The morning sun had barely risen, casting an orange glow over the city streets, as the team made their final preparations. The safehouse buzzed with tension as Seojin went over the plan for the hundredth time in her mind. The shipping yard in Busan loomed large in her thoughts—not just as their next target, but as the potential key to unraveling her father's mysterious connection to the Phoenix.
Kyungmin double-checked his weapons while Jiwon carefully packed explosives and EMP devices. Dojin was seated at his workstation, scanning for potential threats. Seojin stood apart, her mind racing. The thought of her father's name appearing in the Phoenix's files had thrown her off balance. Yet, she couldn't afford to show any hesitation.
"Ready?" Jiwon asked, breaking the silence.
Seojin nodded. "Let's move."
---
The team traveled in a nondescript black van, blending in with the morning traffic. Dojin, seated in the back with his laptop, monitored the facility's surveillance feeds.
"The shipping yard is active," he reported. "Guards everywhere, but nothing we can't handle. I've already disabled a few external cameras, so you'll have a blind spot to get in."
Seojin leaned forward from the passenger seat, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. "And the cargo?"
"Unclear," Dojin replied. "But from what I've gathered, this place is a hub for smuggling. Drugs, weapons… you name it. If *Inferno* is being moved, it's probably through here."
Kyungmin glanced at her from the driver's seat. "Do you think we'll find anything about your father?"
"I don't know," Seojin admitted. "But if there's even a chance, I have to see this through."
---
By the time they arrived, the shipping yard was bustling with activity. Cranes loomed overhead, moving massive containers across the sprawling facility. Workers and guards moved about, their actions efficient and coordinated.
Dojin's voice crackled in their earpieces. "You're clear to move. Head to the northeast quadrant. There's a storage area there that matches the schematics we found."
The team split up, each member taking their designated path. Seojin and Kyungmin moved toward the storage area, while Jiwon stayed back to cover their exit. The air was thick with tension as they navigated through the maze of containers, avoiding the patrolling guards.
"This way," Seojin whispered, gesturing toward a side entrance.
Inside the storage area, the atmosphere shifted. The air was colder, and the faint hum of machinery filled the space. Rows of crates lined the walls, each marked with the Phoenix's symbol—a blazing bird engulfed in flames.
---
Kyungmin pried open one of the crates, revealing a cache of advanced weaponry. Another crate contained vials of a strange, glowing liquid.
"What is this?" Kyungmin asked, holding up one of the vials.
"Something dangerous," Seojin replied, her eyes narrowing. "This isn't just smuggling. This is preparation."
Dojin's voice cut in. "Guys, I've got something. There's a secured office on the second floor. The guards are thin in that area—it could be where they're keeping records."
"On it," Seojin said.
---
The office was dimly lit, with rows of filing cabinets and a single computer on the desk. Seojin immediately got to work, rifling through the documents while Kyungmin kept watch by the door.
"Found something," she said, holding up a file. Inside were detailed records of shipments, dates, and recipients. One name stood out: **Kwon Sanghoon**.
Her breath caught in her throat as she flipped through the pages. It wasn't just shipments. There were letters, contracts, and even photographs—evidence of her father working alongside the Phoenix's leaders.
"This doesn't make sense," she muttered. "He was a lawyer, not—"
She stopped, her eyes locking on one photograph. It showed her father standing next to a man she recognized: Kang Hwan, the Phoenix's enigmatic leader.
"Seojin," Kyungmin said, snapping her out of her daze. "We need to move. Guards are heading this way."
Seojin stuffed the documents into her bag and nodded. "Let's go."
---
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridors as they made their way back to the rendezvous point. Seojin's mind was spinning, the revelations about her father threatening to overwhelm her focus.
"We're almost there," Kyungmin said, glancing over his shoulder.
Suddenly, a shout rang out, followed by the unmistakable sound of gunfire.
"They've spotted us!" Jiwon's voice crackled over the comms. "I'm engaging them—get out of here!"
"Jiwon, hold your position!" Seojin ordered, her tone sharp.
"No time for heroics," Kyungmin said, pulling her toward the exit. "We can't lose you too."
Reluctantly, Seojin followed, her heart pounding as the sound of gunfire faded behind them. They reached the van just as Jiwon appeared, his arm bleeding but his expression grim.
"Go, go!" he shouted, climbing in as Kyungmin hit the gas.
---
**End of Chapter 24**