"Now's not the time for this, Steve. We have to get the hell out of here before we get into more trouble," Zed bellowed, his voice sharp with urgency. Steve nodded weakly, still trembling. His hands were clammy, and his face looked as pale as a ghost, but he made a visible effort to stay composed after hearing Zed’s words.Lucas approached them moments later, clutching the wooden crate with both hands, his face drenched in sweat and streaked with dirt. Without uttering a word, he yanked open the back door of the car and gently placed the crate inside. Steve followed suit, setting his crate beside Lucas's, and both men shut the door firmly before stepping into the vehicle.However, just as Zed was about to enter the car, a voice called out from behind him, slicing through the night like a blade."Zed Zimmerman!"Zed froze mid-step and turned around slowly, his brows furrowed in suspicion. The female shop attendant was approaching him, flanked by a group of rugged-looking men whose eyes

VROOOOMMM!The sleek black car sped through the dimly lit streets of the city, its headlights slicing through the veil of night as it headed toward the nearest river. Their destination was clear: dispose of the body. Lucas had already checked the map earlier, and the closest river, situated just beyond the outskirts of the Black Zone, was only a few miles away from their current location.Ever since they left the Black Zone, none of them had uttered a single word. The silence in the car was oppressive, filled only by the soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic pounding of hearts. Lucas sat in the driver’s seat, his right hand tightly gripping the wheel, his knuckles pale from the pressure. His eyes were sharp and unwavering, fixated on the winding road ahead.Behind him, Steve sat motionless, his body trembling as if gripped by a silent storm. His head hung low, eyes unfocused, and his heart thundered violently in his chest. Cold sweat rolled down his forehead and cheeks, drenching hi

Zed stood there a few meters away, his expression cold and his gaze fixed on the car as it slowly sank into the murky waters. A few moments later, the vehicle was completely submerged, disappearing into the depths of the river. Zed let out a sharp sigh of relief as he turned to face the duo now walking toward him.“It’s done,” Lucas stated firmly.“Good job, guys,” Zed said. “Now let’s get the hell out of here before someone spots us. I’ve had enough trouble for one night.”They all nodded in agreement, then began to trek through the woods, retracing their steps toward the main road. They walked for several minutes until Zed suddenly halted, forcing the others to stop as well and turn to face him.“What’s the matter, boss?” Steve asked, a puzzled look spreading across his face.“The weapons…” Zed muttered. “We didn’t get the crates out of the car before pushing it into the river.”Hearing Zed’s words, the duo’s eyes widened in realization, and they both slapped their foreheads in unis

Zed and his workers still sat around the grand dining table, each of them quietly finishing off the remnants of their feast. The once-overflowing dishes were now nearly empty, their appetites thoroughly satisfied. Their stomachs were full, visibly bulging from the sheer quantity they had consumed. Slowly, the rhythm of eating came to a halt—none of them could manage another bite.Zed leaned back in his chair, sighing with satisfaction as he reached for a glass of red wine. He brought it to his lips and took a slow sip, letting the rich flavor settle on his tongue before swallowing.“The food was really good,” Lucas murmured, still chewing the last morsel of meat in his mouth.“I know, right? Kimberly’s an amazing cook,” Zed replied with a light chuckle, taking another sip from his glass. “Now that we’re all done eating, we should get some sleep. I don’t know about you guys, but I’m exhausted... I feel like I could pass out at any moment,” he added in a sluggish tone, his voice heavy w

Lucas stood motionless in the small, dimly lit office of Zed Zimmerman, his hands still clutching the worn leather journal, his eyes transfixed on the yellowing page before him. The warm glow from the antique desk lamp cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the dust particles swirling lazily in the air. Lucas’s brow furrowed as he read, his expression clouded with confusion.Nothing he was reading made sense. No matter how carefully he studied the journal, no matter how many times he reread the cryptic lines, comprehension remained stubbornly out of reach. The words taunted him—clear in form, yet cloaked in mystery.“What does he mean by ‘system’?” Lucas wondered silently, his eyes never leaving the page. “System? As in a computer system? But that makes no sense. I’ve never heard of a computer that gives its owner money… let alone that kind of money.”Zed hadn’t written much about the system in the journal. He hadn’t explained what it was or where it came from. All he did was