The voice on the other end, cold and synthesized, offered no comfort. “It means exactly what it sounds like, Mr. Chen. Your wife is currently a guest of the Consortium. A small insurance policy, you understand. To ensure you don’t do anything… rash.”“You think holding Emma will stop me?” Marcus scoffed, though a cold knot of fear tightened in his stomach. “You clearly don’t know me at all.”“Oh, we know you very well,” the voice replied, a hint of amusement in its tone. “We know about the System, Marcus. We know about the missions, the rewards, the sudden influx of wealth. We’ve been watching you since the accident. You’re predictable. You care about her. That’s your weakness.”“And what do you want?” Marcus demanded, cutting straight to the point. “My company? You already have Richard trying to steal it.”“Richard is a useful distraction,” the voice corrected. “A pawn. We want the System, Marcus. We want the source of your power. Give us the System, and Emma walks free. You can keep

The voice on the other end, cold and synthesized, offered no comfort. “It means exactly what it sounds like, Mr. Chen. Your wife is currently a guest of the Consortium. A small insurance policy, you understand. To ensure you don’t do anything… rash.”“You think holding Emma will stop me?” Marcus scoffed, though a cold knot of fear tightened in his stomach. “You clearly don’t know me at all.”“Oh, we know you very well,” the voice replied, a hint of amusement in its tone. “We know about the System, Marcus. We know about the missions, the rewards, the sudden influx of wealth. We’ve been watching you since the accident. You’re predictable. You care about her. That’s your weakness.”“And what do you want?” Marcus demanded, cutting straight to the point. “My company? You already have Richard trying to steal it.”“Richard is a useful distraction,” the voice corrected. “A pawn. We want the System, Marcus. We want the source of your power. Give us the System, and Emma walks free. You can keep

The voice on the other end, cold and synthesized, offered no comfort. “It means exactly what it sounds like, Mr. Chen. Your wife is currently a guest of the Consortium. A small insurance policy, you understand. To ensure you don’t do anything… rash.”“You think holding Emma will stop me?” Marcus scoffed, though a cold knot of fear tightened in his stomach. “You clearly don’t know me at all.”“Oh, we know you very well,” the voice replied, a hint of amusement in its tone. “We know about the System, Marcus. We know about the missions, the rewards, the sudden influx of wealth. We’ve been watching you since the accident. You’re predictable. You care about her. That’s your weakness.”“And what do you want?” Marcus demanded, cutting straight to the point. “My company? You already have Richard trying to steal it.”“Richard is a useful distraction,” the voice corrected. “A pawn. We want the System, Marcus. We want the source of your power. Give us the System, and Emma walks free. You can keep

The voice on the other end, cold and synthesized, offered no comfort. “It means exactly what it sounds like, Mr. Chen. Your wife is currently a guest of the Consortium. A small insurance policy, you understand. To ensure you don’t do anything… rash.”“You think holding Emma will stop me?” Marcus scoffed, though a cold knot of fear tightened in his stomach. “You clearly don’t know me at all.”“Oh, we know you very well,” the voice replied, a hint of amusement in its tone. “We know about the System, Marcus. We know about the missions, the rewards, the sudden influx of wealth. We’ve been watching you since the accident. You’re predictable. You care about her. That’s your weakness.”“And what do you want?” Marcus demanded, cutting straight to the point. “My company? You already have Richard trying to steal it.”“Richard is a useful distraction,” the voice corrected. “A pawn. We want the System, Marcus. We want the source of your power. Give us the System, and Emma walks free. You can keep

The voice on the other end, cold and synthesized, offered no comfort. “It means exactly what it sounds like, Mr. Chen. Your wife is currently a guest of the Consortium. A small insurance policy, you understand. To ensure you don’t do anything… rash.”“You think holding Emma will stop me?” Marcus scoffed, though a cold knot of fear tightened in his stomach. “You clearly don’t know me at all.”“Oh, we know you very well,” the voice replied, a hint of amusement in its tone. “We know about the System, Marcus. We know about the missions, the rewards, the sudden influx of wealth. We’ve been watching you since the accident. You’re predictable. You care about her. That’s your weakness.”“And what do you want?” Marcus demanded, cutting straight to the point. “My company? You already have Richard trying to steal it.”“Richard is a useful distraction,” the voice corrected. “A pawn. We want the System, Marcus. We want the source of your power. Give us the System, and Emma walks free. You can keep