The safehouse was quiet, the tension from the mission still lingering in the air. Dojin sat at his workstation, his eyes glued to the screen as lines of code scrolled past. The flash drive's contents were heavily encrypted, but he was determined to crack it.
Seojin stood by the window, her arms crossed as she stared out into the darkness. The events of the night replayed in her mind—the maps, the guards, the word *Inferno*. It all pointed to something much bigger than she had imagined.
"How long?" she asked without turning around.
"Almost there," Dojin replied, his tone clipped. "Whoever encrypted this wanted to make sure no one got in. But they didn't count on me."
Kyungmin leaned back in his chair, fiddling with the strap of his holster. "Let's hope it was worth it. We've been chasing the Phoenix for months—this has to be the breakthrough."
"It will be," Seojin said firmly. "It has to be."
---
A soft chime broke the silence, and Dojin's face lit up with a mix of relief and triumph. "Got it!"
Everyone gathered around as the files opened, revealing a series of documents, blueprints, and video recordings. Dojin navigated through them quickly, his expression growing darker with each click.
"This… this is insane," he muttered.
"What is it?" Seojin asked, leaning over his shoulder.
Dojin pulled up a video file, his hand trembling slightly as he pressed play. The screen filled with grainy footage of a large underground chamber, filled with rows of crates and armed personnel. In the center of the room stood a sleek, high-tech device, glowing faintly with an ominous red light.
"That's *Inferno*," Dojin said. "Or at least, part of it."
"What's it for?" Kyungmin asked, his brow furrowed.
"I don't know yet," Dojin admitted. "But whatever it is, it's dangerous. The documents mention bioweapons, experimental tech… even human trials."
Seojin's jaw tightened. "This isn't just a smuggling operation. They're building something—something catastrophic."
---
As Dojin continued to dig through the files, a name appeared on the screen that made Seojin freeze.
"Wait," she said, pointing to the monitor. "Go back."
Dojin obeyed, pulling up a personnel file. The name at the top of the document was one Seojin hadn't seen in years: **Kwon Sanghoon**.
Kyungmin noticed the change in her expression. "You know him?"
"He's… my father," Seojin said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in.
"This has to be a mistake," Jiwon said. "Why would your father's name be in their files?"
"I don't know," Seojin replied, her mind racing. "He died years ago. He couldn't possibly be involved in this."
Dojin frowned, pulling up more information. "If that's true, then someone's using his name—or there's a connection we're missing."
---
Seojin stepped away from the group, her thoughts a whirlwind. Memories of her father surfaced—his stern demeanor, his unwavering principles. He had always been a man of integrity. The idea that he could be tied to the Phoenix was unthinkable.
"We need to dig deeper," she said finally, her voice steady. "Find out why his name is here."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Kyungmin asked. "If this gets personal—"
"It's already personal," Seojin interrupted. "I need to know the truth."
Jiwon nodded. "Then we keep going. But we have to be careful. The Phoenix isn't going to let us unravel this without a fight."
---
Dojin pulled up a map, highlighting several locations connected to the Phoenix's operations. One stood out—a shipping yard on the outskirts of Busan.
"This is our next move," he said. "It's heavily guarded, but if we can get inside, we might find more about *Inferno* and its connection to your father."
Seojin nodded, her resolve hardening. "Then we prepare. We leave at dawn."
---
**End of Chapter 23**