Chapter 15: The one's you can't see

Across the globe, in the depths of a dark forest, multiple BTR armored vehicles surrounded a central clearing. A large fire burned brightly in the middle, casting shadows over the soldiers sitting around it. Each was a special forces operative from different nations—veterans from the SSG,Delta Force,Para SF,SFG,Maroon Berets,SAS,GIGN,ROKA-SWC. This diverse group had gathered for one final mission, the nature of which none spoke openly about. The flames illuminated their faces, each lined with stories of battle and sacrifice, and yet here they were, exchanging stories as though they'd all known one another for years.

In the group sat Goto Suguru, casually gnawing on a beef rib as he listened to their conversation. The American, Sgt. Johnson, started talking about his retirement plans. "After this, I'm heading straight back to Texas, buy a ranch, maybe finally get around to that quiet life I always wanted."

Others chimed in. Ali from Pakistan wanted to spend time with his family, and Akira from Japan dreamed of opening a ramen shop. Marcel from France planned to start a security firm, while Emre from Turkey wanted to settle by the coast and start a fishing business,Choi from Korea wanted to start a restaurant.The British operative, Thomas, spoke of returning to the countryside, away from the chaos of military life. They all had their dreams of peace and normalcy, of finally leaving behind the dark world they'd known.

When they turned to Goto and asked his plans, he merely looked up, a trace of a smirk on his face, and replied, "I'm looking for a human." His response drew confused glances, but he didn't offer further explanation. Before anyone could press him, a sudden alarm blared through the forest, snapping everyone into action. Instantly, they were alert, weapons drawn, and moving into defensive positions, their previous calm replaced by honed instincts.

Meanwhile, back in Korea, Jin Ho—now under the alias of Lee Jin Ho—found himself approaching the Assemblyman's farmhouse. The night was cool, and the house loomed against the dark sky. He'd been summoned to deliver the man he'd recovered, one who had valuable information but had resisted their efforts to extract it. Jin Ho's role as the Assemblyman's new "manager" had given him a dangerous level of access to the Assemblyman's operations, and he intended to make use of every bit of it.

A bodyguard met him at the gate, motioning him inside. Jin Ho followed him through the house's dimly lit corridors, the halls lined with expensive paintings and art pieces. The Assemblyman had clearly amassed a fortune through his underhanded schemes. Finally, they reached the main room, where Jin Ho spotted the Assemblyman surrounded by his inner circle, a group of powerful figures and allies who were knee-deep in various illegal ventures.

But what caught Jin Ho by surprise was the presence of his former chief prosecutor, the man responsible for sending him to Turkey and indirectly setting him on this path of vengeance. Jin Ho felt a surge of anger but suppressed it, taking his place quietly. The Assemblyman introduced him to the group, confidently vouching for his loyalty and assuring the others that Jin Ho could be trusted. There was a tense energy in the room, a sense that each person was not only protecting their own secrets but calculating their worth to the Assemblyman.

Once introductions were done, the Assemblyman directed the conversation toward an informant, someone who had recently leaked critical information to the authorities, nearly compromising their operations. The man who worked for the Assemblyman with connections to the NIS spoke up. "We haven't identified him fully, but we know he's someone who does things related to intelligence or military for money and he only works with governments.He's determined, almost relentless. We believe he's targeting our operations."

Jin Ho's heart raced, though he kept his expression neutral. He knew they were talking about Goto Suguru. Fortunately, they hadn't pieced together his identity yet, only that he was a skilled operative capable of penetrating their defenses.

The Assemblyman dismissed the meeting with instructions for each of them to double down on security and increase monitoring. "No more slip-ups," he warned, his eyes cold. As a final gesture of trust, he assigned Jin Ho an office and promoted him to manage several of his most delicate operations, effectively making Jin Ho responsible for ensuring the Assemblyman's projects ran smoothly without interference.

With the meeting concluded, Jin Ho made his way outside, his mind buzzing. He got into his car and headed to one of the Assemblyman's hidden storage sites—a warehouse where he kept an extensive supply of drugs, all concealed under different names and businesses.

Pulling up to the site, Jin Ho parked and checked his surroundings before stepping inside. The warehouse was vast and dimly lit, with rows of crates and boxes, each one labeled with obscure names to disguise the illegal contents inside. Jin Ho began cataloging the drugs and noting the weak points in the warehouse's security, making mental notes of where he could make changes to his advantage.

As he walked through the facility, he thought of Goto, who was likely deep in his own mission. The Assemblyman and his associates were entirely oblivious to the force closing in on them, but it was only a matter of time before Jin Ho and his team, with Goto's help, would strike. The pieces were slowly coming together, each move calculated and precise, building toward a confrontation that would determine their future.

With every careful step Jin Ho took, he edged closer to his goal—justice for the lives destroyed by the Assemblyman, and a chance to reclaim the life he'd lost.