Elara stood beside the metal table, staring at the black Olympus file. Every page she had seen still echoed in her mind—satellites, security networks, global control systems.
It sounded less like technology…
and more like power that should never exist.
She looked at Adrian.
"So someone out there is searching for Olympus right now."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"And they already know you were the one who stole it."
"Yes."
Elara exhaled sharply.
"Great."
She ran a hand through her hair and started pacing around the room.
"You realize what this means, right?"
Adrian leaned against the table, watching her calmly.
"It means the people who broke into your house tonight aren't the real problem."
She stopped walking.
"They were just the beginning."
Adrian didn't deny it.
"They were messengers."
"And the real enemy?"
Adrian's eyes darkened slightly.
"The Consortium."
Elara frowned.
"But you said the Consortium is collapsing."
"Yes," Adrian replied.
"That's exactly why they're dangerous now."
She tilted her head.
"I don't follow."
Adrian walked toward one of the glowing screens and pressed a few keys.
A digital map appeared.
Multiple blinking red dots spread across different parts of the world.
"This is what's left of the Consortium," Adrian explained.
Elara stared at the screen.
"There are dozens of them."
"Dozens of leaders," Adrian corrected.
"Hundreds of operatives."
Her stomach tightened.
"And they all want Olympus."
Adrian nodded once.
"They don't want control of the world."
He paused.
"They want control over each other."
Elara folded her arms.
"A power struggle."
"Exactly."
Her eyes moved across the blinking red lights on the map.
"But if Olympus is so powerful… why didn't you destroy it?"
The question hung in the air.
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he stared at the map quietly.
Finally he said,
"I tried."
Elara blinked.
"Tried?"
"Olympus can't be destroyed easily," Adrian said.
"It's protected by something called a layered encryption lock."
"What does that mean?"
"It means even I can't access it completely."
Her eyebrows shot up.
"You stole something you can't even fully control?"
Adrian's expression remained calm.
"I locked it before anyone else could."
Elara shook her head in disbelief.
"So Olympus is just sitting somewhere… waiting for someone smart enough to unlock it."
Adrian nodded.
"And now the Consortium is searching for it."
A cold silence spread through the room.
Elara leaned forward slightly.
"Where is it?"
Adrian looked at her.
"I don't know."
Her eyes widened.
"You're joking."
"I hid it five years ago."
"And you forgot where you put it?"
Adrian gave a small, humorless smile.
"No."
He walked toward another screen and typed something.
A strange code appeared across the display.
"I erased the location from my own memory."
Elara stared at him.
"You… what?"
Adrian's voice remained steady.
"I created a system that split the coordinates into three encrypted fragments."
"Fragments?"
"Yes."
"Each one stored in a different place."
Elara slowly began to understand.
"So unless someone finds all three fragments…"
"Olympus stays hidden."
She pointed at him.
"And you're telling me you don't even have one of those fragments?"
Adrian didn't answer.
Elara narrowed her eyes.
"You do have one."
A faint smirk appeared on Adrian's face.
"I said I erased the location."
He paused.
"I didn't say I erased the key."
Elara groaned softly.
"You are the most complicated person I have ever met."
Adrian chuckled quietly.
"You have no idea."
Suddenly one of the screens beeped sharply.
Both of them turned.
A red warning signal flashed across the display.
Adrian's expression changed instantly.
"That shouldn't be happening."
"What is it?" Elara asked.
Adrian moved quickly to the computer.
His fingers flew across the keyboard.
Another map appeared.
But this one looked different.
A single red dot blinked in the center of the screen.
Elara pointed.
"What's that location?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"That…"
He zoomed in on the coordinates.
"…is impossible."
Elara stepped closer.
"Why?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Because that signal is coming from Olympus."
Her breath caught.
"You mean someone found it?"
"No."
Adrian shook his head slowly.
"That's the problem."
He stared at the blinking signal.
"Olympus isn't supposed to transmit anything."
Elara felt a chill run down her spine.
"Then what's happening?"
Adrian whispered quietly,
"Someone is activating it."
The room fell silent.
Elara's voice trembled slightly.
"But you said it needs three fragments."
"It does."
"Then how—"
Adrian looked at her.
And for the first time since she had met him…
he looked genuinely worried.
"Unless someone already has them."
A heavy silence spread through the command room.
Elara looked back at the blinking signal on the screen.
"Where is that location?"
Adrian zoomed in further.
The digital map revealed a city name.
Elara read it slowly.
"Berlin."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"So they started the hunt already."
Elara looked at him.
"What are we going to do?"
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"We're going to Berlin."
He grabbed the Olympus file and shut it firmly.
"Because if the Consortium reaches Olympus before we do…"
His voice dropped into a dangerous whisper.
"The world won't survive what happens next."