The Algorithm Of Deceit

Chapter One

A sharp gust of wind blew across the dimly lit warehouse yard, rustling the tarpaulin that covered several military trucks. Lieutenant Kang Soo-ah adjusted her grip on her rifle, the worn strap pressing into her shoulder. She hadn't planned on being here—this far from her assigned post—but curiosity had led her astray. The moment she saw the unmarked trucks rolling into the compound in the dead of night, something in her gut told her to follow. Now, standing amid rows of metal crates stacked high, she knew she had stumbled onto something she wasn't meant to see.

She crouched, fingers brushing the cold steel latch of one of the nearest boxes. With a soft click, the lid loosened. Soo-ah lifted it just enough to see inside. Her breath hitched.

Ammunition. Dozens—no, hundreds—of neatly packed rounds, their brass casings glinting under the weak floodlights. These weren't standard-issue supplies. They bore no identifying marks, no serial numbers. Smuggled. Illegal.

Her pulse quickened as she reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she scrolled to a secure contact. But just as she pressed her thumb against the dial pad, voices echoed through the still air.

She froze.

The sound of boots scraping against the gravel sent a shiver down her spine. Soo-ah dropped lower, pressing herself against the crates, heart hammering.

"—shipment came in smoothly this time," a gravelly voice said. "No unnecessary eyes."

A second voice, smoother yet edged with calculation, replied, "We made sure of that. The border patrol was paid well to look the other way."

There was a pause, then the distinct flick of a lighter. The scent of tobacco curled into the night air.

"And the buyer?" the first man asked.

"He's sending his men tomorrow. The trade goes down at dawn."

Soo-ah's grip tightened around her phone. Trade? Her eyes darted to the ammunition-filled crates surrounding her. What the hell were they planning?

A third voice—low, almost amused—spoke up. "The country is desperate for intel. We give them weapons, and they hand over their encryption protocols."

Soo-ah's stomach twisted. This wasn't just smuggling. This was treason.

Another voice, deeper and more authoritative, cut through the murmurs. "Do not mistake desperation for stupidity. If they sense deception, they will not hesitate to slit your throat. This is not just about money anymore—it's leverage. Power."

Silence. Then the smooth-voiced man let out a slow exhale.

"Then we make sure they trust us. We give them enough to whet their appetite, but not enough to render us useless." A pause. "If this goes well, our connections in the government will solidify. No one will be able to touch us—not the military, not the intelligence bureau. We will control both sides of the war."

Soo-ah swallowed hard. The weight of their words settled over her like a thick fog. This was bigger than she imagined.

The voices were getting closer.

She couldn't stay.

Carefully, she eased herself away from the crates, inching backward toward the far end of the warehouse yard. Every step felt agonizingly loud, her own heartbeat drowning out the voices. Just a few more meters and she could slip into the shadows—

A sudden crunch beneath her boot.

A broken glass bottle.

Silence.

The voices stopped.

Soo-ah didn't wait to see their reaction. She bolted.

Shouts erupted behind her. Heavy footsteps pounded against the dirt, but she was faster. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she dodged between the stacks of crates, weaving through the narrow gaps between the trucks.

Almost there.

The exit was just ahead—a gap in the fencing where the metal had rusted away. If she could just reach it—

Something hard slammed into her from behind.

The impact knocked the air from her lungs as she crashed onto the gravel. A strong arm wrapped around her torso, pinning her against an equally strong chest.

"Got you," a voice murmured against her ear.
Soo-ah thrashed, but the grip around her only tightened. She felt something cold press against her side—a knife, a gun, she couldn't tell. But the message was clear.

"Now, now," the voice continued, amusement lacing every syllable. "Running isn't very smart, soldier."

A thick cloth was pressed against her face. The sharp scent of chemicals filled her nose.

Her vision blurred.

Her struggles weakened.

The last thing she heard before darkness swallowed her was the smooth-voiced man chuckling.

"Looks like we have ourselves a new problem."

And then—nothing.

~hope you enjoyed see you on thurdsay~╰(*°▽°*)╯

~author~😊