Jimin returned to his seat, the air around him charged with tension. His sharp gaze locked onto Jungkook, who still trembled from the weight of his revelations.

“You’ve given us a starting point,” Jimin said, his voice low but commanding. “But I need more. SeoHa’s plans—what was she aiming for? How far does this go?”

Jungkook hesitated, his fingers drumming nervously against the table. “She wasn’t just running smuggling operations. She had bigger ambitions. The museum was just the beginning—she wanted to create a global network, a facade of legitimate cultural exchanges that would mask illegal trades across continents.”

Hoseok leaned forward, his expression darkening. “Global network? Are you saying this extends beyond Korea?”

Jungkook nodded. “Yes. She was setting up satellite galleries in Europe and North America, supposedly to showcase Korean art. But behind closed doors, these galleries were staging points for laundering money, smuggling rare artifacts, and dealing black-market antiques.”

Jimin’s jaw tightened. “And Y/n was never a part of this?”

“Never,” Jungkook said firmly. “Y/n’s vision was pure—she wanted to use the museum to preserve and celebrate Korean culture. SeoHa twisted that vision, using Y/n’s reputation to attract investors and forge international connections. Y/n trusted her… until she discovered the truth.”

Hoseok crossed his arms. “What about her connections to Lady Kim? Was this all SeoHa’s plan, or did Lady Kim orchestrate some of it?”

Jungkook took a deep breath. “Lady Kim was aware of the smuggling but wasn’t involved in the expansion plans. That was all SeoHa. She wanted to outshine Lady Kim, take over the entire operation, and build an empire of her own. I think… I think she wanted to eliminate Lady Kim too, eventually.”

Jimin’s eyes narrowed. “And Namjoon? Where does he stand in all of this?”

“Namjoon was her enforcer, her right hand. He handled the logistics and ensured silence from anyone who got too close. He knew SeoHa was ambitious, but I don’t think he realized she planned to double-cross him too.”

Hoseok’s expression hardened. “You’re telling us that SeoHa not only betrayed Y/n but is planning to betray Namjoon and Lady Kim? She’s cutting everyone out to take the throne herself?”

Jungkook nodded grimly. “Exactly. She doesn’t trust anyone. That’s why she’s so dangerous. She’s always five steps ahead, always anticipating every move.”

Jimin leaned forward, his voice cold. “Then we’ll have to be six steps ahead. You need to tell me everything—her current operations, her contacts, her vulnerabilities. If we’re going to take her down, we can’t afford to miss a single detail.”

Jungkook swallowed hard, nodding. “She’s been funneling money through shell companies. There’s one in particular—HanSeol Trading. It looks legitimate, but it’s the hub for all her operations. She uses it to manage shipments, launder money, and transfer assets.”

Hoseok scribbled down the name. “What else?”

“She has a private vault,” Jungkook continued. “It’s where she keeps her most valuable items—documents, money, and… leverage. She collects secrets, dirt on powerful people. It’s how she keeps them in line.”

“Where’s the vault?” Jimin asked sharply.

“It’s hidden beneath the Seoul Art Expo building,” Jungkook revealed. “She disguised it as a storage facility for priceless art, but it’s heavily secured. Only she and Namjoon have access codes.”

Jimin’s lips curled into a grim smile. “Perfect. That’s where we’ll start.”

Jungkook hesitated, his voice trembling. “Be careful, Jimin. SeoHa isn’t just smart—she’s ruthless. If she even senses that you’re closing in, she won’t hesitate to destroy everything and everyone in her way.”

Jimin’s eyes burned with resolve. “Let her try. She’ll soon find out that I’m just as relentless as she is.”

Hoseok placed a hand on Jimin’s shoulder, nodding in agreement. “Let’s end this.”

The operation was underway. Jimin and Hoseok moved swiftly through the corridors of the Seoul Art Expo building, their team following closely. The place was silent, almost eerily so, as if the shadows themselves were holding their breath.

“Perimeter is secure,” came a voice over Jimin’s earpiece. “No activity outside, but stay sharp.”

Jimin glanced at Hoseok, who gave him a curt nod. “Let’s move,” Jimin ordered, his voice calm but edged with tension.

Their destination was clear: the vault beneath the east wing, where SeoHa’s secrets lay hidden. Hoseok, the tech genius of the group, was already studying the security system as they reached the heavy storage door.

“Give me two minutes,” Hoseok muttered, pulling out his hacking device.

“Make it one,” Jimin said, his eyes scanning the dark hallway behind them.

