The first move

*Chapter 3: The First Move*

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Vincenzo Casano sat in the back of a sleek black car, staring out of the tinted window at the sprawling city below. His expression was unreadable, but his mind was far from peaceful. He had been planning for weeks, and now, it was time for the first strike.

The only question was: where would the Kang family’s empire crumble first?

Beside him, *Ji-ae* tapped away at her phone, her brows furrowed. She had been quiet for the last hour, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Every now and then, her eyes would dart over to Vincenzo, who remained stoic. She still didn’t know what to make of him.

“What’s the plan?” Ji-ae finally asked, breaking the silence.

Vincenzo turned his gaze toward her, the corner of his mouth lifting into a slight smirk. “We’re going after *Kang Jin-ho’s* financial holdings. A man like him hides everything in layers of offshore accounts and fake companies. If we can freeze his assets, he’ll be forced to react. Then, we can make our move.”

Ji-ae’s eyes widened. She had expected a more subtle approach—something in the realm of legal maneuvering. But Vincenzo was playing a different game entirely. “You’re just going to attack his finances?”

“Why not?” Vincenzo replied, his tone casual. “Money is power. Without it, he becomes vulnerable. It’s the perfect leverage.”

As the car slowed to a stop in front of a luxurious building, Vincenzo leaned back in his seat. “This is just the beginning.”

Ji-ae opened her mouth to protest, but the driver had already parked. She quickly closed her lips and followed Vincenzo out of the car, trying to suppress the unease settling in her chest. She had no idea what she was really getting herself into.

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Inside the *Kang Group headquarters*, a sense of calm surrounded *Kang Jin-ho* as he sat behind his massive desk, reviewing documents. The room exuded luxury, the marble floors reflecting the light from the chandeliers above. Kang Jin-ho was the epitome of power, his cold, calculating demeanor earning him the respect—and fear—of those around him.

His assistant knocked softly on the door. “Sir, there’s something you need to see.”

Kang Jin-ho’s eyes narrowed as he looked up from the papers. “What is it?”

“An alert from the bank. Several of your accounts have been frozen. We’ve also received multiple inquiries from government agencies. It looks like someone’s digging into your financials.”

Kang Jin-ho stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Who did this?” he demanded.

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Meanwhile, *Vincenzo* and *Ji-ae* were standing in the lobby of the building, ready to execute the next phase of their plan. Vincenzo’s calm demeanor was a stark contrast to Ji-ae’s nervous energy. She wasn’t used to working like this, going after someone as powerful as the Kangs. But something about Vincenzo’s presence made her feel like she had no choice.

“Let’s get to the server room,” Vincenzo said, his voice low. “It’s time to make sure Kang Jin-ho can’t move his money.”

Ji-ae hesitated, her stomach tightening. She knew this wasn’t just about finances. This was war. And she was in the middle of it.

They made their way past security, with Vincenzo using his charm and a few well-placed words to bypass any suspicion. As they reached the server room, Vincenzo pulled out a small device from his jacket pocket and handed it to Ji-ae.

“Use this. It’ll bypass their firewall and allow you to lock down their accounts,” he instructed.

Ji-ae’s hands trembled as she took the device. Her mind raced. She had worked in corporate law for years, but this was something entirely different. This was *hacking*, a world she was far less familiar with. But she couldn’t back down now.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” she muttered, plugging the device into the server.

Vincenzo stood by the door, scanning the hallway for any sign of trouble. His eyes were sharp, calculating, always looking for potential threats.

“Trust me, Ji-ae,” he said, his voice steady. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t hesitate.”

Minutes passed like hours. Ji-ae’s fingers flew over the keyboard, her eyes glued to the screen as she navigated through the complex system of the Kang family’s financial network. Her pulse raced, and her hands were slick with sweat. She had never done anything like this before, but she couldn’t afford to fail.

Finally, a notification popped up on the screen: *Access Granted*.

Ji-ae let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “It’s done.”

Vincenzo’s gaze shifted to her, a rare look of approval in his eyes. “Well done.”

Just as they were about to leave the server room, Ji-ae’s phone buzzed with an incoming message. She glanced at the screen, her heart sinking as she read the words: *“They know. Get out now.”*

The Kangs were onto them.

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*End of Chapter 3*

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*Chapter Summary:*

- *Vincenzo* and *Ji-ae* make their first move against the Kang family, targeting *Kang Jin-ho’s* financial empire.

- With *Ji-ae*’s help, they manage to freeze the Kang family’s assets, causing significant disruption.

- However, the Kangs quickly realize what’s happening, and the danger escalates as Vincenzo and Ji-ae are forced to flee.

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