At the private office on the top floor of 'Draymond Tower'...
The air conditioning hummed silently, releasing a frigid chill to feed the massive room decorated in black and gold. Polished onyx marble paved the entire floor, reflecting the dim light from a modern crystal chandelier. The walls on three sides were replaced by giant tempered glass panes reaching from floor to ceiling, revealing the night view of Titan City shining brightly below like a sea of stars.
Amidst the silence, there was only the sound... Tick... Tick... of a luxury clock ticking rhythmically.
A tall, elegant man stood with his back to the door. His sharp gaze cast down at the city lights below with a calm demeanor... like a god watching a colony of ants scurrying beneath his feet.
Victor Draymond... a man in his early forties, one of the power holders behind the shadows of this city. He was dressed in a dark gray bespoke suit that fitted his figure perfectly. His iron-gray hair was combed back sleekly, without a single strand falling out of place. His handsome, mature face looked cold and unreadable. A faint, small scar cutting through his left eyebrow was a reminder of a grueling past before he ascended to this peak.
[Character Illustration: Victor]
In his right hand, he held a premium Cuban cigar. The pungent, unique aroma of expensive tobacco wafted in faint gray spirals, swirling around him like a mist of mystery.
Knock... Knock...
A soft knocking sound broke the silence, before the heavy wooden door was pushed open carefully.
Celine, his close secretary in a tight black short skirt suit, walked in with steps that were light but hurried. Normally, she was a woman with a confident and cold personality befitting Victor's right hand, but right now... the hand holding her tablet trembled slightly, and cold sweat seeped from her hairline.
She stood still in the middle of the room, not daring to walk any closer to her boss.
"Report..." Victor spoke without turning back. His voice was deep and flat, yet it echoed throughout the room.
"Sir..." Celine's voice trembled slightly. She tried to gather her wits. "We have lost contact with Jagger's team for fully 72 hours now."
Victor didn't respond. He simply exhaled cigar smoke slowly, waiting to hear more.
"The GPS pinpointed their last location at the abandoned warehouse in the Old Port zone... but when we sent a patrol unit to inspect the area..." Celine swallowed the sticky lump in her throat. "We found no one at all... Both Jagger and his 29 elite subordinates... have vanished without a trace."
"Without a trace?" Victor repeated the question softly.
"Yes... We found only traces of structural damage and some bloodstains, indicating a violent battle occurred, but..." Celine paused, her face full of dread. "The scene was 'cleaned' very professionally. All evidence was destroyed... Luckily, our team is expert enough to find a single fragment of Jagger's chitin armor fallen in a crack in the wall."
Silence covered the room again... This time it was thicker and more oppressive than before.
Victor didn't shout or throw things. Only his eyebrows knit together slightly, but this tiny reaction made Celine feel more suffocated than being yelled at in the face.
His "steel gray" eyes narrowed slightly. A glint of cruelty flashed for a second before returning to stillness. His strong hand raised the cigar to his lips, drawing smoke deep into his lungs, then exhaling it as his thoughts began to work rapidly.
'Jagger is a Rank B Awakened, a combat type focused on defense and strength... plus almost 30 fully armed minions... All gone without anyone escaping?'
That meant the opponent didn't just "win"... it was a complete "purge."
'Our intelligence is absolute trash...' Victor cursed in his mind.
Jigsaw pieces in his head began to connect... The young man named Owen Marlowe... a person who seemed to have no background but received special attention from Alexander, the Governor of Titan City... plus the rumors of a close relationship with Nova, that Rank S Awakened...
"Heh..." Victor chuckled low in his throat. It was a laugh devoid of amusement. "I underestimated him... It seems 'Owen Marlowe' isn't just a trash streamer who relies on others' influence, but a 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' hiding his fangs much deeper than we thought..."
Seeing her boss fall silent again, Celine decided to ask timidly. "Should I send the second 'Cleanup Unit' to finish the job? This time we will use three Rank Bs..."
"No..."
Victor's answer came back instantly, decisive and cold. "Cancel the hunt order temporarily."
"Huh? But Sir... our VIP clients are dissatisfied that we have no new 'goods' because Cole was captured. That man should face consequences for destroying our high-value business," Celine argued in confusion.
