Hwa Yeong sat opposite Aera giving her full attention to Aera, feeling a surge of frustration as she contemplated the predicament they were in. Her mind raced, searching for a solution to the dangerous situation they were facing.
"I have an idea," she declared, determination glinting in her eyes. "We'll devise our own plan against them, but I'll maintain the cover of cooperating with their scheme.
"Ahn Aera, her trusted ally, nodded in agreement. "Okay! Sounds good. I'll play along too. What's the plan?"
Hwa Yeong leaned back, deep in thought, and replied, "First, we need to gather intelligence on their plan. Only then can we formulate our move."
"As far as I know," Ahn Aera began, "their plan involves me killing you, and then he takes over the alpha position, as I've made it clear I don't want that role."
Hwa Yeong recognized the significance of knowing more about the adversary's intentions. "I'll instruct my hacker to uncover more details," she said.
Ahn Aera smirked jokingly, since she was the hacker Hwa Yeong was talking about "I thought I'd be the one doing the dirty work."
Hwa Yeong then delved into the matter of the staged killing. "Now, as for the 'killing,' I can simply wear a bulletproof vest as a precaution," she suggested.
Ahn Aera, however, had a more elaborate plan in mind. "No, let's fake my death instead. We'll stage a public confrontation with you and him, and then you 'kill' me."
Hwa Yeong, slightly perplexed, voiced her concern. "I thought I was supposed to be the one 'dead.'""Let me do the honors for once," Ahn Aera replied with a mischievous grin.
Hwa Yeong couldn't help but question the motive behind her character's death. "He wants me dead, not you! There must be a reason why I have to die."
Ahn Aera elaborated on the plan. "Okay, you do the honors. After you get 'killed,' I'll assume the 'Alpha' position, but I'll refuse it and pass it on to him. In reality, I won't accept it, all thanks to your 'will.'"
Hwa Yeong readily agreed to the scheme. "Sure."
Ahn Aera's eyes sparkled with devious intent as she pondered the method of Hwa Yeong's staged death. "Now, how will you 'die'?"
Hwa Yeong suggested a more subtle approach. "We can make it convincing by simulating 'poison' in my drink while we have a meal together."
Ahn Aera, however, had a different idea. "Aniyo, the more gruesome, the more believable."
Hwa Yeong, puzzled by her statement, requested clarification. "What? Speak English, please."
Ahn Aera clarified, "If there's blood, a lack of heart rate, and other convincing elements, he will be more likely to believe it."
Hwa Yeong accepted the plan, albeit with a hint of apprehension. "So, what do you want to do then?"
Ahn Aera revealed their next move. "You know the party next week? It's your 'death' day."
The night of the party arrived, and Hwa Yeong was prepared for her role in the elaborate charade. She was dressed in black from head to toe, ready to perform the final act of the grand plan. At the party, someone discreetly approached Hwa Yeong, and the performance began. Hwa Yeong willingly allowed herself to be 'stabbed,' she had taken her real blood and placing it in a concealed sack under her dress. A patch, sent by Ahn Aera, was affixed to her chest, ensuring her heart rate registered as zero.
The day after the party, Ahn Aera reached out to check on her friend, Hwa Yeong, using secure communication channels.
"Yeongshii, how are you?" Ahn Aera inquired with genuine concern.
Hwa Yeong's response, however, was a mixture of pain and disbelief. "Your junior accidentally stabbed me deeper than the bulletproof vest."
Ahn Aera, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, clarified, "It wasn't my junior."
Hwa Yeong, shocked and bewildered, asked, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN??"