The leader nodded once, his gaze still fixed on the screen. “Of course it is. He’s trying to make us waste resources by following all of them. But there’s no need.” He pointed at Calvin, now a solitary figure walking down a narrow, dimly lit alley. "He's the one who matters. Follow him. The others are irrelevant."The operatives sprang into action, adjusting their focus on the monitors. Every screen now showed only Calvin, his steady pace and the subtle tension in his body the center of their attention. The drone hovering above captured every step, every movement."Lock onto his position," the leader ordered, his voice cold and efficient. “We can’t afford to lose him.”The sound of typing filled the air as one of the operatives began adjusting the drone’s path. The mechanical hum of the machine became more pronounced, as if it, too, sensed the growing importance of its mission.“What if the others double back?” one of the younger operatives asked hesitantly, still glancing at the othe
The night was thick with the smell of damp earth and the cool breeze of the forest, but it was the distant sound of the explosion that held their attention. A brilliant orange glow illuminated the sky far behind them, followed by the low rumble of the blast reverberating through the trees. Calvin, dressed in the nondescript uniform of one of the bodyguards, stood at the edge of the dense undergrowth, his eyes narrowing as he watched the faint plumes of smoke rise in the distance.His lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. "It worked," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. “They took the bait.”Lizzie, who stood beside him, her breath slightly labored from the tension and the quick escape, glanced at him with a mix of concern and admiration. "That was close," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But Calvin... what if they figure it out sooner than we thought? They could already be tracking us."Calvin nodded, his mind racing as he considered the possibilities. "
Calvin and his team pushed deeper into the dark forest, their footsteps muffled by the dense undergrowth. Each step was a reminder of the tension weighing on them. The thick canopy above blotted out most of the moonlight, leaving them to navigate by the faint glow of their flashlights. The further they ventured, the quieter the forest became. No birds, no animals. Just the occasional crunch of leaves underfoot and the rhythmic rustling of wind through the trees.The forest seemed to close in around them, the silence pressing on their ears. Calvin, leading the way, had a grim expression. His sharp eyes darted between the shadows, as though expecting something—or someone—to leap out at them at any moment.After what felt like an eternity, the group reached a small clearing. Calvin suddenly halted, his arm rising to signal the others. Lizzie, catching up beside him, looked around, her eyes wide in the eerie half-light."Is this it?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, as though the fo
In the dimly lit control room, the tension was palpable. The operatives from Han Xin watched the monitors with unwavering focus, their faces illuminated by the soft blue glow of the screens. The forest below was bathed in darkness, a sea of endless trees, but amidst that shadowy expanse, a sudden burst of light flashed across one of the screens. It was brief, but unmistakable—the telltale glow of Calvin activating the amulet.One of the operatives, a man with sharp eyes and a thin smile, leaned in closer, his excitement barely contained. His fingers danced over the keyboard as he zoomed in on the source of the light. "There it is," he whispered, his voice brimming with triumph. "That’s it. The location of the Fountain of Health." He turned his head to the others, his grin widening. "We’ve got them now."Several of his comrades exchanged glances, smirking in satisfaction. Their months of pursuit, the painstaking hours of tracking Calvin and his team, were finally paying off.The leader
Calvin and his group pressed through the dense, suffocating jungle, their steps heavy with urgency. Each crack of twigs underfoot and the occasional rustle of leaves seemed to amplify the tension in the air. The forest loomed around them, thick with vines and towering trees whose canopies blotted out the sky, leaving only fragmented beams of moonlight to guide their way. The heat was oppressive, clinging to their skin like a damp cloak, and the smell of earth and foliage-filled their lungs. Calvin’s heart pounded in sync with the rhythmic pulse of his feet hitting the forest floor. Every second mattered."Keep moving," Calvin barked, his voice hoarse from the strain. He glanced back at the others, their faces glistening with sweat, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. They were all aware of what was at stake—the Fountain of Health was within reach, and the knowledge that it could slip through their fingers was like a knife twisting in Calvin’s chest.Suddenly, Lizzie skidded to a hal
The operatives of Han Xin fanned out along the narrow ledge, their boots scuffing against the rough stone as they methodically surveyed the area. The wind howled through the canyon, sending gusts of cold air whipping around them, but their movements remained deliberate and focused. Searchlights from the helicopter above cut through the darkness, illuminating the jagged edges of the cliff and casting long, eerie shadows over the treetops below.The leader, a man with sharp eyes and an air of unwavering authority, motioned for his team to spread out. His eyes swept over the edge of the ravine, taking in the dark abyss below. The ground beneath them was barren, devoid of any obvious signs of the Fountain. He narrowed his gaze, the hint of frustration flickering in his expression.“Anything?” he called out, his voice cutting through the wind.One of his men crouched near a cluster of rocks, glanced up and shook his head. “Nothing here, sir. Just rocks and dirt.”Another operative, further
Lizzie sprinted through the thick underbrush, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat poured down her face, dampening her clothes as the humid jungle clung to her skin. She was pushing herself to the limit, every muscle burning with effort, but it didn’t matter. Despite their best efforts, the distance between them and their destination only seemed to grow. The thick canopy of trees and the uneven terrain slowed them down, and in the back of her mind, she could hear the faint, relentless sound of the helicopter still hovering in the distance.“Calvin!” she shouted, her voice strained with desperation. “You better have a plan right now!”Calvin, running beside her, gritted his teeth, his eyes darting ahead as if searching for some last-minute solution. His heart pounded in his chest, not just from the exertion, but from the pressure weighing on his mind. He didn’t have a plan. His usual calm and calculated demeanor was slipping, replaced by the panic of knowing they were about to be t
As Calvin’s makeshift cart hurtled toward the edge of the ravine, Lizzie’s eyes widened in panic as she took in the sight ahead. The Han Xin operatives were already descending into the abyss, their ropes and harnesses glinting in the sunlight. The whirring of the helicopter still hummed in the air, and tension crackled in every breath. Lizzie turned to Calvin, desperation seeping into her voice.“Calvin, what now? What are we supposed to do after this?”Calvin clenched his teeth, his mind racing as fast as the cart they were riding. His original plan had only gotten them this far—he hadn’t thought beyond reaching the ravine. Now, faced with the reality of the Han Xin team making their descent, the weight of their situation pressed down on him.He was a doctor, not a killer. There was no way he could let anyone die, even if they were enemies. But the gap between morality and survival was closing quickly. The wind roared in his ears, a reminder of the immense power he had at his fingert