thick voice.