Chapter 1

THE FIRST THREAT

The city never really slept—but that night, it held its breath.

Rain lashed against the glass walls of the Intelligence Bureau headquarters. Inside, screens flickered with live feeds, maps, and scrolling code.

Phuwin sat still amidst the chaos.

Too still.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard, eyes scanning lines of encrypted data.

“Something’s wrong…” he murmured.

Behind him, Dunk leaned over with a cup of coffee.

“You say that every time you haven’t slept.”

Phuwin didn’t smile.

“This isn’t routine. These signals—” he pointed at the screen, “—they’re layered. Someone’s hiding something big.”

Dunk’s expression shifted. “How big?”

Phuwin exhaled slowly.

“City-level big.”

Operations Room:-

The doors slid open sharply.

Bootsteps. Firm. Controlled.

Pond walked in.

Rain clung to his jacket. His presence alone seemed to silence the room.

Joong looked up from the central console.

“You’re late.”

Pond removed his gloves calmly.

“I was busy stopping a gun deal you didn’t know about.”

Joong smirked faintly. “That’s why you’re here.”

Before Pond could reply—

“Sir.”

Phuwin’s voice cut through.

All eyes turned.

Pond’s gaze lingered a second longer than necessary.

Phuwin stepped forward, holding a tablet.

“There’s an incoming threat. Not random. Coordinated.”

Joong folded his arms. “Explain.”

Phuwin tapped the screen. A city map lit up—multiple blinking red points.

“Encrypted transmissions. Timed. Hidden within public networks.”

He paused.

“I believe these are trigger points.”

Pond frowned. “Trigger for what?”

Phuwin met his eyes.

“Explosives.”

Silence. Heavy. Immediate.

Dunk whispered, “How many locations?”

Phuwin swallowed.

“Six… maybe more.”

Joong turned to Pond.

“You’re leading this.”

Pond nodded once. No hesitation.

Then Joong added—

“And you’re not working alone.”

A beat.

“Phuwin goes with you.”

Pond’s jaw tightened slightly.

“He’s an analyst.”

Phuwin didn’t flinch.

“I’m also the only one who understands the encryption.”

Joong’s tone turned final.

“This isn’t a suggestion.”

Parking Garage:-

The rain had slowed, but the air was heavy.

Pond walked ahead, keys in hand.

Phuwin followed.

“You don’t trust me,” Phuwin said calmly.

Pond stopped.

Turned.

“I don’t trust anyone I haven’t seen in the field.”

Phuwin crossed his arms slightly.

“Then watch closely.”

A flicker of challenge.

Pond stepped closer—just enough to invade space.

“This isn’t a simulation,” he said quietly.

“Out there, hesitation gets people killed.”

Phuwin didn’t step back.

“And overconfidence does the same.”

A Beat. Charged.

Dunk’s voice crackled through...

“Guys… I hate to interrupt your staring contest—but one of the locations just went live.”

Both turned instantly.

Work mode.

No more arguments.

Inside the Vehicle:-

Sirens cut through the night as Pond drove fast.

Too fast.

Phuwin held onto the dashboard.

“If we reach too early, we might alert them.”

“If we reach late, people die,” Pond replied sharply.

Phuwin quickly opened his laptop.

“Give me thirty seconds.”

Pond didn’t respond—but didn’t slow down either.

Typing. Rapid. Focused.

Phuwin’s eyes sharpened.

“Got it.”

Pond glanced at him. “Got what?”

Phuwin turned the screen.

“It’s not just bombs.”

A pause.

“It’s a chain reaction system. If one goes off…”

“…the rest follow,” Pond finished.

Phuwin nodded.

Their eyes met.

For the first time—

Not doubt.

Understanding.

Phuwin spoke softly:

“We don’t have six targets.”

A beat.

“We have one chance.”

Pond pressed harder on the accelerator.

“Then don’t waste it.”

The car sped toward flashing lights in the distance.

Sirens.

Crowds.

Chaos waiting.

Inside the car—

Two people who didn’t trust each other.

Yet.

But were about to stake their lives on it.

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