Arc 3: The Rise of the Rival
Chapter 18: The Face of Betrayal
The next evening, Jae-min stood in the darkness of a secluded alley, watching as the car pulled up to the meeting location. His pulse quickened, adrenaline rushing through him as he crouched behind a dumpster, hidden from sight. Elyra's voice echoed in his earpiece, guiding him through the operation.
"Jae-min, I'm tracking the car. It's definitely Min-jae. The destination is a warehouse in the industrial sector. That's not a public meeting spot," Elyra confirmed, her tone sharp.
He didn't reply immediately, his eyes narrowing on the dim light at the entrance of the warehouse. His thoughts raced—who was Min-jae meeting, and what did they have planned?
"Keep the cameras rolling, Elyra. I need every detail," Jae-min muttered under his breath. His gaze never left the car as it came to a stop in front of the warehouse.
"Understood. Surveillance is up. Be careful, Jae-min. You don't know what they're planning inside."
Jae-min's grip tightened around the small transmitter in his hand. The last few weeks had built up to this moment. He had to confront Min-jae. He had to know the truth, even if it shattered everything he'd built.
The door of the car swung open, and Jae-min's eyes locked onto Min-jae as he stepped out. But it wasn't just Min-jae. Another figure emerged—a tall, imposing man dressed in a black suit. His features were hidden in the shadows, but the sense of danger radiating from him was unmistakable.
"That's not someone I recognize," Elyra's voice cut in. "Be careful, Jae-min. That man could be someone from Noah Corp. We've been tracking their movements, and they're very interested in AstraLux."
Jae-min's heart skipped a beat. Noah Corp. So this was bigger than just Min-jae.
Min-jae greeted the man with a handshake, but the interaction was cold, professional—nothing like the warm, trusting relationship they'd once had. Jae-min's stomach churned as he watched. He had trusted Min-jae like a brother. They had started AstraLux together, fought through the hardest times side by side. But now… now it was all unraveling.
Through the dark, he could just make out the words that Min-jae and the man exchanged.
"We're almost ready to move. Once we have the codes, we'll infiltrate AstraLux's network. Noah Corp will have full control of everything," Min-jae said, his voice barely audible from where Jae-min hid.
Jae-min's blood ran cold. The betrayal was real. Min-jae was not just spying—he was actively working to hand over AstraLux to Noah Corp. The very company that had been their greatest rival since the beginning.
The other man, whose name Jae-min still didn't know, spoke with a deep, gravelly voice. "You have the final piece, right?"
Min-jae nodded. "The security breach was successful. I've planted the virus in AstraLux's financial system. Once Noah Corp deploys the Trojan, the entire system will fall."
Jae-min's hands trembled as the reality of it all sank in. Min-jae wasn't just a mole. He was a traitor, planning to bring down the entire company that Jae-min had spent years building.
"Is the plan solid?" Min-jae asked, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.
The man in the black suit didn't answer immediately. He just stared at Min-jae for a long moment before speaking, his voice cold and menacing. "Do not fail, Min-jae. You know what's at stake."
Jae-min clenched his fists, his mind racing. He had to stop this. He couldn't let Min-jae destroy everything.
Without another word, he turned and started to retreat, moving quietly and carefully through the shadows. The time for stealth was over. He had the information. He had to act fast.
The next morning, Jae-min didn't wait to confront Min-jae in the usual calm, collected manner he would have preferred. The betrayal was too deep, and his anger was too fresh. His employees filed into the office, the usual chatter filling the space, but Jae-min barely registered it. His eyes were fixed on Min-jae, who was sitting at his desk, acting as though nothing had happened the night before.
"Min-jae," Jae-min's voice cut through the noise, hard and cold.
Min-jae looked up, the usual friendly warmth in his expression replaced by a distant, guarded look. "Jae-min, what's wrong?"
Jae-min didn't waste time. "I know what you're doing. I know you're working with Noah Corp. You've been feeding them everything—our plans, our data, our network."
Min-jae froze, his eyes flickering with a mix of guilt and defiance. For a long moment, neither spoke, the weight of Jae-min's accusation hanging in the air.
"How long, Min-jae?" Jae-min asked, his voice tight. "How long have you been planning this?"
Min-jae's eyes dropped to the desk, and for the briefest moment, Jae-min saw regret flash in his eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by something colder. "It was never supposed to go this far. But you… you weren't listening. You were too focused on building your empire, and Noah Corp offered me something I couldn't ignore."
Jae-min stepped forward, his hands trembling with anger. "You were supposed to be my friend. We were supposed to build something together."
"I tried, Jae-min. I really did," Min-jae said, his voice softening. "But you didn't see it. You were too wrapped up in your dreams. You left me in the shadows, always in the background."
The words hit harder than Jae-min had anticipated. "You should've come to me, Min-jae. We could've fixed it together."
Min-jae shook his head. "No. You were too focused on your ambition. You couldn't hear me."
The silence between them felt like a chasm, one that Jae-min couldn't cross.
"Why?" Jae-min asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Min-jae looked up, his gaze hardening. "Because, in the end, you're not the only one who wants something more. Noah Corp promised me everything—power, control, wealth. Things you can't even imagine."
Jae-min took a step back, as if the words themselves had physically struck him. Min-jae had chosen his own path, and it didn't include Jae-min.
"I'll stop you," Jae-min said, his voice low and dangerous. "If it's the last thing I do."
Min-jae didn't respond. He didn't need to. His eyes said it all. The fight was already over, and Jae-min had lost.