Wednesday, 13 November 2001.
Two days had passed since the attack on the World Trade Center, yet the entire world remained consumed by it.
Television networks repeated the same horrifying footage throughout the day. Newspapers published photographs of the burning towers, exhausted rescue workers, grieving families, and streets covered in smoke and debris. Governments increased security around airports, financial districts, military facilities, and public buildings, while millions of people waited anxiously for an explanation.
The destruction had shaken the United States deeply.
People who had once believed themselves protected by distance and military strength suddenly felt vulnerable. Rumours spread almost as quickly as official information, and fear began transforming into anger.
Zaboru's response also became one of the most discussed parts of the disaster.
News reports repeatedly showed ZAGE Foundation helicopters arriving above Lower Manhattan, heavy rescue vehicles entering the area, and ZAGE medical teams assisting firefighters, paramedics, and police officers. Zaboru himself had flown from Japan to the United States within hours of receiving confirmation of the attack, then joined the emergency coordination efforts instead of remaining safely behind company representatives.
Several photographs showed him wearing a dark rescue jacket and protective mask while moving between temporary medical stations and command centres. Other footage captured him carrying water, reviewing structural maps, and speaking directly with exhausted firefighters.
He had avoided interviews whenever possible.
Whenever reporters attempted to approach him, Zaboru simply told them that the rescue workers were more important and continued helping.
That refusal only increased public admiration.
Many Americans already knew Zaboru through ZAGE games, Steam,music, sports, technology, and entertainment. Now they saw him standing beside their firefighters while smoke still covered New York.
Some called him a hero.
Others said he was only doing what any powerful businessman should have done.
Zaboru himself rejected both descriptions. Whenever someone thanked him, he redirected the praise toward the rescue workers who had entered unstable buildings, climbed damaged stairwells, and searched through burning rubble.
Despite those efforts, the number of confirmed dead and missing continued rising.
The United States government began searching aggressively for those responsible. Intelligence agencies questioned suspects, examined airport records, traced financial transfers, and studied communications connected to the hijackers.
Within an unusually short period, the name Al-Qaeda began appearing throughout official reports and news broadcasts.
The organisation was described as a foreign terrorist network motivated by religious extremism and hatred toward the United States. Government representatives claimed that early evidence connected the group to the aircraft, the hijackers, and the planning behind the attack.
Most citizens had never heard the name before.
Now it appeared everywhere.
Television programmes showed images of armed men, training camps, and foreign deserts while commentators warned that similar attacks might happen again. Muslim communities across the United States immediately became targets of suspicion, even though ordinary Muslim families had nothing to do with the tragedy.
Mosques received threatening calls.
Children were insulted at school.
Immigrants who had lived peacefully in America for years suddenly found strangers staring at them as though they were enemies.
Fear was searching for a face.
The government had provided one.
Far away from the public attention, another discussion was taking place inside one of Arachne's most secure underground facilities.
The meeting room was wide and dimly illuminated, with a long black table occupying its centre. No windows existed anywhere inside the chamber. Every entrance required multiple layers of identification, while electronic interference prevented ordinary communication devices from functioning within the area.
Several of Arachne's highest-ranking members sat around the table.
At its head was Alissa Clyne, the organisation's primary leader. Her calm appearance gave no indication of the anger she had carried since receiving confirmation of the attack.
Beside her sat Kings Johanson, Arachne's head of sociology and social influence. Kings specialised in understanding how governments, media organisations, religious institutions, and ordinary populations reacted to fear.
Paula Tesla represented the organisation's scientific and technological divisions. Pietro, one of Arachne's most dangerous field commanders, sat silently with his usual unreadable expression.
Roggi and Maya were also present, alongside several regional directors and senior intelligence officers.
A large screen displayed photographs, financial records, flight information, and intercepted communications connected to the attack.
Kings leaned back in his chair and released a long sigh. "This was definitely the Illuminati's work. They planned it for years and used the business gathering to place several targets inside the same location. Thankfully, most businessmen connected to our association accepted our warning and cancelled their attendance."
His expression became colder as he looked toward an image of the destroyed towers. "What disgusts me most is how quickly they introduced this supposed terrorist organisation. Al-Qaeda appeared almost immediately, already prepared with a name, motive, structure, and enemies. They are directing public anger toward Muslims before anyone has time to question the evidence."
