Epic 116The minutes ticked by, each one seeming to stretch into an eternity. Kyrian's mind raced, trying to process the truth about his father, and the potential danger he was in.Finally, the door swung open once more, and Inspector John returned, his face a mask of anger."He's coming," he growled, his eyes fixed on Kyrian. "Your father's on his way here, and when he arrives, I'm going to give him a choice. He can either surrender himself or watch you die."You can't do that!" Kyrian shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "He's my father, you can't hurt him!John's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "Oh, but I can, Kyrian. And I will. Unless, of course, you help me bring him in. Help me put an end to his reign of terror once and for all."Kyrian froze, his mind reeling. His father, a terrorist? It was impossible to believe. And yet, the evidence was mounting against him. "You want me to betray my father?" Kyrian said, his voice shaking. "I can't do that. I won't."Inspector Jo
Epic 117"I don't have any concrete ideas," Jasmine admitted, her expression grim. "But we do know that Inspector Ken will be looking to take down John and his group. We should focus on locations and contacts that might lead us to him."Kyrian nodded, his mind already racing through possibilities. "Do you think he'd go to ground somewhere in the city?" he asked, trying to think like his mentor. "Or would he try to disappear entirely?"Jasmine's eyes narrowed in thought. "He knows John well," she said slowly. "We need to alert the authorities to what's going on," Jasmine said, her voice decisive. "The embassy will have the resources to help us, and they need to know about John's corruption.""Agreed," Kyrian said, his jaw set. "If John is as powerful as we think he is, we can't take him on alone. We need backup."Jasmine nodded, already moving toward the door. "Come on," she said, her voice tense. "We'll need to be careful. John's men will be looking for us.The two officers navigated
Epic 118Timi's name flashed on the screen of Kyrian's phone, but it was Jasmine who answered. "Timi, thank God you called," she said, relief flooding through her. "Kyrian's not doing well. He collapsed earlier tonight, and we're at the hospital now."Timi's voice was frantic. "What? Is he okay? What happened?"Jasmine sighed. "The doctor thinks it's stress-related. Kyrian's been pushing himself too hard, and his body just couldn't take it anymore."Timi's voice softened. Timi wasted no time. "I'm coming over right now," he said, his voice resolute. "Kyrian needs me there."Jasmine nodded, despite knowing that Timi couldn't hear her. "Thank you," she said, her voice warm with gratitude. "He'll appreciate that.When Timi arrived at the hospital, he rushed into Kyrian's room, his face filled with concern."Oh, man," he said, his voice soft as he took in Kyrian's pale, tired face.Kyrian gave a weak smile, his voice hoarse. "Hey, Timi," Kyrian said, his voice weak but genuine. "Thanks f
Epic 119Jasmine laughed, the sound soft and intimate in the quiet of the kitchen. "You look like you haven't eaten in months," she teased, a playful smirk on her lips.Kyrian shrugged, smiling sheepishly as he loaded his fork with another mouthful of pasta. "I guess I've just been a little preoccupied," he said, his voice a mix of embarrassment and delight.Jasmine nodded, a warm affection shining in her eyes. "I know," she said. "But tonight, we're just going to enjoy the food and each other's company. As they ate, the atmosphere in the kitchen softened, the conversation flowing easily between them. Jasmine told stories from her childhood, sharing memories that made Kyrian laugh. Kyrian, in turn, shared some of the more ridiculous cases he and Inspector Ken had worked on.They ate until they were full, their bellies content and their hearts lightened. And as they sat back in their chairs, sated and happy, Jasmine reached across the table and placed her hand over Kyrian's."Thank you
Epic 120Kyrian and Jasmine studied the letter in silence, a sense of dread creeping into their thoughts. They both knew what "come alone" implied. But they also knew that this was their best chance of finding John."We can't risk it," Jasmine said, her voice firm. "We need backup."Kyrian shook his head, his eyes filled with determination. "No," he said, his voice low and resolute. "This is the only way. If we bring backup, John will know. And if he knows, he'll disappear again." Jasmine bit her lip, her mind racing. "Kyrian, we can't let you go alone," she said, her voice edged with worry. "It's too dangerous."Kyrian reached out, placing a hand on Jasmine's arm. "I know," he said, his voice soft but sure. "But I can't ask you to come with me. If something happens, someone needs to be there to pick up the pieces."Jasmine swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking into her heart. She knew that he was right. "Promise me something," Jasmine said, her eyes searching Kyrian's face.
Epic 121As the trapdoor opened beneath John, he dropped through the air, the rope snapping taut with a sickening crack. For a moment, his body jerked and convulsed, his limbs flailing in a desperate bid for life.But then, slowly, the struggles subsided, his limbs falling still. And as the last few gasps of air escaped his lungs, a twisted, almost gleeful smile spread across his face. It was a smile that spoke of dark secrets and hidden knowledge, of a sinister satisfaction in the face of death.In those final moments, John's true nature was revealed. With John's execution complete, Kyrian and Jasmine's attention turned once again to the figure who had been at the centre of their investigation all along Ken, Kyrian's foster father.Despite the dangers and uncertainties that lay ahead, they were determined to pursue the truth, no matter how elusive or dangerous it might be.As they began to retrace Ken's steps and delve deeper into his connections to the corporate world, they were hau
Epic 122Kyrian stood before Ken, his entire body rigid with anger, every muscle and tendon coiled tightly like a spring. His eyes flashed with fury, his breathing quick and shallow as he struggled to contain his rage.The revelation of Ken's betrayal had cut deep, tearing open old wounds and unleashing a torrent of pain and anger that he had long suppressed. He felt as if he were standing on a precipice, teetering on the edge of a bottomless abyss of emotion.And yet, despite his anger, he could not bring himself to strike out at Ken. Kyrian's voice was hard and unrelenting, his words cutting through the air like blades. "Tell me about Inspector John," he demanded, his eyes fixed on Ken. "Why did you and he hate each other so much?"Ken flinched, his expression darkening as he recalled the long-standing conflict between himself and the late Inspector John. "John and I were adversaries from the beginning," he said, his voice filled with bitterness."He was always one step behind me, a
Epic 123Kyrian's brow furrowed, his mind racing as he considered Ken's words. "You're trying to shift the blame away from yourself," he said, his voice low and intense. "You want me to believe that someone else is responsible for all of this chaos and destruction."Ken's expression remained unreadable, his eyes fixed on Kyrian. "I am only telling you what I know," he said, his voice calm and even. "I am not the only person in this world who is capable of causing harm."Kyrian's expression hardened, his voice filled with determination. Kyrian's words dripped with bitterness and sarcasm as he glared at Ken. "As it stands now, you're the only one who seems capable of causing harm in this world," he spat. "You've done nothing but bring pain and destruction to the people around you."Ken's expression grew colder, his eyes dark and unfeeling. "And what would you have me do?" he demanded. "What would you have me say to make you believe that I am not the monster you think I am?"Kyrian shook