Chapter 3 — The Shadow Behind the Warehouse
The following morning, the rain had finally stopped.
A thin layer of mist covered the mountains, drifting slowly between the rows of coffee trees.
Kim stood outside the office, holding a cup of hot coffee in both hands.
He took a deep breath.
The smell of freshly roasted coffee filled the cool morning air.
"This place is beautiful..."
For a moment, he forgot everything that had happened the day before.
The strange warehouse.
The break-in.
And the mysterious man named Than.
"Good morning, Kim."
Kim turned around.
Tai was walking toward him with a stack of documents in his hands.
"Good morning."
"You're early."
"I wanted to get familiar with the work."
Tai smiled.
"That's good. Mr. Than likes people who are responsible."
Kim paused.
"Does he?"
"Definitely."
Tai placed the documents on the desk.
"Here. These are the inventory records. You'll help check them."
Kim opened the first file.
Everything seemed normal.
Coffee beans.
Roasting dates.
Shipping records.
Warehouse numbers.
But then he noticed something strange.
He looked at the document again.
"Tai?"
"Yes?"
"Why is Warehouse Three listed twice?"
Tai's expression changed.
"Where?"
Kim pointed at the page.
"Here. The records say there are two separate storage areas under the same warehouse number."
Tai quickly took the document from him.
"Don't worry about that."
"But the numbers don't match."
"I'll handle it."
Tai closed the file.
Kim looked at him suspiciously.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No."
Tai smiled.
But this time, the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Just leave this one alone."
Before Kim could ask anything else, the office door opened.
Both men turned.
Than stood in the doorway.
He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes immediately fell on the document in Tai's hands.
"What are you doing?"
Tai stood straight.
"Checking inventory records, sir."
Than looked at Kim.
"And you?"
Kim answered honestly.
"I found an inconsistency in the warehouse records."
Than's eyes narrowed.
"Show me."
Tai hesitated.
"Sir—"
"I said show me."
Tai handed him the document.
Than read it silently.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Than looked at Kim.
"You noticed this?"
"Yes."
"How long did it take you?"
Kim blinked.
"About ten minutes."
A faint change appeared in Than's expression.
Not quite a smile.
But something close.
"You're observant."
Kim adjusted his glasses.
"It's my job."
Than placed the document on the desk.
"Good."
He turned toward Tai.
"From now on, let him handle the inventory records."
Tai looked surprised.
"But, sir—"
"Is there a problem?"
"No, sir."
Than turned back to Kim.
"But remember one thing."
Kim looked at him.
"Don't investigate anything that doesn't concern you."
Kim frowned.
"Then why give me the records?"
"Because I need someone I can trust."
The words caught Kim off guard.
For some reason, his heart beat slightly faster.
He quickly looked away.
"Understood."
Than watched him for a moment.
Then he left the room.
Tai waited until the door closed before whispering,
"You should be careful."
Kim looked at him.
"Why?"
Tai lowered his voice.
"Because Mr. Than doesn't trust people easily."
Kim glanced toward the closed door.
"Then why does he trust me?"
Tai didn't answer.
That Afternoon
Kim was carrying a stack of documents toward the main office when he heard a strange sound from behind the warehouse.
Clang!
He stopped.
He looked toward the building.
Another sound followed.
Bang!
Kim frowned.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
He looked around.
The workers were busy in another part of the plantation.
Nobody seemed to notice.
Kim slowly walked toward the warehouse.
The large metal door was slightly open.
He remembered Than's warning.
Don't go into the warehouse.
Kim stopped.
He should turn around.
He knew that.
But then he noticed something on the ground.
A small black object.
Kim bent down and picked it up.
It was a USB flash drive.
There was a single word written on it.
KIM.
His heart stopped.
"What...?"
Suddenly—
Click.
The warehouse door closed behind him.
Kim spun around.
Someone was standing in the shadows.
A man's voice whispered,
"You shouldn't have come here."
Kim took a step backward.
"Who are you?"
The figure moved closer.
Kim couldn't see his face.
Then—
A hand grabbed his wrist.
"Let me go!"
Before the stranger could pull him deeper into the warehouse, another voice thundered through the darkness.
"Take your hands off him."
The stranger froze.
Kim looked toward the entrance.
Than stood there.
His expression was terrifyingly calm.
One hand was inside his jacket.
His eyes were fixed on the stranger.
"Now."
Than's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"Let him go."
The stranger released Kim.
But instead of running...
he smiled.
"Too late, Than."
Than's eyes hardened.
The stranger turned and disappeared through a back door.
Than immediately walked toward Kim.
"Are you hurt?"
Kim shook his head.
"No."
Than grabbed his wrist and checked it anyway.
His fingers were cold.
Kim stared at him.
"Why did he call you by your name?"
Than didn't answer.
His eyes fell on the USB drive in Kim's hand.
Then his expression changed completely.
"Where did you get that?"
"I found it on the floor."
Than took the USB from him.
His jaw tightened.
For the first time, Kim saw fear in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not suspicion.
Fear.
"What is it?"
Than looked at him.
"That..."
He paused.
"is the reason you were never supposed to come here."
The rain began to fall again outside.
And somewhere in the mountains...
a phone rang.
The person on the other end spoke only one sentence.
"The boy has found the file."
Then the call ended.
The hunt had begun.