Chapter 57
Somewhere in the industrial slums in the Argo Province, inside an abandoned warehouse p>
The heavy rain hammered on the rusted tin roof of the warehouse, drowning out most outside noise. But inside, beneath flickering overhead lights, a dozen men circled around a large, scarred table.
Smoke curled in the air, blending with the scent of engine oil and something more bitter, gunpowder. At the head of the table sat Kravo, a tall man with a deep scar running down his neck, voice low and cold.
“So this is the guy we’re looking for p>
“Yes, Boss,” one of Kravo’s men confirmed. “Our contacts in prison recognised them from the photos. These are the ones who interfered p>
“And what do we know about him p>
“According to the boys inside, the young man seems to have powers. He could be AMS or UMS. The older one is Andres Moore, a retired military officer. The younger one is Calixto Moore, his son, currently a police officer p>
Kravo grunted, his expression darkening. “Figures. With those kinds of connections, no wonder they managed to get our men locked up so easily p>
He continued flipping through a set of blurry surveillance photos. One showed Theo walking beside Calix, another captured Andres unloading supplies while a group of kids clustered behind him.
It had taken time and a lot of digging, but they had finally found the people responsible for getting their men jailed and for stealing the kids they once owned.
Kravo tossed the photos onto the table and leaned back in his chair, cracking his knuckles.
“This time… we’ll make sure they pay p>
His partner Rolf, smaller, with metal prosthetic fingers tapping on the table, spat to the side. “They cost us a fortune. You know how much buyers in the Outer Districts were willing to pay, especially for Lilia and Max? They ruined everything p>
Kravo’s eyes narrowed, voice turning cold. “All those kids were ours. We’re getting them all back p>
Lilia and Max were both AMS, though the kids themselves either didn’t know it yet or were hiding their powers. Either way, they were valuable. Too valuable to let slip away.
Beside Rolf stood three figures, each wrapped in dark coats and exuding an intimidating aura. They didn’t speak much, but their mere presence kept the rest of the gang on edge.
“These three,” Rolf motioned toward them, “are new. UMS. Fresh out of hiding and hungry for payback. You give them what they want, and they’ll give you results p>
One of the UMS, a tall woman with silver eyes and burn scars trailing up her arms, gave a small nod. “We’re not here to play games. We were promised free movement and protection in exchange for results. We want the ones who outed our last safe zone burned to the ground p>
“Don’t worry,” Rolf smirked. “You’ll get your chaos. Just remember who’s paying you p>
Another of the UMS, a hulking man with cracked stone-like skin, crossed his arms. “Just point us to the gate p>
AMSO Headquarters, Briefing Room – Early Morning
Inside the reinforced glass room at the heart of AMSO Headquarters, Supreme Commanders Marlon Pitt and Hayden Carlton reviewed a digital map of Red Zone B1 projected across the table. Dozens of survivor signals blinked in blue, rescued, cleared, safe.
Lexa stood at attention across from them, her team dismissed. She kept her voice clear and her face composed.
“Red Zone B1 is officially cleared. We rescued twenty-five survivors from the high school campus and secured the perimeter. There are no remaining hostiles in the area. Students are now being treated in the Safe Zone p>
Marlon nodded once. “And injuries p>
“Minor scrapes, some dehydration. Nothing critical Hayden’s arms stayed crossed. He wasn’t smiling.
“That’s all good,” he said, “but what about the unregistered man?” Hayden continued. “The one we told you to apprehend. The one seen using powers inside the red zone. Where is he p>
“I lost him,” she said, straight to the point. “He moves fast. Before I knew it, he was gone p>
Hayden’s expression hardened. “We gave you a direct order, Lexa. This isn’t a minor fugitive. This man’s existence is off-record. He’s breaking the protocol! We must capture him p>
Marlon remained silent, letting his partner press the point.
Lexa’s voice lowered, calm but firm. “I don’t disagree, sir. But he wasn’t hostile. In fact, he helped survivors. Without him, several wouldn’t have made it out alive. He was doing what we were doing, just from the shadows p>
“And that justifies letting him go?” Hayden shot back.
“I’m not saying that, sir. I’m asking… what were we going to do if I had caught him?” Lexa held their gazes. “Was I supposed to bring him in like a criminal? Lock him up because he’s not on our registry p>
A tense silence followed.
Marlon finally spoke. “That wasn’t your concern. Your job was to bring him in. It’s ours to decide what happens next p>
Hayden added, voice tight, “You’ve been promoted to Class 1. Start acting like it p>
Lexa nodded once, jaw clenched. “Understood, sir p>
“Leave,” Hayden commanded.
She turned to leave, but paused at the door. “He’s saving lives. That much is clear. If we want to learn who he is, maybe we should ask… before we chain him p>
Then she walked out.
Marlon exchanged a look with Hayden.
“She’s too soft,” Hayden hissed, his face darkening with disappointment. “She let personal judgment cloud a direct order p>
Marlon exhaled, rubbing his temple. “She still completed the main objective. Twenty-five students are alive because of her p>
“But she let him slip. Do you really believe she just lost him?” Hayden’s tone sharpened.
“Come on, Marlon. Lexa’s Class 1 now. She doesn’t just lose people, she lets them go p>
“Maybe,” Marlon muttered. “But I still believe in her judgment p>
Hayden scoffed. “That’s not what we need right now. The chain of command doesn’t run on belief, it runs on results. Next time, I’ll send someone who won’t hesitate. Someone who doesn’t second-guess the order p>
“Someone who doesn’t ask questions?” Marlon’s voice dropped, more thoughtful now. “I like Lexa. She’s got fire. Honestly, she’s probably one of the few people who could knock some sense into the two of us if she wanted to p>