The air in the safehouse was thick with unspoken tension as the team finalized their plans. Hours of strategizing had turned into a blur of diagrams, simulations, and arguments. Everyone was on edge, knowing the risks they were about to take.
Seojin stood at the center of the room, her steady gaze sweeping over her team. The faint glow from the laptop illuminated her face, but her voice carried a firm resolve.
"This is it," she said. "Once we step into their headquarters, there's no turning back. If anyone has doubts, speak now."
Silence. Even Jiwon, who had been vocal about his skepticism, remained quiet.
"Good," Seojin continued. "We stick to the plan. Remember, the goal is to retrieve the data from the server and get out alive. Trust each other, and stay sharp."
Donghae, leaning against the wall, smirked faintly. "Let's hope your faith in teamwork pays off."
Seojin shot him a sharp look. "It will. Because failure isn't an option."
The night was cold and unforgiving as the team approached the Phoenix's headquarters. The building loomed ahead, a fortress of steel and glass guarded by an army of security measures.
Dressed in black and armed with minimal gear to avoid detection, the team split into their assigned groups.
Kyungmin and Jiwon moved toward the east wing, their task to create a distraction that would draw attention away from the server room.
Meanwhile, Seojin, Dojin, and Donghae slipped into the shadows, heading for the western entrance.
"Cameras are on a rotating schedule," Donghae whispered, glancing at the security feeds on Dojin's tablet. "We have a seven-second window to cross the courtyard undetected. On my count—three, two, one, go."
The trio moved swiftly, their steps soundless as they crossed the open space. Seojin's heart pounded in her chest, but her focus never wavered.
Once inside, they found themselves in a sterile corridor lit by flickering fluorescent lights. The hum of machinery filled the air, a stark reminder of the danger that surrounded them.
"Server room is two floors down," Dojin said quietly, his eyes glued to his tablet. "But there's a biometric lock on the door. We'll need Donghae's access to bypass it."
Donghae nodded. "Follow me."
Kyungmin and Jiwon reached the east wing, where they planted small charges on the security system's main power supply.
"Ready?" Kyungmin asked, his fingers hovering over the detonator.
Jiwon grinned. "Let's light them up."
With a muffled boom, the charges exploded, plunging the east wing into darkness. Alarms blared, and the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridors as guards rushed to contain the situation.
"Time to move," Kyungmin said, motioning for Jiwon to follow him deeper into the wing.
At the server room door, Donghae placed his palm on the biometric scanner. For a tense moment, the light on the scanner blinked red, and Seojin's finger tightened on the trigger of her silenced pistol.
Finally, the light turned green, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.
"We're in," Donghae said, stepping aside to let Dojin take the lead.
The server room was a maze of blinking lights and humming machines. Dojin immediately plugged his tablet into the main terminal, his fingers flying over the screen.
"I'm extracting the data now," he said. "But it's going to take a few minutes."
"Make it quick," Seojin said, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of trouble.
Donghae moved to the far side of the room, his expression tense. "This feels too easy. They should've had more guards here."
"Focus," Seojin snapped. "We don't have time for paranoia."
Just as the progress bar on Dojin's screen reached 80%, the door to the server room slammed shut, and red lights began to flash.
"Warning: Intrusion detected," a mechanical voice announced.
"What the—" Dojin started, but his words were cut off by Donghae grabbing him and shoving him against the wall.
Seojin's gun was up in an instant, aimed directly at Donghae's head. "Let him go."
Donghae's expression was cold, calculating. "I didn't want it to come to this, but you left me no choice."
"What are you talking about?" Seojin demanded, her voice sharp.
"I told you the Phoenix had infiltrated every level of Inferno," Donghae said. "What I didn't tell you is that I'm one of them."
The room seemed to spin as Seojin processed his words.
"Why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"For survival," Donghae replied. "The Phoenix offered me protection and power. You should've known better than to trust me."
Seojin's grip on her gun tightened, fury coursing through her veins. "You're a coward."
"Call me what you want," Donghae said with a smirk. "But you're out of time. The Phoenix knows you're here, and they'll be here any second. I suggest you make peace with your choices."
End of Chapter 34