The van sped through the winding roads, leaving the collapsed facility behind them. The sirens were growing louder, signaling the impending arrival of reinforcements. Seojin's eyes never left the rearview mirror, watching for any signs of pursuit. She had made the call to keep Choi alive for now, but the weight of that decision lingered on her shoulders.
Kade sat beside her, his posture rigid, his eyes focused on the road ahead.
"We need to get out of the city," Seojin said, her voice low. "The Phoenix will be looking for us."
Kade glanced at her. "You don't have to tell me twice. We need to regroup. Get the intel from Choi. And then, we figure out how to hit the heart of the Phoenix."
Seojin's jaw clenched. She didn't want to think about the Phoenix's heart—their true source of power. But it was clear now that Choi wasn't the end of this. He was only a part of a much larger puzzle.
"You're right about one thing," Seojin said quietly. "We need to find out who's really in control."
Kade's gaze flickered toward the back of the van. Choi was unconscious, his hands bound tightly. They had moved fast, but Choi's body language still screamed of arrogance. Seojin could tell he didn't believe he'd lost.
It was time to change that.
The van stopped in a secluded area, far from any roads or settlements. The quiet surrounding them felt surreal after the chaos they had just escaped. Seojin gestured for the team to gather.
"We need answers," Seojin said, her voice sharp. "And Choi's the only one who can give them to us."
Dojin's eyes were dark, his anger barely contained. "We've given him enough chances. Let's just end this now."
Minji, who had been silent until now, nodded. "He's a dangerous man, Seojin. We can't keep him alive if he's just going to be a liability."
Seojin met Minji's gaze. "We're not killing him. Not yet. He's the key to everything."
The decision was final.
Kade pushed the door open, stepping outside, his face grim. "We'll need somewhere isolated. Somewhere quiet. This isn't going to be easy."
Seojin followed him, her mind calculating the next move. Choi had been a part of the Phoenix for far too long. He knew things—things that could destroy everything they had worked for. But the question remained: Who was really behind it all?
As the team made their way to a nearby shack, they set up a makeshift interrogation room. The dim light from a single bulb hung overhead, casting long shadows across the floor. Choi was tied to a chair, still unconscious, but he wouldn't stay out for long.
Seojin stepped forward, her gaze cold. "Wake him up."
Dojin slapped Choi's face, forcing him back to reality.
Choi's eyes flickered open, narrowing when he saw Seojin standing in front of him.
"You're making a mistake," Choi said, his voice hoarse. "You think killing me will stop anything. The Phoenix is everywhere."
Seojin leaned in, her face inches from his. "Tell me who's behind it all, Choi. Tell me everything, or I'll make sure your death is the least of your worries."
Choi's lips curled into a smirk. "You think I'm scared of you?"
"I don't need you to be scared of me," Seojin replied coolly. "But I do need you to understand that if you don't talk, your life won't be worth anything. You'll be just another name in a history book of forgotten criminals."
Choi's smirk faltered. "You're playing a dangerous game, Seojin. You have no idea who you're messing with."
"Tell me who's running the Phoenix," she pressed, her voice hardening. "And I'll spare you."
For a moment, Choi said nothing, his gaze unreadable. Then, finally, he spoke.
"You don't get it, do you?" Choi's voice was quieter now, almost pleading. "The Phoenix isn't just one group. It's a network. We've been around for decades, and there are people far above me—people you'll never reach."
Seojin's heart skipped. "Who?"
Choi leaned back in his chair, his expression weary. "You think I'm just a pawn? No, Seojin. We all are. The real power lies in the Council of Nine. The people who pull the strings from the shadows."
"The Council of Nine?" Kade repeated, his voice low. "I've heard whispers about them, but…"
Seojin's pulse quickened. "Who are they?"
Choi's eyes darkened. "They're untouchable. You think you can fight the Phoenix? You'll never defeat them unless you take down the Council. But that's impossible. They're protected by power you can't even imagine."
The room fell into an eerie silence. Seojin's mind raced. The Council of Nine. The very name sounded like a legend. But now, Choi had confirmed they were real—real and more dangerous than any single syndicate or criminal group.
"We have to stop them," Seojin said, her voice resolute. "If what you say is true, Choi, then they're the real threat. And we're going after them."
Choi chuckled, though it was hollow and without humor. "You'll never get close. The Council's influence spans continents. Politicians, businessmen, even military leaders—all working in the shadows to control everything."
Seojin turned to Kade, her mind still racing. "How do we get to them?"
Kade met her gaze, his expression hard. "We'll have to get in deep—really deep. But first, we need to track down their assets. The Phoenix might be powerful, but even they have their weaknesses."
Seojin nodded, determination setting in. "We find those weaknesses, and we bring them down."
But as she looked back at Choi, the weight of his words settled into her chest. The Phoenix might have been the tip of the iceberg, but the Council of Nine? They were the true enemy.
Seojin wasn't sure how they would take them down, but one thing was clear—the real war was only just beginning.
End of Chapter 68