That morning, Peter arrived at the cartel headquarters, wearing a hoodie with the hood pulled forward, partially hiding his face. His steps were casual, but his mind was still restless from the previous night.
As he entered, he saw everyone already busy working. Some were handling distribution, others were inspecting weapons, and some were managing finances.
Without hesitation, Peter started helping, lifting crates and moving supplies, blending in with the rest of the members rather than acting like their leader.
One of the older members, a man with a thin beard, paused his work and looked at Peter in confusion. "Boss, why are you helping? You don't need to do this."
Peter chuckled and shrugged. "I'd feel bad just standing around giving orders. Besides, most of you are older than me. It wouldn't feel right to sit back and do nothing."
Some of the others overheard and smirked. They weren't used to a leader who actually got his hands dirty.
"Heh, our boss is a bit weird, huh?" one of them joked, making the others laugh.
Peter simply smiled and continued working. He knew he hadn't fully embraced this role yet. But if this was his new path, he would do things his way.
After finishing his work at the headquarters, Peter moved to the training area. He grabbed a gun, loaded it smoothly, and started practicing his shooting. Each shot hit the target with deadly precision, a skill he had never lost despite everything that had happened.
Taking a deep breath, he put the gun down and pulled out his phone. A news notification caught his eye.
"BREAKING NEWS: President Announces UMR Reduction, Employment Only Available for College Graduates. Those Below Will Remain Unemployed Forever to Compete with Developing Countries."
Peter's brows furrowed as he read the article. "What the hell is this nonsense?" he muttered. The government was now openly making life harder for ordinary people.
He let out a dry laugh. "Guess I'm an expert at digging into people like this."
Peter exhaled sharply and put his phone away. His decision was made.
"Hacker Teerces starts today."
No more sitting around. If the government wanted to turn people into permanent outcasts, then he would become their worst nightmare.
On the Other Side At the Eduardo family's dining table, the atmosphere was tense. They sat around a long table filled with expensive dishes, but no one seemed to truly enjoy their meal.
Eduardo sat confidently, chatting casually with his father, but Enimsya remained silent, lost in her thoughts. She couldn't stop comparing Eduardo to Peter.
Peter, despite his recklessness, always had a clear purpose. He never pretended to be someone he wasn't, never sought attention, and always fought for what he believed in. Eduardo, on the other hand...
Enimsya glanced at her husband. Since childhood, Eduardo had always been spoiled by his family. Everything he wanted was handed to him without effort. He was cunning in a subtle way, always finding shortcuts to success without working hard.
Suddenly, Eduardo's grandmother broke the silence. She placed her spoon down loudly and sighed.
"I always knew Eduardo would be a successful man. He's smart, charismatic, and knows how to manage people. Unlike that boy..."
Everyone at the table knew who she was referring to.
"Peter was always reckless and troublesome. And look at what happened after his father died. All this chaos… It's all because of him."
The tension in the room thickened. Peter's mother, sitting at the far end of the table, suddenly put down her fork. She could no longer tolerate hearing her son being belittled.
Without a word, she stood up and left the table.
Enimsya watched her go, then looked down, losing her appetite. Deep down, she knew Peter wasn't the villain they made him out to be. In fact, among everyone at this table, he was the most genuine.
The tension in the room grew even thicker after Peter's mother walked away. Eduardo smirked, clearly enjoying the moment, while his grandmother sipped her tea, acting as if she had said nothing wrong.
But Enimsya had had enough. She put her fork down and looked directly at Eduardo's grandmother.
"With all due respect, Grandma," Enimsya began, her voice calm but firm, "I think you're being unfair."
Eduardo's father raised an eyebrow. Eduardo himself leaned back in his chair, as if amused by the sudden confrontation.
"Unfair?" the old woman scoffed. "Tell me, how am I unfair? I only speak the truth."
Enimsya inhaled deeply before continuing. "Peter isn't perfect, but let's not pretend that Eduardo is either. You talk about success, but Peter built his own way, even when the world was against him. He never had anyone holding his hand or cleaning up his mistakes."
