As they ascended to the second floor, the sight that opened before Paula's eyes stunned her. Personal gym equipment was scattered across the vast space, the sauna room invited relaxation, and automatic massagers seemed ready to provide comfort. In fact, automatic floor cleaners roll around every corner, adding to the futuristic and practical feel.Paula stood in the center of the room, her eyes sparkling with admiration. She could only shake her head, her mouth clamped shut as if she couldn't find the right words. After a few seconds, she was finally able to utter one word that represented all her admiration, "Amazing.""At this rate, I won't have to go to the gym for pilates and yoga. This is amazing," Paula said enthusiastically. She touched the exercise equipment as if she couldn't believe what she saw. The gym is very spacious and equipped with all the necessary exercise equipment. This is not just a middle-class gym but a luxury facility often found in big malls.The man in black
Once Charlotte was satisfied with the pictures, they continued the tour of the main rooms. The man in black led them to Carson and Alison's room. A large, high-quality wood door revealed a luxurious and elegant space.Inside the room, they were greeted by a stunning interior. The bedroom had a king-size bed with a white mosquito net hanging gently. High-quality linens and fluffy pillows adorned the bed. Next to the bed is a side table with an elegant nightlight, and a large window showcases the stunning outside view of the garden at the back of the house.One corner of the room is devoted to a lounge area with a comfortable sofa and coffee table. On the other side is a large dressing table with a gold-framed mirror and a cushioned chair. The floor is covered in thick carpeting, providing extra comfort when stepping on.Alison and Paula looked mesmerized as they explored the room. Alison approached the large window and looked out in awe. "This is amazing, Carson. This room is so beauti
Carson glanced back and saw Vivian contacting someone on her cell phone. Although Carson did not know for sure who Vivian was contacting, he assumed it was the Lee family. Carson smiled a little, feeling interested in the possibilities that were unfolding."Come on, let's move on to the next room," invited the man in black in a calm tone. All eyes were on Carson, who had been silent as if he was thinking about something important."You guys go ahead! I have something to take care of first. I'll catch up," Carson said in a firm but gentle voice. Paula, Alison, and the two men in black exchanged glances before nodding. They finally entered another room, leaving Carson alone in a quiet room. Once everyone had left, Carson took out his cell phone and quickly searched for the Lee family patriarch's number.Carson pressed the call button. The phone on the other end was picked up in a firm and authoritative voice in just one second. It was the head of the Lee family who picked up. Of course,
On a busy street corner, Carson sat on an old wooden bench. In front of him, the chessboard was spread out with great tension. This street was quite crowded today, mainly because of the chess game that attracted attention. Someone never lost and was arrogant. People gathered there to watch that person fail.Several people had tried and were always defeated. The man's arrogance was getting higher and higher. He even went as far as mocking everyone there as 'fools'. That annoyed people even more, but no one dared to come forward because they didn't trust him.Suddenly, someone raised his hand and sat on the chair. That person was Carson, and now Carson would fight intelligence through street chess. That instant, all hopes were on Carson to slap the man's face in defeat.The man had dishevelled hair and was dressed in shabby clothes, looking very confident. He was a local chess player known for his disdain for others. In contrast, with his calm gaze and peaceful face, Carson looked as if
"Checkmate," Cason said firmly.The crowd began to cheer. Some people started cheering Carson with admiration. The sense of satisfaction within them overflowed. This was what they had been waiting for. The opponent stood with a flushed face, disappointed and in disbelief. He thought for a long time that this was his first defeat here."Impossible. How can that be?" he complained.Carson, with a satisfied smile on his face, addressed the applauding crowd. "Sometimes, in a game like this, not everything that seems obvious is the truth. Looking foolish and losing will make you win in the end."The man stared in surprise at Carson. He felt Carson was not that genius and smart, from his posture. Carson looked like a handsome, muscular man who had no brains. Expectations are very different from reality because Carson is actually a genius. He was a general, and strategising was common in his life.After a tense chess match ended. Tense at the beginning because Carson deliberately looked los
Carson continued his steps, observing the crowds on the streets. Several street games caught his attention, but none made him feel the need to get involved, like the chess game he had previously played."It's interesting here, too. So crowded and neat," Carson muttered to himself. He felt comfortable and entertained, seeing how everything was neatly organised. Usually, he had to deal with impolite people who did not hesitate to bump into him on the road. However, this time, everything seemed different.It had only been a few seconds, Carson thought. A few seconds later, a young man suddenly ran without paying attention to his surroundings and hit Carson hard. Carson almost staggered but tried to stay on his feet. The young man continued to run without changing his pace. Carson managed to stop him quickly, touching the arm of the young man, who still looked hurried.The young man turned around with an angry and hateful gaze. "What are you doing? This road is public. It's not yours. It'
