The low hum of the engine filled the cabin as the black sedan followed Ethan's car at a calculated distance. The mission wasn't difficult—at least not on paper—but the tension inside said everything.
It wasn't the danger that made things tense. It was the doubt.
Taison gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly, his jaw clenched. "What's the young master even thinking?"
His voice was sharp with frustration, barely louder than the engine but enough to break the quiet.
"Yesterday, he told us to hold back, 'Let them rise so they fall harder,' he said. And now? We're tailing them like we're in some cheap action movie." Taison scoffed. "And worse… he wants us to kidnap the woman."
In the passenger seat, Mike stayed quiet, arms folded, eyes locked on the road ahead. He wasn't the type to speak unless it mattered, but even he couldn't ignore this.
Taison kept going, his voice lower but laced with irritation. "You know what pisses me off most? He's horny as hell. Can't keep his mind straight when there's a woman involved. It's like the guy has no off switch."
Mike finally spoke, his tone calm but firm. "Keep it down. We work for him. Complaining isn't going to change anything."
Taison snorted but obliged. "Doesn't make it right, though. You know it as well as I do."
Mike did not respond right away. His silence spoke volumes. Although they both worked for Lucien LaRue, who belonged to one of the most powerful families in Arkansas, they did not always agree with him.
Lucien was 25 years old, young and ambitious. He had a lot of energy and came from the wealthy LaRue family, so he was used to getting what he wanted.
However, his impulsiveness with women was becoming a concern.
His sense of entitlement increased over time, and his reckless behavior began to show.
"He's getting spoiled too much," Taison muttered. "All that power and wealth are going to his head. Yesterday, he said to wait. Today, he says grab her. What's it going to be tomorrow?"
Mike adjusted his glasses, his expression neutral but his tone laced with caution. "Spoiled or not, he's still sharp. The guy's got a business mind most people would kill for. And let's not forget, he's one of the main heirs. He's not some random kid playing with daddy's money."
Mike's lips then tightened into a thin line. "We don't get to question the why. All we can do is follow orders. If we don't…" He trailed off, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
Taison grimaced. "I know... If we don't, who knows what he'll do to us."
The two men sat quietly, their thoughts weighing heavily on them. They had to follow Lucien's orders, but that didn't mean they agreed with him.
This order to kidnap Jessica Moore felt wrong to both of them.
Mike finally spoke. "No matter what, we'll complete the job. But we need to be smart about it. No unnecessary risks."
Taison nodded, relaxing his grip on the steering wheel a bit. "Right. We'll get it done, one way or another. I just hope the young master knows what he's doing."
In front of them, Ethan's car moved down the highway. The people inside were uneasy about the shadowy presence behind them.
The car was quiet. The only sound was the soft hum of the engine as they drove fast on the highway.
Ethan leaned slightly forward from the backseat, his voice calm but firm. "Mark, what do you think their motives are?"
Mark kept his hands steady on the wheel, watching the road and the rearview mirror.
"It's hard to say," he answered after a moment. "There could be many reasons. But following us like this? It's on purpose."
Jordan, who had been quiet for a moment, turned his head toward Mark. "You think it has anything to do with us starting up Nova Tech? I mean, we're not exactly low-profile anymore."
Mark didn't answer immediately, his expression unreadable. "It could be. But it could also be something else entirely. Power and influence bring enemies, and sometimes, you don't even know who or the reason."
The tension in the car grew as Mark continued. "You've heard of the Great Families, right?"
"Great Families?" Jessica furrowed her brows, and Jordan tilted his head in curiosity.
Ethan nodded slightly, encouraging Mark to elaborate.
"Arkansa, similar to the other states in Arland, the power isn't just with the government or city council," Mark said, his tone growing serious. "The Great Families influence everything behind the scenes. Each family controls a part of the state like finance, media, technology, food, and energy."
He took a deep breath before adding, "In Novan City, that family is the LaRue Family."
Jessica's face paled slightly. "You mean… they run the city?"
Mark nodded. "Them, and a few families trying to rise to their level. But here's the thing about trying to climb to the top... It's brutal."
He paused to ensure the people in the car understood how serious their situation was. "Most families that try to get through this end up crushed. They lose their wealth and their good names. A few make it, but they carry scars from the experience."
"That's really brutal..." Jordan muttered.
Jessica was speechless.
Ethan leaned back, processing Mark's words. The idea that the city he lived in was essentially controlled by hidden powers made his stomach churn.
'I thought this kind of thing only happened in movies. But this… this is reality. Money really is power.'
He then thought about the physical attributes of the Unlimited System as well as the skills coming with it, and a realization hit him. 'Is this the reason why I can level up and become stronger?'
Jessica sat quietly, her hands gripping her bag tightly. She didn't know what to say. The more she learned, the more it all felt like too much. Before, she only knew about the Volkov family during the interview, but now, there were more.
Jordan, however, broke into a laugh, startling everyone in the car. "So, it's true! Everything my old man told me was true! He always said that rich and powerful families were secretly running the world. And here we are, smack dab in one of those stories!"
Ethan frowned slightly. "You're taking this pretty lightly, Jordan."
Mark nodded, agreeing with Ethan.
Jordan grinned. "Come on, Ethan, this is the kind of stuff I've always loved."
He then added, "Think about it, Ethan. Hidden powers, secret wars, and people fighting for control behind the scenes. It's like living in one of those action-thriller movies."
He paused, his grin fading slightly as a thought struck him. "Actually… that robbery a few days ago. Do you think that could've been connected to this?"
Ethan's eyes flicked to Jordan briefly. "The one at the electronic store?"
"Yeah," Jordan said eagerly. "Could something like that be orchestrated by these families?"
Mark nodded, his voice calm but firm. "It's possible. Things like this happen often. Sometimes they are meant to send a message, other times they serve as a distraction, and sometimes they are just a part of business."
The car was quiet again, but Jordan was still very excited. He leaned toward Mark, practically buzzing with energy.
"What about unique abilities? Like… superpowers? Come on, Mark, you've been in the army. You've got to have seen some crazy stuff."
Mark's lips moved slightly, and he smiled just a bit. "I have experienced things that most people would not believe."
Jordan's eyes lit up. "Like what? Enhanced soldiers? Secret experiments? Are we talking full-on superhero stuff here?"
Mark didn't answer directly, and his focus was on the road. "I think that's enough questions for now."
Jordan leaned back, still grinning. "Man, this trip just keeps getting better."
Ethan was deep in thought. Mark's words revealed a darker and more complex world than he had ever imagined.
He looked at Jessica, who was deep in thought, and then at Jordan, who was clearly excited.
For the first time, Ethan wondered if getting involved in this world of power and influence was riskier than he had expected.
Suddenly, the four black sedans trailing them sped up, each moving with calculated precision.
One overtook them and swerved into their lane while the others flanked them on either side. The last sedan stayed close behind, boxing them in completely.
Mark's expression hardened. His voice was calm but edged with urgency. "It's started. Take cover everyone!"
That was when a sound chimed in. Ethan quickly had a look.
=====
[6. Secret Mission: Escaping the Ambush]
Objective: Carefully navigate the current ambush, ensuring that you and your companions—Mark, Jordan, and Jessica—escape unharmed.
Rewards:
1. 5000 EXP
2. 50 Ascension Points
3. 50 Free Attribute Points
=====
That made Ethan stunned.
"A secret mission?" Ethan muttered.