The officer marched into the office, his expression fierce and unrelenting, his hands tightly gripping his AK-47. He scanned the room for a few tense moments before speaking.“Time’s up. Back to your cell,” he said, his voice deep and firm.“Remember what I told you. I’ll be back in two days,” Chief Jim whispered just as the officer approached Perez, grabbed him by the arm, and lifted him from his seat. Perez gave a silent nod, then exited the room alongside the officer.Shortly after they left, Chief Jim let out a heavy sigh and rose to his feet. He adjusted his shirt, smoothing out the creases with steady hands, before walking out of the room. As he stepped outside the station, the cool air met his face. He headed straight to his car, pulled the door open, got in, started the engine, and drove off without hesitation.---Somewhere else in the city…Inside the lavish living room of an opulent mansion, a towering man stood with commanding presence. His body was thick with muscle, his

Elsewhere...Scott had already booked the flight and successfully paid all the bills. Now, he sat inside the plane after waiting for several minutes. He was seated by the window, and beside him was Ali. Ali had his head down, cold sweat trickling down his face as he muttered prayers under his breath.It felt like he was right back in Scott's jet, and it was crashing all over again. He hadn’t recovered from the shock and fear he felt during that incident, so right now, he was freaking out while sitting there.Scott, on the other hand, remained silent. His arms were folded, and his back leaned against the seat. His head was filled with thoughts, wondering how his home would look when he returned. It had been close to a year since he left, and he couldn't help but wonder how much had changed while he was away.He knew one thing for sure—things wouldn’t be the same. A lot must have changed, and many people might have even forgotten him.Scott pondered for several minutes, and when the pil

Kael stood motionless on the raised platform, a puzzled expression evident on his face as his eyes locked onto the sleek black car slowly driving onto the green field. The murmuring of the crowd faded into a tense silence as all heads turned to watch the vehicle approach. A thick wave of curiosity and unease swept through them, each person wondering who could possibly be inside.They all recognized the vehicle. It wasn’t just any car—it was a limousine reserved exclusively for the highest-ranking members of the empire. But all known high-ranking figures were already present on the field. The presence of this particular car raised an immediate and unsettling question: who else could it be?Down on the wooden platform, Jude Gallagher remained on his knees, his wrists still bound. He squinted at the advancing limousine, his breath caught in his throat. Then, slowly, a wide grin crept across his bruised face.“He’s… back,” he muttered softly, the words barely a whisper, yet somehow still

Scott walked up the staircase, ascending toward his room with slow, deliberate steps. When he reached the door, he paused for a moment before pushing it open. Scott stood silently at the threshold, his eyes sweeping across the space as a distant, unreadable expression settled on his face.The room was exactly as he had left it months ago. Not a single thing seemed out of place. There were no cobwebs in the corners, no dust blanketing the surfaces—clear evidence that the maids had continued tending to it regularly. They must have believed he would one day return, and they had kept it in perfect shape, almost as if time had stopped here."At least he didn't touch my room," Scott murmured to himself, stepping inside and gently closing the door behind him.He moved toward the bed and sat down heavily, leaning his elbows on his knees, his back hunched and his mind consumed with thought. His face remained expressionless, but his eyes told a different story—one of confusion, disappointment,

The Next Morning...The rays of the morning sun flickered into the luxurious room, cutting through the delicate curtains and shining brightly into Scott’s eyes, stirring him from his slumber. With a low grunt, he sat up slowly, the silky bedsheets slipping down his bare chest. He swung his legs off the bed and stretched his body with a deep yawn before moving toward the large window at the far end of the room.As he pulled the curtain aside, the golden sunlight flooded in, casting a warm glow across the marble floor. His eyes scanned the estate grounds. From his vantage point, he could already see his workers hard at work. The guards were patrolling the compound with practiced precision, eyes constantly scanning for any disturbance. Meanwhile, the maids were bustling about, cleaning every corner of the massive property with quiet efficiency.Scott stood there for a few moments, taking it all in—the return to normalcy, the subtle hum of activity that came with power. With a deep breath