VLADIMIR

The place resounds with a loud silence. One hand thrust in the pocket, Mort's pair of mesmerizing green orbs was cold as the afternoon breeze darted on the dilapidated buildings nearby destroyed by the bombs. The air stirred his dark hair messily as the blood on his eyebrow had now dried that will surely leave a scar. He still look otherworldly gorgeous even though he appeared austere in his messy appearance.

"Bastard." Short but cold, Mort audibly cursed Narco making Lyric's eyes widen in surprise, and later burst out laughing. From the tone of their Boss, he doesn't sound pleased. He did the right thing of cursing the shit out of him.

Narco, on the other hand, moved the phone away from his ear while eyebrows knitted into a frown. Wondering, he had no idea in mind what made his foster Dad angry. Lyric just shook his head in disbelief while looking at Narco who fell into a state of obliviousness. 'He's dumb as fuck.' Lyric utters in his mind then came next to Narco who was leaning against the car with one hand in his left pocket and looking in his direction.

"You pissed him off." Lyric whispered to Narco's ear which Mort can hear them loud and clear on the other line, who was waiting for Narco's response. He's getting impatient.

"I thought you were looking for me?" Narco innocently asked and keep his eyes darted at Lyric. He was confused and thought he would blow his Dad's mind about how much he'd manage to escape alive. Mort's eyebrows deeply narrowed. He feels something odd, and he could tell Narco is not his usual self.

"Where is Klauss?" Mort asked in a commanding tone as Narco and Lyric looked at the same time at poor Klauss lying on the ground, completely knock out after being injected with sleeping fluid. They exchange glances.

"He's here," Narco replied and look back at unconscious Klauss. He even slightly kicks the poor clean freak secretary's legs dirtying Klauss's expensive white pants. If Klauss were conscious, he might give Narco more than a whack in the head.

"Give him the phone," Mort ordered once again. Don Zagreus who was scanning the place after the fierce battle, came back to his place and stood next to him.

"I can't do that," Narco said and made an impish smile. Lyric on his side keeps his ear all open at their conversation.

"What do you mean?" Mort asked in an icy tone.

"Because Klauss is unconscious. We drugged him." Narco responded emotionlessly while grinning from ear to ear. Mort tightened his grip on his phone that the veins on his hands visibly protruded.

"Who the fuck are you?" His deep threatening tone that seemingly came out from the Underworld resounded as Mort asked Narco brusque and cold. His face now darkened and his ominous aura emanated throughout the place.

"Narco. and kskkdoxoskszkzkzakkkvjsjedkdkdksmksksise--." When Narco said those random letters so quickly, Mort remembered it immediately before the call ended. Narco rudely hung up on him but the hunk tolerate his insolence adoptive son.

"So, you found him?" Don Zagreus butts in, referring to Narco after Mort put his phone back in his pocket.

"He is in trouble. Everyone is." Mort replied and turn his back on him. He walked back towards his car and boarded inside. He then dialed Leroy's number who answered the call immediately. Don Zagreus opened the backseat and rode in.

"Where you are now?" Mort directly asked. Leroy on the other side could feel the coldness of Mort's voice. Creep crawl on his skin and all his hair stands up. He senses someone must have annoyed his Boss. Leroy took a deep and let out an audible yet heavy breath.

"I am parked not far from Klauss's place. Narco and Lyric are here. They'd knock out all the men around and now take Klauss inside their car. I think they're just clones. Should I kill them, Boss?" Careful at his word, Leroy reported almost in a whisper while his eyes locked on the two people lifting Klauss's body from the ground and bring inside the car.

"They're real. Don't do anything. Let them leave. Don't follow them either." Mort ordered firmly, which Leroy obeyed at once.

Sitting alone and silent in his car, Leroy wonders why his twin and friend are doing this. 'Are they betraying us?' He asked in his mind and was unable to understand why the course of the wind suddenly changed.

Hands grip on the steering wheel, his eyes were dull with disappointment. Leroy thought everything was fine and okay until what he witnessed today. They promised to one another they stick together till the end whatever plans the group made. But what he sees right now, is Narco and Lyric are secretly teaming together without him. He knew both of them could feel him at his place but they didn't even do anything to approach him. Leroy didn't even bother to hide his presence so that Narco and Lyric would notice him quickly.

"We're going to get you," Mort added and he hung up the call. Leroy, on the other hand, badly wants to approach them, especially since he found out that Narco and Lyric are not clones but choose not to. Their Boss is coming any minute now. He is there to watch over their next action.

"He is here." Lyric whispered to Narco when they both got into the car after successfully putting Klauss inside. They cast a glance through the car's mirror and saw the man positioned in the distance.

Klauss and Mischa are seated next to each other, both unconscious in the backseat.

"He doesn't trust us yet," Narco replied referring to one of the men of their new boss who were tailing them after they got their first mission.

