The night was cold and still, the kind of silence that amplified every creak and rustle. In the heart of their secondary hideout, Seojin worked tirelessly at the whiteboard, mapping out every connection they had uncovered so far. The name *Phoenix* was circled in red, surrounded by a spiderweb of links, aliases, and potential leads. But no matter how many connections they made, the center of the web remained elusive.
Behind her, the team sat in tense silence, each lost in their thoughts. The sting of Kang's betrayal was fresh, but there was no time to dwell on it. They had to move quickly before the Phoenix and Kang struck again.
---
Jiwon broke the silence first, slamming his hand on the table. "We can't just sit here. Kang knows too much, and he's out there right now feeding everything to the Phoenix!"
"We know," Seojin said sharply, not turning around. "But rushing in without a plan will get us killed."
"Do we even have a plan?" Kyungmin asked, his voice quieter but no less critical. "Or are we just waiting for them to find us again?"
Seojin finally turned, her expression hard. "We're not waiting. We're hunting. Dojin is already working on planting the fake intel."
All eyes turned to Dojin, who was hunched over his laptop, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "Almost done," he muttered. "I've created a false trail leading to an old warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It's the kind of place the syndicate would expect us to use for a regroup."
"And Kang will take the bait?" Jiwon asked skeptically.
"He will," Seojin said with certainty. "He's arrogant, and he thinks he's already won. He'll come to gloat, and when he does, we'll be ready."
---
Hours later, the team arrived at the abandoned warehouse. It was a crumbling structure, its windows shattered and its walls covered in graffiti. The perfect trap. They worked quickly, setting up surveillance equipment and securing their escape routes.
Seojin stood in the center of the room, her eyes scanning every detail. "Dojin, you'll monitor the feeds from here. Kyungmin, you're on lookout. Jiwon, you're with me. When Kang arrives, we let him talk. He'll try to bait us, but we don't engage until we have what we need."
"And what do we need?" Jiwon asked.
"The Phoenix's location," Seojin said. "Kang is our only link to him now. We can't afford to lose him."
---
As night fell, the warehouse grew colder, the air heavy with tension. Seojin crouched in the shadows with Jiwon, her eyes fixed on the entrance. The seconds felt like hours, each one stretching unbearably as they waited for their trap to spring.
Finally, the sound of footsteps echoed through the empty space. Seojin's grip on her weapon tightened as a familiar figure stepped into the light.
Kang.
He was alone, his hands raised in a mockery of surrender. "Seojin," he called out, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. "I know you're here. No need to hide."
Seojin stepped forward, her gun trained on him. "Kang."
"Ah, there you are," Kang said with a smirk. "I knew you couldn't resist."
"Where's the Phoenix?" Seojin demanded, her voice cold.
Kang chuckled. "Straight to the point. That's what I've always liked about you. But I'm afraid it's not that simple."
"Try me."
Kang took a step closer, his hands still raised. "You think you're in control here, but you're not. The Phoenix sees everything, Seojin. This little trap of yours? It's a joke. He already knows where you are."
Seojin's blood ran cold, but she didn't let it show. "Then why are you here?"
"Because I wanted to see the look on your face when you realized you've lost."
---
Before Seojin could respond, the sound of engines roared outside. Jiwon swore under his breath, peering through a crack in the wall. "We've got company. A lot of it."
Kang's smirk widened. "Did you really think I came alone? The Phoenix doesn't take chances."
"Neither do we," Seojin snapped, signaling to Kyungmin through her comm. "We're compromised. Fall back to the extraction point."
"On it," Kyungmin replied, his voice tense.
Seojin turned back to Kang, her gun still trained on him. "You're not going anywhere."
"Neither are you," Kang replied. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a hidden knife, lunging toward her.
Seojin reacted instantly, sidestepping his attack and disarming him with a sharp twist of her wrist. Kang stumbled, but his smirk never faltered. "You've gotten better," he said, his tone almost admiring.
"I've had practice," Seojin replied, driving a kick into his chest and sending him sprawling.
"Seojin, we need to go!" Jiwon shouted as the sound of boots echoed outside.
Seojin hesitated for a split second, her eyes locking with Kang's. "This isn't over," she said before turning and running toward the exit.
---
The team moved quickly, slipping through the maze of alleys and backstreets they had mapped out earlier. Behind them, the sound of shouting and gunfire grew fainter as they put distance between themselves and the warehouse.
When they finally reached the extraction point, Seojin allowed herself a moment to catch her breath. "Status?"
"We're clear," Kyungmin said, his voice tight. "For now."
Dojin glanced back at the direction they had come from, his expression grim. "Kang isn't just a mole. He's playing his own game."
Seojin nodded, her jaw tight. "And we're going to make sure he loses."
---
**End of Chapter 19**
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**Thoughts for Readers:**
- What do you think Kang's ultimate goal is?
- Do you think Seojin made the right decision by letting him go?
- How do you think the Phoenix is connected to Kang's betrayal?