The explosion ripped through the facility like an earthquake, shaking the walls and sending dust and debris raining down from above. The lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room. Seojin staggered as the ground beneath her trembled, but she quickly regained her balance, her pulse racing.
"What the hell just happened?" Minji shouted, trying to steady herself.
Seojin's heart pounded in her chest. "The building's coming down! We need to move!"
Kade's face was pale, his eyes wide with shock. He had barely had time to react before the facility began collapsing around them.
"The entire system's been rigged," he muttered, his voice strained. "They've been prepared for this."
Seojin's mind raced. Who did this? Was it the Phoenix, or had someone else come to their aid?
"Move, now!" Seojin barked, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Dojin grabbed Kade by the arm, pulling him toward the exit. "We can ask questions later. We need to get out of here before this whole place buries us."
The air was thick with smoke, the sound of falling concrete reverberating through the corridors. They raced down the hallway, their footsteps echoing in the chaos, but the path to freedom was shrinking by the second.
"We're almost there," Seojin said, her breath quickening as they reached the main exit. But just as they were about to step through the door, a new sound pierced the air—a loud crunch as something heavy collapsed just behind them.
Seojin whipped around, her eyes searching the darkness.
It was Director Choi.
He was standing in the doorway, blocking their escape, his cold eyes narrowed with contempt.
"You're not going anywhere," he said, his voice low and menacing. "This is the end of the line."
Seojin's heart raced. The Phoenix had been preparing for this moment all along—she had to end it now, or they were all dead.
Kade stepped forward, his body tense. "You're making a mistake, Choi. This whole place is going down. You can't save it."
Choi's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You think I'm here to save it?" He laughed, his voice harsh. "No, Kade. I'm here to finish what we started. You should've stayed loyal."
Seojin gripped her gun, her finger hovering over the trigger. But Choi's operatives flanked him, their weapons raised. They were trapped—cut off from the exit, and their enemies were closing in.
Kade's voice dropped to a whisper, but there was no fear in it. "The Phoenix's grip is slipping, Choi. You can't hold on to power forever."
Choi's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. "Don't lecture me, Kade. You were part of this. You helped us get here."
Seojin took a step forward, her gun aimed at Choi. "This ends now, Choi. You've done enough damage."
Choi tilted his head, then nodded slightly to one of his men. The operative lunged toward Seojin, but she was ready. She fired twice—both shots landing with precision, dropping him to the ground.
The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the distant sound of the facility crumbling.
Choi's eyes flickered to his fallen operative before meeting Seojin's gaze. "You think killing me will stop the Phoenix? You have no idea what you're up against."
Seojin didn't flinch. "I know exactly what we're up against, and I know you won't survive this. Your empire's already falling."
Choi clenched his fists, his lips curling into a snarl. "Then let's see who falls first."
Without warning, Choi lunged forward, aiming his gun at Kade. But Seojin was faster. She fired once more, hitting Choi in the shoulder. He staggered back, dropping to one knee, his gun falling to the ground.
Seojin stepped forward, her weapon trained on him. "It's over, Choi."
But as she took a step closer, something strange happened.
Kade suddenly stepped between them, his eyes dark with resolve. "Don't kill him."
Seojin's heart skipped a beat. "What?"
Kade's gaze didn't waver. "You don't understand. Choi's not the real threat. The Phoenix is bigger than him—bigger than all of us."
Seojin's mind reeled. She didn't have time for games. "I'm not letting him live, Kade. He's the reason everything's fallen apart."
Kade's voice grew quieter, more urgent. "The real power lies elsewhere—there are people in positions of influence you don't even know about. If you kill him now, you'll never get to the heart of it. We need him alive."
Seojin hesitated, looking from Kade to Choi. Choi was breathing heavily, his face pale, but his eyes were still filled with hatred.
"What are you suggesting?" Seojin asked, her voice low.
Kade's gaze remained fixed on Choi. "We use him. We get the information we need, and then we deal with him."
Seojin's fingers tightened on the trigger. She wasn't sure what to believe, but Kade had proven himself useful before. Still, the risk of leaving Choi alive weighed heavily on her.
But Kade was right. Killing him now wouldn't stop the Phoenix—it would only create a void for someone worse to fill.
With a deep breath, Seojin lowered her weapon. "Get him to the van," she ordered. "We'll decide what to do with him later."
As the team dragged Choi to the back of the facility, Seojin kept a watchful eye on Kade. She didn't trust him completely—but right now, they had no choice.
The sound of collapsing concrete and the distant wail of sirens made her stomach tighten. They had to move fast.
Once Choi was secured in the back of the van, Seojin turned to Kade. "What's really going on? Who's pulling the strings?"
Kade's eyes met hers, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "It's bigger than the Phoenix. The real power, Seojin, it's in the hands of a few people you never suspected. If you want to stop this, you'll need to go further than you ever thought possible."
Seojin's heart sank. She had known this wasn't just about bringing down one criminal empire. But now, Kade was telling her the truth: they were up against an even greater enemy, one that could reshape everything.
And she had to stop it—before it was too late.
End of Chapter 67