Secrets Beneath the Surface

The aftermath of the battle at the docks lingered like a ghost in the air. The scent of burnt metal mixed with the salt of the sea, and the flickering flames cast dancing shadows against the steel containers.

Joon Ha stood still, his breathing steady but his mind restless. Jin-Woo had escaped. That meant Joon-Taek still had the upper hand.

Footsteps crunched against the damp ground. Ha-Yoon approached, wiping a streak of blood from her cheek. “We need to go before more of his men arrive.”

Joon Ha’s jaw clenched. He hated loose ends.

Min-Jae’s voice crackled through the earpiece. "Boss, we've secured some documents from the shipment. You might want to take a look at this."

Joon Ha exhaled sharply, suppressing his frustration. It wasn’t the victory he wanted, but it was a lead.

The hideout was dimly lit, the air heavy with tension. The stolen documents lay scattered across the wooden table, each page a puzzle piece in Joon-Taek’s empire.

Min-Jae ran a hand through his hair. "These aren't just smuggling records. They're financial statements, political bribes, and—" he hesitated, "—classified government reports."

Joon Ha’s gaze hardened. Joon-Taek wasn’t just running an empire—he was controlling the very system.

Ha-Yoon flipped through the files, her expression unreadable. “This is bigger than we thought.”

Joon Ha’s fists tightened. He had always known his uncle was ruthless, but this… this was treason for sure.

Min-Jae tapped a document with his finger. “There’s one name that keeps appearing—‘Project K.’ Any idea what that is?”

Ha-Yoon frowned. "Whatever it is, he’s poured a lot of money into it."

A chill ran down Joon Ha’s spine. His uncle never invested without reason.

At a secluded estate outside the city, Joon-Taek stood before a grand window, sipping his whiskey.

Jin-Woo, bruised and bandaged, stood behind him, his voice laced with frustration. "They took the documents, boss."

Joon-Taek smirked. "Let them have them."

Jin-Woo hesitated. "But—"

Joon-Taek’s gaze darkened. "They have no idea what they’re dealing with."

Silence stretched between them. Outside, the city lights twinkled like stars, oblivious to the storm brewing within its shadows.

Joon-Taek swirled his drink, his expression unreadable. "The real war hasn’t even begun."

Shloka/श्लोक/절

"विधिना प्राक्तनं कर्म मनुष्येण विचारितम्।

तस्यापि न विरोधः स्यात् समये सति कर्हिचित्॥"

Vidhinā prāktanaṃ karma manuṣyeṇa vicāritam,

tasyāpi na virodhaḥ syāt samaye sati karhicit.

비디나 프라크타남 카르마 마누슈예나 비차리탐,

타샤피 나 비로다 샷 사마예 사티 카르히찟.

"Destiny unfolds as ordained, even when mortals attempt to alter its course. When the time is right, fate cannot be denied."

운명은 정해진 대로 펼쳐진다. 인간이 바꾸려 해도, 때가 되면 피할 수 없는 것이다.

Just as Rama faced betrayals and shifting alliances on his path, Joon Ha, too, found Himself caught in a larger scheme orchestrated by unseen forces. The battle had only just begun.

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