It was high time to get the party started. I told Garett to send the executioner down to where we had led Jeffrey. He’s so fucking smart, I’m so proud of him. I just knew my man would get this far. The executioner has been hard to work with, especially with his doubts about Jeffrey’s capabilities, but I knew from the beginning he could do it.

  I purposefully wanted him to inspect the casino early to gather all the clues he could, and that he did. Hopefully, the chess game helps him realize some things. TJ is doing all right, for now. Although it's very likely I will have to get involved shortly, I’m not sure I like what Jeffrey is planning to do.

  Nevertheless, there are things I have to do, too.

  Now that I have Dr. Clod’s list, phase 2 of my plan has already been set into motion.

  However, things are moving faster than I would have liked.

  Recently, I was informed of something that I wished was not true.

  The Syndicate has an ace up its sleeve. Something so powerful that only the boss and his closest advisors know about. I was only able to learn about this thanks to the influence Dr. Clod’s list has given me. The billionaires at my disposal inform me of everything I could possibly need to know about the Syndicate, since they funded it.

  They call him Anderson. Or when they’re afraid to say his name aloud… the Reversal.

  I have inherited all my father’s money finally as well, making me a very wealthy man of my own.

  Here’s the thing: if the Syndicate doesn’t release their hidden weapon, I can’t neutralize it later. Jeffrey is on his way to battle the executioner in a game I designed, so he will be occupied enough for me to do my own thing. Until I can locate Fredrick, I simply have no clue what’s going on with him.

  That’s what led me here, the Arcane Syndicate HQ.

  New York is such a beautiful city. The birds sang graceful melodies in the background, the soft hum of cars as they passed by, the flowing breeze that carried these sounds to me, the bright, vibrant trees, and the glowing landscape that occupied my eyes. Ahh, what a sight!

  “What business do you have here?”

  Two guards were in front of the entrance, staring me down.

  I sighed and shook my head.

  “Tch. Embarrassing,” I muttered, barely loud enough for them to hear. “The boss wouldn’t be happy with this…”

  Both guards turned and looked at each other before returning to stare me down.

  “Tell us who you are or we will shoot you down.”

  I sighed again, shaking my head.

  “You guys are in for a hell of a talking to,” I said, flipping my ID towards them, watching their eyes widen in real time. “Viktor Hale. Now open the door before I start keeping score.”

  Both men turned white as ghosts when they saw my card.

  “R-right away, sir! Sorry, s-sir!” They both stammered and quickly opened the doors.

  I purposefully delayed my introduction and acted the way I did to manipulate the guards into thinking they should know me, so they didn't report my arrival to the boss; they’d be too embarrassed to have to admit they didn’t recognize me at first sight.

  I swiftly and elegantly made my way through the halls towards the boss’s main hall. The dark walls emanated a soft hum that made me feel rather put off, although I had gotten used to it before.

  Right before I was about to enter, I heard the boss talking with someone…

  Could it be? I stumbled in at the perfect time?

  I hadn’t anticipated that the boss and Mark would discuss the project this early; my goal was simply to remind the boss of my existence and plant a bug in his room so I could monitor the conversations. That will still occur, but now I get to hear as much information as I’d like.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “...the fact that we must gain back the advantage in this race. I’m going to contact William Anderson.”

  The name clearly set a bad mood, and I heard what sounded like Mark grabbing a table. The boss’s voice sounded like he was facing away from the entrance, meaning I could stand in the doorway to shock him and Mark.

  “I see. He will surely be more than capable.”

  I turned and stood in the doorway, leaning on one of the support beams.

  Just as I did, the boss turned and froze in his tracks, his icy gaze met mine, and we locked eyes.

  Mark, shaking, slowly turned and caught a glimpse of me.

  “Why, hello Mark. Boss. It’s been a while.”

  “Viktor,” The boss said coolly. “It’s been a while.”

  “Why, it most certainly has been, boss. However, I’m afraid I can’t let you release Mr. Anderson. He is to stay here.”

  The boss smiled an icy smile.

  “Now, why would I do that?”

  “Because you want to live, don’t you?”

  Mark, still frozen in fear, couldn’t manage a reaction. The boss, however, could. He cocked his eyebrow up in suspicion and started to stride towards me.

  “What could you possibly have that counters Anderson?”

  I smiled.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know? There is information that I have that you cannot access. I will release it if Anderson is released.”

  The boss smiled again, which let me know everything I needed to. He fell for my trap.

  “Well then, Viktor. As you say. But, what do you want from us?”

  I started walking towards the boss as well. We stood mere inches away from each other, neither one willing to give up ground.

  “You’ll learn soon enough.” I said.

  The boss shoved me to the ground, and I sent myself tumbling, crashing, and landing against a table. I rubbed my head gently, then stood up.

  Mark still hadn’t been able to regain his composure enough to move, now the boss was stomping his way towards me.

  “You’re starting to piss me off. Tell me, what do you plan to do?”

  The boss now swung a fist at me, which I caught with ease.

  “You don’t have any power over me. You never have. I only stayed here because I wanted to. Remember, I escaped once. I’ll do it again.”

  The boss was now trembling with hatred, staring daggers at me while shaking in my hand.

  “Round him up.”

  Guards immediately surrounded me, guns pointing at me from all sides.

  So predictable.

  “Do you really think I didn’t prepare for this?”

  The boss gave me a confused look as he furrowed his brow.

  “What could you possibly have done that prevents you from getting shot right now?”

  I chuckled slowly.

  “Well, I set a timer on my laptop at home. If I’m not back in an hour, all secret documents on the Helix Project, as well as my own testimony, will be published on the internet and sent straight to several news outlets.”

  The boss, utterly humiliated, turned away. I let go of his arm.

  “You may go, Viktor. But don’t think we won’t take measures to counteract you.”

  I sighed.

  “I’m done here. Brace yourselves for the worst, it won’t be enough.”

  Before I could make my way out the door, the boss called out to me.

  “Viktor. Whatever happened to your father?”

  I froze.

  Turning slowly, I caught the boss glaring at me, wearing a wicked smile.

  “He got what was coming.”

  “We’ll bury you, Viktor. No matter how long it takes.”

  I smirked.

  “You’ll need more than a shovel.”

  I said, then walked out of the facility.

  …

  Back at my base of operations, there were things that needed to be done. Now that I had established myself as a clear enough threat, the boss would deploy Anderson, but that’s what I wanted. The fourth clue will have to be something I obtain later; for now, I’m going to have to neutralize Anderson.

  The boss and Mark confirmed the release of Anderson, which I was aware of thanks to the bug I planted on that table. People are so easy to manipulate. They also changed their plans, just like I wanted.

  I am Anderson’s target.

  Anderson is a part of a different project that the Syndicate was experimenting with. Genetic mutation. They wanted to breed perfect humans, however, they couldn't control the gender of the children. So, they started going straight to the source.

  Anderson was a result of that. He can perfectly analyze and see through any potential action someone could make. He has a beyond-human reaction and processing speed. However, he has one major weakness.

  He only trusts his own judgement, meaning that if I played my cards right, I could manipulate him. However, one wrong mistake, and I can’t beat him in combat, not when every move I could possibly make is predicted and countered faster than I could even blink.

  But, that’s what makes it fun.

  I closed my laptop which did not have any Syndicate information ready to be sent, because I lied about that, and called Garett.

  “Change of plans, I’m going to be busy for about a week.”