Walter leaned back in his chair, letting the name "Evan" settle in the air between them. Elyon's sharp gaze flickered with shock, though he quickly masked it thoughtfully. For a man who had seen nearly everything, the mention of Evan had clearly struck a chord.
Elyon leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "Interesting. What kind of developments?"
Walter didn't elaborate immediately, letting the weight of his words settle. Instead, he took a seat across from Elyon and studied him.
"He's clever," Walter said after a pause. "Ambitious. The kind of man who could either create something extraordinary or burn the world trying."
Elyon nodded slowly, absorbing the information while pretending to be unaware. "Sounds like someone to keep a close eye on."
While the world at large remained unaware of Evan's name, those at the highest levels—leaders of conglomerates like Macrosoft and Next Gen Innovations—knew of the shadowy figure whose inventions were quietly reshaping industries. Evan had reportedly developed technology that seemed almost miraculous, far ahead of its time, yet few could trace its origins.
Elyon's secretary discreetly entered the room and handed him a tablet, along with a compact, sleek black case. Opening it, Elyon revealed a high-tech combat suit—matte black with faint silver accents. Its design was futuristic yet functional, with no wasted material. Holding it up, he turned to Walter.
"This," Elyon said, his tone tinged with a glimmer of admiration, "is one of his innovations, isn't it?"
Walter's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent. Elyon gestured for his secretary to demonstrate. The man slipped the lightweight suit on, and it seemed to mold perfectly to his body. A faint hum indicated the activation of its internal systems. Elyon ran his fingers over the suit's surface, marveling at its texture.
"Bulletproof, lightweight, adaptive to temperature, and capable of amplifying physical strength. Truly something else," Elyon muttered. After a moment of silence, he sighed, almost wistfully. "If only he focused on space technology. I would love to collaborate with him on interstellar projects. Who knows what we could achieve together?"
Walter chuckled coldly at Elyon's remark. "Why are you so obsessed with space travel and terraforming? Why waste your time and resources on such fantasies?"
"Is there a golden goose out there in space?"
Walter smiled faintly, though there was no warmth behind it. "Elyon, I'm curious about one thing."
"What's that?" Elyon asked, sipping his wine, his expression calm.
Walter's smile twisted into a cold smirk. "Can it fight?"
Elyon leaned back in his chair, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Better than your best superhuman."
Walter chuckled softly, his calculating mind already running through possibilities. "Now that," he said, raising his glass, "is interesting."
_____
The heavy steel door groaned as it sung open, breaking the oppressive silence of the room. Amit Sharma, pacing like a caged animal, froze in his tracks.
His disheveled appearance—a rumpled shirt, sweat-soaked brow, and trembling hands—was a stark contrast to the confident man he once was. His wide, bloodshot eyes darted toward the opening, his lips quivering as if to speak, but no sound came out.
The room was cloaked in a suffocating silence, broken only by Amit's ragged breathing. His heart pounded in his chest, every beat echoing like a death knell. As the heavy steel door creaked open, he froze, terror gripping his body. Two guards stepped inside, their expressionless faces and imposing figures enough to chill his blood.
But it wasn't the guards who terrified him.
It was the man who followed—a figure exuding a presence so dangerous, so menacing that Amit's years of experience screamed at him to run. Yet his legs wouldn't move.
The man stepped forward, his polished black shoes tapping ominously against the concrete floor. His sharp features were illuminated by the dim light, his cold eyes gleaming with a dangerous mix of amusement and malice.
"Hello," the man said, his tone calm yet laced with menace. "It's been a while since we last met, hasn't it?"