The safe house was eerily quiet, the only sound coming from the steady hum of the laptop as Jiwon worked to decrypt the files from the flash drive. The tension in the room was palpable as everyone waited for the results.
Seojin sat at the table, her eyes scanning the scattered documents they'd salvaged from the warehouse. Dojin leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, while Minji paced back and forth, her agitation evident.
"This better be worth it," Dojin muttered, breaking the silence. "We risked our lives for that drive."
"It's worth it," Seojin replied firmly. "If it gives us even one solid lead, it'll be a game-changer."
"Got it," Jiwon said suddenly, his fingers flying over the keyboard. The screen displayed a series of decrypted files, each one labeled with cryptic titles.
The first file Jiwon opened contained a shipping manifest, listing locations, dates, and quantities of goods. Seojin scanned the list, her eyes narrowing.
"These shipments aren't just weapons," she said. "They're transporting chemicals—volatile ones. This isn't just about profit. They're planning something big."
"What kind of chemicals?" Dojin asked.
"Explosives, possibly," Jiwon said, pulling up another file. "Or something worse. There are references to biological agents here."
"Biological agents?" Minji echoed, her voice rising in alarm. "You mean… like a virus?"
"It's possible," Jiwon replied grimly. "But we need more information to be sure."
As Jiwon opened the next file, a video began to play. The screen flickered, revealing a figure cloaked in shadow, their face obscured. A distorted voice filled the room, chilling them to the bone.
"To the detectives who dare meddle in matters far beyond their reach," the voice said. "You think you can stop the Phoenix? You are merely ants beneath our feet."
The figure leaned forward, their silhouette barely visible. "I am the Architect, and you have made a grave mistake. You are not hunting us—we are hunting you."
The video ended abruptly, leaving the room in stunned silence.
"They know who we are," Minji whispered, her face pale.
"And they're taunting us," Dojin added, his jaw clenched. "This isn't just a warning. It's a challenge."
Seojin refused to let the Architect's threat shake her resolve. "We can't let this intimidate us. Jiwon, what else is on that drive?"
"There's a set of coordinates," Jiwon replied, pulling up a map. "They're scattered across Asia—China, Korea, Hong Kong, and a few in Southeast Asia. But this one…" He pointed to a location deep in the mountains of Korea.
"What about it?" Seojin asked.
"It's marked differently," Jiwon said. "Every other coordinate is labeled as a shipment point, but this one is labeled as a 'Command Hub.'"
"Then that's where we're going," Seojin said without hesitation.
The team spent the next few hours gearing up. They knew the trip to the mountains would be dangerous, and the possibility of a trap loomed over them.
Minji approached Seojin as she checked her weapon. "Are you sure about this? If the Phoenix knows who we are, they'll be ready for us."
"They'll be ready no matter what," Seojin replied. "But we have the advantage now. They don't know how much we know."
Minji nodded, her expression resolute. "Then let's end this."
The team left the safe house under the cover of darkness, traveling in an unmarked van. The roads grew narrower and more treacherous as they ascended into the mountains.
Seojin sat in the passenger seat, her eyes scanning the road ahead. Jiwon drove with practiced precision, while Dojin and Minji sat in the back, their weapons within easy reach.
"This feels too quiet," Dojin said, his voice low.
"They won't attack us on the road," Seojin replied. "Not yet. They'll want us to reach the hub—they want to show us their power."
End of Chapter 42