The atmosphere in the archive was suffocating. Seojin's flashlight cast eerie shadows across the rows of filing cabinets, the dim light flickering as she scanned each cabinet, one by one. The walls seemed to close in around them as they dug deeper into the dark heart of the Phoenix's operations.
Seojin's mind raced with possibilities. What if the list wasn't just a record of corrupt officials and criminal activities? What if it was something more—something far more dangerous?
She yanked open another drawer, her fingers shaking with anticipation. The files inside were neatly organized, but there was no time to sift through every piece. They needed the list.
Kade stood by, watching her, his posture tense. He was acting oddly quiet for someone who had been so confident earlier.
"What are you looking for?" Seojin asked, glancing at him.
"The ledger," Kade replied simply, his eyes scanning the room. "The one that holds everything. If we don't find it, we're walking out empty-handed."
Seojin gritted her teeth. "I know."
Dojin and Minji continued searching, quickly rifling through the drawers. But no one spoke—there was no need to. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on all of them.
Seojin pulled open another cabinet, and finally, something caught her eye. A thick, leather-bound book sat behind a row of manila folders, almost hidden as if someone had tried to keep it out of sight.
"This is it," she whispered, her voice low with disbelief.
Kade stepped forward, his eyes locked onto the book. "That's the ledger."
Seojin grabbed the book and flipped it open, scanning the contents. The pages were filled with meticulous records—names, dates, transactions—but what stood out the most were the blacked-out sections, the redacted information.
"This isn't complete," Seojin muttered, her frustration rising.
"We can't waste time," Kade said, his voice colder than before. "We need to leave, now."
Seojin narrowed her eyes. Something in Kade's demeanor had shifted.
"Why the rush?" she asked, her gaze narrowing. "What aren't you telling us?"
Kade's jaw tightened. "I don't have time for this. You wanted the list, and now you have it. Let's get out before the Phoenix realizes we're here."
"Not until you tell me what you're hiding," Seojin said firmly, stepping in front of him.
Kade's eyes flashed, and for a brief moment, Seojin saw something dangerous behind them. But then it was gone, replaced by his usual cool demeanor.
"Fine," Kade said, his voice low. "There's more to this than you think. The Phoenix doesn't just control criminal empires—they control governments. But that's not the real problem."
Seojin's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
Kade leaned in, his voice barely a whisper. "The list isn't just a record. It's a blueprint. It shows the exact locations of hidden labs—labs where the Phoenix is conducting experiments to enhance their control. Genetic manipulation, chemical weapons, you name it."
Seojin felt a cold chill run down her spine.
"But there's more," Kade continued. "The Phoenix has something bigger planned, something that involves the highest level of government. If they succeed…" He paused. "We're looking at a new world order."
Seojin's grip on the ledger tightened. "How do you know all this?"
Kade's eyes met hers, his gaze steady. "Because I've been working for them—at least, until I decided to go rogue. They've been keeping me close, feeding me information to stay in the game. But now? They want me dead."
Seojin took a step back, processing the information. She had trusted Kade, but now she realized how deep his involvement ran.
"We need to destroy this," Seojin said urgently, looking at the ledger in her hands. "If the Phoenix gets their hands on it, everything is over."
As Seojin was about to close the ledger, a sudden noise echoed from the tunnel entrance. Footsteps. Heavy boots.
Seojin froze.
Minji was the first to react. "We've been compromised."
They turned toward the entrance. A figure stepped into the room—one they hadn't expected.
Director Choi.
His cold eyes locked onto Seojin. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
Behind him, more Phoenix operatives flooded the room, weapons drawn.
Seojin's grip on her gun tightened. "You're the one who set the trap?"
Choi smirked. "It was never about Jinho. It was always about the list."
Seojin's mind raced. They couldn't afford a fight here—not with the ledger still in their hands.
"You're too late," Kade said, stepping forward. "The list is already in my hands. You can't stop me."
Choi's eyes flicked to Kade. "You think you can betray us and walk away? You're mistaken, my friend."
Kade didn't flinch. "I'm already too far gone."
Without warning, the Phoenix operatives raised their weapons.
"Move!" Seojin shouted, lunging for the exit.
But the room erupted into chaos.
Bullets flew, crashing into the walls, the shelves, and everything in between. Seojin fired back, taking out two operatives in quick succession. Minji and Dojin provided cover, but there were too many of them.
"Get to the exit!" Seojin yelled, pushing Kade toward the tunnel. "We don't have much time!"
The team sprinted toward the tunnel, their footsteps echoing in the chaos. Behind them, Director Choi's voice rang out, commanding his men to close in.
They made it to the tunnel, but Kade hesitated, looking back. "I can't leave it all behind."
Seojin grabbed his arm, pulling him forward. "We'll come back for it. We need to survive first."
They reached the end of the tunnel, their escape route open—but then, Kade stopped.
"This way." He led them down another hallway, away from the main entrance.
Seojin shot him a glance. "Where are we going?"
Kade didn't answer, pushing them down a narrow, hidden passageway.
Ahead, a faint light shone through a door. It was a temporary escape—but it was all they had.
End of Chapter 64