“What?” Mason's voice reverberated through the room. He quickly placed the phone in his other ear, hoping he wasn't hearing things, as Miranda's words repeated in his head. “Did I hear you say, you have a lead?” Mason asked, hoping she was sure about her statement. The Tag placed on the Suspect was a Ghost, and the system refused to help or provide him any information that could help him catch the suspect, which seemed impossible, and even the Celestial assassin couldn't find anything.Miranda sensing Mason's doubt repeated in the same thrilled tone. “Master, I am very sure about the information. The team has been working on this for days and this time we have a possible lead on our suspect, and the good news is, it is in a familiar location,” she added, making Mason nod, curling his hand into a fist.“Good job, Miranda, send me the location and I will meet you there,” Mason instructed.“Yes, sir, I will do that right now,” she replied immediately before the line was disconnected. Sec
The sun fell beyond the horizon, sending darkness through the busy street of Aleric City. The atmosphere loomed with smoke from the car exhaust, assisted with other mundane activities that completed the night. Light from various buildings and the headlights of cars illuminate the street, casting shadows in different corners. Mason, sitting inside a coffee shop, raises his cup to his mouth and glances from his watch to the activities of the young generation through the transparent walls of the building. The salesgirl standing on her toe constantly shifted her eyes from him to Miranda and her associate, who also mirrored Mason's actions, as they watched the club opposite the shop. “It seems like they are waiting for someone,” the first sales girl whispered to her colleagues. Her attention focuses on the mysterious young man holding a cup of coffee. The intimidating aura surrounding him stung her curiosity and she shifted her eyes back to her friend. “Go ask if he needs anything el
Silent whispers roamed through the group of students, watching Jacob’s anger illuminated by the clublight.“Stupid shoe!” He cursed at his loose shoelace, before standing up from the ground, shifting his eyes from the stain on his clothes to Cleopatra and the other who didn't interfere in the incident.“Damn you Mason!” Jacob growled, walking in the direction of the room which Mason had entered.When he approached the two bouncers standing in front of the door, they stretched out their hands and said. “You ain't allowed in here,” the first bouncer said, with a straight face and a frown crawling into Jacob's face. When he noticed, they were serious about not letting him in. Jacob glanced behind him and noticed: that his colleagues were all watching the scenes.“Are the bouncers restricting Jacob from entering the VIP-Section? I thought he said he knew the owner and basically owned this place.”“If Mason could enter the VIP Lounge, why then is Jacob being restricted?” another voice chim
Mason arrived at the close counter occupied by Miranda and the celestial assassin. They pann their eyes at the bartender who glimpsed across their faces with confusion as he tried to identify who they were. He looked at Mason who glanced from him to Miranda waiting for Mason’s permission. With a nod, she turned to the bartenders whose confusion was now mixed with anger. “What's this? What's going on?!” The man shrieked at the unfriendly presence of Miranda who wore a mischievous smile. Following her superior instructions, Nyx and her colleagues strapped the man to his chair, and he struggled between their grip which pinned him down. “We can play this the easy way or the hard way,” Miranda notified, slurring her last words so he could understand the weight of what to come next. “I am going to ask you a few questions and all you have to do is give me the answer and I promise not to hurt you.” “My answer is no!” The man yelled, not willing to hear what she was about to ask. Miranda
The bartender led the way to the surveillance room, which was located in the interior of the club. The security teams, who had been watching Mason and the Celestial assassin, noticed they all heading toward their direction, and quickly coordinated themselves, waiting for their arrival. After a few minutes, the door opens and Mason and the celestial assassins enter the room filled with monitors, surveilling inside and outside the club environment. The team on duty quickly straightened their position, panning at the figure surrounded by a strong aura of power. They shifted their gaze from Mason to the familiar bartender, who stepped forward and whispered something to their ear. Hearing his information, they quickly jump to their feet, bowing their heads. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir, my name is Bobby and this is my partner, James, we are on call today. How can we be of help?” The man with a fast speech asked. Mason, without responding, nodded at the bartender and he quickl
The heavy, cold breeze blowing through the street didn't seem to concern the men glaring at Mason. They clench their fist to display their irritation at his intervention. Mason on the other hand wore a stern expression, which showed his disapproval of the presence of the strange men.“Why don't you go find a toy to play with and let the adult handle things here,” one of the men, who seemed to be sober enough, stepped forward, holding out a bottle of beer. Mason glanced from his face to three other men, who were barely on their feet, and yet, wore a mischievous grin, lingering their eyes on the lady beside him.Mason, planning to avoid violence, raised his hands. “We don't want any trouble,” he said to the man, then turned to Cleopatra. “Let go,” he muttered, and she nodded without hesitation. They were about to return to the club direction, when the sound of a broken bottle echoed, sending shivers down Cleopatra's body. She quickly tilted her head to the man, pointing the sharp pieces