Eduardo chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, come on, Enimsya. Peter is nothing more than a reckless hacker and a troublemaker. He was a criminal, remember? And now he's running some underground gang. That's hardly impressive."
Enimsya turned to him, eyes sharp. "At least he never hides who he is. He fights for something bigger than himself. Can you say the same?"
Eduardo's smirk faltered.
His grandmother clicked her tongue in disapproval. "You should be grateful you married into this family, Enimsya. We are giving you stability, power, a future."
Enimsya clenched her jaw. "A future built on lies and manipulation? A life where we pretend to be better than others while stepping on those below us?"
The table fell silent.
Eduardo's father finally spoke. "That's enough."
But Enimsya wasn't done. She stood up, looking at Eduardo one last time.
"You can call Peter reckless. You can call him a criminal. But you will never be half the man he is."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, following Peter's mother out of the room.
Peter sat in front of his laptop, wearing a black hoodie with the hood slightly pulled back. The screen's glow illuminated his face, highlighting his sharp blue eyes filled with determination.
He turned on the camera and started recording.
"The world is changing. Power belongs to those who dare to fight back." Peter paused for a moment, staring directly into the camera. "Teerces is back."
A slight smirk formed on his lips, his mysterious aura intensifying with his piercing gaze. After a brief silence, he uploaded the video to his secret account.
It didn't take long—notifications flooded in almost instantly. His old followers began commenting, excited and eager for his return.
Meanwhile, Celya was relaxing in her apartment when a notification popped up on her phone.
[Teerces has posted a new video.]
Curious, she tapped on it. The moment Peter's face appeared on the screen, she froze.
"Oh my god, Peter..." she murmured softly.
He looked sharper, more confident… and more captivating. His intense gaze, his subtle smirk, and his natural charisma made it impossible for her to look away.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"He's really back..." she thought, gently touching her lips with her fingertips, wondering what would happen next.
In an office filled with stacks of documents and the sound of ringing phones, Odlan suddenly jumped from his chair, making his coworkers turn in confusion.
"Bro! Peter is back!" he shouted, waving his phone in excitement. Some colleagues gathered around, watching the video.
"No way… that's Teerces?" one of them muttered in disbelief.
Odlan smirked. "Damn right! My best friend is back in action!"
Meanwhile, at Optimus' garage, the sound of wrenches clanking against metal and engines roaring filled the air. A few mechanics were taking a break, scrolling through their phones.
Then, suddenly—
"OPTIMUS!"
One of the mechanics ran up to him, holding out his phone.
"Check this out!"
Optimus wiped his greasy hands on a rag, took the phone, and pressed play. The moment Peter's face appeared on the screen, a slow grin spread across his face.
"Yeah… he's really back." Optimus nodded. "About damn time."
Elsewhere, in a dimly lit bedroom, Enimsya sat on the edge of her bed, hugging her knees.
The glow from her phone screen reflected in her eyes as she watched Peter's video, over and over again.
"Teerces is back."
His words echoed in her mind, his piercing blue eyes making her heart ache.
She gripped her phone tighter, biting her lip.
"Peter…" she whispered. Regret, longing, and guilt swirled inside her.
What was he planning this time? And why… why did she still care so much?
Inside a dimly lit conference room filled with monitors displaying classified data, SIN's top officials gathered. Several agents stood with tense expressions, while Zunafets sat at the end of the table, arms crossed.
One of the agents tapped a screen, playing Peter's latest video.
"Teerces has returned."
The room immediately filled with murmurs and serious glances. The SIN Chairman, a stern-faced man in his fifties, narrowed his eyes.
"This is a big problem," he said. "Peter Nimoowahc is not an ordinary man. If he returns as Teerces, he could expose secrets that must remain hidden."
Another agent added, "If he starts moving, it won't just be us in trouble. The government, corporations, even the underworld could be affected."
All eyes turned to Zunafets. Peter's older brother let out a long sigh before finally speaking.
"I know my brother," he said calmly. "Once he makes a decision, nothing can stop him. But…"
He looked at the screen displaying Peter's face.
"I also know that we need to act before it's too late."
The room fell silent again. Everyone knew Teerces wasn't just an ordinary hacker. He was someone who could shake the world.
