The National Security Headquarters stood tall in the heart of Seoul, its sleek, glass facade gleaming under the evening lights. To outsiders, it looked impenetrable, but Seojin and her team knew better. They were perched on the rooftop of an adjacent building, binoculars and cameras trained on the headquarters.
The stakeout was grueling. Hours passed with no sign of activity, and the tension in the air was palpable. Seojin's mind replayed Hyunwoo's cryptic message over and over: "The truth isn't what you think it is. When the time comes, trust me."
Could she trust him?
"Seojin," Jiwon whispered, nudging her shoulder. "Look at this."
He passed her the binoculars, pointing toward a service entrance at the rear of the headquarters.
A group of individuals dressed in maintenance uniforms was unloading crates from an unmarked van. Their movements were swift and calculated, but something felt off.
"They're not maintenance workers," Seojin muttered, focusing on their faces.
"Phoenix operatives?" Dojin guessed.
"Most likely," Seojin replied. "But what are they bringing in?"
Minji adjusted her camera lens, zooming in on the crates. "I can't see inside, but they're marked with chemical symbols. This isn't standard equipment."
Seojin's heart sank. "They're smuggling in explosives or hazardous materials."
As the team continued to monitor the scene, Seojin's breath caught in her throat. Among the group of operatives, she spotted him—Hyunwoo.
He was giving instructions, his demeanor calm and authoritative. It was clear he was leading the operation.
Dojin cursed under his breath. "So much for redemption. He's still working for them."
Seojin's hands tightened around the binoculars. Hyunwoo's presence confirmed that this was a critical mission for the Phoenix. But it also raised more questions. Why had he saved them at the warehouse if he was still loyal to the Phoenix?
"We can't let them finish," Seojin said, her voice firm. "We need to move now."
"That's suicide," Dojin argued. "We're outnumbered and outgunned. We don't even know what's in those crates."
"We know enough to stop them," Seojin shot back. "If we wait, they'll complete their mission, and we'll lose our chance."
Jiwon hesitated. "What if Hyunwoo's actions at the warehouse weren't a fluke? What if he's trying to stop the Phoenix from the inside?"
Dojin scoffed. "You really think he's a double agent? He's playing her, and you know it."
Seojin ignored the argument brewing between them. Her eyes remained locked on Hyunwoo, who was now directing the operatives toward the building's service elevator.
"Fine," Dojin relented. "But we do this quietly. No direct confrontation unless it's absolutely necessary."
The team moved swiftly, descending from their rooftop vantage point and circling around the building. They reached the service entrance just as the operatives disappeared inside.
Jiwon hacked into the security panel, disabling the cameras and unlocking the door. The team slipped inside, their movements silent and deliberate.
The service corridor was dimly lit, with faint echoes of footsteps ahead. Minji pointed toward a storage room nearby.
"Let's check those crates," she whispered.
Inside the storage room, they found several crates identical to the ones being unloaded. Jiwon pried one open, revealing its contents: vials of a glowing, green liquid.
"What the hell is this?" Dojin muttered, pulling out a vial.
"It's a bioweapon," Jiwon said grimly. "I've seen prototypes like this before in classified files. If these are distributed in a populated area…"
"We can't let this leave the building," Seojin said, her resolve hardening.
As they prepared to sabotage the crates, the door burst open. Two Phoenix operatives stormed in, guns drawn.
"Drop your weapons!" one of them barked.
The team froze, but Seojin reacted first. She grabbed a nearby shelf and shoved it toward the operatives, knocking one off balance. Dojin tackled the other, and a scuffle ensued.
"Go!" Seojin shouted to Jiwon and Minji. "Get out of here with the intel!"
The fight spilled into the corridor, drawing the attention of the remaining operatives. Seojin found herself cornered, her gun trained on three Phoenix members.
"End of the line," one of them sneered.
Before they could fire, a figure appeared behind them. Hyunwoo moved like a shadow, taking them down with swift, precise blows.
"Seojin," he said, his voice low. "You shouldn't be here."
"Neither should you," she retorted, her gun still raised. "What's your angle, Hyunwoo? Whose side are you really on?"
"Lower your weapon," he said, his tone calm but commanding. "I'm trying to stop this, just like you."
Dojin and Minji reappeared, their expressions wary as they saw Hyunwoo standing with Seojin.
"Are you seriously trusting him?" Dojin asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
"I don't trust him," Seojin said, her eyes locked on Hyunwoo. "But I'm willing to listen. For now."
Hyunwoo stepped forward, his gaze steady. "You don't have time to question me. The Phoenix's plan is bigger than you realize, and it's already in motion. If you want to stop it, you'll need my help."
End of Chapter 49