The men spread out, moving through the house like shadows. They didn’t waste any time, opening doors and tossing furniture aside. One of them stormed into the bedroom where the youngest children slept. He grabbed a small wooden bed and, with little effort, flipped it over, sending blankets and stuffed animals scattering across the floor. One of the orphans, a small boy, barely five, tried to gather his things, clutching a tattered teddy bear. The man only sneered and kicked the bear out of his hands.Another child, a girl with wide, tearful eyes, tried to grab her shoes as one of the men dragged her by the arm. "Leave me alone!" She kicked and wriggled, desperate to hold on to the small things she called her own, but he only tightened his grip, ignoring her screams.Outside, Mr. Charles stood with his arms crossed, a cold smile was on his face as he watched his men work. He didn’t seem to care about the cries of the children or the pleas of Mrs. Martha, who followed them from roo

Mr. Charles looked up, his face was pale and his hands were shaking as he held the documents.Marvin stepped forward, his voice was steady but full of satisfaction. "Well, it is possible now," he said firmly. "You no longer own this building. The government has taken it from you."Mr. Charles’s eyes widened in shock. "But... they don’t have any solid grounds to take this from me," he stammered.The inspector beside Marvin replied sharply, "Oh yes, they do." He pointed at the papers. "We found out you were extorting money from Mr. Craig here. His foundation was supported by the government. How dare you demand money from him just because he’s an immigrant?"Mr. Charles’s mouth dropped open, stunned by the accusation. He tried to defend himself, as his voice began to grow defensive. "Mr. Craig is an illegal immigrant. He’s not even supposed to be here in this country."Marvin’s face darkened with anger. "Is that why you decided to use his situation against him? To squeeze money from him?

"So," Marvin asked, raising an eyebrow, "what brings you to Neovalle?"Jessica’s smile didn’t falter. "Business."Marvin hesitated, then nodded. He tried to keep his tone casual. "What about you, Marvin?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "What keeps you here? You are no longer in Westwood?"Marvin’s jaw tightened. "I don’t have much of a reason to be in Westwood anymore," he admitted. "Not since my father stripped me of my title and inheritance. That life is gone."Jessica’s expression softened, if only for a second. "I’m sorry to hear that again, Marvin. Truly, that must have been a hard experience for you."Marvin glanced down, uncomfortable with the sympathy. Jessica wasn’t usually one to offer kind words. But before she could speak further, Marvin looked her over, his eyes were lingering on a thin silver bracelet around her wrist. At the end of the chain hung a small, polished stone—her amulet."You still wear your amulet, I see," he said, with a hint of amusement in his vo

Jessica’s expression didn’t falter. She looked at Marvin, and her eyes were gleaming with a cold, calculating light."It’s simple," she said, her voice was steady and certain. "I did my research, and I discovered exactly what your Project Helios is. It’s a solar flare prediction initiative, isn’t it? You’re developing a technology that can forecast solar flare events more than 36 hours in advance."Marvin’s eyes widened in shock. He stared at her, looking totally speechless, struggling to process how she could possibly know such detailed information about his project.Jessica continued, unfazed by his reaction. "Using a machine-learning algorithm and high-performance computing, Project Helios is going to be designed so as to protect satellite-based communication systems, global power grids, and even military operations from the disruptive effects of solar flares. We both know these solar storms can cause massive damage to technology on Earth and in space."Marvin was still trying to w

Marvin squinted, focusing his gaze on the figures blocking the road. He needed a clearer view to figure out who—or what—they were. The driver eased the van forward slowly, closing the distance between them and the figures blocking the road. These mysterious people were clad head-to-toe in glossy black latex suits that reflected the faint streetlights like polished armor.As they got closer, Marvin’s eyes narrowed on a glimmer at the wrists and necks of the figures. Thin, shimmering amulets hung around each of their necks and hands. Not just that, the amulets sparkled like small, contained galaxies. Marvin's heart sank, his pulse quickend as recognition dawned on him.“Damn it,” he muttered, voice was tight with alarm. He knew exactly who they were.Those amulets were unmistakable. Only the Zyphers carried them, using their power to cloak themselves, making their movements silent and invisible until they were ready to strike. These figures had probably been hidden right here on t