The underground chamber smelled of damp stone and fear. Rogers sat tied to a steel chair, his head lolling forward, blood trickling from his split lip. The dim light above him flickered, casting eerie shadows on the cold walls. The scent of burnt tobacco lingered in the air—Ochieng had been waiting. Watching.
Ochieng leaned against the table, his fingers slowly tapping against the metal surface, a calm storm in his gaze. Around him, his most trusted figures stood in the background, silent as ghosts. Jeff, Bruno, Victoria, and Linet—each of them a predator in their own right, waiting for their cue.
Rogers coughed, spitting blood onto the floor, his breathing ragged. "You think you can scare me?" he sneered, forcing a grin despite his bruised jaw. "I've faced worse."
Ochieng chuckled softly. "Is that so?" He pushed off the table and circled Rogers like a lion stalking wounded prey. "You know, I respect men who can hold their ground. But you…" He grabbed Rogers's chin, forcing him to look up. "…you're not that man."
Victoria stepped forward, crouching beside Rogers, her fingers tracing the edge of her dagger. "Tell me, Rogers…" she murmured, her lips curving into a seductive smirk. "How long do you think you can hold out before you beg?"
Rogers clenched his jaw, refusing to answer.
"Fine," Ochieng said, stepping back. "Let's play a little game." He motioned to Bruno, who placed a black briefcase on the table.
With a soft click, the case opened, revealing a collection of instruments—some meant for persuasion, others for something far darker.
Rogers paled.
Jeff smirked. "Ah… Now you're starting to understand."
Ochieng picked up a slender knife, twirling it between his fingers before pressing it against Rogers's shoulder. "You have information I need," he said, his voice smooth. "And I'm not in the mood for games."
A sharp slice.
Rogers hissed as the blade bit into his skin, a thin line of crimson blooming on his white shirt.
"Start talking."
The room fell silent, except for the sound of Rogers's heavy breathing.
Minutes passed.
Then, finally, he broke. "Alright! I'll talk! Just… stop."
Ochieng exchanged a glance with Victoria before stepping back. "Good choice."
Rogers's eyes darted between them, his chest heaving. "There's a meeting… A high-stakes deal going down in the city… But it's bigger than you think."
Ochieng narrowed his eyes. "How big?"
Rogers swallowed hard. "Trillions. A secret auction. And the buyers… are the most powerful families in the world."
The air in the room shifted. Even Jeff, usually unfazed, tensed slightly.
Ochieng exhaled slowly, his mind calculating. "Where?"
Rogers hesitated. One look from Victoria, and he answered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Glowtune City."
A dangerous smile played on Ochieng's lips. "Then it looks like we're going on a trip."
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