Meanwhile, Eduardo saw Enimsya's post.
He scrolled through her social media, his expression turning dark with disbelief.
Then he saw it—a photo of Enimsya and Peter together. It hadn't been deleted.
Eduardo's fingers clenched around his phone. His jaw tightened. Why is this still here?
His mind raced. Had Enimsya truly moved on? Or had she been hiding something all along?
His grip on the phone tightened. His breathing grew heavy.
"Damn it…" he muttered under his breath.
A voice interrupted his thoughts. His grandmother.
"Eduardo, what's wrong?"
Eduardo forced a smile. "Nothing, Grandma. Just something… unexpected."
But inside, his emotions boiled.
"Enimsya… just how deep was your relationship with Peter?" he whispered to himself.
His chest burned with jealousy and suspicion.
While Enimsya was in her room, the door suddenly burst open.
Eduardo stood at the doorway, his face tense, his eyes burning with emotion.
"You haven't deleted his photo?" His voice was cold, yet filled with restrained anger.
Enimsya frowned. "What do you mean?"
Eduardo threw his phone onto the bed, displaying a picture of her and Peter together.
"This! Why is this still here? Do you still love him?"
Enimsya stared at him coldly. "It's just an old photo, Eduardo. I don't see a reason to delete it."
Eduardo let out a bitter laugh. "No reason? You're my wife now! Why are you still keeping memories with another man, especially him?!"
Enimsya took a deep breath. "Stop being childish. It's just a photo. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"
Eduardo's face twisted with frustration. His breathing grew heavier, his fists clenched.
"Don't underestimate me, Enimsya!" he shouted before his hand suddenly swung across her face.
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the room.
Enimsya stood frozen, her eyes widening in shock. Her right cheek stung, turning red from the impact.
She looked at Eduardo, her eyes welling up—not from the pain, but from deep disappointment.
"You hit me?" Her voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
Eduardo stiffened, realizing what he had just done. But his pride was too great to apologize.
"Delete the photo," he said coldly before turning and walking out of the room, leaving Enimsya alone in sadness and anger.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her fingers trembled as they touched the burning mark on her skin.
"Peter... if only you knew..." she whispered softly.
That night, Peter, his mother, and Zunafets sat in the living room, engaged in conversation. Optimus and Odlan had joined them for dinner but left soon after due to urgent matters.
As the night progressed, Peter noticed Enimsya walking towards the kitchen. He stood up and silently followed her.
When she turned to grab a glass of water, Peter's sharp eyes immediately caught the redness on her cheek. His expression darkened.
"What happened to your face?" he asked, his tone serious.
Enimsya hesitated, trying to avoid his gaze. "It's nothing..."
Peter stepped closer. "Enimsya, tell me the truth. Who did this?"
She bit her lip, avoiding his intense stare. But after a long silence, she finally admitted in a low voice, "Eduardo."
Peter's jaw clenched. His fingers curled into fists as anger boiled inside him. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the kitchen.
"Peter!" Enimsya called, but he was already gone.
Peter marched straight to Eduardo, who was in the study, sipping a drink. Eduardo barely had time to react before—
SMACK!
Peter's fist landed hard on Eduardo's cheek, sending him stumbling backward. The glass in his hand shattered against the floor.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Eduardo wiped the corner of his mouth, tasting blood. His eyes narrowed as he glared at Peter. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Peter's voice was like ice. "You hit her. So I hit you."
Eduardo scoffed, standing up straight. "This is between me and my wife—"
BAM!
Peter punched him again, this time harder, knocking Eduardo against the desk.
"She's not just your wife. She's also someone I care about," Peter growled. His blue eyes burned with fury.
Eduardo breathed heavily, realizing Peter wasn't playing games. But before he could respond, Zunafets and their mother rushed in, followed by Enimsya.
"Peter, stop!" their mother shouted, grabbing his arm.
Enimsya ran to Peter's side, pulling him back. "Please, enough!"
Peter's fists trembled. He glared at Eduardo one last time before stepping away. His heart pounded with rage, but for Enimsya's sake, he stopped.
