Shadows of Truth

The small lamp on Seojin's desk cast a warm glow over the mountain of files. The room was silent except for the occasional shuffle of papers and the ticking of a clock. Seojin and Jiwon had been going through the documents for hours, their exhaustion starting to show.

Seojin leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. "It's a web. Offshore accounts, dummy corporations, bribes… They've covered every trace of their operations."

"But not every trace," Jiwon countered, holding up a page. "Look at this—names. These are mid-level players. If we track them down, we can start dismantling the syndicate piece by piece."

Seojin took the page, her eyes scanning the list. "It's a start, but we'll need more than names. We need proof that ties them to the bigger players."

Jiwon frowned, his brows furrowed. "There's something missing here. The Lee family wouldn't have stored this information unless they had a failsafe. There's got to be another layer—something we haven't found yet."

Seojin's mind raced. "What if the failsafe isn't in these files? What if it's hidden somewhere else?"

Jiwon nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "The Lees had multiple properties. One of them could hold the key."

Seojin grabbed her phone and began pulling up property records. "We'll start with their private estate. If there's anything to find, it'll be there."

---

The Lee estate was an imposing structure on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by high walls and dense foliage. The moonlight illuminated the wrought-iron gates, which were locked tight.

Seojin parked her car a safe distance away and surveyed the area. "We'll need to be quiet. If the syndicate's watching this place, they won't hesitate to take us out."

Jiwon smirked faintly. "Quiet's not my strong suit, but I'll try."

Seojin rolled her eyes and led the way, her movements swift and silent. They climbed over the gate and made their way through the garden, the overgrown plants adding to the eerie atmosphere.

The house itself was dark and lifeless, its grand windows reflecting the pale light of the moon. Seojin tried the front door, but it was locked.

"Stand back," Jiwon said, pulling out a set of lockpicking tools.

"Where do you even get these?" Seojin asked, watching as he worked.

"Let's just say I've picked up a few skills over the years," Jiwon replied, the lock clicking open a moment later. "After you."

---

The air inside was stale, the house frozen in time. Dust covered the furniture, and sheets had been draped over most of the larger pieces. Seojin's flashlight illuminated the ornate decor, a testament to the family's wealth.

"Start looking," Seojin said, her voice low. "If there's a hidden failsafe, it'll be in the office or the master bedroom."

They split up, each taking a floor. Seojin searched the office, her hands brushing over bookshelves and desks, looking for hidden compartments. She found nothing but old papers and forgotten trinkets.

Meanwhile, Jiwon explored the master bedroom. His sharp eyes scanned the room, lingering on a large painting above the bed. He reached up, pulling it aside to reveal a safe embedded in the wall.

"Seojin," he called softly. "I found something."

She joined him quickly, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the safe. "Can you open it?"

"Give me a minute," Jiwon replied, his tools already in hand.

The lock clicked open, and Jiwon stepped back as Seojin pulled the door wide. Inside was a single USB drive and a small leather-bound notebook.

"This is it," Seojin said, her voice tinged with excitement. She pocketed the items quickly. "Let's get out of here before—"

The sound of a car pulling up outside cut her off. Both of them froze, their eyes meeting in alarm.

---

Seojin peered through the curtains, her heart racing. A black SUV had parked outside, and several men were stepping out, their movements deliberate.

"They're here," she whispered. "We need to move."

Jiwon nodded, his expression grim. "There's a back door. Let's go."

They moved quickly but quietly, navigating the dark corridors of the estate. The sound of footsteps and muffled voices grew louder as the men entered the house.

Seojin and Jiwon reached the back door just as the intruders began searching the main hall. Jiwon pushed the door open, and they slipped into the garden, staying low as they made their way to the perimeter wall.

Just as they reached the gate, a shout rang out behind them. "There! Stop them!"

"Run!" Seojin hissed, her grip tightening on the USB and notebook.

Bullets whizzed past them as they sprinted for the car. Seojin fired back, her shots precise, forcing the gunmen to take cover. Jiwon dove into the passenger seat, and Seojin jumped behind the wheel, slamming the gas pedal.

The tires screeched as the car sped away, the gunmen left behind in a cloud of dust.

---

Seojin locked the door and double-checked the windows before collapsing onto the couch. Her hands were still shaking from the encounter.

"That was too close," Jiwon said, pacing the room. "They knew we'd come. Someone's watching our every move."

Seojin ignored him, plugging the USB drive into her laptop. "Let's see what was worth risking our lives for."

The screen lit up with files—videos, financial records, and emails. Seojin's eyes widened as she realized the significance of what they were seeing.

"This is it," she said. "This ties the syndicate to the murders, the trafficking, everything."

"And the notebook?" Jiwon asked.

Seojin opened it carefully, flipping through the pages. Her brow furrowed as she scanned the handwritten notes. "It's a ledger. Names, dates, payments… This is the syndicate's entire network."

Jiwon leaned over her shoulder, his expression unreadable. "We've got them."

Seojin nodded, but her mind was already racing. This evidence was powerful, but it also made them targets. The syndicate wouldn't stop until they were silenced.

---

**End of Chapter 7**