Deep End | Hyunlix

33

Chan didn't waste time. He pointed to the whiteboard, where a name had been circled in red: Seo Changbin.

"This is one of the Snake Eye's lieutenants," Chan began, tapping the name. "His name has popped up in some of the survelliance we have done on Lee Know. We've started watching Changbin's movements, and he's been making more frequent stops in the city. We think it's tied to their drugs smuggling operation. The issue is, Changbin isn't just moving weapons anymore, he's expanding their network."

Felix leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Expanding how?"

"We've intercepted chatter," Chan said, crossing his arms. "There's talk of a new chemist, creating a more dangerous drug."

Felix frowned, processing the information. "Do we have any leads on where this new chemist might be operating?"

"Not yet," Chan admitted. "But we're working on it. Seungmin is going through CCTV footage as we speak. In the meantime..."

He turned to the second section of the board, where another name was written: Lee Minho.

Felix's brow furrowed. "Lee Know?"

Chan nodded. "The surveillance we've been running on him came back with more intel. We already suspected he was managing several high-level operations for the Snake Eye Clan, but it's worse than we thought. He's not just an enforcer....It seems like he's second in command. He's orchestrating their distribution lines. Drugs, weapons, even human trafficking. If that's not bad enough on its own, but Lee Know is being a lot more careful than usual. He's changed vehicles multiple times, switched up his routes. Someone's giving him advice, and we need to figure out who."

Felix's stomach churned at the last part, but he stayed silent as Chan continued.

"What's even more troubling," Chan said, "is that Lee Know seems to have contacts outside the gang. Politicians, businessmen, maybe even police, people with enough power to shield the Snake Eye Clan from law enforcement."

Felix exhaled sharply. "So he's probably the reason we keep hitting walls."

"Exactly," Chan said, his voice tense. "He's not just dangerous because of his position in the gang. He's dangerous because of the connections he's made outside of it. And if we don't find a way to dismantle his network soon, it's only going to get harder to take them down."

Felix sat at the head of the table in the team's pit, scanning the files and reports laid out in front of him. The tension in the room was evident, the weight of their current mission pressing down on them. They way their way out to the pit where his team was awaiting his orders.

"Alright," Felix began, his voice calm but commanding, "here's where we stand." Pulling up the picture of Changbin, that they pulled from surveillance. Felix turned to Chan. "Changbin has to be visiting this new chemist to monitor the production of this new drug. Chan, you're leading the field surveillance. I want you to stake out his known meeting spots and intercept any of his shipments."

Chan nodded, his jaw set. "Understood. I'll gear up and be ready to move within the hour."

Felix pulled up a picture of Lee Know next. "Now, Lee Know. The surveillance we've been running on him came back with new intel. He's more than just a second in command, he's the one running their logistics, from weapons and drugs to human trafficking. He's also the reason we keep hitting walls. His connections go deep, politicians, corporate heads, you name it. We need to cut off his supply lines and figure out who he's working with outside of their orginzation. If we can isolate him, we can destabilize a major portion of the Snake Eye Clan."

He glanced over at Seungmin, who was already typing on his laptop. "Seungmin, I need you to dive into Lee Know's encrypted channels. Find out who he's been talking to and what routes they're using to move their merchandise. Use whatever tools you need."

"Got it," Seungmin said without looking up, his fingers already flying across the keyboard.

He locked eyes with I.N. "I.N., you're handling comms. I need you to monitor everything—police chatter, private networks, anything that could give us a heads-up on their next move. Keep us updated in real time, and if you find anything actionable, I want to know immediately."

"Yes, sir," I.N. replied, his voice steady despite the pressure.

Felix turned to Han next. "Han, be on standby. We're going to need you ready to extract Chan or tail Lee Know if he slips through the cracks. Keep the vehicle prepped at all times."

Han gave a small salute, his usual cocky grin replaced with a focused expression. "I'll make sure we're ready to roll."

Finally, Felix addressed the group as a whole, his tone firm. "This isn't just about taking down one man or even one operation. The Snake Eye Clan has been running circles around us for too long. If we can sever their logistics and cripple their leadership, we'll finally get the upper hand."

Felix looked around the room. "But I won't lie to you this is going to be dangerous. These men are ruthless and protected by people with power. They're going to fight back, and they're going to fight dirty. I trust all of you to have each other's backs out there. We don't take risks we can't handle, and we don't leave anyone behind. Clear?"

"Yes, sir!" the team responded in unison.

Felix's eyes scanned his team one last time. Despite the immense responsibility on his shoulders, he trusted them completely. Each of them brought something invaluable to the table, and together, they were unstoppable.

"Alright," Felix said, grabbing his tablet and heading for the door. "Let's get to work."

As the team dispersed to prepare, Felix lingered in the hallway after dismissing the team, leaning against the wall and staring at the polished floor beneath his boots. The sharp, confident orders he had just given echoed faintly in his mind, but now, in the quiet, an uneasy thought crept in, Hyunjin. Doubt tugged at him, and for the first time, Felix questioned whether his instincts were leading him toward the truth or deeper into danger.

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