The underground facility beneath Jacob's safe house had been designed for situations exactly like this. Steel-reinforced concrete walls absorbed sound completely, ensuring that no matter how loud Marcus Nico screamed, no one outside would hear a thing.Marcus sat chained to a metal chair bolted to the floor, his broken wrist wrapped in crude bandages that did nothing for the pain. The mystical-suppressing shackles prevented him from accessing any enhanced abilities he might possess, leaving him completely vulnerable.Jacob stood across the room, arms crossed, studying his prisoner with the cold analytical gaze of someone who had interrogated countless enemies over his military career. This was not his first time extracting information from an unwilling source, and his experience showed in how patiently he waited for Marcus to break the silence."You cannot keep me here forever," Marcus said, trying to sound confident despite the fear obvious in his voice. "My father knows where I am.

The name hung in the air like poison. The Tyrant. Jacob had heard that title before during his military campaigns, whispered by terrified soldiers and refugees who had witnessed Argo's brutal conquests firsthand. Verons Heis had earned that name through decades of merciless warfare and systematic destruction of anyone who opposed him."Verons Heis is in Seron?" Jacob asked, his voice dangerously quiet. "You are certain?"Marcus nodded frantically, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool temperature of the underground room. "He arrived three days ago. I saw him myself at my father's estate. He was not trying to hide his presence or his identity."Anna felt Jacob tense beside her. She had never seen him react this way to a name before, not even when discussing the people who had murdered his family. Whatever history existed between Jacob and this Verons Heis, it ran deep."Why would Argo's supreme military commander come to Seron personally?" Anna asked, trying to understand the

Leo's announcement about five hundred hidden Argo soldiers transformed the interrogation room's atmosphere from tense to apocalyptic. Jacob stood perfectly still for several long seconds, processing the implications while his mind raced through tactical scenarios."How did you confirm this?" Jacob asked, his voice dangerously calm."Facial recognition software running on security cameras throughout the city," Leo explained, pulling out his tablet to show the data. "I cross-referenced visitors entering Seron over the past three months against Argo military databases. The matches are undeniable—these are trained soldiers posing as civilians."Anna moved closer to examine the tablet screen, seeing dozens of faces tagged with military identification codes. Young men of fighting age, all entering the city through different points of entry over an extended period. The infiltration had been systematic and carefully orchestrated."They are preparing for internal sabotage," Jacob said, unders

Jacob made the decision to establish a permanent surveillance position within an hour of discovering Bishop's underground fortress. The abandoned industrial complex provided numerous vantage points where observers could maintain visual contact with the facility's entrances without being detected themselves.They chose a partially collapsed warehouse three hundred meters from the main entrance to Bishop's compound. The building's structural damage made it appear too dangerous for occupation, which meant no one would investigate their presence. Leo's team reinforced the interior sections they needed while leaving the exterior looking as decrepit as before."We need to document everyone," Jacob said as they set up the surveillance equipment. "Every face, every vehicle, every piece of equipment entering or leaving. Build a complete picture of Bishop's organization."Anna helped position cameras at strategic angles, ensuring they captured clear images of anyone approaching the facility. Mi

The revelation that Bishop planned to capture Anna and force her to activate the artifacts hung in the air like poison. Jacob felt rage building in his chest, the kind of cold fury that had made him legendary on battlefields across the continent. They were not just planning to use Anna as a tool—they intended to weaponize her guardian abilities against her own homeland."We need to get you somewhere safe," Jacob said immediately, already running through locations that might offer adequate protection. "Somewhere Bishop cannot reach you.""No," Anna replied firmly, her initial shock at seeing her uncle's betrayal transforming into steely determination. "Running solves nothing. We need to stop this invasion, and that requires both of us working together."The surveillance feed continued showing the conspirators discussing logistics and timelines. Bishop was explaining how the artifact activation would work—Anna would be kept sedated but conscious, her mystical abilities channeled through