A figure sat at the desk in the study, flipping through a book with a calm demeanor. Lugard stood by the window, his expression unreadable. "Lugard," the figure began, not looking up from his book, "do you think Sultan Armstrong suspects anything?" Lugard turned from the window, his face grim. "He’s been suspicious for a while now. The file I left for him is a catalyst. He’s going to have questions when he returns and sees it." The figure nodded, finally closing the book and setting it aside. "It is necessary. He needs to see the information for himself. It’s the only way to push him in the right direction." Lugard crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "But you know how volatile he can be. If he thinks I'm trying to deceive him, it could backfire and it might affect you, us all." The figure leaned back in the chair, his fingers steepled. "That’s a risk I’m willing to take. Sultan needs to understand the gravity of the situation. And if he doesn’t trust this process, we’re all in

The Hermit sighed, his ancient face etched with weariness, as if the weight of centuries rested upon his shoulders. "The original Fool has nothing to do with you, the Fool," he said, his voice laced with a hint of mystification. Sultan was about to speak up again, his curiosity heightening over his frustration, when suddenly the darkness began to writhe and twist, coalescing into shadows that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. He noticed it!The shadows morphed from amorphous shapes into defined beings of light, their forms dancing across the air like ethereal specters. Sultan's breath caught in his throat as the atmosphere grew thick with an otherworldly energy, the hum of the forming entities vibrating through every molecule. "What is that?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the mesmerizing din, his eyes wide with wonder and a hint of trepidation.Sultan's gaze darted frantically around him as the figures emerged from the shadows, their presence seeming to draw t

The bind covering Sultan's eyes seemed to come alive, writhing like a snake around his head, tightening its grip with an ominous intensity. He could feel the movements!The light that had once promised hope now taunted him, its radiance morphing into a malevolent force that closed in on him with an unstoppable momentum. “No! No! No!! Stop!!!!” Sultan yelled. This was all a scam! The calmness of the light, the promise of the light, it was all to make him succumb!Suddenly, he felt pain hit him hard.As the darkness deepened, Sultan's screams echoed through the void, his body contorting in anguish as the pain ravaged his every fiber. “Ahhh!!!”His knees buckled, his limbs flailing in a desperate bid for freedom, but the invisible chains held fast, ensnaring him in a living nightmare. The air grew heavy with an unholy presence, the shadows coalescing into a palpable entity that loomed over him, its icy breath whispering unspeakable horrors in his ear. And in the midst of this unrelent

In his sleek, modern office, Lin sat behind a large mahogany desk, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the polished surface with a sense of controlled urgency. Across from him, his secretary, Caroline, meticulously reviewed the company's latest reports with a focus that bordered on obsession. The soft hum of the city outside was a stark contrast to the intensity within the room, where the air was thick with unspoken tension. Lin adjusted his tie with a precise gesture, his eyes narrowing as he leaned back in his chair, the weight of lots of situations in his mind pressing down on him like a physical force. He had a lot to do!Still, he needed to keep his composure, to maintain the facade of calm control. Caroline continued to read from the report, oblivious to his growing tension, her voice a steady drone that seemed to match the beat of his tapping fingers. "The profits from the last quarter have shown a steady increase," she said, flipping a page with a crisp rustle. "However,

"Or what, boss?”Sullivan's gaze snapped back to the phone, his eyes narrowing. "Not something you should know, nose poker," he growled, his tone brusque. "Get your nose off it." He paused, collecting himself, before continuing in a calmer tone, "Make sure you keep your eyes, ears, and nose open to perceive and see and hear anything." With that, he ended the call. The guards remained silent, their eyes fixed ahead like statues, as Sullivan sat back, his mind whirring with the possibilities. He knew that this turn of events could either solidify his power or bring about unforeseen chaos, and he was determined to stay one step ahead.As Sullivan pondered his next move, the atmosphere in the golden room grew increasingly tense, the air thickening. The president's son was a master manipulator, and the pieces on his chessboard were shifting rapidly, like pawns in a high-stakes game. He had to act swiftly and decisively to maintain his advantage, to stay one step ahead of the players.