Chapter 69: Kokok’s true intention

Inside the mansion of the Innovation family, Manuel’s men were anxiously trying to trace Jack’s signal using their satellite systems. The tension in the room was palpable as one of the operatives finally spoke up, breaking the uneasy silence.
"Master, we’ve lost Jack’s signal. It’s possible he’s dead, just like Marielle," reported the operative, his voice filled with hesitation, dreading Manuel’s reaction.
Manuel’s face darkened upon hearing the news. He stood up abruptly, slamming his hand down on the table with a loud bang, the sound reverberating throughout the room. His anger was evident; his eyes burned with fury, and his hands trembled with frustration.
"That damn Jack!" Manuel yelled, his voice seething with rage. "I had such high expectations for him, but he ended up dead too! Useless!"
Each word was like a lightning bolt, striking fear into everyone present. Manuel’s frustration was not just about Jack’s death; it was the repeated failures that grated on him.
"So now, only John remains of the three finalists!" Manuel continued, his eyes blazing. "Just like that worthless Marielle! They’re all useless!"
As Manuel vented his anger, his subordinates stood by in silence, fearing that his wrath might turn on them next. The news of Jack and Marielle’s deaths spread quickly throughout the family, reaching Kokok and the three other candidates who were among the seven vying for the position of the new head of the clan.
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In a dimly lit room, Kokok stood with the other three candidates. The news about Jack’s death brought a twisted smile to Kokok’s face. He had long harbored secret ambitions for the position, and now, with one more rival down, his path seemed clearer. As they discussed the situation, Kokok’s eyes glinted with greed.
"This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for," Kokok said, his grin deepening, full of malicious intent. "John is the only one left. If we eliminate him, it’s just us, and we’ll have one last chance to fight for the position of the new head of the family."
The three others exchanged glances, nodding in agreement with Kokok’s proposal. "You’re right, Kokok," said one of them. "If John is out of the way, it’ll be a fair fight."
As the four conspired, darker thoughts brewed in Kokok’s mind. To him, the other candidates were not allies but mere stepping stones. In reality, he saw them as obstacles that he would eventually need to remove.
"When John is dead,” Kokok thought to himself, his mind scheming, “these fools will be next. They think I’d let them take the position? Idiots.”
His eyes narrowed as he plotted his next moves. "Let them think I’m using them for now," he continued in his mind, almost laughing at his own cunning. "Before I dispose of them too."
As Kokok’s plans solidified, he felt a surge of excitement coursing through his veins, his body practically vibrating with anticipation of what was to come. For Kokok, this position was not just about power; it was about domination, a throne he had long coveted.
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It didn’t take long for the four candidates to unite under a common goal—to kill John and seize their last chance to claim the position of the family’s new head. In their eyes, John was merely an obstacle that needed to be eliminated, a roadblock to their ambitions.
“Let’s get started,” Kokok said, his voice laced with determination. “We won’t waste this chance. John must die, and once we succeed, nothing will stand in our way.”
The three nodded, their eyes gleaming with greed and the hunger for power. They were driven by visions of victory, but they were oblivious to Kokok’s hidden agenda. For Kokok, these men were nothing more than pawns to be used and discarded when convenient.
Time was ticking, and every second brought them closer to their goal. But in that dark room, only one person truly held the upper hand—Kokok, the candidate who sought not just the position but absolute control. In his mind, the role of family head was more than just an inheritance; it was an opportunity for unchallenged power and dominance.
Meanwhile, the news reached Aira Jewel, Marcelino’s mother. She was well aware that if Marcelino failed his final mission, he would be killed, or worse, their entire family would pay the ultimate price. Aira, who had been part of the Assassin Guild for over two decades, felt the weight of her conflicting loyalties. She knew that aiding Marcelino in his mission would mean betraying the guild, which was against their code, but her desire for her son to achieve the coveted position overwhelmed her doubts.

Aira paced back and forth in her room, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on her shoulders. Her mind raced with thoughts of her son and the consequences of failure. She had always been a loyal assassin, bound by the guild’s ironclad rules, but now she was faced with a mother’s choice: her son or her allegiance.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, Aira decided to contact Marcelino. She picked up her secure communication device and dialed his number, her heart pounding as she waited for him to answer.

"Mom?" Marcelino’s voice came through, filled with a mix of exhaustion and urgency. "Is something wrong?"

"Marcelino," Aira began, her voice steady but edged with anxiety, "I heard about Jack and Marielle. You’re the last one left, and if you don’t succeed in this mission... our entire family is at risk."

Marcelino’s breath hitched, and he knew where this conversation was heading. "I understand, Mom. But I have to do this on my own terms. I can't risk breaking the guild’s code—it would put everything at risk."

Aira paused, her mind torn between the rules she had followed her entire life and the desperate desire to protect her son. "Listen, Marcelino, the Assassin Guild’s code is unbreakable, and betraying them means death. But this position... it’s everything. It’s our future."

Marcelino sensed the conflict in his mother’s voice. "Mom, I know what’s at stake. But if I fail, I want to know that I did it with my honor intact."

"Honor?" Aira’s voice rose slightly, tinged with frustration. "Honor won’t save you if you fail, Marcelino. They will come for you. And if you fall, our whole family will be dragged down with you."

Marcelino was silent, the weight of his mother’s words pressing down on him. "I know the risks, Mom. But I won’t compromise who I am."

Aira clenched her fist, struggling with the decision she knew she had to make. "I’ve been in the Assassin Guild for twenty years, Marcelino. I’ve seen what happens to those who betray it. But for you, for our family... I’ll break every rule if it means you’ll survive and succeed."

Marcelino’s eyes widened, realizing the gravity of his mother’s resolve. "Mom, are you sure? If you’re caught—"

"I know the risks," Aira cut him off, her voice firm. "But as your mother, I’ll do whatever it takes. We’ll find a way to make this work. Just promise me you’ll be careful."

Marcelino nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. "I promise, Mom. And... thank you. For everything."

Aira exhaled deeply, her mind already calculating the next steps. "We’re not going to lose, Marcelino. Not if I have anything to say about it."

As they ended the call, Aira’s resolve hardened. The stakes had never been higher, and the path she was choosing was fraught with danger. But for her son’s future, Aira was willing to face whatever came next, even if it meant turning her back on the only code she had ever known.