............They were the backbone of her success, tirelessly working to push the boundaries of technology and create solutions that kept Veridian Group at the forefront of the industry.The first thing she did with the Dark Holdings money was to give it back to officials and the government before asking for some benefits. With the legal investment funds, she bought several promising technological innovations for her new company and quickly formed a talented and capable research and development team.She approached Dr. Manoj Hale, the head of R&D, who was engrossed in a complex blueprint."Good evening, Dr. Hale," Elara greeted, her voice warm but authoritative.Dr. Hale looked up, a smile breaking across his face. "Good evening, Boss. We've made significant progress on the new energy module. I think you'll be pleased with the results.""That's excellent news," Elara replied, her interest piqued. "Let's take a look."They moved to a nearby workstation where a prototype of the energ
............With that, Elara knew her sister was being playful, but she still sighed and relented, agreeing to stay the night.The sisters, despite their exhaustion, shared a quiet moment with each other. Bella told Elara about how Aarav had been living in Crystalbrook City and what he was doing, before they finally closed their eyes to get some much-needed rest.Next day, "See you later, Bella!" Elara left early in the morning before their parents woke up, saying goodbye to her little sister."Alright... see you later, Big Sis!" Bella waved at Elara, who waved back and drove away.On the way, Elara received a call from her assistant, Reena Bansal."Yes, Reena. I'm on my way. Put the files on the table; I won't take more than a few minutes to get to the office," Elara said, speeding up."Yes, Boss," Reena replied before the call ended.As Elara focused on the call, she forgot to pay attention to the road. Suddenly, a large cargo truck stopped at the crossing, forcing Elara to slam
............"Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What... what do you want from me?"The man at the desk chuckled, a low, chilling sound. "All in good time, Mrs. Rossi. For now, just know that cooperation is in your best interest."Elara nodded slowly, her mind racing.She had to find a way out of this, but with so many armed men and the dangerous atmosphere, escape seemed impossible.'I need to get out of here somehow. If I don't, who knows what they have planned for me!' she thought, biding her time, waiting for an opportunity.For now, all she could do was think comply and hope that an opening would present itself.......Meanwhile, "Du...du...du...!" "Damn it...What's going on? What happened?" Reena Bansal, hearing something unsettling before the call disconnected, immediately tried calling again, but the line was dead.The call wouldn't go through at all. She tried multiple times but kept getting the same dead line."Ring...Ring...!" Reena decided to call someon
............"Let them in. They're here on official business," the senior officer commanded, handing Bella and Reena a written authorization.The guard's smirk vanished instantly. "Yes, sir," he mumbled, stepping aside, keeping his head low and trembling under the cold gaze of the senior officer.Bella and Reena hurried into the surveillance room. The senior officer led them to a technician. "Can you show us the footage from the crossroad around the time...yes, right there where the car was abandoned?" Bella asked as she pointed to the time and place.The technician nodded and quickly pulled up the relevant footage. They watched anxiously as the screen showed Elara's car coming to a sudden stop at the crossroad because of a cargo truck right in front of her.Moments later, Elara stepped out, talking on her phone. Suddenly, a black luxury car pulled up right beside her, and a hand grabbed her before pulling her into the car. Right after that, the signal turned green, and the luxury ca
............The first man sighed and straightened up. "We’ll see if you’re telling the truth. Maybe a little persuasion will help jog your memory." He nodded to the silent man, who stepped forward, grabbing Elara by the arm and dragging her to her feet."No, please!" Elara cried, struggling against his grip, but it was no use. They were much stronger than her.They hauled her to a small, dark room at the back of the hideout. It was damp and smelled of mildew. They threw her onto a chair and tied her hands and feet, leaving her feeling even more helpless."We’ll give you some time to think," the first man said, his voice dripping with menace. "Maybe by the time we come back, you’ll be ready to talk."With that, they left the room, the door slamming shut behind them.Elara was alone, the darkness closing in around her. She knew she had to stay strong, but fear was making it hard to think straight. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. There had to be a way out of this.
............"Yes, My Lord. Are you suspecting this might be their doing?" Pope Aurelius asked, his tone apprehensive, knowing a war was on the horizon."Yes, I am sure. Move immediately and don't waste time; we are unsure of their hidden scheme this time." Aarav's voice was strict and decisive.Pope Aurelius ended the call and immediately followed Aarav's command, ordering priests and bishops to mobilize. Their powerful abilities and extensive networks were put to use in the desperate search.As the minutes ticked by, Aarav's mind raced, filled with worry for Elara. The thought of her in the hands of those cultists was unbearable. He couldn't shake the image of her scared and alone, fueling his resolve to find her, no matter the cost.Aarav himself joined the search, using his skills to scan areas quickly. He moved through the city like a force of nature, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and worry for Elara. He wouldn't rest until she was safe in his arms......In the remote
............The tension in the air made the group of Knights, Bishops, and Priests stand motionless, trying to predict their enemy’s next move amidst the looming danger."We need to reorganize our thoughts and come up with a better defensive and offensive formation to counter this situation," Senior Bishop Mel suggested before warning, "Everyone, stay close and watch your step. We can't afford any more surprises."The group carefully moved into a tighter and better formation, their senses heightened to the maximum. The crystal light carried by the knights filtered through the canopy, providing little illumination, making the forest seem even more treacherous."Listen up," said a Holy Battle Knight named Sir Aldric. "We need to use our shields to probe the ground ahead. If anything seems suspicious, we stop immediately. Understood?"The knights nodded, their faces grim. They proceeded cautiously, shields outstretched, tapping the ground and trees for hidden traps. The priests chanted
............"Hahahaha! What futile attempts, Elandor dogs... this is all you amount to?" The cultist group leader stood there, unaffected by Knight Aldric and Bishop Mel's moves, laughing mockingly."Damn it, he wasn’t taking us seriously from the beginning," Bishop Mel said, backing off with Knight Aldric and gathering with the rest of their men."We're in trouble. We're outmatched and trapped. Senior Mel, you need to get away from here and inform HQ about the situation. They will send reinforcements to deal with these cultists. Otherwise, more of our people will get caught in their trap!" Knight Aldric understood the gravity of their situation. Knowing they had no way to escape alive, he urgently requested Bishop Mel to flee and inform their superiors, as only he was strong enough among them and had the means to escape from the cultists."But how can I run away and leave you all behind, knowing the grim outcome?" Bishop Mel, hearing Knight Aldric's words, understood their situati