The flash drive sat on the table between Seojin and Jiwon like a ticking time bomb. It felt as if the room's very air was heavier, laden with the weight of the secrets contained within the small, unassuming device. Kyungmin had fallen asleep in the adjoining room, exhaustion overtaking him after the night's events, leaving the two of them to decide their next steps.
Jiwon leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "If what Kyungmin says is true, this could expose a significant part of the syndicate. But we need to decrypt it first."
"That's not going to be easy," Seojin said. "If the Lee syndicate is as powerful as we think, they'll have people monitoring any attempts to access their data. This isn't something we can just hand over to the police either. The syndicate's reach probably extends into the force."
Jiwon's jaw tightened. "So, what's the plan? Who do you trust enough to help with this?"
Seojin paused, thinking. There was only one name that came to mind—a former cybercrime specialist turned hacker who owed her a favor. But even reaching out to him was a gamble.
---
An hour later, Seojin sat in a dimly lit café, a steaming cup of coffee untouched in front of her. Across the table sat Han Dojin, a wiry man with sharp eyes and an air of perpetual paranoia.
"Seojin," he said, his voice low. "I thought you were done with this kind of work."
"This isn't about me," Seojin replied. "I need your help decrypting a flash drive. It's connected to the Lee syndicate."
Dojin's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle. "The Lee syndicate? You're either very brave or very stupid."
"Maybe both," Seojin admitted. "Can you do it?"
Dojin hesitated. "I can, but if they catch wind of this, they'll come after me. And they don't just kill people—they erase them. Completely."
"You owe me, Dojin," Seojin reminded him. "I'm calling in that favor."
Dojin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But you'd better have a good plan to keep us all alive."
---
Back at the safehouse, Seojin and Jiwon began discussing their next move when Kyungmin suddenly burst into the room, his face pale.
"They've found me," he said, holding up his phone. A single text message glared back at them: "You shouldn't have run, Kyungmin. Time's up."
Jiwon swore under his breath. "How did they track us?"
"They must have planted something on him during the abduction," Seojin said, already searching Kyungmin for any hidden devices.
Within moments, she found a small tracker sewn into the lining of his jacket. "We're compromised. We need to leave, now."
Before they could move, the sound of tires screeching to a halt outside sent a chill down Seojin's spine.
---
A group of black-clad figures spilled out of the cars, their movements precise and coordinated. Seojin pulled out her gun and gestured for Jiwon and Kyungmin to follow her toward the back exit.
"They'll surround the building," Jiwon said grimly. "We don't have much time."
As they moved, the sound of glass shattering and boots hitting the ground echoed through the safehouse. The syndicate's operatives were inside.
Seojin led them to the storage room, where a narrow vent provided a possible escape route. "Go," she urged, pushing Kyungmin toward it.
"What about you?" Jiwon asked, his eyes filled with concern.
"I'll hold them off," Seojin said, her voice steady. "Go, now!"
---
Seojin crouched behind a stack of crates, her gun trained on the doorway. The first operative entered cautiously, his silenced weapon sweeping the room. Seojin fired, her shot hitting him in the leg and sending him crashing to the floor.
The second man rushed in, and Seojin ducked as a bullet whizzed past her head. She rolled to the side, returning fire and hitting him in the shoulder.
But she was outnumbered. More operatives poured in, forcing her to retreat further into the building.
---
Outside, Jiwon and Kyungmin managed to squeeze through the vent and into the alley behind the safehouse. Jiwon helped Kyungmin to his feet, glancing back at the building.
"We can't leave her," Kyungmin said, his voice shaky.
"She can handle herself," Jiwon said firmly, though worry etched his features. "Right now, we need to get somewhere safe and decrypt that drive. It's the only way we can help her."
Kyungmin reluctantly nodded, and the two disappeared into the night.
---
By the time Seojin emerged from the safehouse, bruised and bloodied but alive, the operatives were gone. The syndicate had retreated for now, but she knew they wouldn't give up so easily.
As she walked away from the wreckage, her phone buzzed with a message from Jiwon: "We're safe. Decryption in progress. Stay alive."
Seojin allowed herself a small, grim smile. The fight was far from over.
---
**End of Chapter 13**
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**Thoughts for Readers:**
- What secrets do you think are on the flash drive?
- Will Dojin successfully decrypt it, or will the syndicate strike again?