Silence trailed behind Mason and Cleopatra, making their way back to the club, and neither of them was willing to raise a conversion to break the sudden ice that lingered around them. Mason realized he was walking too fast, halted his steps, and glanced at Cleopatra, who was far behind him. Even with the facade she wore, he could see the pain coming from her heels, making him realize Cleopatra wasn't just wearing heels, but was wearing a different dress from the one she wore in school. Her curvy figure was hidden behind a red dress, reaching her knee length, and adoring her features. With every step she took, the dress gave Moson a glimpse of her thigh. ‘She looks gorgeous,’ Mason mutters to himself, mentally slapping himself on how he could never notice and compliment her earlier. He heaved a sigh, remembering that his mind was filled with the thought of catching the man behind the Jackals operation. Mason cleared his throat, making Cleopatra meet his gaze. “How long have you been f
Mason arrived at the ten-star hotel that towered 200 feet above their head, while the familiar logo displayed its glory through the entire city. From the transparent wall of the hotel to the distance of Mason’s windshield, he could tell, the hotel was bustling with activities and was fully booked, due to the VIP cars, handing their keys to the valet.“This is the Sky High Royal Hotel,” Cleopatra said, glancing from the building to the VIPs, who had probably made a reservation from their root. “Securing a reservation here at this time and in this weather would be impossible,” she added, making a little smile appear on Mason's lips. Even when she was aware Mason wasn't poor, still she wasn't aware that the hotel belonged to his family and was the son of the woman, whose legacy was an idol to the younger generation.“Let go inside, who knows, we might be lucky,” Mason said, earning a gaze from Cleopatra, who furrowed her brows at the certainty lacing his tone.The moment the car in front
After much contemplation, Helen finally nodded her head. With a nervous expression, she locked hands with Fiona, who guided her toward the rink.“You're going to be fine,” Fiona reassured her. With a pounding heart, Helen's breath came out in quick puffs as she tried to steady herself with each tentative step. “Look at me.” Fiona pulled her gaze away from the ground, and as they locked eyes, Helen, unwilling to let Fiona go, tightened her grip and slowly glided across the room.In a matter of seconds, with Fiona gliding next to Helen, she develops the courage to glide solo, with her movement becoming more precise than before.“Mason, I'm doing it!” Helen exclaimed, her voice echoing across the expansive skating rink. She cast a glance over her shoulder toward her brother, who stood at the rink's edge, waving at her. “That’s my girl! I always knew you could do it,” he exclaimed, his voice brimming with pride as he watched her glide effortlessly across the surface.After a few rounds
Fiona eyed Mason intently, noticing the determined glint in his eyes that hinted he wasn’t about to back down from the challenge ahead. Predicting the outcome of his decision, she stepped forward with her weight perfectly balanced on the edge of her skating shoe as she blocked his way. With a steady voice, she proposed, "How about I demonstrate the process, just to set a good example?"Helen, hearing the suggestions, didn't waste any time in nodding her head in agreement, and when she didn't hear a response from her brother, she snapped her head in his direction, urging him to let Fiona take the lead. Mason glanced at his concerned sister, with a brief sigh, then nodded his head in agreement. “By all means, lead the way,” he said, allowing Fiona to show him the ropes. “Great,” Fiona nodded at him, doing a routine stretch while her small audience watched as she prepared to showcase her skills. With a deep sigh, she exerted a subtle force, allowing her legs to glide effortlessly in f
With the manager gone, Fiona led the way into the building, assisted by the rhythmic click of her heels echoing against the polished floor. Behind her were Helen and Mason, who pulled his gaze from his watch to stare at Fiona leaning in to whisper something to Helen. she immediately lit up with a radiant smile and nodded enthusiastically, thrilled by whatever secret she had just shared. As they stepped into the expansive skating rink, with the door closing behind them, the familiar lyrics of the music reverberated through the air, creating an infectious energy that contrasted with the chill of the surroundings. Along the spacious bar table was a female staff member, skillfully carrying out her task without glancing in their direction. Mason smiled as he glanced around the environment, recollecting his first time inside the building; the space was filled with both professional and learning skaters who had their hearts in their mouths as they glided across it. Above the ground is a da
