The night before the scheduled departure for Jeju Island was quiet, saturated with the heavy, deceptive silence that often precedes a major upheaval. Min-Joon had insisted on dining together at home—a rare occurrence given their demanding schedules, but a necessary ritual before any extended trip. He viewed it as consolidating the home front before his temporary absence from the central financial market.
The dining room of the penthouse was usually minimalist, but tonight, a few imported white roses adorned the table, adding a superficial touch of warmth. Min-Joon was relaxed, having secured the Sungjin acquisition and successfully navigated the Zurich financing. He talked about the Jeju villa—its expansive sea view, the private beach access, and the potential for future corporate retreats.
"The place is perfect, Seo-Yun," Min-Joon said, raising a glass of a 1998 vintage Bordeaux. "A sound investment, and a necessary escape for us both."
Seo-Yun returned the toast, her gaze steady, though her mind was racing. She wore a simple, elegant black dress, but beneath its folds, the black M-Data flash drive felt like a physical extension of her own nervous system. It was the key. Now, she needed the final authentication method—the biometric data.
"It sounds lovely, Min-Joon," she replied smoothly, taking a small sip of wine. "But honestly, your schedule even there makes me tired. Will you ever truly rest?"
Min-Joon offered a cold, almost amused smile. "Rest is for the retired, Seo-Yun. Or the defeated. I am neither. Besides, someone has to manage the stability of the family and the foundation of the empire."
He had unintentionally handed her the opening she needed.
"The foundation..." Seo-Yun mused, leaning forward slightly. "Speaking of which, did you remember to update all your security protocols after the Sungjin acquisition? I read that some disgruntled employees attempt data sabotage."
Min-Joon chuckled, a deep, confident sound. "That is why I pay the best security consultants in the world, my dear. KM Holdings' systems are impregnable. Furthermore, my private accounts—the ones where the real reserves are kept—are secured by multiple layers of encryption, geo-fencing, and, of course, my biometric signature." He tapped his thumb lightly on the table. "My thumbprint is the final key. Nothing moves without it."
He looked at her with an expression that bordered on pride, confident in the absolute impregnability of his system.
Seo-Yun allowed her eyes to widen slightly, feigning a blend of concern and awe. "Biometrics... that is wise, Min-Joon. So, not even the flash drive or the codes would work if you weren't physically present?"
"Precisely," he confirmed, taking a bite of his perfectly seared steak. "It ties the account to the owner—to me. Absolute control, absolute security. Don't worry your pretty head about it."
She forced herself to relax, but inside, a knot of panic began to tighten. She had the flash drive, the codes, and the timing, but she hadn't accounted for the final, physical lock: Min-Joon's biometric signature.
Her plan had always been to use the brief window of the trip's first night to transfer the funds before their planned escape the next morning. Now, she realized, she needed more than just a quiet moment; she needed Min-Joon's unconscious physical participation.
The atmosphere suddenly felt heavy, the Bordeaux tasting metallic on her tongue.
She subtly changed the subject, directing the conversation back to the Jeju villa, discussing trivial details about the linen and the local restaurants, all while her mind worked feverishly to integrate this new, massive variable into her conspiracy.
Later that evening, after the dinner was cleared and Min-Joon retired to his study for a final few hours of work, Seo-Yun went to her own lavish dressing room. She pulled out the hidden phone and typed a swift, concise message to Joo-Hyuk:
New variable. Biometric lock. Need to improvise. Proceed with the morning schedule as planned. I will secure the final key tonight.
Joo-Hyuk's reply was instantaneous and equally brief: Dangerous. Be clean.
She locked the phone away and looked at her reflection. She needed Min-Joon unconscious, and she needed several uninterrupted minutes with him to secure his thumbprint authentication on the flash drive. It was an audacious risk, the greatest she had taken yet.
She walked towards the master bedroom and opened the safe that held her jewelry. She didn't look at the glittering diamonds or the rows of expensive watches. Her focus was on a small, amber vial hidden beneath a velvet pouch—a powerful, fast-acting sleeping agent she had acquired weeks ago, originally intended as a backup plan. Now, it was the only way forward.
Min-Joon finally came to bed around 1:00 AM. He kissed her forehead—a dry, formal gesture—and immediately fell into the deep, exhausted sleep of a man who carried the financial burden of an entire empire.
Seo-Yun lay beside him, her breathing slow and measured, waiting until she was certain he was completely lost to the world. Then, moving with the practiced stealth of a predator, she rose. She went to the bathroom, retrieved a glass of water, and returned with the amber vial.
She didn't need to drug him heavily; a small amount mixed into the water was enough to ensure that if he stirred, he would be too groggy to resist or notice what was happening. She pressed a small, soaked cotton swab to his nostrils for a few quiet seconds—just a precautionary measure.
Min-Joon stirred once, mumbled something about 'the Asian market,' and settled back into a deep, immobile sleep.
Seo-Yun worked quickly. She carefully took his hand, his powerful fingers slackened in slumber. She pulled the M-Data flash drive from her pocket and placed it near his hand. The transfer application required a brief moment of continuous thumbprint contact to authenticate and create the final, usable security key.
She pressed his thumb firmly onto the sensor on the drive. The small drive emitted a faint, pulsing blue light. It was analyzing the print, granting the access, creating the final, irrefutable link of betrayal.
The process took sixty agonizing seconds. For Seo-Yun, those sixty seconds stretched into an eternity, every beat of her heart a frantic countdown to freedom or disaster.
Click.
The blue light turned solid green. The final key was now copied onto the drive, authenticating her access under Min-Joon's own biometric identity. The betrayal was complete, sealed by the unconscious hand of the man she was leaving behind.
Seo-Yun pulled her hand away, replacing Min-Joon's arm gently. She slipped the flash drive into her pocket. She lay back down, her heart still hammering, but now overlaid with a profound, terrifying calm. The game was won. The storm could finally break.