Shields of Fire

Chapter 14

The dawn broke with an eerie stillness over Seoul’s docks. The soft light reflected off the murky water, casting long shadows over the rusted shipping containers and warehouses. It was a far cry from the gleaming towers of OddAtelier, but this was where the battle would be won—or lost.

Jennie, Lalisa, Chaeyoung, and Jisoo had gathered in the makeshift briefing room within the warehouse, their eyes locked on the monitors displaying the target: Minho’s new base of operations, a fortified building near the docks. It was large, sprawling with security patrols and surveillance cameras covering every inch of the perimeter. But despite its appearance, Chaeyoung had found the weak points.

“This is it,” Chaeyoung said, her voice low but steady. She tapped the map on the screen, pointing to the northeast corner of the building. “There’s a blind spot in their security here, between patrol shifts. If we move quickly and quietly, we can breach the perimeter without triggering the alarms.”

Jennie, standing beside her with arms crossed, studied the layout carefully. Her mind was a whirlwind of plans and contingencies, each one more dangerous than the last. “What about inside? How do we reach Minho?”

“That’s the tricky part,” Chaeyoung admitted. “Minho’s office is on the top floor, heavily guarded. But the real prize is here.” She zoomed in on a room located in the lower levels of the building. “This is where he’s running his communications and holding meetings with key investors. If we can get in there and intercept his data, we can shut him down before he even realizes what’s happening.”

Lalisa leaned forward, her face lit with excitement. “And once we’re inside, it’s game over.”

Jennie’s eyes flicked to Lalisa, feeling a mixture of gratitude and apprehension. She knew Lalisa was more than capable, but this mission was a high-risk gamble. One misstep, and they could all be walking into a trap. But they didn’t have the luxury of caution anymore. Minho had already made his move, and now it was their turn to hit back.

Jisoo, who had been silent through most of the briefing, spoke up, her voice soft but steady. “Are we sure this is the only way?”

Jennie turned to her sister, her expression softening. “It’s our best shot. If we don’t stop him now, he’ll come after OddAtelier and everything connected to it. We can’t let that happen.”

Jisoo nodded, though Jennie could see the worry still etched in her features. “I trust you, Jennie. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

Jennie gave her a faint smile. “I will.”

Chaeyoung cleared her throat, refocusing the group. “Alright, we move in an hour. Everyone, gear up and be ready.”

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As the team prepared for the mission, Jennie found herself standing alone near the edge of the warehouse, looking out over the docks. The early morning air was cool, a stark contrast to the tension that hung over them like a storm cloud.

She heard footsteps behind her and didn’t need to turn to know it was Lalisa. There was a unique cadence to Lalisa’s walk—relaxed, confident, like she always knew exactly where she was going.

“You alright?” Lalisa asked, her voice softer than usual.

Jennie didn’t respond right away, her eyes fixed on the horizon. “We’ve been fighting this battle for so long. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it.”

Lalisa leaned against the railing beside her, crossing her arms as she gazed out at the city. “It’s worth it, Jennie. You’ve built something incredible. You’ve got people who believe in you. Minho’s just a problem we need to take care of.”