Capítulo 20: Chapter 20 : Airport
36 Hours Ago
The dim conference room was alive with the low hum of tension. Wang Soo stood at the head of the table, the weight of the world on his shoulders as his team gathered for what felt like a final war council.
"Listen carefully," he began, his tone firm and urgent. "This isn't just about getting to the airport. Albeirt, Yura, Han Ko—they'll try to stop us at every turn. We need to outthink them, outmaneuver them, and most importantly, stay together."
Nan Dok shifted uneasily in his seat, clutching his notepad like a lifeline. "What if they've already planned for this? What if… we're walking into a trap?"
Wang Soo's gaze softened for a moment. "That's why we're planning for every possibility. Nan Dok, your role is crucial. You'll oversee the logistics. Make sure our equipment, data, and backups are secured and accounted for. You're our safety net."
Nan Dok nodded, his usual timidity replaced with a flicker of determination. "Understood."
Turning to Celin and Will, Wang Soo's voice grew more resolute. "You two will handle coordination. Ensure that our contact in New York confirms our slot at the convention. If anything goes wrong on their end, I need you to fix it."
"We've got this," Will replied, exchanging a look with Celin. "Don't worry about us."
Ji Yeon leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed. "What about me? Am I just going to be the team cheerleader?"
Wang Soo smirked faintly. "Not quite. You'll handle external communications. If we lose contact with one another, you're the bridge that keeps us connected."
"Finally, some responsibility," Ji Yeon quipped, though her grin didn't quite reach her eyes.
Anna remained silent, her expression unreadable. Wang Soo hesitated as he addressed her. "Anna, I need you to continue monitoring Albeirt's movements. If he gets too close—"
"I'll know," she interjected, her voice steady but tinged with something unspoken. "You can count on me."
The team split into three vehicles, each carrying vital pieces of the project. The roads were quiet, almost unnaturally so, and a sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air.
Celin and Will were the first to encounter trouble. As their car approached a narrow intersection, an unmarked van swerved into their path, forcing Will to slam on the brakes.
"Ambush," Celin muttered, her voice calm but sharp.
Before they could react, masked men spilled out of the van, wielding crowbars and hammers. They pounded on the car's windows, shouting demands.
"Stay calm," Will said, gripping the steering wheel tightly. He hit a button on the dashboard, activating the car's security system. Gas canisters deployed from the car's undercarriage, filling the air with a noxious cloud that sent the attackers coughing and stumbling away.
Celin leaned out the window and shouted, "Next time, bring a better plan!"
As Will sped away, Celin couldn't help but glance back, her expression a mix of relief and worry. "Do you think the others are okay?"
Nan Dok's van faced a different kind of obstacle. A police checkpoint appeared out of nowhere, the officers demanding to search the vehicle. Nan Dok's hands trembled as he handed over his ID.
"This is routine," one officer said, though his eyes gleamed with something more sinister. "Step out of the van."
Just as Nan Dok opened the door, Ja Hid pulled up in a sleek black car, his arrival as timely as it was dramatic. He strode toward the officers, his confident smirk disarming them.
"Gentlemen," Ja Hid said smoothly, flashing a badge that looked official but was anything but. "This vehicle is under federal jurisdiction. Move along."
The officers exchanged uncertain glances before grudgingly stepping aside. Nan Dok exhaled shakily as Ja Hid gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Keep moving," Ja Hid said. "I'll cover your trail."
By the time the team converged at the private hangar, their nerves were frayed but their resolve intact. Their relief was short-lived. Standing at the entrance was Albeirt, flanked by Yura, Han Ko, and several armed men.
"Impressive," Albeirt drawled, his tone mocking as his gaze swept over the group. "But this is as far as you go."
Wang Soo stepped forward, his fists clenched. "What do you want, Albeirt?"
"Your project," Albeirt said simply. "Your data. And your silence."
As he spoke, several hostages were led forward: Lee's parents, Will's mother, and, to Anna's horror, her pet fish in its glass bowl.
"You son of a—" Ji Yeon started, but Wang Soo held up a hand to stop her.
Albeirt smirked. "See, Wang Soo? I've done my homework. These people mean the world to you and your team. I suggest you cooperate."
The chaos at the airport seemed to reach its crescendo as Albeirt, flanked by Yura and Han Ko, tightened their grip on the situation. The hostages—Lee's parents, Will's mother, and even Anna's pet fish in its tiny glass bowl—were all symbols of leverage against Wang Soo and his team. The tension was palpable as Wang Soo stared at Albeirt, his mind racing for a way out.
"You think you're clever, Wang Soo," Albeirt sneered. "But we've been one step ahead of you the entire time."
Wang Soo clenched his fists. "Only because you had inside information. Someone's been feeding you our every move."
Albeirt smirked, glancing sideways. "And that someone is closer than you think."
