A Name in the Dark
With a captured operative tied to a chair and a safehouse reduced to rubble, Gerard is done playing defense. It's time to find out who's pulling the strings. Meanwhile, Wei Meiying stands at a crossroads—does she expose the truth, or does she dig deeper? And in the shadows, the unknown enemy takes their next step. The war is no longer coming. It's here.
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10:35 – Abandoned Garage – The Interrogation Begins
The captive groaned as he came to, head lolling forward.
Gerard sat across from him, expression cold, unreadable. Jian stood behind him, arms crossed, his presence an unspoken threat.
The assassin was sharpening a knife. Slowly. Deliberately.
The man's eyes fluttered open, and the moment he saw Gerard, he tensed.
Fear.
He recognized who he was dealing with.
Gerard noticed. "Good. That'll save us time."
The man's jaw clenched. "You're already dead, Walker."
Jian whistled. "Damn. They really like that name of yours."
Gerard leaned forward, voice calm but razor-sharp. "Who are you working for?"
The man stayed silent.
Jian sighed, stepping forward. "I was hoping you'd say that."
The knife sank into the operative's thigh.
A muffled cry of pain.
Gerard's eyes didn't waver. "Name."
The man panted, sweat forming on his brow. "You can kill me. It won't change anything."
Gerard shook his head. "I don't need to kill you. I just need to make you wish I had."
Jian twisted the knife.
The operative screamed.
Then, finally—
"Horizon."
Silence.
Jian blinked. "The hell is Horizon?"
Gerard's gaze darkened. "Not what. Who."
The operative spat blood. "You think you're special? You're just another experiment gone wrong."
Gerard's grip tightened. "Explain."
The man laughed, even through the pain. "Figure it out yourself."
Then—his body convulsed.
Jian cursed. "Not again—!"
Gerard lunged, grabbing the man's face, prying his mouth open.
But it was too late.
Foam spilled from his lips. His body twitched violently—then went still.
Jian exhaled sharply. "Man, your enemies really like dying before they talk."
Gerard sat back, jaw tight.
"Horizon."
A name.
But still not enough.
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[Ding! Interrogation Mission Progress]
- Captive self-terminated before full intel extraction.
- Uncovered key name: 'Horizon.'
- Next Move: Find out what Horizon really is.
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11:00 – Wei Estate – The Decision
Wei Meiying stood in the main hall, staring at the grand staircase that led to her mother's study.
She could feel Madam Wei's presence, waiting for her.
Waiting for answers.
But her feet didn't move.
She turned, instead, toward the garage.
A different path.
A different decision.
She would go to Li Xian first.
Not as a test. Not as a game.
This time, she wanted the truth.
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[Ding! Meiying's Path Has Been Chosen]
- She has chosen to confront Li Xian before Madam Wei.
- The nature of this confrontation will determine her next course of action.
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12:30 – Hidden Enemy – The Next Strike
The black jet touched down on a private runway.
The man from before stepped onto the tarmac, adjusting his sleeves.
Beside him, his second-in-command—the woman in tactical gear.
She spoke first. "Horizon is exposed."
The man smiled. "Good."
She frowned. "We should have eliminated him already. Why are you dragging this out?"
He chuckled softly. "Because we don't just kill ghosts."
He turned, stepping toward a waiting armored convoy.
"We collect them."
The woman's expression darkened. "You think you can turn him?"
The man smirked. "Oh, I know we can."
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[Ding! Horizon's Directive Has Changed]
- They are no longer focused on killing Gerard.
- Their new objective: Capture.
- Next Move: ???
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13:00 – Gerard's Next Move
Back at the new hideout, Gerard stared at the name written on the whiteboard in front of him.
HORIZON.
Jian chewed on a piece of gum. "You got any guesses on what it means?"
Gerard exhaled. "Not yet."
But he would.
Soon.
The game had changed.
And he was done playing defense.
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