PROLOGUE

                                    

                                          
I heard the stomping sounds echoing through the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. The heavy thuds reverberated against the cold, sterile walls, a rhythmic reminder that he was getting closer. Then, BAM!—he kicked the door hard, announcing his presence in the most obnoxious way possible. The door shuddered under the force, but I barely flinched, keeping my focus on the report I was writing at my desk. This was typical of him, crashing into spaces like he owned them, as if his very presence demanded attention.
"Well, well, well, how's my friend doing?" he sneered, his voice dripping with fake camaraderie. He acted like he was my superior, though I never saw him as anything more than a nuisance.
Without looking up, I replied coldly, "Still the same as usual," my tone laced with the indifference I'd perfected over the years. My irritation simmered beneath the surface, but I refused to let him see how much he grated on my nerves.
He sauntered over, the sound of his boots clacking against the tiled floor, and I could sense his arrogant smirk without even glancing up. His voice, thick with condescension, slithered through the air. "Why so cold? Typical of you, but I'm not here to exchange pleasantries."
I paused my writing, the pen hovering above the paper as I finally looked up to meet his gaze. His eyes glinted with a dangerous mix of amusement and malice. There was something off about him today, more so than usual. I kept my expression neutral, masking the suspicion that crept into my mind. "What kind of business do you have with me?" I asked, my voice steady, though I could feel the tension coiling in my gut.
His right hand was hidden behind his back, and the way he held himself made it clear he was concealing something—a weapon, perhaps. I could feel the shift in the atmosphere, the way the air grew heavier with each passing moment. But I pretended not to notice, playing along with his little game. He had no idea that I was onto him.
"It seems you've figured out my ulterior motive..." he said, his voice laced with a mocking edge. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as if trying to gauge my reaction. Was he sharper than I had given him credit for, or was it just a lucky guess?
I wondered, briefly, how he had even found me. I had taken great care to ensure that no one knew where I lived, where I worked. But that wasn't the point now. What mattered was that he was here, and I needed to figure out his intentions.
"And what kind of action are we talking about? Death? Chaos?" I asked, my voice steady as I mentally prepared myself for whatever was coming.
My grip tightened unconsciously around the pen in my hand, my mind racing as I considered my options. But before I could react, he was gone, only to reappear a split second later right in front of me. I barely had time to register the movement before his fist connected with my chest, sending me flying to the left. I crashed into my desk, the impact rattling through my bones. The strength behind that punch was incredible, far beyond what I had expected. I gasped, the air knocked out of my lungs, but I wasn't down yet.
Blood filled my mouth, the metallic tang sharp against my tongue. I spat it out, glaring up at him. "Gwak... You think violence is the answer to everything?" I panted, struggling to steady my breathing.
"This is no child's play, my friend. It's a habit," he replied, his voice cold and detached. He pulled his hand from behind his back, revealing a stack of documents I had kept secured in the archives. My heart skipped a beat. How had he gotten hold of them? Those blueprints were for a prototype I'd been working on during a past expedition, a project I had abandoned years ago.
Weak but determined, I forced myself to stand. The room spun around me, but I ignored the dizziness, focusing instead on the anger that burned in my chest. I charged at him, my fists flying as I aimed for his head, his torso—anything to make him feel the impact of my fury. But he didn't budge, standing there like an immovable boulder, his expression one of bored indifference.
"Violence! Such a word for what we businessmen do every day," he mocked, raising his right hand. The ceiling lights above flickered and trembled, drawn toward him as if by some magnetic force. They gathered in his clenched fist, the energy crackling in the air.
I stared, wide-eyed, at the phenomenon unfolding before me. "What in the tarnation of humanity are you doing?!" I blurted out, realizing too late how desperate I sounded.
He smirked, enjoying my confusion. "This power... It's something you've been working on for years. I copied it behind your back, perfecting the first prototype using your own blueprints."
He grabbed me by the collar of my coat, yanking me close until our faces were mere inches apart. "How did you do that?! No one's ever managed to replicate my work so precisely!" I demanded, the rage boiling within me, threatening to overflow.
"That's none of your business now, my friend. It seems our conversation ends here." With that, he kicked me hard in the stomach, sending me crashing to the ground. Pain radiated through my body, but I forced myself to push through it, struggling to get up. Before I could reach him, he vanished into a vortex, the space around him warping and twisting until he was gone, leaving me weak and alone in the hallway.
I lay there for a moment, gasping for breath, my mind racing as I tried to process what had just happened. My gaze drifted to the desk, where a note lay conspicuously. I hadn't noticed it before, but now it seemed to taunt me with its presence. I dragged myself over, my hands trembling as I picked it up.
"Business meetings are for cowards. Unlike you, an exception to my blacklist."
The words were scrawled in an elegant, flowing script, but the message was clear. I had no idea who had written it—was it him? Or was I just losing my mind?
One thing was clear, though: he might be a worthy opponent someday.
I collapsed into my chair, the weight of the encounter settling over me like a dark cloud. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, questions without answers, but one thing stood out above the rest.
I wasn't safe. Not anymore.
And whoever he was, whatever he wanted—he wouldn't stop until he had it.