The manager, seeing Mason holding out his card, erupted into another round of laughter. He knew an average bank account would struggle to accommodate a single transaction of $100,000, let alone the staggering amount that Mason was now claiming he wished to pay.After laughing to his content, the manager wriggled his brown eyes across the black, and when he finally saw the distinctive inscription etched into the dark material before him, an unexpected wave of emotion surged within him. He felt a lump form in his throat, a mixture of surprise and disbelief, as he turned to Mason.“I…Is that a black card?!” The manager stammered, his mouth watered with confusion, as he fought the overwhelming urge to rub his eyes, hoping to clear the fog of uncertainty and confirm what he was seeing was real.Mason, with whom the question was directed, remained quiet, allowing the sound of reality to sink into the man.“How is that possible? You don't look—” the manager felt another lump automatically su
“Have some faith in your brother, Helen,” Mason said, faking a hurt expression. “I don't need to practice how to skate since I have a natural talent for it,” he grinned, maneuvering their way towards the other side of the park. Unlike the rest area of the park, surrounded by people and chaotic happiness, the building, which Mason assumed was meant for skating, stood empty and silent, prompting him to look up for any sign of life within its uninviting façade.“Are you sure we are in the right place?” Helen asked, her little brows knitting together as she surveyed the scene. "It looks deserted. Why is it so empty?" She asked, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Mason, who couldn't provide an answer to her question, tilted his head slightly toward the two men positioned near the entrance. The way they stood, broad-shouldered and alert, instantly sparked a sense of recognition. Their postures were rigid, exuding an air of authority, and he quickly deduced that they were not
A flurry of activity outside the windshield suddenly broke the lingering silence inside the car. Helen, who was sitting in the passenger seat, gazed in awe at the vibrant scene through the tinted glass, while her hands rested on the door that separated her from all the fun outside.“It's Aleric Dreamland!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with wonder as they fixated on the towering Ferris wheel that loomed against the vivid sky. From afar, they could hear the sounds of laughter and the screams of riders ascending into the air. “Holy cow!” Helen muttered, Peeling her eyes from the scene, she turned to Mason, who had already predicted her next question. “Are we going to the park? Are we going to ride the Ferris wheel?!” she inquired, her voice bubbling with eagerness, not leaving room for him to answer her first question.Mason let out a small laugh, then nodded his head. “Yes, princess, we are going to the Dreamland, and you can choose whatever activities you want to do today,” he r
As Mason approached the entrance to the fifth-grade iris classroom, two men in black suits, which he recognized as Helen's security guards, were sentinel outside the closed door. When they spotted him and the lady walking next to him, they instantly shifted their attention, performing a precise and synchronized bow that demonstrated both respect and discipline. Mason, without a word, returned their greeting with a firm nod. Ms. Telsa gently place her card on the door, and as the door slide open, the hushed murmurs of the classroom faded, and all eyes turned to the newcomers. A curious blend of surprise and interest filled the room, and the students dressed in their neat uniforms collectively directed their gaze from Ms. Telsa to the man who had interrupted their ongoing class.Mason, who wasn't expecting such a scene, instantly glanced at the watch before he navigated his gaze to the lady standing in front of the classroom.‘Are all the teachers in the school this young?’ He muttere
When she finally noticed Mason's gaze, she instantly let out a forceful smile then glance at her colleague before walking away to greet another parent. “Shall we?” The girl with tinted gray hair asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she nodded toward the entrance of the building. With a subtle yet confident gesture, she stepped forward, and Mason trailing behind her, commanded attention by his presence. They took a turn into the long hallway, and Mason's gaze dropped to her figure. Her long gray hair flowed down her back, catching the soft glow of the lobby lights and adding an ethereal quality to her appearance. The fitted uniform she wore clung to her curves in all the right places, accentuating her silhouette while remaining professional. Mason’s eyes were drawn to the way her tan skin glowed against the crisp fabric of her outfit, making it challenging to pinpoint her racial background. Each step she took made her movements almost dance-like as she navigated throu
“That's alright,” Mason replied with a casual smile, unfazed by the curious glances from those around them. With a fluid motion, he retrieved his phone from his pocket and tapped at the screen, which lit up, and exchanged numbers with them, sealing their brief conversation with a friendly nod. After a few warm goodbyes, he headed toward the administration building where his car was parked. Mason circled out of the parking lot and headed downtown Aleric City, navigating through the familiar streets lined up with shops and cafes, bustling with activities. After a few miles, he finally arrived at Heaven Institution, where Helen attended school.Keeping his promise to pick her up, Mason slowed down and navigated toward the elegant, modern building with its sleek glass facade. In front of the building, staff dressed in sharp formal wear gathered in the late afternoon light, and their polished shoes gleamed as they exchanged polite smiles and warm handshakes with the parents who had come t