Two months.
Ethan had spent two long, frustrating months recovering. The wounds had healed, the bruises had faded, but the feeling of helplessness still clung to him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find any new leads on the syndicate. It was like chasing shadows.
And then there was Linh.
She had vanished as quickly as she had appeared. No phone number, no address, nothing. Just an offer—one he had turned down.
But now, he had no choice.
He needed her help.
Standing on the rooftop of his apartment building, the wind whipping through his hair, Ethan took a deep breath.
Then he shouted.
"Linh! Help me!"
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then—
HOOONK!
A car horn blared from below.
Ethan peered over the edge and blinked in disbelief.
Linh sat in the driver's seat of a sleek, black sportscar, one arm casually draped over the steering wheel. She looked up at him, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Xuống đây đi, đồ khùng."
Ethan didn't hesitate. He sprinted down the stairs, his heart pounding, and slid into the passenger seat.
Linh raised an eyebrow. "Took you long enough."
Ethan exhaled. "You're impossible to find, you know that?"
Linh chuckled as she pulled onto the street. "That's kind of the point."
Ethan studied her. "So, you knew I'd call for you?"
Linh shrugged. "I had a feeling."
Silence filled the car as they sped through the city, neon lights flashing past.
Ethan finally spoke. "I'm in."
Linh glanced at him. "In?"
"In your group," Ethan said firmly. "I want in."
Linh smiled, but there was something knowing in her eyes—like she had been expecting this all along.
"Good," she said. "Then let's go."
She pressed a button on the dashboard. The windshield darkened, and the world outside blurred. Ethan barely had time to react before the car suddenly veered off the main road and into an empty warehouse.
The inside was nothing special—just old concrete walls and rusting machinery. But at the far end, a strange metal platform stood in the center of the floor, surrounded by glowing symbols.
Linh parked, stepped out, and gestured for Ethan to follow.
"What is this?" he asked.
"You'll see," Linh said, stepping onto the platform.
Ethan hesitated. Then, with a deep breath, he joined her.
A low hum filled the air. The symbols beneath their feet glowed brighter. Then, in a flash of white light—
Everything changed.
When Ethan opened his eyes, he wasn't in a warehouse anymore.
He was standing in an enormous, high-tech facility. The walls gleamed with polished steel, holographic screens flickered with data, and rows of advanced weaponry lined the shelves. A massive glass window overlooked a breathtaking skyline—one Ethan didn't recognize.
Linh turned to him, arms crossed. "Welcome to headquarters."
Ethan stared in awe.
His search for answers had led him here.
And something told him—this was only the beginning.