Location: Vincent's Hideout, New York City
Time: 10:15 PM
Feynman typed rapidly on his laptop and pointed at the monitor. Vincent leaned in to take a look.
Confirmed intel:
Audio logs from Dominic's private meetings
Intel that Specter will move at dawn
Coded message left by Angie on an anonymous message board
"So... he's making a comeback," Feynman whistled.
"We expected this," Vincent replied calmly.
A direct confrontation would be suicide. To take down Specter, they needed to neutralize his advantages.
Countermeasures:
Neutralize enhanced senses:
Auditory Disruption: Ultra-frequency sonic weapon to throw off balance.
Olfactory Disruption: Chemical mix (capsaicin + ammonia) to disorient.
Visual Overload: Flashbangs to overload sensory input.
Do NOT deploy all traps at once:
Specter adapts rapidly.
Stagger the traps, withdraw strategically, and bait him into a controlled battle zone.
Location: Construction Site
Time: 12:30 AM
Specter emerged from the shadows. His body bore scars of experimentation and combat, but he moved with unshakable precision.
"Vincent Kang." "Long time no see." "Orders are to eliminate you."
Suddenly, Specter vanished.
He reappeared in an instant, charging with superhuman speed. Vincent activated the first trap.
Sonic Disruptor Activated – Piercing frequencies shattered Specter's inner balance.
Chemical Agent Released – A toxic cloud disrupted his olfactory sensors.
Specter staggered, but recovered faster than expected.
"Pointless."
He grabbed Vincent and hurled him into a wall. Vincent hit the ground hard.
"One card left."
Vincent pulled the pin on a flashbang and tossed it. Blinding light exploded across the site.
WHAM! — A punch landed from nowhere.
"Finally woke up," said Gabriel, stepping from the darkness.
"Didn't think you knew the meaning of teamwork." "Neither did I."
They fought together, but Specter was already adapting.
"You thought I'd fall for the same trick twice?"
His steel limbs swung. Vincent dodged. Gabriel blocked — and got thrown across the site.
Vincent made a call: They had to run.
They led Specter through narrow passages. Confined space slowed him down.
"Now."
They escaped through the opposite exit, setting explosives behind them. The building collapsed.
As the dust settled—Specter was still standing.
He brushed the debris from his shoulders, but did not pursue.
"Did we win?" "No. We survived."
This wasn't over. From now on, the battle would escalate — not just against PMC soldiers, but against enhanced human weapons.
From behind the rubble, Specter's red eyes glowed.
********
"The Shifting Shadow"
Location: Mobile Hideout, Outside Harrison City
Time: 10:30 PM
Vincent's crew no longer stayed in one place. Establishing a base made them vulnerable, especially with Dominic tightening his grip on the legal and political spheres. Constant mobility became their only defense.
Mobile Operations: They now traveled in vehicles, reviewing data and forming strategies on the move.
Angie sat with them. She wore a calm expression, but Vincent sensed a subtle shift in her presence.
Tactical Briefing: Present: Vincent, Feynman, Angie, Aiden
Objective: Predict Dominic's next move and develop countermeasures
Feynman displayed a map, marking three red zones.
1. Harrison City – Political Control:
Dominic had sway over the mayor and police.
Legal actions against them were effectively blocked.
2. New York City – Military Control:
Specter confirmed to be active.
Reinforcements arriving; this was no longer surveillance — it was a manhunt.
3. Media Warfare:
Dominic used mainstream media and social platforms to brand them as criminals and hackers.
Feynman closed the tablet. "He wants us boxed in legally, physically, and publicly."
Aiden's Role – Counter-Narrative Launch
Aiden crossed his arms. "Then it's my turn."
He was preparing an exposé on Dominic. But he knew a basic smear piece wouldn't cut it.
Objectives:
Go beyond conspiracy; expose hard proof.
Trace secret funding between Dominic and public figures. Risk:
Aiden could be eliminated before the article was published.
"If I don't move fast, I'll be dead before it prints."
No one laughed at the joke.
Angie – A Shadow in Question
Angie remained quiet throughout the meeting. She was careful not to raise suspicion — neither too silent nor too vocal.
Angie: "Shouldn't we strike first before his next move?" Aiden: "What do you mean?" Angie: "D
****
Shifting Powers
Location: Mayor's Residence, Harrison CityTime: 8:30 AM
Inside the luxurious lounge of the Harrison City mayor's residence, a heavy atmosphere lingered.
Dominic Scott sat with a poised smile. Across from him were the city's mayor, the chief of police, and the district attorney.
Harrison City Mayor – A shrewd political player who needed Dominic's money and influence.
Chief of Police – Previously received direct support from Dominic.
District Attorney – Maintained a neutral stance but had clear ties to Dominic's interests in the past.
Dominic lightly tapped the table with his fingers.
"Things have been rather noisy in this city lately."
The mayor and police chief exchanged glances.
Before either could speak, Dominic continued.
"Illegal hackers, con artists, and unnecessary rumors. All of these are shaking the stability of the city."
The chief of police swallowed hard.
Dominic never made direct threats. But the weight of his words was undeniable.
"I trust the police will resolve this issue."
The chief nodded, replying carefully, "Of course. However…"
He hesitated and glanced toward the district attorney.
Legal action would require the DA's cooperation.
The district attorney crossed his arms and spoke slowly.
"As you know, Mayor, we can't bypass due process. For any aggressive move, we'll need solid evidence."
Dominic smiled and took a sip of wine.
"Evidence… can be made, can't it?"
Silence fell over the room.
Dominic's proposal:
Frame Vincent's group as organized criminals.
Pressure Aiden Blake with defamation and libel charges.
Justify deploying PMC forces under the pretext of protecting public order.
The mayor seemed deep in thought.The DA remained undecided.But the police chief had already chosen his side.
He looked Dominic in the eye and answered concisely.
"…We'll take care of the matter swiftly."
Dominic nodded in satisfaction.His next target: a meeting with the mayor of New York.
Meanwhile – Gabriel: Hunter or Hunted?
Location: Abandoned building, outskirts of Harrison CityTime: 11:20 PM
Gabriel stood atop the roof of a desolate building, staring out at the city's lights through the cold wind.
He had lost Dominic's trust entirely.And he had no desire to side with Vincent.
Now, his mind was locked on one question:Who should I take out first?
Two choices remained:
Track down Vincent and earn Dominic's approval again.
Betray Dominic and try to survive on his own terms.
Gabriel scoffed.
"Never thought I'd be backed into a corner like this."
He twirled the knife strapped to his waist and muttered,
"Let's see… who's coming for me first?"
With a flick of his wrist, the blade flew into the air—And landed cleanly back in his palm.