On the day after, Samuel was visiting Liliana.
"Master, are you sure you want to do this personally?" His subordinate asked.
" Yes, We have only been feeding them intel and supporting them from the shadows at this point, but it's a great chance to see how they operate in the field."
" But what if your identity got exposed?" As soon as he asked this question, he felt a certain dread emanating from his Master. He saw the death stare for doubting him and immediately bowed down to repent.
" Forgive me, Master! I was out of line!" Smashing his head on the ground with so much force that his forehead started bleeding!
" Stand up! Don't doubt me again. I will get going; take care of any urgent matter in my absence." The Master left without saying another word.
He took two of his best man with him and started moving toward a specific hospital to regroup with the others.
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" Sir! It's terrible!" Mason's office door was flung open by his subordinate. He was in the middle of compiling evidence while the suspect recovered, and he gave specific orders not to disturb him under any circumstances.
" You idiot! What's with all the fuss?" Mason crumpled up the paper he was writing, which was ruined by his subordinate's sudden interruption.
" Sir, I received an urgent report from our people from the hospital! T-they said that h-he is gone?" The inspector hesitantly delivered the bad news.
" What! How!? Didn't we have dozen of officers staking the place?" Mason was dumbfounded.
" We did, sir! Nobody saw anything! It's like he vanished in thin air?"
" Vanish in thin air? VANISH IN THIN AIR? Bastard! I gave you one job! And now you say he became a magician overnight?" Mason was absolutely livid at getting the news. His only hope was gone; what should he do now?
He was sure Samuel was aware of his recent moves; how could he not be? When Mason was the one that called him for a meeting from the UK! He was shut down instantly when he finally had a breakthrough in the case!
" Sir... I...."
" What are you waiting for? Arrange the car! I am going there immediately!" Mason was not ready to give up yet; if he could somehow link it to Samuel, he could still have a little leverage for his life.
He rushed to the hospital and searched every nook and cranny, looking for clues but found nothing. No one even knew about the suspect existence apart from him and a few of his subordinates whom he absolutely trusted.
He questioned the staff responsible for his treatment; he pulled some strings to accommodate the suspect in a separate wing for extra measures. Every access door and exit were guarded by his people; there was no way someone got in and scooped him up without leaving clues.
But the more he searched, the more he started to believe the inspector's theory. It was just like he vanished from the face of the earth? When he was about to give up, a nurse came in and delivered him a letter.
" Who gave it to you?" Mason grabbed her shoulders violently and shouted.
" i-i don't know. Some kid came in and said to give it to this policeman." She was frightened but answered his question.
" What kid?" Mason received the letter and a photo of himself that came with it.
" I don't know; please let go of me!" She struggled, so Mason let her go.
" Sir, I shall go and check the CCTV."
" Hmm.." Mason's mind was preoccupied as he opened the letter carefully. For some reason, he was sure about the sender, the same young man he talked to over the phone.
" Mr. Mason, you have done enough. It's better if you kept your head low for a while and ask for a transfer in some remote part of the country. I was expecting them to make a move, and if you read it, they did. Our corporation was short-lived, but now it's time to part ways. Consider this warning a parting gift."
Mason knew his life was over; just as he was picked suddenly to carry out this mission, he was discarded when he reached his limit. He knew Samuel was not known for mercy, and if he took the note's advice, he might live to see another sunrise.
For him, the decision was clear; although his ambitions had led him astray, he had ample funds to support his family for the rest of their lives. He left everything to his subordinate and rushed toward his home.
No one knew what happened to him after this day, but one thing was sure no one heard his name ever again in the California county.
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Meanwhile, a big black van was leaving the scene with Steve, Arthur, and two other Zero intelligence group members, along with an unconscious person in the back. They barely escaped the blockade of the police department around the hospital, successfully completing the mission.
" For a second there, I thought we were doomed!" Steve joked.
" Our master's plan is always impeccable; there was zero chance of failure." Seven, who was covering herself from head to toe, retorted.
" Yeah, I admit. Mr. Zero is a great strategist." Arthur gave one of his rare compliments.
" What should we do about him?" Steve pointed toward the unconscious man covered in tattoos; it was the suspect Mason had frantically looking for.
" Master told us to bring him to our base. He will personally dispose of him." Five informed me it was a small person whose sex was hard to identify from its build and voice. But its eyes were clear, and the tone of its voice was commanding, almost like it was giving them an order, not a suggestion.
" Are you sure? We easily take care of such menial tasks." Steve suggested again.
" Yes, we are sure. Can you drive toward this address?" It showed them the location on the phone. Steve turned toward Arthur, who also nodded, giving his permission. It was a dangerous task, especially considering he could plant Samuel at the scene, but there was no reason to suspect their own allies.
Samuel fully trusted Zero, so it was not their business to poke their nose into unnecessary matters.
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