The tunnel was silent except for the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the stone walls. Seojin's team huddled in the widened chamber, their breaths heavy from the escape. The tension in the air was palpable, and all eyes were on Donghae, who stood at the center of the group with his hands raised in surrender.
Seojin's gaze never left him, her gun still pointed at his chest. "Start talking, Donghae. Why am I the key? What are you hiding?"
Dojin, clutching his laptop, leaned against the cold wall, his eyes wide with curiosity and fear. Kyungmin and Jiwon flanked Seojin, their weapons still raised, ready to fire at the slightest provocation.
Donghae let out a slow breath, lowering his hands. "I never wanted you to find out this way, Seojin. But the Phoenix isn't just targeting Inferno. They've been targeting you specifically—for years."
A cold chill ran down Seojin's spine. "Why? What do I have to do with them?"
Donghae hesitated, his eyes searching hers as though weighing how much he should reveal. Finally, he spoke.
"Your father," he said. "He wasn't just an ordinary detective. He was one of the founders of Inferno. The Phoenix wants to erase all traces of the project—and that includes you."
The world seemed to tilt beneath Seojin's feet. She lowered her gun slightly, her mind reeling. "My father? No. He… he died in the line of duty. He wasn't involved in anything like this."
Donghae shook his head. "That's what they wanted you to believe. After his death, they covered up his involvement in Inferno. But the files you just retrieved? They contain proof of his work—evidence that links him to the organization and to the Phoenix."
Seojin's hands trembled. Memories of her father's quiet strength and unwavering sense of justice flooded her mind. Could it be true? Had he been hiding such a dangerous secret from her?
Kyungmin stepped forward, his expression skeptical. "If this is true, why didn't the Phoenix kill her years ago? Why wait until now?"
"Because she didn't know anything," Donghae replied. "She wasn't a threat—until now. By retrieving those files, she's drawn their attention. They think she has the knowledge to destroy them."
Seojin clenched her fists, anger boiling in her chest. "So, what? They'll keep coming after me until I'm dead?"
"Not just you," Donghae said grimly. "Your entire team. Anyone who stands with you is a target now."
Jiwon cursed under his breath. "Great. So we're all on the hit list because of some legacy we didn't sign up for?"
Kyungmin shot him a glare. "This isn't the time for blaming anyone. We're in this together."
"Are we?" Jiwon snapped. "Because it feels like we're just pawns in someone else's game."
"Enough!" Seojin's voice cut through the rising tension. She turned back to Donghae, her expression steely. "If my father was involved in Inferno, then why didn't you tell me earlier? You had plenty of chances."
Donghae's face darkened with regret. "Because I didn't know who I could trust. The Phoenix has infiltrated every level of government, law enforcement, and even Inferno itself. I couldn't risk exposing myself—or you."
"And now?" Seojin pressed.
"Now, I know you're the only one who can finish what your father started," Donghae said. "But you can't do it alone. You'll need help—my help."
Before Seojin could respond, Dojin's voice broke the silence. "Uh, guys? We have a problem."
All eyes turned to him as he stared at his laptop screen, his face pale.
"What is it?" Seojin asked, walking over to him.
Dojin swallowed hard. "The files we retrieved… they're incomplete."
"What?" Seojin leaned over his shoulder, scanning the screen.
"It's like someone cut them off mid-upload," Dojin explained. "There are chunks of data missing—critical parts of the evidence we need."
Donghae stepped closer, his brow furrowed. "The Phoenix must have anticipated your move. They probably sabotaged the system before you got there."
Seojin's heart sank. All their efforts, the lives they risked—it wasn't enough. "So, what now?"
Dojin hesitated, then pointed to a line of code on the screen. "There's a lead. The files mention a secondary server. If we can find it, we might be able to recover the missing data."
"And where is this server?" Kyungmin asked.
Dojin's expression turned grim. "It's at Phoenix's main headquarters."
The air in the tunnel grew heavy with the weight of the revelation. Breaking into the Phoenix's headquarters was nothing short of a suicide mission.
"We can't just waltz into their headquarters," Jiwon said, his voice laced with frustration. "It's a death trap."
Seojin straightened, her jaw set. "We don't have a choice. If that server holds the evidence we need, then we have to get it."
"And how do you propose we do that?" Kyungmin asked.
"We plan," Seojin replied firmly. "We find their weaknesses, exploit them, and hit them where it hurts. This isn't just about us anymore—it's about everyone the Phoenix has ever hurt."
Donghae nodded, his expression serious. "I'll help you. I know the layout of their headquarters, their security protocols, everything."
Jiwon scoffed. "And we're just supposed to trust you after everything you've done?"
"You don't have to trust me," Donghae said. "But you'll need me if you want to survive."
Seojin glanced at her team, their faces etched with doubt and fear. She understood their hesitation, but deep down, she knew they couldn't back down now.
"This is our fight," she said, her voice steady. "And we're going to win."
End of Chapter 32