Chapter 773 No more non-lethal approaches

Chapter 773 No more non-lethal approaches

The silence in the flawless conference room was tense, like the hush that falls over a forest before thunder cracks the sky.

The polished mahogany table sat solemn and silent, its gleaming surface reflecting the grim faces gathered around it.

The plush leather chairs, normally so inviting, now seemed hard as the team perched tensely on the edges of their seats.

Along the wood-paneled walls, the gilded mirrors and paintings gazed down sternly, as if chastising the group for their failure.

The very air felt heavy, weighed down by disappointment and dread.

A man paced back and forth, his footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. His face flushed an angry red as he clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides.

"Would someone care to explain how we let Erik Romano slip through our fingers yet again?" A man's voice echoed off the soundproofed walls.

The assembled team sat tensely around the polished marble table, avoiding his piercing gaze.

Quakestrike and Dreadnought exchanged an uneasy glance, while Techmagnet stared at the table. No one dared to speak.

After a long, tense moment, Techmagnet broke the silence. "Hey, it wasn't our fault this time," she said. Her voice shrilled in the hushed room.

"Those guys were supposed to have our backs." She jabbed a finger toward the five people seated across the table.

One of them, a young man, let out a derisive snort, not even bothering to look up from examining his nails.

"Uh, keeping tabs on the target was our only job, honey," he said. "Jumping into the fight wasn't on our orders."

"Yeah, and there were what, ten of you meatheads going after the guy?"

A woman said with a sly smirk, her voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling.

"Don't see how one dude took you all down and killed two people. You should be ashamed of your incompetency."

Momentum stepped forward, brow furrowed in thought. "Can we track him using those mana traces?" he asked Shadowstalker.

The man shook his head. "Not exactly," he said. "At the current state of technology, we are not able to distinguish signatures between humans. We can only infer if the mana traces people release are human-like or Thaid-like."

He tapped the sleek device on his wrist. "Besides, when I used the device inside the mansion, I only set it to scan Erik. If I scanned the room, I wouldn't have been able to tell who was doing what. There's no way to pick out his traces in a crowd."

Stickyfingers scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Is there some use to this gadget, then?"

Shadowstalker bristled, his eyes flashing. "We can use it to get more intel on his powers."

"If we find him again," Stickyfingers shot back, her lip curling.

Before Shadowstalker could respond, the young man who had spoken out earlier chimed in arrogantly. "Oh, we'll find him alright," he said, smirking.

"Thirty teams are already scouring the city. He and that Thaid were spotted entering the Verdant Skyscraper." The youth's eyes glinted with excitement. "They're questioning everyone who left the building since. It's only a matter of time before they track him."

The Man turned back, a glimmer of hope on his face. "Good, cut off all escape routes. I want all footage from security feeds and traffic cameras reviewed as well. I want as many guards and vehicles stationed at the city's exit. Damn, you can even employ mech."

"What about brain crystal guns?" He asked. "Should we go lethal?"

"If things get too complicated. Having his body will still be better than having nothing."

"Are you sure, sir?" Momentum asked. "Isn't he your best friend's son?"

"I tried every non lethal approach. If Erik keeps displaying this aggression. My hands are tied. Now move," Benjamin said to his men.

Zakir grinned and pumped his fist. "Yes, sir!" He spun on his heel and dashed from the room, eager to relay the orders.

Stickyfingers watched him go, shaking her head disdainfully. "Overeager pup."

Benjamin resumed pacing, his mind churning once more. Perhaps they could still salvage this operation. But he knew capturing Erik would be no simple task now.

Shadowstalker stood silently, contemplating the readings on his scanner. What other secrets did their target possess? The mysteries surrounding this man seemed to multiply endlessly.