The quiet hum of the Rolls-Royce engine was the only sound inside the luxury cabin as the flashing lights of Kansas City's central district began to fade in the rearview mirror.Jack sat back against the leather seat, his fingers lightly tapping against his knee. The dark, confident smile he had worn while leaving Mary Greene behind had settled into a sharp, contemplative line.He was quietly thinking about the Mayor's words, wondering what had led the man to think he'd agree to his offer. When did Mayor Garrick conceive the notion that he was afraid of being exposed?Beside him, the blush on Jane's cheeks had faded, replaced by the rigid posture of a professional waiting for orders. She knew Jack too well… Anytime he assumed a serious expression, a plan was brewing. It was only a matter of time before he came up with something and shared it with them…or better still, gave her a task.“I never expected you to do that,” she finally said.“Do what?” Jack asked.“Refuse the Mayor's offer

Jack sat on the balcony, staring at the radiant sun. It was a bright and hot morning, but the cool breeze alleviated any discomfort. He slowly gazed at the horizon as he sipped a cup of coffee, rocking the chair he was sitting on. The trees in the estate lined up in front of him, giving him a picturesque view. The lawns accentuated nature's artistry with their lush greenery, making him appreciate the beauty before him. “So beautiful,” he said as he placed the cup on the table. A smile curled up at the ends of his lips as he leaned back. Soon, Jane walked up to him and bowed slightly. “Good morning, Sir,” she said. “You called for me… Is there a problem?” Jack shook his head. “Not at all. I want to hear the crucial information you got from that guy… What was his name again?” “Philemon, Sir,” Jane replied. “His name is Philemon.” “Right,” he nodded slowly. “With all the trouble brewing around, I do not have the time to memorize a random guy's name.” Jane inhaled, clapping her hand

The old cathedral basement on 4th Street was a crumbling monument of weathered gray stone and a towering spire that cut a jagged silhouette against the sky. The glass windows were caked in grime, accumulated over the decades. The acrid smell of rot and dust wafted through the atmosphere, making the air thick and clogged. But beneath the rotting floorboards and heavy smell of rot lay Darlington Campbell’s lair. The basement was reached through a hidden, counterweighted stone door behind the altar. Descending the narrow spiral staircase, the damp smell of stone and mold slowly gave way to the hot aroma of industrial electronics.The main chamber was a different world altogether—a subterranean crypt filled with high-end illegal technology. Countless stone arches housed humming server racks, wrapped in thick bundles of black cables.Darlington leaned against the rough, unpainted wall, his eyes gazing into oblivion. It was as if he were pondering something very important. The tactical moni

Whack! The sharp, echoing crack of leather hitting a focus mitt shattered the quiet morning air on the estate's private training pavilion. Jack pivoted on the ball of his lead foot, his movement incredibly fluid as he executed a flawless centerline straight punch, followed immediately by a low, lightning-fast sweep. ‘I need to get it right this time…’ he thought to himself. ‘I may have the Tycoon's Ledger, but they're still masters!’ He watched as Brandon, holding the heavy padding, caught the strike. He expected the lanky ‘shield’ to stop the attacks perfectly as always, a frown etching across his face. But Brandon was forced to take a heavy step back to absorb the sheer kinetic force behind the attacks. The private bodyguard gave Jack a piercing gaze, as if evaluating his newfound skill. “Good pace, Boss,” he grunted, a bead of sweat dripping down his calloused jaw as he reset his Sanda stance. “Your reaction time is getting scary… I can't believe you intercepted the line before

Inside the grand foyer of the Hales' mansion, the atmosphere was grim. The metallic cane hit the white Italian marble, echoing sharply against the ceiling as the Mayor glared at Fredrick. He stood at the center of the room like a king presiding over a courtroom. Miriam stared at Fredrick with a bewildered expression, trying desperately to say something. But each time she tried to do so, her son's boldness caused her to falter. He'd always been like this, but it seemed something was different today… He wasn't always this disrespectful! She glanced at Mayor Garrick and saw that he was already fuming. She knew that he would take out his anger on her if she didn't do anything to cull Fredrick's arrogant behavior. They all wanted him on their side because he was the sole successor of the Hales family. Someone like him shouldn't be allies with their enemy, Jack Neuman… It didn't make any sense… She struggled with her thoughts and eventually made the final decision. She inhaled and stepped