The rain fell gently that night, as if it knew blood was about to spill. In a secret underground room—far from Min and his men's reach—Jung Kok was piecing together the final parts of his plan. In front of them, hundreds of files freshly downloaded from Min's main server were being processed by Yong Jin's system.
"This isn't just evidence," said Yong Jin, pointing at the screen. "This is ammunition. Every name, transaction, location... enough to bring down Min, and the powerful people backing him."
Jung Joon leaned against the wall, eyes staring off into the distance. "We've got the weapon. But we don't have the battlefield yet."
Jung Kok turned to him. "We don't need a battlefield. We'll create a trap. And he'll walk right into it."
ON MIN'S SIDE
Min stood before a mirror in his secret room. His face looked calm, but the hand gripping his lighter betrayed the storm inside. One cigarette after another was lit, then burned to ash between his fingers—symbolic of the power crumbling around him.
"Ha Do-wan," he said quietly. "We've been on the defensive for too long. It's time to strike."
Ha Do-wan nodded. He knew—when Min struck, blood always followed.
Min pulled out an old file labeled "HYDRA." It was the most secretive unit in his old network. A group of assassins, spies, and traitors who had been "frozen" for years. Now, they were being reactivated.
"I want the names Jung Kok, Jung Joon, and Yong Jin erased from this earth," he said coldly. "No matter the cost."
THE NEXT MORNING
A black car arrived outside the office of a prominent politician. Inside, Jung Kok and Jung Joon wore sleek suits. They stepped out, carrying a confidential file capable of destroying the careers of dozens of politicians.
"We can't bring Min down with weapons alone. But we can make the world suspicious of him," said Jung Joon.
They sat across from a man—Seung-ho, a senior minister who once worked closely with Min.
"If you don't want your name tied to all these transactions…" said Jung Kok, opening the file, "help us. Call an emergency hearing, and let the whole country see who Min really is."
Seung-ho sighed. His face had gone pale. "You don't know who you're challenging…"
"We're not the ones who started this war," Jung Joon replied. "We're just here to end it."
THAT NIGHT – AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION
Yong Jin sensed something was wrong. He was monitoring systems in a secret control room, but a few camera feeds suddenly went dark. Before he could react—
BOOM!
A small explosion at the entrance.
Smoke thickened. Several figures in black stormed in.
"Hydra…" whispered Yong Jin.
He managed to send a warning signal to Jung Kok and Jung Joon before the lights went out and all systems were forcefully shut down.
AT JUNG KOK & JUNG JOON'S LOCATION
They had just exited Seung-ho's office when both their phones rang at once.
Yong Jin: "They've arrived. They know where we are."
"Min moved faster than we expected," said Jung Joon as he headed quickly to the car.
Jung Kok said nothing. His expression hardened. "We need to save Yong Jin."
They sped toward Yong Jin's location, but deep down, they knew—this time, the enemy wasn't just street thugs. This was a high-level chess match, and Min… had begun his counterplay.
BACK AT MIN'S BASE
Min stood before a large screen, watching footage of attacks on Jung Kok's men.
"Fight me with strategy?" he muttered. "Let's see who's more cunning."
He turned to the tall, bearded man beside him—Kwan, the Hydra unit leader.
"I don't want them dead quickly. Make them kneel first. Let them know, they've never escaped my shadow."
Kwan smiled. "I'll turn their worst nightmares into reality."
In the darkness of night, Jung Kok and Jung Joon's car raced toward Yong Jin's control room.
And at the same time… multiple red laser dots began targeting their building.
(To be continued in Chapter 19)