Paula folded her arms and shook her head. "It is always the same method. Create fear, provide an enemy, then offer greater control as the solution. People will surrender almost anything if they believe it will make them safe."
Kings nodded. "Surveillance, military expansion, restrictions on movement, financial monitoring, emergency authority—the attack gives governments permission to introduce all of it. Anyone who questions those policies will be accused of disrespecting the victims."
Several members around the table remained silent.
They all understood what would follow.
Fear created obedience more effectively than ordinary political arguments. Citizens who would normally reject government intrusion might accept it willingly if convinced that another aircraft could strike their city.
A broad-shouldered Chinese man named Liu ran leaned forward. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, while his enormous chin made his already serious expression appear almost exaggerated. "They were still incredibly bold. Using hijacked civilian aircraft is one thing, but our investigation suggests military coordination and manipulated radar information were involved as well. This was not a simple terrorist operation."
He tapped one of the documents in front of him. "They wanted the aircraft to reach those towers. Someone protected the route."
Paula looked toward him. "Do you believe the attack was also a message to us?"
"Possibly," Liu Ran answered. "Several people invited to that gathering were connected to Arachne, even if the Illuminati did not know every name. They may have hoped to weaken our financial and political network in one strike."
Alissa remained quiet for several moments, studying the information on the screen.
The towers had not only contained ordinary workers.
Many wealthy businessmen, investors, advisers, and political representatives had been invited to the international gathering. Some belonged to the Illuminati. Others had connections to Arachne. Several remained publicly neutral but quietly supported one side.
The attack had transformed thousands of innocent people into collateral damage inside a hidden conflict.
Alissa finally spoke. "This was their declaration. They are telling us that they are prepared to fight openly while continuing to hide behind governments and manufactured enemies. They have spent the last several years consolidating their people, finances, military connections, and media influence."
Her eyes narrowed. "Now they believe they are ready."
Kings looked toward her. "Then we should assume this is only the beginning."
"Yes."
Paula examined another set of records. "The stock market collapsed almost immediately after the attack. Several financial groups connected to the Illuminati began purchasing shares at extremely low prices within hours."
Liu Ran frowned. "They are profiting from the destruction they created."
"They always do," Paula replied. "War, panic, reconstruction, security contracts, military spending—every stage generates money for someone."
Maya, who had remained silent until then, spoke with controlled anger. "Thousands of people died so those bastards could expand their influence and buy companies cheaply."
Kings looked toward the photographs of rescue workers moving through the smoke. "And now they are encouraging ordinary citizens to hate people who had nothing to do with it. Muslims will be attacked, governments will invade foreign countries, and the Illuminati will hide behind the anger."
Alissa placed both hands on the table. "We cannot stop public fear immediately. The story has already been distributed through every major news network they control. But we can protect our people, collect evidence, and prevent them from using this tragedy to destroy everyone who stands outside their organisation."
Her gaze then moved toward another image on the screen.
Zaboru stood beside a damaged emergency vehicle, his clothes covered in ash while speaking with a group of firefighters.
The atmosphere inside the room changed slightly.
Kings sighed again. "Then there is him."
Alissa looked toward him. "What did you discover?"
"Zaboru apparently suspected something before the attack. Several days earlier, he ordered members of his private security and intelligence network to investigate unusual activity around the World Trade Center. He also sent warnings to American agencies."
Paula frowned. "How could he have known?"
"That is the problem," Kings answered. "We do not know."
He opened several files showing ZAGE's internal movements before November 11. "He rejected the invitation immediately. He investigated the organisers. He requested information about aviation security, financial transfers, and suspicious cancellations. He even placed parts of the ZAGE Foundation's American Rescue Division on increased readiness."
Liu Ran stared at the screen. "That is far beyond ordinary caution."
"Yes."
Pietro finally spoke, his face remaining completely expressionless. "It's like he already know… and The Illuminati will notice."
Kings nodded grimly. "They already have. Our sources indicate they obtained evidence that Zaboru was searching for anomalies before the attack."
Paula's expression hardened. "Then they will ask how he knew."
"And if they cannot find the answer," Maya added, "they will create one."
Pietro leaned back slightly. "They will frame him."
The words were delivered without emotion, but nobody at the table misunderstood their seriousness.
