BEYOND THE LOVE

CHAPTER 11:

When I walked into the room, Suha and Ji Woon looked drowsy, while Kyoto seemed disinterested. In contrast, Juan was engrossed in his laptop. I sat down next to Suha, and before I could ask Juan a question, he interrupted,

"Nara, look at this. There's going to be a major drug smuggling operation by the Phoenix syndicate."

Suha, stifling a yawn, asked, "Isn't that outside our assignment?"

Ji Woon, sounding sleepy, agreed, "Exactly."

Kyoto, eager to leave, stood up and asked, "So, can we go?"

"Should we take on this mission, Nara?" Juan inquired.

"Hold on, let me think," I responded.
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"Juan, it's possible the Eviscerators are involved in this drug smuggling operation. That's one of their activities, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Suha and Ji Woon became vigilant. Ji Woon questioned,
"How do you figure they're involved?"

"From the cases I've reviewed, I've noticed a consistent pattern."

"What pattern?" Kyoto chimed in.

"When the Eviscerators target someone, they shut down all of that person's operations. It's possible the Phoenix Syndicate is linked to the Zae Group."

"How can you be so certain, Nara?" Suha asked.

"If my gut feeling is right, and if the Zae Group and Phoenix Syndicate are linked, then the Eviscerators will definitely come for the smuggled drugs."

"So, we might uncover a connection between them? And perhaps even encounter key members of the Eviscerators?" Kyoto inferred.

"Precisely," Juan affirmed, and I gave a nod of agreement.
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I, Ji Woon, and Juan climbed into the car while Suha and Kyoto mounted a bike. Juan discovered that the drug shipment was en route via an abandoned site's road, transported in a heavy-duty vehicle. He successfully hacked into the Phoenix Syndicate's database.

As I steered the car, Ji Woon turned to me and remarked, "You seem ready for a showdown, aren't you?"

With a smirk, I glanced his way and replied, "Especially if the Eviscerators are involved."
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The sun had just dipped below the horizon, casting eerie shadows over the abandoned road. The headlights of our car pierced the darkness, revealing the dust floating in the still air.

Juan, multitasking between his laptop and the vehicle's GPS, whispered, "We're getting close. According to my tracking, the shipment vehicle is about five miles ahead."

Suha, on the bike behind us, relayed to Kyoto about a shortcut to intercept the vehicle faster. The roar of the bike's engine soon faded as they took a detour.

Under the cloak of darkness, we took our respective positions. The abandoned road, long forgotten by most, was surrounded by dense forests on either side. The rustling leaves provided a constant hum, masking any quiet conversation or steps.

I crouched behind an old signboard, her eyes constantly scanning the area. A few meters away, Juan had set up a temporary tech station under a tree canopy, working furiously on intercepting any communication the smugglers might be using.
Suha, with her sniper rifle, had climbed a tall tree, using the height advantage to monitor the entire road.

Kyoto had placed traps in strategic locations along the road. Pitfalls, nets, and a few explosives were scattered, hidden from plain sight. Ji Woon had set up cameras, his eyes glued to the multiple screens inside the car, giving real-time updates.

The quiet of the night was shattered by the roar of a heavy vehicle's engine. The headlights, blazing bright in the distance, signaled the approach of the smuggled drugs. We tensed up, ready to strike.

Suddenly, another set of lights appeared.
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THE EVISCERATORS....