Benjamin looked at Lars and sat down on the sofa. "Push him forward closer to me so I can speak to him well," he said to Rakshasha.Rakshasha nodded and did as Benjamin ordered. Lars was now directly in front of Benjamin, still tied."Untie him," Benjamin commanded.Rakshasha nodded and untied Lars.Lars glared at Benjamin, rubbing his now free hands. "I've released you. You said we should untie you so we see what you'll do to us. Now, Mr. Johansen, show me what you can do.”Lars remained seated, momentarily stunned and uncertain."Why did you people kid—"Slap! Benjamin raised his hand and delivered a hard slap to Lars' cheek, stunning everyone present."I said show me what you'll do. I didn't ask you to question me."Lars, shocked and in pain, touched his stinging cheek. "Do you know who I am? How dare you slap me?"Benjamin chuckled and looked at Cipherella. "Tell him about himself.”Cipherella nodded. "You’re Lars Johansen. You own a showroom. You're 42 years old. You attended Ny
The animators quickly set to work, their fingers flying over keyboards and graphic tablets. The room buzzed with a quiet intensity as they skillfully manipulated the digital tools to bring the image to life. Lars watched with a mixture of confusion and anxiety, his eyes darting between the animators and Benjamin.Within 10 minutes, the screen lit up with the projection. The truck image, now larger and clearer, loomed before them. Every detail, from the licence plate to the distinct scratches on the side, matched perfectly with the photograph.Lars' eyes widened in shock and recognition. The image on the screen was unmistakably the truck from his showroom years ago. He swallowed hard, the realization hitting him like a punch to the gut. He was clearly frightened, understanding that this was no ordinary confrontation.Benjamin leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "Do you recognize it now, Mr. Johansen?" he askedLars nodded, his face pale. "Yes, I recognize it. I
After ending the call, Lars looked at Benjamin and said, "We can go for it now if you want. The hard drives will be ready."Benjamin considered the suggestion for a moment, then turned to Rakshasha. "Take care of it. Make sure everything is collected and brought back safely."Rakshasha nodded firmly. "Understood, Master." He swiftly gathered a few of his men and prepared to head out, ensuring that the retrieval would be handled efficiently and without any issues.After an hour, Rakshasha returned with two of his men, who walked in carrying a box full of hard drives. "Here it is, master," Rakshasha announced.Benjamin opened the box and observed the mix of old and new hard drives. "This is really going to take time. It's already late."Cipherella quickly stepped forward. "Master, I'll help. I'll connect the drives and check them throughout the night. Lars will be here to assist me."Lars protested, "Hey, I've given you people what you want. At least allow me to go. I need to return to
Cordelia's smile faded completely, replaced by confusion and sadness. "What do you mean? You're leaving me? To go where exactly?""It's something I have to take care of," Benjamin said gently. "You need to return to the mansion, and I'll be away for a few days. When I'm done, I'll come back."Cordelia's eyes filled with tears. "Why can't I come with you? Why do you have to do this alone? Is it dangerous? What if something happens to you? I don't want to be apart from you, Benjamin. How can you ask me to just go back to the mansion and wait?”Benjamin sighed, feeling the weight of her emotions. "I promise I'll be safe. This is something I need to handle on my own. I need you to trust me and stay safe at the mansion. I love you too much to put you in any danger."Cordelia shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't want to be away from you. Please, let me stay with you."Benjamin held her tightly, trying to comfort her. "I know it's hard, but I need you to trust me on this.
Inside, Marshall stood in his suit with tie, his bag ready as he prepared to leave for work. Rose was in the hall, the TV on, though her focus was on her phone, while her mother Rhoda sat watching the TV.Screech! The door opened, revealing Cordelia’s face. Instantly, all gazes turned to her in shock."Cousin," Rose said with a smile, standing up and walking towards Cordelia. She gave her a hug and whispered, "I'm happy you're fine."Cordelia forced a nod. "Thank you," she said before looking at her uncle and his wife.Marshall, who had a frown seeing Cordelia, was visibly angry. "Where are you coming from, Cordelia? And where's that idiot named Benjamin?""Do I need to report my whereabouts to anyone?" Cordelia shot back."Bullshit, Cordelia." Marshall stomped his foot and yelled. "Do you know the problems you have caused me?""Problems?" Cordelia, still frowning, asked. "What problems could I possibly give you?" She was also annoyed."Still pretending not to know what I'm talking ab
As Cipherella forwarded the video, they saw the usual hustle and bustle of the showroom. People came in to browse the cars, and workers moved about, attending to their tasks. The camera captured various angles, showing customers discussing with sales staff and mechanics working on vehicles.After a few minutes, a red car drove into the frame and parked in a spot. The driver’s side door opened, and Lars stepped out, wearing a red shirt and a cap matching the color of his car. He adjusted his cap and made his way into the showroom.“There he is,” Benjamin said, eyes fixed on the screen. “That’s Lars.”Lars nodded, “Yes, that’s me. This footage should have what you’re looking for. Keep forwarding, Cipherella.”Cipherella continued to forward the video, eager to see what the rest of the clip revealed.Cipherella continued forwarding the video, the minutes ticking by as they watched the scenes unfold in fast motion. The showroom buzzed with activity, then gradually quieted as the day progr
Cipherella nodded. "Yes, Master. We could put it out on the dark web and attach a price to it. If the reward is appealing, people will start hunting for him.""Will people actually see it?" Benjamin asked."Yes," Cipherella confirmed. "There are over 100,000 people on the dark web searching for paying offers. People even put killing contracts there."Benjamin nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, put it out there. The reward is $50,000."Cipherella nodded and immediately got to work. "I'll make sure it's done with an anonymous identity," she assured him."Good," Benjamin said. He watched as Cipherella began the process, ensuring that the picture of Darnell Peterson and the reward offer would soon reach the eyes of those who could help track him down.Cipherella worked quickly and efficiently. She uploaded the picture of Darnell Peterson onto the dark web, adding the reward amount and leaving a portal for people to submit their information if they found him.She typed out the details meticulo
There was a brief pause as the voice on the phone contemplated the question. The man in the mask glanced nervously at the photograph he had taken clandestinely of Benjamin driving away from the secretive base the previous night. His mission was clear, but the stakes were high."We cannot afford loose ends," the master's voice finally responded, cold and calculated. "Eliminate him. Swiftly and discreetly."The masked man nodded, a grim determination settling over him. "Consider it done," he affirmed before ending the call abruptly.The day passed by with still no information from Cipherella concerning their search for Darnell Peterson.“Still no information? It's been two days now," Benjamin said, looking at Cipherella and Inspector Helen.Cipherella shook her head and replied, "Nothing yet, master."“Damn!” Benjamin sat down, frustrated. "Maybe we'll have to stop relying on this and deploy men to search for Darnell in the whole country." He looked at Rakshasha and said, "I want you—”