THE END GAME - SQUID GAME

Chapter 21

The address Kwon had provided led them to an upscale district on the outskirts of the city, a place where wealth was flaunted through sprawling mansions and polished gates. Their target was a man named Park Jae-hyun, a tech magnate who had publicly stepped down from his company years ago. According to Kwon, his real focus now lay in funding the games.

Minseo crouched in the shadows across the street, her eyes scanning the estate. The house was a fortress, complete with security cameras and guards patrolling the perimeter.

"This isn't going to be easy," Jun-ho murmured, kneeling beside her.

"It never is," Minseo replied, her gaze never wavering.

Kwon leaned casually against a nearby tree, chewing a piece of gum. "I told you this guy was a big deal. You sure you don't want to rethink this?"

"No," Minseo said sharply. "We're doing this."

Jun-ho glanced at her. "We'll need a plan. Rushing in won't work here."

Minseo nodded. "We'll split up. I'll handle the guards on the east side. Jun-ho, you take the west and disable the cameras. Kwon—"

"I'll keep watch," Kwon interrupted, holding up his hands. "I'm not exactly the 'sneak around' type."

Minseo's eyes narrowed, but she didn't argue. "Fine. Just don't mess this up."

Minseo moved like a shadow, her knife glinting faintly in the moonlight. The first guard didn't even see her coming—she slipped behind him, covering his mouth as she incapacitated him quickly and quietly.

On the other side of the estate, Jun-ho crept toward the security control panel near the back gate. He had spent years undercover, and his training kicked in as he bypassed the system, disabling the cameras without triggering any alarms.

Kwon watched from a safe distance, his phone in hand. He muttered to himself, shaking his head. "They're going to get themselves killed."

Within minutes, Minseo and Jun-ho regrouped near the back entrance.

"We're in," Jun-ho whispered.

Minseo nodded, her eyes sharp. "Let's move."

The inside of the mansion was eerily quiet, the opulence of the decor clashing with the tension in the air. Minseo led the way, her movements silent but purposeful. Jun-ho followed closely, his hand hovering near the weapon he had taken from one of the guards.

They found Park Jae-hyun in his office, seated behind a massive oak desk. He looked up as they entered, his expression calm despite the sudden intrusion.

"Well," he said, leaning back in his chair. "I wasn't expecting visitors."

Minseo stepped forward, her knife in hand. "We're here to talk."

Park smirked. "Talk? That's an interesting choice, considering the knife."

"Tell us everything you know about the games," Jun-ho said, his voice steady.

Park raised an eyebrow. "Ah, so that's what this is about. Let me guess—you're survivors, and now you want revenge."

Minseo slammed her knife into the desk, the blade sinking deep into the wood. "Start talking, or I'll make you regret it."

Park didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned forward, his smirk widening. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? The people behind the games—they're untouchable. Even if you kill me, they'll just replace me."

"Then give us names," Jun-ho demanded.

Park's expression darkened. "You think I'd betray them? You think I'd risk everything I've built for a couple of desperate vigilantes?"

Minseo grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close. "You're going to tell us what we want to know, or I'll make sure you never leave this room alive."

Park's smirk faltered for the first time, a flicker of fear crossing his face.

Under Minseo's glare, Park finally relented.

"Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands. "I'll tell you what I know. But it won't help you."

"Try us," Jun-ho said, his voice cold.

Park sighed. "The games aren't just some underground operation. They're funded by an international network of elites—billionaires, politicians, even royalty. Taking them down would be like trying to topple an entire empire."

"Names," Minseo demanded.

Park hesitated, then gestured toward a locked cabinet behind his desk. "There's a file in there. It has the names of some of the lower-level investors."

Jun-ho moved to the cabinet, quickly picking the lock. Inside, he found a thin folder labeled Class B Contributors. He opened it, his eyes scanning the list.

"This is a start," he said, handing the folder to Minseo.

But before they could question Park further, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the hallway.

"They're here," Park said, a sly grin returning to his face. "You didn't think I'd let you walk out of here, did you?"

Minseo's jaw tightened. "You just signed your own death warrant."

She moved quickly, knocking Park unconscious with the hilt of her knife before turning to Jun-ho.

"Time to go," she said.

The guards were already swarming the mansion as Minseo and Jun-ho made their way out. Kwon, waiting outside, saw them running toward him and cursed under his breath.

"What the hell happened in there?" he asked as they reached him.

"Things got complicated," Jun-ho said, handing him the folder.

Minseo grabbed Kwon's arm, pulling him along. "No time for questions. Move!"

The three of them disappeared into the shadows, the sound of shouting and gunfire fading behind them.

Back in their hideout, Minseo and Jun-ho spread the contents of the folder across the table. The list of names was longer than they had expected, each one tied to powerful figures across the globe.

"This is just the beginning," Jun-ho said, his voice heavy.

Minseo nodded, her expression grim. "We've stirred the hornet's nest. They'll be coming for us now."

Kwon leaned back in his chair, flipping through the pages. "You're right about one thing—this is big. If we're going to survive, we need more than just names. We need leverage."

"We'll get it," Minseo said, her voice resolute. "One way or another."

As the weight of their mission settled over them, Jun-ho reached out, placing a hand on Minseo's. She looked at him, surprised, but didn't pull away.

"We're in this together," he said.

Minseo gave a small nod, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

"Together," she echoed.

And for the first time in years, she felt a spark of hope.