"Do you think I don't understand that, Celine? Your suggestion is no different from sending people to die in vain... because we don't even know his true strength yet!!" Victor turned to face his secretary. His gaze was so freezing that Celine had to bow her head to avoid it. "We've wasted resources far exceeding the price on his head... If we stubbornly send people in blind, even if we kill him, we still lose."
He walked slowly to his mahogany desk, then crushed the tip of the cigar into the crystal ashtray indifferently.
"Besides... Alex is watching my movements closely right now. If we cause a big scene and cross the line any further, he won't sit still. Opening a war on two fronts isn't smart."
Victor looked up, staring at Celine with the eyes of a hunter playing the long game.
"Change the plan..." he commanded. "Send 'Shadows' to just keep an eye on him. Do not act without orders. Do not let him know... I want to know everything about him. What are his weaknesses? What kind of strength is he hiding? And most importantly... who does he have deep relationships with?"
"Understood, Sir." Celine bowed to accept the order before hurriedly backing out of the room quickly, as if wanting to escape this immense pressure.
When the large door closed, Victor walked back to the glass window again. He looked down at the glittering city lights like a giant chessboard.
"A smart person... should know when to advance and when to retreat..."
He whispered to his own reflection in the glass. A ruthless smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"I'll put revenge on hold for now, Owen Marlowe... I'll let you 'live on' for a little while longer... But the moment I know every card in your hand... on that day... I will be the one to rip your head off with my own hands..."
Victor's eyes glared into the darkness outside, like a venomous snake coiling in the shadows, waiting for the moment to strike its prey dead in a single bite.
.....
[Back to Owen's Side]
As the evening sun dipped low...
The atmosphere inside the underground recovery room was completely different from the outside world. It was quiet, cool, and filled with the faint aroma of essential oils that aided relaxation. The soft lighting was adjusted to a perfect brightness, not harsh on the eyes.
Owen lay reclining against the adjustable headboard with a relaxed expression. His body, once battered from heavy combat, had been restored to almost 100%. Beside his bed, Finley, the beautiful young boy, sat swinging his legs on a chair. His slender hand flicked a stylus pen across a tablet with enjoyment. It seemed he was drafting a new cosplay outfit or just drawing for fun as an artistic soul.
Buzz... Buzz...
The tranquility was broken by the vibration of the smartphone on the bedside table. The screen lit up, showing a familiar name.
[ Incoming Call: Clara ]
Owen raised an eyebrow slightly. He turned to signal Finley to be quiet, and the boy nodded in understanding. Owen inhaled deeply, adjusting his voice to sound as normal as possible before answering.
"Hey, Clara?"
"Owen! You've been gone for three whole days!" Clara's sweet, clear voice came through the line, laced with worry and a little sulking. "Is Rosy's channel's 'Big Project' finished yet, my love? I miss you so much~"
Owen paused for a moment... 'Big Project?'
His brain processed the information in a split second... This must be an "excuse" Iris or Rosy created to cover up the time he was injured from the fight and had to recover. Claiming to be stuck on a big project made a 3-day disappearance seem reasonable and not suspicious.
"Ah... Yes, yes, that's right," Owen replied smoothly. His voice sounded gentle and tinged with guilt. "Sorry I didn't call at all, Clara. It was chaotic over here... We just wrapped up the job moments ago. But everything is fine now, don't worry. I'm definitely coming home today."
"That's great!" Clara's tone shifted to unconcealed joy. "Then I'll prepare a big feast waiting to welcome you this evening... Oh! And what about our 'Basement Studio'? Have you found a contractor yet?"
Owen sighed softly, accepting the truth. "About that... not yet... I tried looking, but haven't found a trustworthy technician yet. For this kind of work, we need to be extra careful about secrecy too... But don't worry, we still have plenty of time."
"Understood... Take your time finding one. We're in no rush anyway. That's all then, my love. Hurry back~"
The moment the call ended, Owen put the phone down and sighed in relief.
However... when he turned to look at the person beside him, he found that Finley, who had been sitting quietly, now had beautiful round eyes sparkling like he had found something fun.
Finley wiggled closer to Owen like a puppy wagging its tail waiting for a command. His enthusiasm was so extreme the tiny nurse outfit almost burst.