Zaboru had enormous public influence. His companies controlled technology, communications, entertainment, online platforms, hardware, software, and financial assets across the world. Millions of people admired him.
If the Illuminati could connect Zaboru to the attack, even through weak or fabricated evidence, they could damage one of the most powerful independent figures in the world.
Kings rubbed his forehead. "It would be simple to manipulate. They could claim he possessed advance knowledge because ZAGE participated in the plan. They could question why his rescue teams mobilised so quickly or why he refused the gathering."
Paula looked disgusted. "They would turn preparation into evidence of guilt."
"They only need doubt," Kings explained. "Not proof. Once people become frightened, uncertainty is enough. Newspapers will ask questions. Politicians will demand investigations. Rival companies will repeat the accusations. Every action Zaboru takes will then be interpreted suspiciously."
Alissa's expression became severe. "We will not allow that."
Kings looked toward her. "Protecting him openly might make the situation worse."
"Then we protect him quietly."
Alissa turned toward Pietro. "Increase surveillance around Leonard Epstein and every Illuminati-connected media group. I want to know what accusations they are preparing before they release them."
Pietro nodded once. "Understood."
"Maya, monitor communications involving ZAGE, the Foundation, and American intelligence agencies. Any attempt to fabricate documents or alter flight records must be identified immediately."
Maya accepted the order.
"Paula, secure copies of every financial transaction made by Illuminati-linked organisations following the attack. If they profited through advance knowledge, we need proof."
Paula smiled faintly. "I already started."
Alissa then looked around the table. "Zaboru must be protected at all costs. Not because he belongs to Arachne—he does not—but because the Illuminati cannot be allowed to control or destroy him."
Kings nodded slowly. "He remains unpredictable, but his existence keeps power distributed. If ZAGE falls into their hands, they gain influence over nearly every major modern industry."
"And if they kill him?" Liu Ran asked.
Alissa's eyes became cold. "Then they will discover exactly how dangerous Arachne can become."
Silence filled the chamber.
Everyone understood the meaning behind her statement.
The hidden conflict between Arachne and the Illuminati had existed for generations, but both organisations normally avoided direct warfare. They competed through corporations, governments, intelligence networks, social movements, and selected operations.
The attack on the World Trade Center had changed that balance.
Alissa stood from her chair. "Prepare every regional branch. Strengthen protection around our members, their families, and all strategic allies. The Illuminati has declared its intentions."
She looked once more toward the image of New York covered in smoke.
"We will answer."
The senior members nodded before leaving the room one by one, each carrying new orders into different parts of Arachne's global network.
Pietro remained behind for several seconds.
He stared at Zaboru's image on the screen and spoke quietly. "You really do attract troublesome people."
Then he turned and followed the others.
Elsewhere, far from Arachne's underground base, Leonard Epstein sat comfortably inside a private Illuminati residence.
The room around him was decorated with expensive artwork, polished furniture, and several screens displaying financial markets from around the world.
Leonard laughed as he examined the numbers.
The attack had caused stock prices to collapse across several industries. Terrified investors sold their shares, convinced that the markets would continue falling.
Leonard had done the opposite.
Within hours of the disaster, he used a large portion of his fortune to purchase shares at heavily reduced prices. He already knew the markets would eventually recover because several people responsible for shaping that recovery belonged to his organisation.
Governments would provide support.
Interest rates would be adjusted.
Military and security companies would receive enormous contracts.
Reconstruction would generate additional spending.
Fear had created opportunity.
Leonard poured himself a glass of wine and smiled. "People are remarkably easy to control."
One of the screens displayed footage of ZAGE Foundation personnel helping firefighters while Zaboru moved through the disaster area in a rescue jacket.
Leonard watched silently for several moments.
Then his smile slowly changed.
"Zaboru…"
He enlarged the image and studied the exhausted expression on Zaboru's face.
"Hehehe. Let us see how loyal your fans remain after they hear the right story."
Leonard reached toward a folder resting beside him. Several documents, photographs, and prepared media reports were visible inside.
Some were authentic.
Others had only recently been created.
Leonard closed the folder before the full contents could be seen.
Then he leaned back in his chair, lifted his glass, and grinned toward Zaboru's image.
"Let us see how well a hero survives suspicion."
To be continued.
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