As Hoseok worked, Jimin thought about SeoHa. She had been too careful, too calculating, but this time they had her cornered. They’d gather the evidence, bring her operation down, and expose her for what she truly was.

The door hissed open, revealing the storage area. The shelves were lined with priceless artifacts and paintings, all masking the sinister dealings hidden beneath the surface.

“There,” Hoseok pointed to the far wall. “The vault.”

The biometric scanner blinked red, a silent sentinel guarding SeoHa’s secrets. Hoseok crouched, his fingers flying over his tablet as he bypassed the system.

“Almost there,” he murmured.

Suddenly, a faint noise echoed from the hallway. Both men froze.

“Alpha, report,” Jimin said into his mic.

“We’ve got movement,” the voice responded. “Unidentified individuals heading toward your location. Looks like reinforcements.”

“Damn it,” Jimin hissed. He turned to Hoseok. “How much longer?”

“Thirty seconds,” Hoseok replied, his voice tight.

The seconds stretched, but finally, the scanner beeped, and the hidden wall slid open. Inside, the vault was as they expected—rows of shelves holding files, sealed cases, and stacks of money.

“Take everything,” Jimin ordered.

They moved quickly, photographing documents, stuffing files into bags, and securing any evidence that could dismantle SeoHa’s network.

“Beta, heads up,” came Alpha’s voice. “Armed men closing in on your location. They’re heavily armed.”

“Hold them off,” Jimin ordered. “We’re almost done.”

As they worked, a sudden voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Looking for something?”

Jimin spun, his weapon drawn, to see Kim Taehyung standing in the doorway, his face calm but his eyes sharp.

“Taehyung,” Jimin said, his voice cold. “I should’ve known you’d be here.”

Taehyung stepped into the room, his hands raised mockingly. “What can I say? SeoHa always needs someone to clean up her messes.”

“Where is she?” Hoseok demanded, his gun trained on Taehyung.

“Not here,” Taehyung replied smoothly. “But she’ll know you’ve been sniffing around soon enough.”

Jimin’s patience snapped. He lunged forward, grabbing Taehyung and shoving him against the wall. “You’re going to tell me everything,” he growled.

“Or what?” Taehyung smirked. “You’ll shoot me? Go ahead. It won’t stop her.”

“Take him,” Jimin ordered.

The team dragged Taehyung down to the basement, where they tied him to a chair in a stark, empty room. Officers flanked the space, their expressions grim. Jimin and Hoseok stood before him, their presence imposing.

“Talk,” Jimin demanded.

Taehyung’s defiance wavered as the silence stretched. Finally, he sighed. “SeoHa’s using the museum as a front for her smuggling operation. Artifacts, diamonds, antiques—she moves them all through here. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“Why are you helping her?” Hoseok asked, his voice sharp.

Taehyung hesitated, then laughed bitterly. “You think I had a choice? SeoHa doesn’t give choices. You’re either with her, or you’re dead.”

Before Jimin could respond, a door creaked open, and a figure stepped out of the shadows.

“Yoongi?” Hoseok exclaimed, startled.

Min Yoongi, disheveled but calm, stepped into the room. His eyes scanned the scene, lingering on Taehyung before meeting Jimin’s gaze.

“Didn’t expect to find this party down here,” Yoongi said, his tone casual but his expression unreadable.

“What are you doing here?” Jimin asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

“Following a lead,” Yoongi replied, leaning against the wall. “Looks like I stumbled onto something interesting.”

Taehyung’s face twisted in frustration. “You shouldn’t be here, Yoongi. This has nothing to do with you.”

Yoongi chuckled darkly. “Seems like it has everything to do with me, actually.”

Jimin’s patience was wearing thin. “Enough games. Taehyung, what’s SeoHa planning?”

Taehyung’s shoulders sagged, his earlier confidence shattered. “She’s moving the artifacts tonight. There’s a shipment leaving the harbor at midnight. If you hurry, you can intercept it. But…”

“But what?” Hoseok pressed.

“She knows you’re coming,” Taehyung admitted. “And she’s ready for you.”

Jimin turned to Yoongi. “You in or out?”

Yoongi smirked, pushing off the wall. “I’m in. Let’s see if SeoHa’s really as untouchable as she thinks.”

Jimin’s eyes burned with determination as he turned back to Taehyung. “You’d better hope you’re telling the truth. Because if you’re not, you won’t just be tied to a chair next time.”

As the team prepared to move out, the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on them. This wasn’t just about SeoHa anymore—it was about dismantling an empire, one piece at a time.