Back at the safehouse, Seojin led Minji inside. Jiwon and Dojin both stood as the door opened, their expressions tense.
"Who's this?" Jiwon demanded, his hand instinctively moving toward his weapon.
"She's our way into the Phoenix lab," Seojin replied curtly. "Her name is Minji. She used to work for them."
Minji gave a small nod but kept her distance, clearly aware of the suspicion in the room.
"And we're supposed to trust her?" Jiwon shot back, his eyes narrowing.
"We don't have much of a choice," Seojin said, handing him the flash drive Minji had provided. "She brought intel—blueprints, security layouts. It's the only way we can get inside."
Dojin plugged the flash drive into his laptop, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he pulled up the files. His eyes widened as the schematics appeared on the screen.
"She's not lying," he said. "These are legitimate. The lab is heavily fortified, but there are vulnerabilities—maintenance tunnels, blind spots in their security cameras."
Seojin leaned over the table, studying the blueprints with a sharp intensity. "We'll split into two teams. Dojin and Minji will handle the surveillance and hacking, disabling their security systems. Jiwon and I will infiltrate the lab and destroy the bioweapons."
"Wait a minute," Jiwon interjected. "You're putting Minji in charge of hacking? What if she turns on us?"
"She won't," Seojin said firmly, glancing at Minji. "Because if she does, she knows what'll happen."
Minji met Seojin's gaze, her expression unflinching. "I'm here to help. I have as much to lose as you do—if not more."
Jiwon still looked unconvinced, but he didn't argue further.
As the team finalized their plan, the tension in the room grew thick. Jiwon kept a close eye on Minji, his mistrust evident in every glance.
"Why did you leave the Phoenix?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.
Minji hesitated, her jaw tightening. "They killed my father. He was a scientist who refused to work on their bioweapons program. They made it look like an accident, but I know the truth."
Jiwon's expression softened slightly, but he didn't lower his guard. "And what makes you think betraying them now won't get you killed?"
"It probably will," Minji admitted. "But if I can take them down, it'll be worth it."
Later that night, as the team prepared their equipment, Seojin found Minji sitting alone by the window, staring out at the city lights.
"You okay?" Seojin asked, her voice softer than usual.
Minji glanced at her and nodded. "I've just… never done anything like this before. Fighting back, I mean."
Seojin sat beside her, her gaze steady. "It's not easy. But sometimes, it's the only option."
Minji hesitated before asking, "Do you ever wonder if it's worth it? All the risks, the sacrifices?"
"All the time," Seojin admitted. "But then I think about the people we're trying to protect. The lives we're saving. That's what keeps me going."
Minji nodded, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "I'll do my part. You can count on me."
By morning, the team was ready. Dojin had packed his hacking gear, Jiwon had checked their weapons, and Seojin had reviewed the plan one last time.
"We move at midnight," she said. "This is our one shot. If we fail…"
"We won't," Jiwon interrupted, his tone resolute. "We've come too far to fail now."
Minji stepped forward, her voice steady. "I'll get you inside. Just make sure you finish the job."
Seojin nodded, her gaze sweeping over her team. "Let's do this."
End of Chapter 37
Quiz Question:
What role does Minji play in the team's plan?
Infiltrator
Hacker
Scout
Strategist