The sedan stopped in the middle of the compound, but no one rushed to open Ethan’s door. For several seconds, the engine remained running while two searchlights moved across the vehicle. Ethan looked through the tinted window and counted ten armed men waiting in the courtyard.None of them appeared surprised by the sedan’s arrival. Several already had their weapons raised, while the others watched the doors with calm patience. Ethan understood at once that they had been given instructions before he arrived. This was not a hurried reception. They had been waiting specifically for him.Some wore black tactical gear, heavy boots, and bulletproof vests without badges. Others looked far more disturbing. Their faces were marked with dark red and white paint, while bone necklaces hung across their bare chests. Pieces of animal hide covered their shoulders and waists, but modern rifles rested firmly in their hands.Ethan kept his expression calm. “Your friends certainly know how to create an

The screaming stopped, but the silence that followed was worse. Ethan remained tied to the heavy chair, surrounded by blood, corpses, and men who seemed completely untouched by what was happening upstairs. Even Selene showed no concern as the slow footsteps above continued moving toward the staircase.Ethan listened carefully. One set of boots moved with steady weight, while another sound followed behind it, uneven and rough. Something heavy was being dragged across the floor. Each scrape grew louder, then paused as though the person being pulled was fighting to remain upstairs.A frightened voice finally broke through the ceiling. “Please, I already told you everything!” the man cried. “There’s nothing else I know. You have to believe me.”Someone struck him, and his words ended in a painful groan. The armed men in the room did not even look up. One of them leaned against the wall while another calmly wiped dirt from the side of his rifle.Ethan looked from one face to another. "None

The guard pressed down harder. “You gave us lies until pain forced out the truth.”“I was afraid,” the man cried. “Anyone would be afraid in this place.”Ethan leaned forward as far as the ropes allowed. “Why and how did you recognize me?”The prisoner stared at him, his chest rising and falling beneath the guard’s boot. “Because I know who you are.”“That doesn’t answer my question,” Ethan replied. “What do you want from me?”“Forgiveness,” the prisoner whispered. “I want your forgiveness before they kill me.”Ethan searched the man's battered face again, hoping recognition would come."I've never seen you before," he said. "Why would you ask forgiveness from a stranger?"The prisoner lowered his head. "Because to you, I deserve to be a stranger. After what I agreed to do, I lost the right to stand before you."Ethan’s expression hardened. “You need forgiveness for what?”The prisoner opened his mouth, but fear stopped him. His working eye shifted toward Selene and then toward the ma

Selene’s expression revealed nothing. She stepped away from the table and spoke several sharp words in the group’s ritual language. Ethan did not understand the full command, but he recognized its authority. Her voice was quiet, yet every armed man in the room reacted at once.The guard removed his boot from the dead prisoner’s chest. “You heard her,” he told the others. “Clear the lower level and leave nothing behind that belongs to us.”Another guard bent to lift the corpse, but Selene stopped him with a brief command. The man immediately released the dead prisoner and stood upright. He did not question why the body had to remain beside Ethan.Ethan watched the guards obey without hesitation. No one argued with Selene or even looked surprised by her orders. “What kind of authority do you have over these people?” Ethan asked. “They obey you faster than trained soldiers obey their commander.”Selene offered no reply. She simply watched the last guard step away from the body.Ethan tu

“The blood is not mine,” Ethan answered. “Cut me loose first. Questions can come after that.”Lorne pulled a combat knife from his belt. “Hold still, sir. The ropes are tight around your wrists.”“I noticed,” Ethan replied. “How did you find me?”Lorne began cutting through the first knot. “We received an emergency signal from your private device.”“Who answered the call?” Ethan asked. “You personally?”“No, sir,” Lorne said. “The signal went directly to Tribunal command. Your location was attached.”Ethan watched his face closely. “Was there a voice recording?”Lorne hesitated before cutting the rope around Ethan’s right wrist. “A woman gave the location.”“What woman?” Ethan asked, though he already knew the answer.“The system could not confirm her identity,” Lorne replied. “She spoke for less than ten seconds and ended the call.”Ethan freed his right hand and rubbed the deep red marks around his wrist. “You recognized the voice.”Lorne moved to the rope around Ethan’s other arm.