Months had passed since Ethan and his team took on the role of bodyguards. Their days were filled with long hours shadowing Victor, enduring his arrogance, and quietly keeping him alive—a job that, while monotonous, was vital to Elaine's greater schemes. Ethan had grown used to suppressing his frustrations, his expression stoic as he carried out his duties. But there were moments, fleeting and rare, when his mask cracked.
Ethan stood in a dimly lit communication chamber, a holographic projection of Elaine flickering in the air before him. The room hummed softly with mana conduits embedded in the walls, casting faint blue light that reflected off Ethan's sharp features. He kept his voice low and controlled as he spoke.
"It's confirmed," Ethan said. "The meeting will happen three days from now. Same location, same players. It's exactly as you suspected."
Elaine's hologram leaned slightly forward, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Good. Then we're ready. I want you and the others prepared—this is a critical juncture, Ethan. I expect nothing less than success."
Ethan nodded, his expression unreadable. "Understood."
The hologram flickered out, leaving the room silent except for the faint hum of the mana lines. Ethan exhaled slowly, his hands tightening into fists. His mind drifted to a moment from a month ago—an encounter with a Federation Agent, a shadow of a deal made in secrecy. The details were murky, but the weight of it pressed on him like a phantom hand.
Deep within Black Wind's underground base, Elaine moved with purpose. The sprawling facility buzzed with activity as mercenaries and operatives rushed to carry out her commands. The air smelled faintly of ozone and alchemical reagents.
Elaine entered the alchemy lab, where Dianna was carefully arranging vials of glowing liquids. The room was a mixture of cutting-edge equipment and tools, blending science and magic seamlessly. Dianna looked up as Elaine approached, her expression composed but questioning.
"Dianna," Elaine began, her tone calm but firm. "It's time. Prepare everyone and bring out the potion we made a few weeks ago. We'll need it soon."
Dianna nodded, her hands already moving to retrieve the requested potion. Its amber glow pulsed faintly, as though alive with power. "Understood. I'll have the team ready."
Elaine lingered for a moment, her sharp gaze softening slightly. "You've done well, Dianna. I've watched you grow into someone dependable and skilled. Your work with Ethan… it's clear you both bring out the best in each other."
Dianna's hands faltered for a brief second before resuming their precise movements. "Thank you," she said softly.
"But," Elaine continued, her tone carrying both warmth and warning, "don't let your relationship compromise your work. I think of all of you as my children, and nothing matters more to me than seeing you all succeed. But I expect unwavering focus."
Dianna nodded, her jaw tightening. "Of course."
As Elaine left the room, her footsteps echoing through the halls, Dianna stood still for a moment, the potion held tightly in her hands. Slowly, her expression changed. Her composure cracked, giving way to a storm of emotions. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
Her thoughts drifted to the past—a dark memory of being sold by her own parents. She was only six years old, standing in a barren room as her parents handed her over to Elaine. Their voices were cold, detached, as though she was a mere transaction. The despair and betrayal of that moment had never truly left her.
But then Ethan had entered her life. He was her anchor, the first person to treat her as more than a tool. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and the thought of losing him was unbearable. Her breathing slowed as she forced herself to focus. She had work to do.
Meanwhile, Ethan had returned to Victor's corporate office. The sleek, high-tech building stood as a beacon of Frost Pharmaceuticals' influence in Sky City, though its true purpose was veiled in deception. Ethan entered the meeting room where Victor was pacing, his temper flaring.
"You think you can just tell me what to do?" Victor spat, slamming his hands on the glass table. His face was red with anger, his polished appearance undone by his fury. "I've built this company! Me! You think I care about subtlety? I'll run things my way soon enough."
Ethan stood silently, his expression betraying nothing. Casper and Rai exchanged uneasy glances but remained equally quiet. Victor's tirade continued, his voice rising with every word.
"Why should I care what Elaine thinks? She's not the one out there dealing with these people! I am! But no, I can't even expand without her breathing down my neck. Well, let me tell you something," Victor sneered, looking directly at the three teens. "Soon, I'll be in charge. And when that happens, don't think I'll need any of you."
The trio said nothing. Victor scoffed, rolling his eyes as he grabbed his coat. "Come on. We're leaving. There's a guest coming soon, and we need to prepare. The meeting's in Celestial Heights."
Celestial Heights—a suburban district in Sky City where the wealthiest elites resided. The district was a stark contrast to the sprawling urban chaos of the city's central area, its homes large and opulent, with private mana fields and security drones patrolling the pristine streets.
Victor brushed past them, his arrogance palpable. Ethan and the others followed without a word, though Ethan's mind was racing. Beneath his calm exterior, the gears were turning, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. The deal he had made with the Federation Agent lingered in his thoughts, a shadow creeping at the edges of his mind.
As they departed for Celestial Heights, the tension in the air was undeniable. The stakes were rising, and Ethan knew that the days ahead would test him and his team like never before.
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