The cold night air was thick with tension as Seojin and her team approached the secluded research facility. Hidden deep in the countryside, the lab was surrounded by high-security fences, infrared cameras, and heavily armed guards.
This wasn't just another asset of the Council of Nine—this was something critical.
Seojin crouched behind the trees, scanning the perimeter. "We move in quietly. No unnecessary firefights."
Minji nodded, gripping her gun tightly. "And if things go wrong?"
Seojin's jaw tightened. "We improvise."
Kade was already working on hacking the security feed from his tablet. "I can disable the outer cameras for a few minutes. That's all the time we'll have to get past the first checkpoint."
Dojin checked his watch. "Then let's not waste it."
Seojin took a deep breath. The Council was hiding something here—something big. And if they didn't get it first, they wouldn't live long enough to find out what.
But in the back of her mind, one thought kept gnawing at her.
The mole.
Someone had already betrayed them once. And if they did it again, this mission could turn into a massacre.
The team moved like shadows, slipping through the gaps in the patrol routes. With Kade's temporary camera blackout, they reached the perimeter fence undetected.
Seojin signaled to Minji, who swiftly cut through the wires, creating a narrow opening.
One by one, they slid through.
They were inside.
The facility was eerily silent. The only sounds were the distant hum of electricity and the rhythmic beeping of security systems.
Seojin's gut told her they weren't alone.
She turned to Kade. "Where's the main server?"
Kade tapped on his tablet. "Second floor. South wing. That's where they store encrypted data."
Seojin nodded. "Then that's where we go."
As they moved through the dimly lit hallways, the tension grew. Every turn felt like a trap waiting to be sprung.
And then—
BANG.
A gunshot echoed through the facility.
The team dove for cover as alarms blared to life.
"Damn it!" Minji hissed. "We've been made!"
Seojin's heart pounded. They had been careful. Too careful.
This wasn't an accident.
Someone had tipped them off.
And now, the hunt had begun.
Footsteps thundered down the hallways as Phoenix operatives swarmed the building.
Seojin gritted her teeth. They had to move.
"Kade, get us to the server room—now!" she ordered.
He nodded, leading them through a side corridor. The sirens blared louder, red warning lights flashing across the walls.
But as they rounded the next corner, Seojin's worst fear came true.
A gun was pointed directly at her head.
And holding it—
Was Dojin.
Time slowed.
The betrayal hit her harder than a bullet.
Her own teammate. Her friend.
Dojin's expression was unreadable, but his grip on the gun was steady.
"Drop your weapon, Seojin," he said, his voice eerily calm.
Minji and Kade froze, realization dawning on their faces.
"You," Minji whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You were the mole."
Seojin's hands clenched into fists. "Why?" she demanded. "Why betray us?"
Dojin's lips curled into a humorless smile. "Because I know how this ends, Seojin. The Council always wins. You thought you could stop them? You were just delaying the inevitable."
Seojin's heart pounded. "You were working with them this entire time?"
Dojin nodded. "And you made it easy. Feeding them your plans, your movements—I gave them everything."
Minji took a step forward, her gun raised. "You bastard."
Dojin's expression darkened. "Put that down, Minji. I don't want to kill you."
Minji didn't lower her weapon.
Neither did Seojin.
Kade, who had been silent, finally spoke. "The Council promised you something, didn't they?"
Dojin's gaze flicked to Kade, but he didn't deny it.
Seojin inhaled sharply. "They bought you."
Dojin's grip on his gun tightened. "They gave me something you never could, Seojin. Security. Power. A place in the future they're building."
Seojin's stomach churned. "And what? You think they'll keep their promise? You think you're safe?"
Dojin's smile faded. "I'm done listening to you."
His finger twitched over the trigger.
And in that moment—
Seojin made her choice.
She fired first.
Dojin staggered back, blood staining his shirt. His gun slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the cold floor.
For a moment, the room was silent.
Seojin's gun was still raised, her hands steady.
Dojin looked down at the wound in his chest, his breath shallow. He coughed, blood trickling from his lips.
"You…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You actually did it."
Seojin swallowed hard. She had no regrets.
"You were already dead the moment you betrayed us," she said coldly.
Dojin gave a weak chuckle. "Maybe…" His gaze flicked toward her one last time. "But you'll never stop them."
And then—
He collapsed.
Lifeless.
Minji let out a shaky breath. "Holy shit…"
Kade's jaw was clenched, but he didn't look surprised.
Seojin lowered her gun, her chest rising and falling heavily.
She had trusted him.
She had fought beside him.
And he had sold them out.
She closed her eyes briefly before turning to Kade. "We need to finish this."
Kade nodded, his voice firm. "Then let's get to the server before the Phoenix locks it down."
Seojin took one last look at Dojin's body before stepping over him.
The war wasn't over.
And now—
It was personal.
End of Chapter 73