Carson looked at Darwis and said, "Just take me home."Darwis was shocked. "Aren't you going to have meetings with some clients? Is it okay if you cancel them all?" He was confused because cancelling meetings abruptly could upset clients and possibly cancel investments in Carson's projects."No problem," Carson replied firmly. "I contacted them just now, and they said it's no problem. Therefore, you just take me home."Darwis nodded, although he still looked a little anxious. "Alright, if that's what you want. I'll take you home quickly."During the ride, Darwis tried to distract himself from the tension by making small talk. "So, any special plans at home? Do you need to prepare anything?"Carson smiled slightly. "Just some personal things. Sometimes, being away from the hassle of work makes things calmer."Darwis nodded, responding with an understanding tone. "Sometimes it's important to have some alone time and get away from it all."Carson nodded in agreement. "Very true. Thank yo
Alison stood trembling, hugging her husband Carson's hand as she felt the tension in the room. Tears dripped from her eyes because of the harsh treatment she had received. With his well-built body and face full of anger, Carson stood in front of the two debt collectors with a powerful aura of intimidation. His eyes were burning with anger. Alison could feel her husband's unbridled rage."Honey, calm down," Alison tried to speak tremblingly, hoping to ease the mounting tension. However, Carson's angry roar almost drowned out her voice."Calm down?" Carson shouted, his voice echoing throughout the room. "How can I calm down when they insult you? They say you're in debt and won't pay, and even worse, they call you a slut! Will I ever calm down after hearing that?"Alison held Carson's hand, her gaze pleading with her husband to restrain himself. Seeing Alison's pleading expression, Carson slightly loosened his grip on one of the debt collectors. Even so, Carson's anger still hadn't subsi
Just as Carson was about to start gathering with his family, he received a call from Darwis. He walked out again. I also got the news that everything was fine. All locations had been checked once again and were completely safe. That made him relieved."Thank you. You'v worked very hard," Carson said to Darwis on his cell phone."You too. Without you, we wouldn't have been able to get all this done. As always, you're amazing, we really depend on you," Darwis said. Carson nodded. "That's how teamwork works. We have to complement each other," he said."Right." A few seconds of silence. Darwis took a breath and exhaled. "Happy New Year, General," he said. Carson smiled. "Happy new year."Carson spent New Year's Eve at home with his little family. He felt warm because it was full of joy. In the living room, twinkling lights adorned the Christmas tree that still stood majestically in the corner, even though the new year was almost here. By the way, now, the curtains were open, reveal
Carson was silent for a moment after hearing the news from Darwis. Shock and anxiety were clearly visible on his face. "The elite neighborhood? Where is my family?" his voice was full of confusion, and anxiety immediately spread to him. He looked at his subordinates with questioning eyes. Carson even swallowed. "We have to leave immediately. We have no more time. Let's go," he ordered firmly, without hesitation.His troops looked at each other. Still confused by what had happened, their brains were not working properly because today, too many things had happened. They worked so hard that their bodies and minds were exhausted.Carson, who saw that, patted their shoulders one by one. "Come on, let's go. We have to stop the bomb or there will be more casualties," he said.His troops nodded with a slightly blank stare. But they kept walking and, after a few seconds, finally understood what was happening.His troops quickly launched a focused search operation, dividing into groups to explo
Inside the room that was once dominated by the criminals, the atmosphere was now different. Carson stood upright in front of a large desk, where maps and important information were scattered. Around him, his subordinates, including his loyal men, stood with thoughtful expressions. They had just conquered the enemy base, and although the atmosphere was a little calmer, a feeling of anxiety and vigilance still coursed through them."Tonight is New Year's Eve, finally," said one of the soldiers with a relieved smile. "After everything that happened, it feels like we've accomplished everything. We can rest now.""Right," added another. "They've been defeated, we've won. It's over. Everything is calmer."Carson looked at them all with a serious gaze, but no smile appeared on his face. When he finally opened his mouth, his voice sounded calm yet full of a deep burden. All gazes were fixed on Carson."It's not over yet," Carson said, furrowing his brow.Everyone fell silent at those words. T
Behind the dark screen, the criminals sat with evil smiles etched on their faces. They felt no anxiety or fear of the consequences of what they were doing. Instead, they celebrated the chaos they had created as if this was a game they were enjoying. In a cramped room filled with computer screens and communication devices, one of them stood confidently, looking at his colleagues, who were laughing uproariously.They were a bunch of crazy people who loved chaos. They were doing all this for fun, especially since Carson had captured their leader. No one could restrain them, which made them even crazier and freer."You see," the man said in a low voice, full of confidence, "no matter how hard they try, they'll never be fast enough to stop us. No matter how many they send, we're already ahead of the game. They will only play in the game we make."Across the table, his partner nodded with a wide smile, his eyes twinkling. "This is very fun indeed. If they die, we'll bring more dead with us.
