The next day by 8:00 PM The applause had faded hours ago, but Washington Heights was still alive with flashing lights and news drones humming above the Kahuna Empire tower. Every channel replayed Princewill’s speech, dissecting every line, every pause, every glance he had cast toward the crowd. Inside Kahuna's penthouse apartment, the world was quieter. Princewill sat in the boardroom with a cup of untouched coffee in front of him, the soft hum of the air conditioning the only sound. He’d removed his suit jacket, sleeves rolled up, eyes fixed on a muted television showing breaking news banners: “ARDO LANSING UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.” “FORMER DIB AGENTS DETAINED.” “PRINCEWILL BENTLEY: THE MAN WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE BUREAU.” He let out a long exhale. “It’s strange,” he murmured, “how fast power changes sides.” From the doorway, Kahuna entered, his presence as commanding as always, but this time, his expression was proud. “You looked good out there,” Steven said,

The connection snapped. The screen returned to normal. Nathaniel leaned back, his breath shaky. Sweat clung to his temple. His intercom buzzed suddenly. “Mr. Brown,” a voice said, calm and corporate. “CEO Princewill requests your presence… now.” He stood slowly, his heart still hammering. “On my way.” As the elevator doors slid shut again, his reflection stared back at him, he was more like a man caught between two worlds. When the elevator opened on the 99th floor, Princewill was waiting. His expression was unreadable. “You touched something you shouldn’t have,” he said quietly. Nathaniel froze. “I… I didn’t mean to. It was…” Princewill’s gaze darkened. “He spoke to you, didn’t he?” Nathaniel hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.” Princewill sighed, stepping closer. “Then remember what I tell you now.” His tone was firm, deliberate. “Kahuna sees everything. You don’t look for him. You wait for him to find you. That’s how you survive here.” Nathaniel swallowed hard. “I u

Nathaniel hesitated. “Truth about what?” “About yourself. About DIB. About what you’d do when power asks you to choose between survival and conscience.” Nathaniel looked down, his voice low. “I just wanted a second chance at life.” “No one gets second chances,” the Founder replied. “Only new chains.” Nathaniel looked up, anger flaring. “So this is another prison?” The Founder chuckled quietly. “Not a prison but a purpose.” The walls flickered suddenly, turning into transparent glass. Beneath the chamber, hundreds of levels of the Kahuna Tower glowed each one filled with operatives, data analysts, global surveillance grids, and digital command networks. “This,” said the Founder, “is the empire you now belong to. Governments call us myth… corporations call us gods. And every transaction, every war, every scandal you read… passes through this tower before it hits the world.” Nathaniel stared, stunned. “You control everything.” “We don’t control,” the Founder corr

The elevator doors slid shut behind Kahuna with a soft hiss that sounded too final. The air in the corridor still vibrated with tension... the kind that clung to the skin and refused to leave. The metallic tang of blood lingered, sharp and suffocating. Princewill exhaled quietly, holstering his gun. “Let’s go,” he said. Nathaniel didn’t move. His eyes were fixed on Adrian’s body, the lifeless man who had claimed to know the truth. “He was telling the truth about something,” Nathaniel murmured. “He had to be. The way he looked at me… he wasn’t just crazy.” Princewill’s tone was steady but cold. “You think that because you’re still seeing him as a man. Don’t. He stopped being one a long time ago.” “But...” “Enough.” Princewill’s voice cut through the silence, low and sharp. “Do not test me tonight, Nathaniel, you are my friend from back in the day, trust me, don't push it.” Nathaniel’s jaw tightened, but he followed as Princewill led him back toward the elevator. W

The weekend came as though there were no hurdles. The late afternoon light slanted through the tall windows of Luisa Payne’s penthouse, casting long amber streaks across the marble floor. The city below hummed softly, Luisa sat poised on one end of the white sofa, her silk blouse glowing faintly under the sunlight. She was the picture of grace and control… every gesture precise, every breath measured. Across from her sat Steven, his expression unreadable, his presence magnetic yet calm, like a storm that had learned to hide behind clear skies. Their conversation had been deep, shadowed by secrets and mutual curiosity. “You built quite a name, Mrs. Payne,” Steven said in that smooth, even tone of his, each word weighed carefully, each glance deliberate. “The Payne Foundation’s network runs deeper than most realize. You know that.” Luisa smiled faintly, crossing one leg over the other. “Flattery won’t work on me, Mr. Kahuna,” she said, the faintest smirk playing on her l