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1. The Race Against Time
Jinwoo's heart pounded.
The safe house under attack wasn't just any safe house.
It was where he kept his war chest.
Weapons. Money. Files. Secrets.
And—people.
He grabbed Ji-hyun's arm. "We need to move. Now."
She didn't hesitate. No questions. No doubts.
That's why he trusted her.
The team rushed out, jumping into the waiting SUVs.
Engines roared to life.
As they sped through the Seoul streets, Jinwoo's mind raced.
Who? How? Why now?
Hyun-seok wasn't playing games. This was a declaration of war.
And Jinwoo didn't plan to lose.
---
2. The Ambush
The convoy screeched to a stop outside the safe house—a nondescript building in Dongdaemun.
Jinwoo jumped out first.
Gunfire ripped through the air.
An ambush.
Snipers on the rooftops. Gunmen waiting.
Ji-hyun cursed. "They knew we were coming."
Jinwoo ducked behind cover. Of course, they did.
Hyun-seok had played him. Baited him.
Now, he was walking into the slaughter.
But if Hyun-seok thought that meant victory—
He was dead wrong.
Jinwoo tapped his earpiece. "Execute Plan B."
A beat.
Then—an explosion tore through the opposite building.
A distraction.
His men moved instantly.
Smoke grenades. Suppressive fire. Chaos.
Jinwoo didn't waste time. He moved through the smoke—silent, deadly.
One shot. A sniper dropped.
Another. A gunman fell.
By the time the smoke cleared—Jinwoo stood among the dead.
But inside the safe house…
The vault was empty.
Hyun-seok had already won this round.
---
3. The Cost of a Mistake
Jinwoo stood in the wreckage, fists clenched.
Everything was gone.
Not just money.
Not just weapons.
Files.
Names. Locations. Secrets.
Hyun-seok hadn't just robbed him.
He'd stolen his leverage.
Ji-hyun's voice was tight. "What do we do?"
Jinwoo exhaled slowly.
This wasn't just about power anymore.
It was personal.
"I find him," Jinwoo said.
"And I burn everything he loves."
---
4. A Ghost in the Shadows
Hours later, Jinwoo sat in a private booth at an underground club.
Across from him sat a man known only as The Broker.
If information had a price—The Broker could name it.
Jinwoo slid a stack of cash across the table.
"I need everything on Hyun-seok."
The Broker smiled. Cold. Amused.
"Ah… but that's the problem, Street King."
He leaned forward.
"Hyun-seok isn't hiding from you."
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
The Broker chuckled.
"He's waiting."
Jinwoo's blood went cold.
Because that meant one thing—
The real game hadn't even started.
And he was already behind.
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End of Chapter 71
(Next Chapter: The Shadow Moves.)