The aftermath of Viktor's downfall lingered like smoke in the air. Ethan, Lydia, Liam, and Alison sat in Agent Harry's office, the sterile walls echoing with unspoken questions. Mason's betrayal cut deep, but the team knew the game was far from over. Agent Harry leaned forward, expression grim. "Viktor's empire is crumbling. We've got intel on his associates, accounts, and operations. But we need to move fast." Ethan nodded, eyes narrowed. "What's the plan?" "Take down Viktor's key players. Disrupt their networks. And find out who else was involved with Night Shade." Lydia frowned. "What about Mason?" Harry's expression softened. "Mason made a choice. We'll honor his sacrifice." The team exchanged looks. Alison's voice was barely above a whisper. "He was our friend." Liam shook his head. "He chose this. We need to focus." Agent Harry slid a folder across the desk. "Your next target: Viktor's lieutenant, Ivan Markov. He's running Viktor's operations in Eastern Europe. Take him down, and the network collapses." Ethan opened the folder, scanning the contents. Photos, locations, habits. "When do we leave?" "Tonight. You'll infiltrate Ivan's operation in Prague. Gather intel, take him out." The team nodded, adrenaline kicking in. They knew the risks. Prague was cold, the streets narrow and winding. The team blended into the crowd, eyes on Ivan's club. Basses thumped, neon lights flashed. Ivan was inside, celebrating his newfound power. Ethan signaled. Lydia and Alison entered first, looks striking in cocktail dresses. Ivan's guards eyed them, then let them through. Liam and Ethan followed, dressed as tourists. Inside, Ivan smiled, arms open. "Welcome, beautiful ladies. And... gentlemen." Lydia laughed, leaning in. "Ivan, you're a legend." Ivan preened. "Tell me, what brings you here?" Ethan and Liam moved closer, voices low. "We're here for Viktor's business." Ivan's smile faltered. "Viktor's... indisposed." Ethan's gun pressed against Ivan's side. "So are you." Ivan's eyes widened. "No—" The team moved fast. Ivan was taken out, his guards neutralized. Documents, phones, and devices were seized. Agent Harry's voice came through the earpiece. "Good work. Extraction's on the way." As they escaped into the night, Ethan's phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number: "The game isn't over." Back in Lagos, the team pored over Ivan's files. Names, accounts, connections. Night Shade's reach went deeper than they thought. Lydia looked up, eyes narrowed. "This goes higher than Viktor." Ethan nodded. "We need to dig." Alison frowned. "What about the message?" Ethan's jaw tightened. "Someone's playing games." The team knew: the enemy wasn't just Viktor. It was bigger. The clock ticked midnight. The team prepared for the next move. Prague was just the beginning.
The team's Lagos HQ buzzed with activity as they dissected Ivan's files. Names spilled out – associates, partners, hidden accounts. Night Shade's web was vast. Ethan leaned back, eyes narrowed. "This goes high up. We need to move before they regroup." Lydia nodded. "Next target?" Agent Harry entered, expression tense. "Sofia Petrova. Ivan's contact in Moscow. She's Viktor's cousin." Alison frowned. "Why's she important?" "Handles Viktor's black ops. If we take her down, the chain breaks." Liam checked his watch. "When's the op?" "Tonight. Moscow's waiting." Moscow was icy, streets lined with snow. The team dressed warm, eyes scanning rooftops. Sofia's mansion loomed – cameras, guards, high walls. Ethan signaled. Liam and Alison created a diversion – fireworks lit the sky. Guards rushed to the front gate. Ethan and Lydia slipped in. Sofia sipped tea in her study. A shadow moved behind her. "Ethan." Sofia turned, gun raised. "You won't take me alive." Ethan smiled cold. "We don't need you alive." Lydia disarmed the bomb on Sofia's desk. "Intel?" Sofia sneered. "You'll never stop it." The team moved fast. Sofia was taken out. Files downloaded. Escape. Agent Harry's voice crackled. "Extract now. Heat's rising." Back in Lagos, the team decrypted Sofia's files. Photos, plans, codes. Lydia's eyes widened. "This is huge. Night Shade's buyer list... governments, corporations..." Ethan's jaw tightened. "Who's behind it?" Alison frowned. "Looks like... a name's missing." The team exchanged looks. The game twisted. Unknown number: "You're getting close. Don't stop." The clock hit 2 AM. The hunt continues. The team's eyes locked onto the Dubai location. Night Shade's leaders would be there – the people behind the web of deceit. Lydia checked her gear. "Satellite imagery shows heavy security. We need a plan." Ethan nodded. "Infiltrate, gather evidence, take out the leaders." Alison frowned. "What about the buyer list? We need it intact." Liam smiled cold. "Leave that to me." The team split up, moving into position. Dubai's night sky glittered – a facade for the darkness below. Ethan and Lydia entered the meeting location, posing as buyers. The room was thick with tension. Night Shade's leaders sat at the table – powerful, ruthless. A figure raised an eyebrow. "Welcome. You are...?" Ethan smiled. "Interested in expanding our... portfolio." The leaders exchanged looks. "We don't do business with unknowns." Liam triggered the distraction – a fire alarm blared. Chaos erupted. Ethan and Lydia moved fast, taking out guards, securing the leaders. Alison hacked the servers, downloading the buyer list. A leader snarled, "You'll never leave alive." Ethan's gun pressed to his head. "We already have." The team escaped, Dubai police closing in. Night Shade's leaders were in custody. The buyer list was in Agent Harry's hands. Back in Lagos, the team exhaled. Victory was close. Agent Harry's expression was grim. "This is just the beginning. The buyer list... it's explosive." Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Who's on it?" Harry hesitated. "People with power. People we thought were clean." The team exchanged looks. The game had just got bigger. Unknown number: "The game isn't over.