The safehouse was quieter than usual, the weight of their narrow escape hanging over the team like a storm cloud. Seojin sat at the table, staring at the map spread before her. Marked with red pins, it represented every known location linked to the Phoenix. None of them had panned out.
Jiwon broke the silence first, leaning back in his chair. "So what now? Kang played us, and the Phoenix knows we're after him. Do we just wait for the next ambush?"
"No," Seojin said firmly, her eyes not leaving the map. "We keep moving forward. Kang's arrogance is a weakness. He wants us to know he's one step ahead, but that also means he's willing to show his hand. We'll use that."
Kyungmin, perched by the window, spoke up. "How? He's already fed everything he knows to the Phoenix. They'll be prepared for anything we try."
"That's the mistake they'll make," Seojin replied, her tone sharp. "They'll prepare for what they think we'll do—not what we'll actually do."
---
Dojin entered the room, his laptop tucked under one arm. "I've got something," he said, setting the device on the table.
The team crowded around as Dojin pulled up a series of intercepted messages. "This came through one of the syndicate's encrypted channels. It's fragmented, but there's enough here to piece together something important."
Seojin's eyes scanned the screen, picking out the relevant details. A name stood out: **Jiho Logistics**.
"What's that?" Jiwon asked.
"A shipping company," Dojin replied. "On the surface, it's clean. But I ran a deeper search and found connections to some of the Phoenix's known shell corporations. It's a front."
"And Kang led us straight to it," Seojin murmured, her mind racing. "This could be our next lead."
Kyungmin frowned. "If this is a front, they'll be heavily guarded."
"Then we'll have to be careful," Seojin said. "This isn't just a chance to disrupt their operations. It's a chance to send a message."
---
That night, the team prepared for their next move. Jiho Logistics was headquartered in a nondescript warehouse in the industrial district, its mundane appearance hiding the criminal empire it supported.
Dressed in black, the team moved like shadows through the quiet streets, avoiding security cameras and patrols. Seojin led the way, her senses heightened. Every step, every sound was calculated as they approached the warehouse.
"Dojin," Seojin whispered into her comm. "Disable the alarms."
"Already on it," Dojin replied from his position in the surveillance van. Seconds later, he confirmed, "You're clear."
Jiwon and Kyungmin moved to the side entrances, their weapons drawn. Seojin signaled, and they breached the doors simultaneously.
The inside of the warehouse was as expected—rows of crates and containers, forklifts parked haphazardly. But there was something else: a sense of unease, as if the air itself carried a warning.
"Spread out," Seojin ordered. "We're looking for anything that connects this place to the Phoenix."
---
As the team searched, Kyungmin called out. "I've got something!"
Seojin and Jiwon joined him by one of the containers, where Kyungmin had pried open a crate. Inside were rows of weapons, each stamped with the same symbol: a phoenix rising from flames.
"This confirms it," Seojin said, her voice low. "This is their supply chain."
But before they could move, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the warehouse. Seojin's hand shot up, signaling silence.
"Ambush," Jiwon muttered, his grip tightening on his weapon.
Seojin cursed under her breath. They had been too slow. "Dojin, how many are there?"
"Four vehicles just pulled up," Dojin said, his voice tense. "At least a dozen men."
"Time to leave," Seojin said, motioning for the team to fall back.
---
The team moved swiftly, navigating the maze of crates and shadows. But their exit was cut off as armed men poured into the warehouse, their flashlights sweeping the darkness.
"Split up," Seojin ordered. "We regroup at the rendezvous point."
Jiwon and Kyungmin nodded, disappearing into the shadows. Seojin stayed behind, her weapon drawn as she provided cover. She fired off a few shots, forcing the attackers to take cover and giving her team a chance to escape.
"Seojin, you're outnumbered," Dojin warned through the comm. "Get out of there!"
"I'm not leaving until they're clear," Seojin shot back, her voice steady despite the danger.
As the attackers closed in, Seojin's mind raced. She had to think of something—fast. Spotting a stack of barrels, she fired at the base, sending them crashing down and creating a temporary barrier.
"Now or never," she muttered, sprinting toward the exit.
---
The team reconvened at the safehouse, shaken but unharmed. Kyungmin collapsed onto the couch, his breathing heavy. "That was too close."
"But we got what we needed," Jiwon said, holding up a small flash drive. "Found this in one of the crates. It's encrypted, but I'm guessing it's important."
Seojin nodded, her mind already turning to their next steps. "Dojin, decrypt it. Whatever's on there could be the key to finding the Phoenix."
Dojin gave a curt nod, plugging the drive into his laptop. "I'll get started."
As the team settled in, Seojin allowed herself a moment of quiet. The Phoenix was still out there, and Kang's betrayal still burned, but for the first time in days, she felt like they were making progress.
---
**End of Chapter 20**