"Aren't we already equipped with trackers and microchips enough to know where we are and hear everything we say?"

A wave of disappointment hit Lyric and leans on the seat while his hands crossed at the back of his head. Narco rolled his eyes.

"Co'z you aren’t worth the dust that the wind is blowing on your face. That's why I'm having a hard time gaining his trust." Narco brutally said making Lyric shift his gaze to him abruptly.

"You’re the reason God created the middle finger." Face twitched bitterly, Lyric rebutted making Narco burst into chuckles.

"Ouch. That was almost as painful as looking at your face." Narco laughingly muttered and turned the engine's car on and drove off the place.

Leroy was left unaware of the man following Narco and Lyric who was right standing behind him. And before he could leave his place, a syringe was pierced into his neck. Leroy immediately lost consciousness before he could put up a fight. The man immediately drags him out and put him in his car. He hit the road and followed Narco and Lyric's car where Mischa and Klauss who were both unconscious are boarded. The three of them are unaware of the danger they are going to.

When Mort reached the location where Leroy reported, the young man was gone leaving his car alone in the place. There is no sign of struggle and the deed was done neatly. The mysterious man abducted him who was tailing Narco and Lyric.

"They disappeared just like that." Exhaling noisily through his pursed lips, Mort said disappointedly. His eyes peruse around to look for something that might help to him.

They were still in the car and weren't leaving the place yet. Mort had no idea where to go and find them. Unable what to do, this is the first time he has to wait to be called by an enemy he doesn't know and he has no clue who it is. It was as if his enemy was hiding under the cloak of invisibility. He hasn't seen that person yet but the damage it has done to him is already massive. He just thanked Sumire wasn't involved in the chaos he's in right now. Because he will fucking lose it.

"Let's wait for Lucian's report." Looking calm and cool in his seat, Don Zagreus suggested. Mort let out a deep, heavy sigh. His grip tightened on the steering wheel while his brows knitted thickly into a line.

"Chairman, why did they die so quickly if the damage they left was so great?" Mort asked while eyes darted into the road. Don Zagreus was surprised at his place at what he heard. He can hear the desperation and hopelessness in his grandson's tone who has been independent from them for decades.

"It could only mean one thing. They are not the Mastermind in everything that is happening now. They are mere sacrificial pieces in the board game." Don Zagreus replied. His eyes were dull and shifted his gaze to Mort.

"Tell me about it." Don Zagreus added. He was referring to Mort's knowledge about the possible connection of this chaos to his one enemy where its existence is still unknown to him.

"Everything started when Vladimir took my weapon," Mort said making his grandfather frown. Don Zagreus had something else in mind. He stare incredulously at his grandson after he fell silent in a second.

"Didn't it occur to you when Sumire came into your life, everything went awry?" Don Zagreus, on the other hand, asked contradicted him. Mort cast a piercing look at the old man.

"She has nothing to do about this," Mort said cold and emphatically to which Don Zagreus burst into a bolt of laughter. His guffaws echoed in the car. Mort eyed him coldly.

"Let's see to it till the end." Don Zagreus's lips curved into a smirk and stare back outside the window.

He has a strong hunch that the Puppeteer is linked with Sumire Massoullève. The maiden had a connection to a big threat without knowing it. Don Zagreus couldn't help but remember the young man he met decades ago. That handsome dauntless young lad who went to the shark tank and offered help as if it knew what was going on. That was the first and last time he saw that young man. Don Zagreus didn't even accept his help but because of the idea he gave him, he found a solution. The chances that the guy has something to do with what is happening now are high.

'He is more like a shadow. A dangerous one.' said Don in his mind. He was wondering what is that Puppeteer up to this time.

Mort start the engine back and they left the place back to the city. After the war, although it ended quickly, Brethren City sustained severe damage. It would cost billions to rebuild the destroyed metropolis. Every single person went busy and restore back the magnificent city. All the authorities have to clean the mess left by the war. The greatest engineers from all over the world were summoned to return the city to its glory.

As they passed through the city streets, Mort and Don Zagreus saw the massive aftermath of the Underground war. Unidentified dead bodies lying on the floor inside the white bag were uncovered from the collapsed business buildings. Flesh and blood soaked on the ground.

They've seen some doctors and nurses helped treating the civilians who were injured and affected by the war on the city road. The armed policemen were dispersed outside and inside the perimeter to guard the city against a possible attack by unknown opponents who desired to cause chaos. They become more cautious this time.

The bustling Brethren City has grown back to life, a man standing on the highest tower in the city. Hands both thrust in his pocket, and the wind was playing with his grown hair. The glint of deviltry can be seen in his eyes. He could smell the death through the air. Vladimir, who had a wicked smile plastered on his lips watching the busy people from the MDA tower. Behind him were Narco and Lyric, standing, who had just arrived at the place.

"How's your little tour, kids?"