At that moment, Anna stepped forward from the shadows. She looked calm, almost detached, her hands clasped in front of her. Wang Soo's eyes widened as the realization hit him.
"Anna?" he said, disbelief lacing his voice.
The room fell silent, save for the soft hum of the jet engines in the distance. Anna looked at him, her expression unreadable. Then she spoke, her voice steady and measured.
"Yes, it's me. I'm The Broker."
The words hung in the air like a bombshell. Lee's face turned pale, and Ji Yeon instinctively stepped closer to Wang Soo, ready to defend him. Even Nan Dok, who had been busy securing their equipment, froze in place, staring at Anna in shock.
"You...you betrayed us?" Wang Soo's voice was filled with a mix of anger and hurt.
Anna tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Betrayed? I wouldn't call it that. I prefer to think of it as...strategy."
"Strategy?" Lee snapped, her voice sharp with disbelief. "You call selling us out strategy?"
Anna sighed, as if disappointed by their reaction. "Do you think I did this lightly? Do you think I enjoyed playing double agent? Albeirt came to me with threats, promises, and...well, leverage." She glanced toward the fishbowl, her lips tightening momentarily. "He thought I was just another pawn he could manipulate."
Wang Soo's anger began to simmer beneath his confusion. "Then why? Why help him at all if you knew what kind of person he is?"
Anna's expression softened for the first time. "Because sometimes, to dismantle a system, you have to understand it from the inside. And Albeirt, Yura, Han Ko—they represent everything corrupt about Creatis. But you…" She pointed at Wang Soo. "You represent a chance to rebuild."
Anna's voice grew steadier as she continued. "I gave Albeirt just enough information to keep him busy. He thought he had everything—your movements, your plans, your vulnerabilities. But what he didn't realize was that half of what I gave him was incomplete or outright fabricated."
Yura's eyes narrowed. "You mean...you've been misleading us?"
"Precisely," Anna said, her tone cool. "I fed you breadcrumbs, just enough to make you think you had the upper hand. And while you were busy chasing shadows, Wang Soo and his team were moving forward."
Albeirt's smirk faded, replaced by a scowl. "You're lying. You wouldn't dare cross me."
"Oh, but I did," Anna replied, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "And let me tell you something, Albeirt—you're not nearly as untouchable as you think you are."
Albeirt lunged forward, his composure cracking. "You think you're so clever? You think this changes anything? I still have leverage, Anna. Your fish, their families—"
Anna cut him off with a sharp laugh. "Oh, Albeirt. You really think I'd let you hurt them? That's why I involved Ja Hid."
At that moment, Ja Hid and a group of former employees wronged by Albeirt, Yura, and Han Ko burst into the hangar. They moved swiftly, disarming Albeirt's men and securing the hostages.
Anna turned back to Wang Soo, her expression now serious. "I didn't do this for them," she said, gesturing to Albeirt and the others. "I did this for you. For Creatis. For everyone who deserves better than the corruption we've been living under."
Wang Soo stared at her, his emotions warring within him. "You could've told me," he said quietly. "You could've trusted me."
Anna's gaze softened. "And risked everything? No, Wang Soo. I needed you to focus. To lead. If you'd known what I was doing, you would've tried to protect me. And that would've been a distraction neither of us could afford."
She stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "I never stopped believing in you, Wang Soo. Not for a second."
Wang Soo nodded slowly, the anger in his eyes giving way to understanding. "Thank you," he said finally.
Anna smiled faintly. "Don't thank me yet. We still have a flight to catch."
The revelation hit like a thunderclap. Wang Soo stared at her, his expression a mixture of disbelief and betrayal.
"You're the one who's been feeding him information?" Ji Yeon demanded.
Anna met their gazes, her own unwavering. "I fed him just enough to keep him busy. Half-truths, misdirections—everything he thinks he knows is a lie."
Albeirt's smirk faltered. "You're bluffing."
"Am I?" Anna retorted. "Think, Albeirt. What have you actually gained? You've been chasing ghosts."
Before Albeirt could respond, Ja Hid arrived with a small army of former employees wronged by Albeirt, Yura, and Han Ko. They moved swiftly, disarming the guards and freeing the hostages.
As chaos erupted, Ja Hid approached Wang Soo, his smirk more genuine than ever. "You didn't think I'd leave you hanging, did you?"
"About time," Wang Soo said, a rare smile breaking through his tension.
With the hostages safe, the team boarded the jet, their mission far from over. As the engines roared to life, Albeirt called out from the hangar, his voice cold and menacing.
"This isn't over, Wang Soo! Bigger and more powerful people are waiting for your downfall."
Wang Soo didn't look back. His focus was on what lay ahead.
The jet lifted off, carrying them toward New York and the storm awaiting them.
End of Chapter 20.
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