"Brother Owen! Are you going to build a studio?" Finley asked excitedly. "Private? Soundproof? And top secret too, right?"
Owen raised an eyebrow slightly. "Yes... Why? Do you know someone?"
"I have a trustworthy friend! She should be able to help you with this!"
Finley presented proudly. "She's a very skilled craftsman. Structural work, systems, soundproofing... her skills are god-tier. Plus, she's tight-lipped and keeps secrets extremely well. But..."
Suddenly, Finley's voice faded a little, his expression slightly troubled.
"But what?" Owen asked.
"Well... Her artistic sense is absolutely terrible," Finley made a wry face. "If you let her design it herself, the room will look stiff and rigid like a hell factory or a war bunker... Usually, when she takes jobs that require beauty, she has to hire me to help with the interior design."
Owen listened and chuckled softly. 'A god-tier craftsman with no taste, and a visionary designer who can't build... A perfect duo.'
"Sounds interesting," Owen smirked. "Then I'll leave it to you to contact this friend."
"You got it!" Finley smiled until his eyes crinkled. "And I'll help design the room for you myself. I guarantee it will come out beautiful, luxurious, classy, and definitely to Sister Clara's liking!"
Owen watched that enthusiastic manner with adoration. He raised his hand to pat Finley's head gently, feeling that having a 'younger brother' in this little girl's body by his side was truly a good thing.
Whoosh...
The recovery room door slid open automatically.
Iris in a lab coat and Talia in a nurse outfit walked in with a bag of Owen's new clothes, ironed crisp and smooth. The scent of fabric softener wafted through the air.
"I've washed and dried your clothes for you, Master~" Talia said briefly, placing the clothes at the foot of the bed.
Owen picked up a shirt to put on, turning to speak to Iris, who stood with arms crossed in her Ice Queen persona by the door.
"Thanks for helping lie about the 'Big Project'. I didn't want them to know or get involved in this..." Owen buttoned his shirt while smiling at her. "By the way... was it your handiwork or Rosy's?"
The moment she heard the compliment, Iris's amber eyes, once cold and sharp, blinked rapidly. The atmosphere around her changed instantly.
The coldness of the Ice Queen melted away, replaced by a sparkle of brightness and playfulness in her eyes. The lips that were pressed into a straight line curled into a wide grin.
"Of course it was me! Hehe~ Thank me, Big Brother~!"
Rosy, who had switched out to control the body, jumped to cling to Owen's arm and rubbed her cheek against him affectionately like a kitten, causing Finley sitting nearby to widen his eyes in surprise.
"But actually... I wasn't lying about the big project!" Rosy looked up at Owen with sparkling eyes. "I intend to really do it! The views when we streamed together that time skyrocketed. I wanted to find new content to increase the fan base anyway... You have to help me with this too. No bailing out!"
Owen laughed heartily at this sudden change. He reached out to ruffle her hair playfully.
"Okay, okay, I promise..." He looked into her eyes, which were now full of life. "Once I clear things up at home, let's talk about this project seriously... I want to know too just how fun our 'Big Project' will be."
Rosy smiled until her cheeks puffed. "Yay! I knew you wouldn't refuse!"
When he was fully dressed, Owen leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her smooth cheek as thanks and farewell.
Smooch...
"I'm off now... Take care of things here."
That gentle and natural action made Rosy blush immediately. She stood frozen for a moment, while Finley, watching from behind, turned beet red and hurriedly covered his eyes, even though he had just done something much more lewd. As for Talia, she could only purse her lips tightly with a hint of jealousy.
Owen waved goodbye to everyone one last time before walking out of the underground research lab, heading toward his SUV parked outside.
At this moment, Owen felt strangely relaxed... Even though boss-level enemies like 'Victor' or a terrifying mafia organization waited ahead, the warmth he received from those around him at the Ward household, Jessica's apartment, Nova's gym, and this secret research base made him feel secure.
He wasn't alone anymore... He had a 'Family' supporting him in both the light and the shadows.
VROOOOOM...
The engine roared loudly. The SUV shot out from Rosy's home, heading toward the Ward residence... where warm food and the smiles of important people awaited him.
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