The atmosphere in the town of Springvale was tense, but as time passed, most citizens still went about their routines with little knowledge of what was really going on behind the scenes. They were deliberately not allowed to know what was happening.A few residents gathered in a café not far from the city center, enjoying a cup of morning coffee. Some glanced outside, noting the number of military vehicles and troops that seemed to be getting ready. A large truck full of equipment was also seen stopped in front of the government building. Although most of them didn't know exactly what was going on, the rumbling sound was quite obvious and made them wonder."Look at that. It looks like something big is happening," said one resident, a man in his 40s sitting by the window. He observed the soldiers passing by in full uniform, his hand holding a coffee cup. Do you think this has something to do with New Year's Eve preparations?"A young woman sitting at the table next to him looked out wi
Arriving at the car, he threw his luggage into the side seat roughly, then started the engine with a shudder. When he stepped on the gas pedal, the roaring sound of the engine seemed to represent the anger that was welling up inside him. On the way to his house, his head continued to be filled with images of the fallen victims, the faces he could not save.On the way, Carson grabbed his cell phone and dialed Darwis' contact number. A long ringing sound was heard before Darwis finally picked it up."Darwis," Carson's voice sounded hoarse, trying to hold back his emotions. "This isn't the end for us. I promise I'll handle this better."Darwis was silent for a few seconds. He sensed Carson's disappointment. "I understand, General. We won't let our guard down again either. Forgive us for being negligent." He felt disappointed in himself. "If only we had moved quickly, maybe the bomb wouldn't have exploded, and there wouldn't have been any casualties. All of this is my fault.""You can't b
Cason sat in his chair, his eyes not leaving the large screen in front of him. Although the atmosphere in the headquarters was getting tense, he felt that something was making him more anxious than ever. Slowly, he pulled out his cell phone from his pants pocket, staring at the name on the screen, Alison. He was worried about his wife's state.He took a deep breath before pressing the call button as if gathering the strength to hear the voice he had missed for so long because he was busy with this stressful situation. The phone rang for a few seconds, and finally, Alison's soft voice was heard on the other end."Hello, darling," Alison's soothing voice seemed to sweep away some of his worries.Carson sat up and leaned his back against the chair, trying to calm himself down. "Hello, sweetheart. Are you all right?" Carson said, his voice soft despite the anxiety in his heart."I'm fine." Alison was a little shocked that Carson would ask such a question just now. "Are you okay? If there'
After securing the enemy leader, Cason and his subordinates took him to a dark and isolated room nearby, where the interrogation would take place. The room was lit only by a small chandelier hanging in the center, giving it a tense feel. In one corner, there was a cold metal table, and the chair facing it was empty as if awaiting their role in this interrogation. The leader of the enemy, his face was pale. He was beginning to fear what Carson would do to him.The man, now bound and looking more tired than ever, sat with his body slightly bent. His eyes were red, and he was breathing heavily. In front of him, Cason stood with a sharp gaze. Darwis, along with several other team members, stood by the door, guarding against any interruptions during the interrogation process.Cason walked slowly around the table, his steps heavy and full of a chilling, murderous aura. He didn't say a word, just looked at the enemy leader, who seemed to be getting more and more panicked at Carson's aura."W
Cason faced the two men with his abilities. It turned out that his two opponents were stronger, and again, the two were very compact and very difficult to defeat. Without hesitation, he moved quickly, utilizing his speed and agility to dodge their attacks. His steps were measured while his two opponents worked together, trying to surround him from two directions.The big man moved first, trying to pin Cason down with big, fast steps. However, Cason was ready. He stepped back one step, nimbly dodging the man's outstretched hand. In an instant, he seized the opening, darting forward and blocking the movement of the small man who was trying to get close. Cason's movements were so fast that the little man could only be stunned for a moment, giving Cason room to go further.However, the big man did not give up. He turned around and attacked with a sharp movement, trying to hit with full force. Cason dodged quickly, just a step away from the attack. Cason's every move was meticulous, making