The underground chamber was dimly lit, the only light flickering from old lanterns placed at strategic corners. The air smelled of damp stone and secrets too dangerous to be spoken aloud. Ochieng stood in the center, his eyes locked onto Brian, who sat bound to a rusted chair, the blood from his split lip still fresh.
The room was filled with new faces—figures who had been watching from the shadows, waiting for their moment to step into the game.
To Brian's right stood Celestine, a woman with sharp, calculating eyes. She was dressed in a long black coat, her blonde hair tied in a loose ponytail. Her reputation was that of a ghost—an information broker who knew secrets even before they were spoken.
Next to her was Ivan Zuberi, a towering figure with dark tattoos creeping up his neck. A former mercenary turned strategist, he was the kind of man who could plan the downfall of an empire with just a napkin and a pen.
Then there was Felix "The Blade" Njoroge, a deadly assassin who had once been hired to kill Ochieng. Now, he stood silently, arms crossed, waiting for the moment his skills would be required.
On the far left, leaning against the stone wall, was Isabella Ferrari, an Italian heiress who had been disowned by her billionaire family for refusing to follow their corrupt ways. Her expensive taste in fashion contrasted with the worn-down setting, but her icy demeanor made it clear—she was here for business, not pleasure.
Ochieng took a deep breath. "Brian, you're going to tell me everything about The Architect."
Brian grinned, his teeth red with blood. "You think you scare me?"
Ochieng stepped closer. "No. But they do." He motioned to the group surrounding them.
Celestine cracked her knuckles. "Let's start with something simple. Where does The Architect operate from?"
Brian hesitated, but then, as if resigning himself to fate, he whispered, "The city of Valdoria. Deep underground."
Ivan raised an eyebrow. "That city is a fortress. Getting in undetected is nearly impossible."
Felix smirked, pulling out a knife. "Impossible? That just makes it fun."
Ochieng's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "Then let's make history."