“I have heard enough warnings from you for one night,” Ethan replied. He pointed toward the corridor. “Get out of my room before I call Lorne.”Selene turned around slowly. “Do not ignore my warning about Dr. Hilton Verda.”Ethan’s expression changed at once. The name carried weight because she had warned him about Hilton before.Ethan still found this warning uncomfortable because Hilton was a member of the Khagan Council, a respected doctor, and someone who had access to people in the highest levels of government.“What does Hilton have to do with this?” Ethan asked. “Are you going to continue accusing every powerful man in Verdanis of trying to kill me?”“I am not accusing everyone,” Selene answered. “I am warning you about the ones who have already chosen you as their enemy.”Ethan stepped away from the bed. “You said Leon Voss arranged the trap tonight. Now you are bringing up Hilton once again into it. Which one of them should I blame, Selene?”“You are still searching for one e

Ethan had spent nearly an hour studying Roland Verda, and the longer he looked, the less he trusted what he saw. Every speech was polished, every financial report was clean, and every promise had been carefully prepared for the public. The office around him was quiet, but Tribunal soldiers were visible through the glass walls outside. Their presence reminded him that the country believed he had been kidnapped, while only a few people knew the truth was far more complicated.Mira stood across from his desk with a tablet in her hands. “This is all public information,” Ethan said as he closed another report. “Any campaign team could have prepared it.”“Then authorise a deeper investigation,” Mira replied. She watched him carefully, knowing his patience was already thin. “We can review his private donors, family companies, overseas accounts, and every meeting he has held in the last five years.”“Not yet,” Ethan said. “I need to know what I am looking for before I alert four presidential

Hilton Verda ended the call with Ethan Xavier and placed his phone beside a glass of cold beer. The private balcony of Mr Grande’s residence overlooked a wide garden filled with trimmed trees, stone fountains, and armed guards moving along the outer walls. Expensive food covered the table between them, yet neither man had touched much of it. Mr Grande had been waiting for only one answer.Hilton picked up his beer and took a slow drink before speaking. “Ethan Xavier has agreed to commission the National Paralysis Recovery Project.”Mr Grande studied him without celebrating. His fingers remained wrapped around his glass as he asked, “He agreed after being kidnapped?”“He agreed because he was kidnapped,” Hilton replied. A small smile appeared on his face as he leaned back in the chair. “A cautious man can be persuaded with facts. A proud man only needs to be shown that his caution looks like fear.”Mr Grande’s expression tightened. “Explain what you said to him.”Hilton reached for a

Two weeks after Hilton Verda promised that Ethan Xavier would die, Ethan walked alone into one of the largest Verda Medical Center in the capital. No guards followed him, and no government vehicle waited outside. He wore a faded brown jacket, plain trousers, cheap glasses, and shoes that looked several years old including a moustache that he wore. An old document bag hung from his shoulder, completing the appearance of an ordinary man who had come to seek help.The security officers near the entrance barely looked at him. One guard waved him through while continuing a private conversation on his phone. Ethan welcomed the disrespect because it proved his disguise was working. Today, he did not want anyone bowing to the Supreme Leader of Verdanis.The bright lobby smelled of disinfectant and expensive perfume. Large banners covered the walls, each displaying Roland Verda's smiling face above the words, THE PEOPLE'S DOCTOR. Other posters showed him shaking hands with injured children, c

“What's happening here?” Ethan asked.The assistant looked at Ethan's clothes and frowned. “Mind your own business. This matter does not concern you.”Ethan remained completely calm despite the hostility. “Every citizen deserves medical care when their life is in danger. Surely this hospital still believes that.”The assistant folded his arms with obvious impatience. “Save your speeches. We run a hospital, not a charity shelter. If you aren't paying his bills, you're wasting everyone's time.”Several nurses looked away, ashamed by the conversation but afraid to interrupt.“He's a Tribunal veteran,” Ethan said. His gaze moved from the medals to the man's pale face. “Every soldier who served in that army received lifetime medical protection from the current government.” (he meant the government he was head of.)“He's a customer,” the assistant replied. “And customers who cannot pay do not receive expensive treatment.”Several people waiting in line shifted uncomfortably. A middle-aged m