The abandoned warehouse loomed in the distance, a decaying giant surrounded by overgrown weeds and crumbling fences. Its windows were shattered, and the rusted metal doors creaked in the wind. Seojin tightened her grip on her gun as the team approached.
"This place gives me the creeps," Minji whispered, glancing around nervously.
"Focus," Dojin said curtly. "If this is one of the Phoenix's locations, it's not as abandoned as it looks."
Jiwon studied the blueprints on his tablet. "There should be a side entrance here," he said, pointing to the right.
The team moved silently, their steps muffled by the dirt and debris. As they reached the side door, Seojin signaled for Jiwon to check for traps.
"No pressure plates, no wires," Jiwon confirmed. "We're clear."
Seojin nodded. "Let's move."
The inside of the warehouse was vast and eerily quiet, with faint beams of moonlight cutting through the broken roof. Dust motes floated in the air, and the faint smell of rust and decay lingered.
"It doesn't look like anyone's been here for years," Minji said, her voice echoing softly.
"Don't be fooled," Dojin warned. "The Phoenix wouldn't leave a place like this unguarded."
They fanned out, searching for any signs of activity. It wasn't long before Jiwon called out, "Over here!"
The team gathered around a metal hatch hidden beneath a stack of rotting crates. Jiwon worked quickly to disable the electronic lock, and with a click, the hatch swung open to reveal a dark staircase leading underground.
"Well, this just got interesting," Dojin muttered.
The staircase led to a series of underground chambers, each one more shocking than the last. The first room was filled with maps and documents pinned to the walls, all marked with red circles and lines connecting them.
"These are attack plans," Minji said, her voice trembling. "Targets, dates, methods… they've been planning this for years."
The second chamber contained weapons—rows upon rows of guns, explosives, and other equipment.
"This is an arsenal," Dojin said, his eyes scanning the room. "Enough to arm a small army."
The third chamber was the most disturbing. Dozens of monitors lined the walls, each displaying live feeds from various locations across the city.
"They're watching everything," Jiwon said, his voice filled with dread. "This isn't just an organization—it's a network."
As the team explored further, they entered a final chamber. In the center of the room was a massive control panel with a countdown timer flashing on one of the screens.
"Fourteen days," Jiwon said, reading the timer. "That's the day of the eclipse."
"What happens when the timer hits zero?" Seojin asked, her stomach twisting with unease.
"We can't stick around to find out," Dojin said. "Let's grab as much intel as we can and get out of here."
As Jiwon began downloading files from the control panel, a loud beep echoed through the chamber.
"What was that?" Minji asked, her voice rising in panic.
Jiwon's face paled. "It's an alarm. We triggered a security system."
Above them, the faint sound of engines grew louder. Seojin's heart sank as she realized what was happening.
"They're coming," she said. "We need to move. Now."
The team scrambled to collect the files and data they had gathered. As they retreated back through the chambers, the sound of footsteps echoed down the staircase.
"They've blocked the exit," Dojin said grimly, peering through the hatch.
"We'll have to find another way out," Seojin said.
The team navigated through the maze of underground tunnels, the sound of their pursuers growing closer. They finally found another hatch, which led to the back of the warehouse.
Bursting out into the open air, they were met with the glare of headlights. A group of armed Phoenix operatives stood waiting, their weapons aimed.
"Drop your weapons!" one of them ordered.
Seojin and her team raised their hands, their minds racing for a way out.
Before the situation could escalate, a loud explosion rocked the area. Smoke and debris filled the air, disorienting the operatives.
"Move!" a voice shouted from the shadows.
A masked figure appeared, taking down the operatives with precision. Seojin recognized the fighting style instantly—it was Hyunwoo.
He turned to the team, his voice muffled by the mask. "Go. Now."
"Hyunwoo—" Seojin began, but he cut her off.
"There's no time. Get out of here!"
Reluctantly, Seojin and her team fled, the sounds of gunfire and explosions fading into the distance as they escaped into the night.
End of Chapter 47