The city had started to exhale, shedding the day’s rush and noise as dusk wrapped the skyline in softer hues. Golden light trickled between tall buildings, casting long shadows on the cobbled streets of the old district where quaint cafés and tiny bookstores nestled like forgotten treasures.

Kim adjusted the cuffs of his shirt for the third time, standing outside the restaurant he’d chosen with care. It wasn’t overly fancy or glamorous—nothing that screamed wealth or extravagance. ...