Lia hurried into the cell, fearing something had happened to Su Hong.

To her surprise, Su Hong was not only unharmed but leaning back on the sofa, rubbing his forehead with a troubled expression.

"Su Hong, what's wrong?"

Hearing her voice brought Su Hong a flicker of joy. He quickly opened his eyes—*Finally, someone I can actually talk to.*

"It's nothing. I'm really glad you're here."

He stood and offered the sofa. Lia, as usual, settled into it without hesitation.

"Lia, how did the Spirit Card sell—"

His words cut off. He’d caught himself—a faint, unconscious smile lingering on his lips, as if he and Lia were old friends.

To others, trivial. To him, a warning.

Anyone who grew close to him tended to meet misfortune.

He’d once suspected Lia might be immune to his bad luck—that’s how they’d grown familiar. But she wasn’t immune. And he’d already called her a friend.

Unease coiled in his chest. When was the last time he’d smiled at someone like this without thinking?

Lia tilted her head curiously, orange hair spilling over one shoulder, waiting. Su Hong smoothed the smile from his face.

"Lia… nothing bad’s happened to you lately, right?"

"Weren’t you just asking about the Spirit Card? Why ‘bad things’ now?"

Lia shook her head, then beamed. "Of course not! Everything went great! I didn’t sell the Spirit Card—I played it at the shop. So many people fell in love with it! The place was packed!"

Su Hong exhaled silently, then hesitated, gaze dropping.

*Should I pull away now, before she gets hurt?*

*No—things are different here. I might even fix this luck curse.*

*But until I do… I shouldn’t drag someone like her into it.*

"Lia, there’s something I need to tell you."

"Eh?! W-what is it…?"

Just then, Lia gasped, waving her hands frantically. "No, no! I got so caught up talking—I forgot the shop’s swamped! Grandpa can’t handle it alone!"

"Huh?" Su Hong blinked, secretly relieved. "Then why run all the way here?"

"To tell you the good news first! And… I won’t ever sell the Spirit Card you gave me. Never!"

Her eyes shone with genuine, bubbling joy.

Su Hong’s suppressed smile crept back without him noticing.

"Su Hong… um… would you come home with me? Staying here… everyone’s still uneasy around you. It’s just Grandpa and me—we have a spare room. If you don’t mind…"

Su Hong glanced at the guards and inmates.

A few days ago, yes—they’d seemed afraid.

Now? *I’m the one who should be scared.*

Especially the casino boss and inmates—their stares burned like fanatical devotees. His scalp prickled.

"Not at all! Let’s go now—is that okay?"

He turned to the warden at the door.

The man’s eyes widened. Mouth opened. Tears spilled before a word escaped. He covered his face, nodding fiercely through sobs.

*Seriously? It’s just a prison release request—why’s he crying like I proposed?!*

If the warden made him queasy, the inmates made his skin crawl.

One inmate wailed, neck craned: "Lord Su Hong! How can you abandon us?! We finally saw hope walking your path—!"

The casino boss roared, tears streaming from bloodshot eyes. He slammed a fist into the man’s face. "Fool! Don’t you get it?! This is Lord Su Hong *accepting* our repentance! Proof we no longer need saving! This is his trust—his honor!"

He spun and bowed deeply. "We will walk your path! Reform! Spread your redemption!"

The others bowed in unison. Fewer than twenty, yet the prison echoed with solemn fervor.

Rubbing his forehead, Su Hong grabbed Lia’s hand and hurried past them.

*Leaving was the single most correct decision I’ve ever made.*

*These people are unhinged. One more minute and I’d lose my mind.*