Eduardo wiped his mouth again, his pride shattered. He gritted his teeth and spat, "You're still the same reckless fool, Peter."
Peter smirked coldly. "And you're still the same spoiled coward who only knows how to hurt women."
With that, he turned around and walked out, leaving the room in thick tension.
Peter stood outside the house, leaning against his car while smoking a cigarette. The night air was cold, but his mind was still filled with anger toward Eduardo.
Not long after, Enimsya walked out and approached him. Without saying a word, she took the cigarette from his hand and threw it to the ground.
"I needed that," Peter said, looking at her with irritation.
Enimsya stared back at him. "You don't. You've already taken out your anger on Eduardo."
Peter exhaled deeply, glancing at the sky before lowering his gaze. "He deserved more than that."
Before Enimsya could respond, a notification sound came from inside the car.
Peter glanced at his car, then opened the door and saw his laptop screen lit up with a new message.
His expression immediately turned serious. "Looks like I have to go."
Enimsya frowned slightly. "Why? Is something wrong?"
Peter closed his laptop and put it into his bag. "Not a problem. Just something I can't put off."
He looked at Enimsya one last time, then without another word, got into the car and started the engine.
Enimsya could only stand there, watching as Peter's car disappeared into the darkness of the night.
At home, Peter was lounging on the sofa, casually typing on his laptop, when suddenly a message from Optimus popped up.
"Bro, you won't believe this. I just saw Valdro at a bar."
Peter's fingers froze above the keyboard. "What? That's impossible. He's supposed to be in prison."
His mind immediately started racing. He quickly closed the chat and launched his hacking software. If Valdro was really out, something was definitely off.
Within minutes, Peter hacked into the prison database. His eyes narrowed—Valdro was still listed as incarcerated.
"Something's not right…" he muttered, his fingers flying across the keyboard. He traced Valdro's digital footprint and pinpointed his current location.
"Gotcha."
On his screen, Valdro's location popped up—it was a money laundering front, disguised as a legal business.
Without hesitation, Peter sent an anonymous report to the police, attaching all the evidence he had found. But minutes passed, and there was no response.
"Yeah, just as I thought. Either they're ignoring it or they're in on it."
Peter took a deep breath, then smirked. "Alright. If they won't act, I will."
He started a live broadcast under his infamous hacker identity—Teerces.
On the screen, only black text appeared on a glowing red background:
❝ VALDRO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PRISON.
BUT TONIGHT, HE'S OUT, ENJOYING HIS LUXURY LIFE.
OUR SYSTEM IS ROTTEN. SEE FOR YOURSELF. ❞
Then, Peter displayed Valdro's official prison records side by side with a live feed of his current location.
Below that, he posted the coordinates and proof of suspicious transactions.
Comments from viewers flooded in instantly.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Where are the police?!"
"Teerces is back!!!"
Peter grinned in satisfaction. "Let's see how they try to cover this up now."
Newsrooms across the country exploded with excitement as journalists scrambled to cover the latest revelation from Teerces.
"This is gold!" one reporter exclaimed, refreshing his screen to see the flood of reactions.
TV stations quickly picked up the story, broadcasting the leaked evidence of Valdro's presence outside prison.
LIVE NEWS:
"The notorious hacker Teerces has just exposed a major scandal involving Valdro, a criminal who was supposedly still serving his sentence. However, new evidence suggests that he is free and operating within a suspected money laundering network. How did this happen? And why has there been no response from the authorities?"
Public outrage spread like wildfire. Social media exploded with hashtags:
#ValdroScandal #TeercesExposesCorruption #WhereAreThePolice
Even high-ranking officials were now being pressured to respond.
Meanwhile, Peter leaned back in his chair, watching everything unfold. He took a slow drag of his cigarette, his eyes locked on the TV screen where reporters were discussing his leak.
"Tch. About time they paid attention."
His phone buzzed—Optimus and Odlan were spamming the group chat.
Optimus: "Dude, you just dropped a nuclear bomb!"
Odlan: "Bro, the whole country is watching you right now. You really love chaos, huh?"
Peter smirked but didn't reply. His mind was already working on the next step.
Because this? This was just the beginning.