Chapter 28 Aiden

"Alright, so how do we kick this off?" The scarred guy leaned in, clearly intrigued.

"Well, I found out a lot of them are into investing, especially those high-yield deals," the scar-faced guy said, grinning. "I can whip up a fake investment project, say I’ve got a relative involved, promise big returns with zero risk, and then..." He paused, giving a knowing look.

"And then when they're hooked, you reel them in and clean them out?" The scarred guy caught on quick.

"Exactly!" The scar-faced guy rubbed his hands together, excited. "I’ve got a target in mind already. She runs a company and is super generous. I’m gonna test the waters with her first."

"Just be careful," the scarred guy warned. "Don’t push too hard and get yourself caught."

"Relax, I got this," the scar-faced guy said confidently. "I’m a pro."

Listening to their chat made my stomach turn. These guys had sold their souls for cash; they were like vampires, sucking the life out of people’s hard-earned money.

My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms. I fought the urge to jump out and knock their lights out.

These guys were just the tip of the "Hecate" iceberg. The real puppet master, 'Hades,' was lurking in the shadows.

I had to find him and bring down this whole evil operation!

We left the tiny store and kept wandering around the small town, hunting for more clues about the "Hecate" organization.

We passed an internet café, packed with people, mostly young folks. They had headphones on, eyes glued to screens, fingers flying over keyboards, totally lost in the virtual world.

Most of the games they were playing were gambling or porn, and the place buzzed with excitement and frenzy.

These young people were probably prime targets for the "Hecate" organization. They’d get lured in by fake promises and thrilling games, only to fall into a trap.

It was heartbreaking. These young people, with their whole lives ahead of them, were being poisoned by this organization. I swore I’d take them down and make them pay.

We left the internet café and kept walking. Suddenly, I spotted a familiar figure by the roadside, looking around nervously.

It was the guy from Andrew’s photo, the one with Aiden!

I quickly signaled Isabella and Harper to follow, and we quietly tailed the guy.

He was pretty jumpy, walking in stops and starts, constantly glancing over his shoulder.

We followed him for about ten minutes until he ducked into a small motel.

I signaled Isabella and Harper to wait outside, then walked into the motel alone.

I approached the front desk, pretending to book a room, and casually asked the owner which room the guy was in.

The owner gave me a once-over, looking wary. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm his friend, here to talk about something important," I lied smoothly.

"He didn't mention any friends," the owner said, eyeing me suspiciously. "What's your name?"

"My name is..." I quickly made up a name. "Nicholas Jackson."

"Nicholas?" The owner frowned. "Never heard of you."

"He might not have mentioned me," I continued, keeping up the act. "I'm an old friend from his hometown. Maybe he forgot."

The owner hesitated but eventually gave me the room number.

I thanked him and headed towards the room, my heart pounding and palms sweaty.

I reached the door, took a deep breath, and knocked gently.

"Who is it?" A cautious voice called from inside.

"It's me, Nicholas," I replied.

There was a brief silence, then the door creaked open.

A man stood there in pajamas, hair a mess, with a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth.

"Who... who are you?"

"I'm your friend, Nicholas," I said with a smile, scanning the room.

The place was a mess, clothes and junk everywhere, reeking of smoke and booze.

I spotted a laptop displaying some codes and data.

"I don't know you," the man said warily. "What do you want?"

"I'm looking for my brother," I said bluntly.

"Your brother?" He frowned. "Who’s your brother?"

"Aiden," I answered.

His face changed instantly, and he took a step back. "How... how do you know him?"

"Of course I know him, he's my brother!" I pressed on. "What's your relationship with him? Do you know where he is now?"

He opened his mouth to speak but then clammed up and tried to close the door.

I grabbed the doorknob and pushed it open.

He stumbled back, almost falling.

"What... what do you want?" He looked terrified.

"I want to know where Aiden is!" I shouted.

He looked at me, lips trembling, but said nothing.

He had to know something!

I punched the wall hard, making a loud noise that made him jump.

"Talk! Where is Aiden?" I roared. "If you don't tell me, I'll make you regret it!"

He turned pale and pointed at the computer screen. "In... in the computer."

I rushed to the computer and saw a map with a red dot flashing, marking a location.

It was a village deep in the Lannan mountains.

"Aiden, you're there!" I quickly snapped a picture of the map and left the room.

I had to get there fast and rescue Aiden!

Following the map, we rented an off-road vehicle and drove along the rugged mountain road, finally arriving at our destination—a villa on the outskirts of the town.

This villa was the "Hecate" organization's base in Lannan and my ultimate target for this trip.

Built against the mountain, surrounded by dense trees and complex terrain, it was a tough nut to crack.

From a distance, the villa's windows glowed dimly, like a beast lurking in the dark, quietly waiting for its prey.