The overseer struggled in Ethan’s grip, but Ethan did not release him.The man’s face was still bleeding from the punch, yet his arrogance had not fully died. He grabbed Ethan’s wrist and tried to pull free, shouting loud enough for nearby workers to hear. “Let go of me, you filthy volunteer. Do you know who I am in this camp?”Ethan dragged him farther from the distribution line and pushed him against the side of the truck. “I know you are standing between hungry people and supplies that were meant for them.”The overseer gave a mocking smile and shook his head. “Listen to yourself,” he scoffed. “You sound like some great inspector. This camp has rules, and you are at the very bottom of them. The only thing standing between these people and those supplies is me. You should remember that before you start making threats you cannot carry out.”The overseer glared at him. “You will regret this. I will mess up your life so badly that no camp, no foundation, and no charity office will ever

Two days after Camp Westbrook, Ethan no longer needed to guess that Mr. E was real.The investigation room inside Xavier Group had been locked since morning. Screens covered the walls, showing delivery records, bank routes, employee lists, relief approvals, and recovered documents seized from Camp Westbrook. Ethan stood near the main table while Mira, Rachel, and Marcos worked through the evidence in silence.The room felt heavier than it had two days earlier. Every screen displayed another piece of the puzzle, yet none of them showed the man they were truly looking for. Ethan rested both hands on the table and quietly watched his team work. Nobody dared interrupt the silence because everyone understood that one mistake could allow an entire criminal network connected to Gideon Harrick to disappear forever.Rachel finally looked up from her screen. “Master Ethan, we found the first official record containing the initial E. It appears on three relief approval forms and one payment cle

Ethan entered Harrington Financial Group as the kind of man receptionists were trained to ignore.The lobby was wide, bright, and cold. Marble floors reflected the lights above, and quiet music played from hidden speakers. Men and women in expensive clothes moved past him without looking twice. Ethan held his delivery folder close to his chest and walked toward the reception desk with his shoulders slightly lowered.The receptionist glanced at his clothes before she looked at his face. “Can I help you?”Ethan gave a small nervous smile. “I need to see someone in Corporate Accounting. It is urgent.”She sighed quietly. “Do you have an appointment?”“No,” Ethan said. “But it concerns a payment issue. Twenty thousand dollars.”The receptionist’s expression did not change, but her patience clearly weakened. “Sir, this is Harrington Financial Group. You cannot just walk in here over a payment issue.”Ethan lowered his voice. “Please. I was told Mr. Elias Morven can help. It is very import

Mira’s voice was full of disbelief. “Why would he keep this?”Rachel lowered her voice. “No careful criminal keeps evidence unless he believes it is more valuable than destroying it.”Ethan never took his eyes off the screen. Every instinct he had developed during the war told him this flash drive had not been hidden out of fear. It had been preserved for a purpose.Ethan kept watching the frozen image of Elias on the screen."There are only two reasons a guilty man records his own crimes," he said quietly."The first is blackmail."He paused before adding, "The second is proof of loyalty."No one answered.For the first time since entering the office, all four of them realized they were no longer investigating a corrupt accountant.They were looking at someone who expected to be rewarded for what he had done.Ethan replayed the short recording once more without speaking. Elias showed no fear while destroying the documents on the video. There was no panic in his face, only confidence

Ethan woke up five hours later with his body heavy and his mind fighting through darkness.The room was quiet, but not completely silent. A soft light came from the side table, and the curtains near the window moved slightly in the night breeze. Ethan did not open his eyes at once. Something felt wrong. His head was clear enough to think, but his muscles still felt weak, as if sleep had been forced on him rather than invited.He remembered the drink. He remembered Selene’s hand on his shoulder. He remembered her soft voice telling him to sleep. His chest tightened slowly, but he kept his breathing even.Then he heard Selene’s voice.She was standing somewhere near the balcony doors, speaking softly into a phone. Her tone was different from the one she used with him. It was calmer, colder, and filled with authority.“In Īztac Nāhualāni nochipa tlayacāntli,” Selene said quietly.Ethan’s heart almost stopped.The phrase entered his ears like a blade. It was the same phrase from the anon