The man with a neatly trimmed beard, sharp black eyes, and a tall, imposing build was unmistakably Hyllos - the man who spoke with Mrs. Kagiso in PharmaMedicor company.
Despite his presence that commanded attention, the figure standing in front of him possessed a look of authority and intelligence. Rio could not divert his gaze from this man stood with a calm confidence, his gaze piercing as he surveyed the scene before him amidst the chaos.
Unlike Hyllos, who appeared composed and calculated, this man seemed more intense and ready for action, as if he was always prepared for any challenge that came his way.
The only name that echoed in Rio's ears was Haydon - the man who Mrs. Kagiso had mentioned in her conversation with Hyllos.
There were five of them standing like statues amidst the disaster. All of them were in extravagant suits, their impassive faces watching the ruins, looking out of place amidst the chaos as the people around them ran for their lives.
Gripping the object tightly in his hand, Rio felt his legs glued to the ground as he watched the men who stood eerily before him. They didn't just observe the ruins; they scanned the surroundings, as if looking for something unusual - something more unusual than the falling wrecked aircraft.
Even though Rio had changed his appearance back to his original look from the man he had imitated, a sense of guilt stirred an uneasy feeling that Hyllos might be able to recognize him.
The presence of people from PharmaMedicor company couldn't be a coincidence. Huette was caught for her knowledge of the relation between the missing flights in 2030 and Batho's identity. If they noticed Rio's purpose for being there, they would know he was the man who imitated Mr. Kendal and rescued Huette.
Just as the penetrating gaze of Haydon swept over Rio, he ducked and joined the group of humans running away from the furnace of aircraft wreckage. His heart pounded in his chest as he wasn't sure if his suspicious behavior had been noticed.
Haydon's gaze lingered for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to the scene before him.
Rio followed the group of people fleeing the falling fireballs into an alley. He cast a few furtive glances at the people in suits as he weaved through the panicked crowd, trying to blend in with the chaos. The people were no longer interested in the ruins.
As Rio slipped through the alley, he kept a close eye on the people around him. They seemed more focused on escaping the chaos than on noticing him.
He found a secluded spot behind a dumpster and pulled out the small device he had found. It was sleek and metallic, with a few buttons and a small screen. Rio pressed a button, and the screen flickered to life, displaying a series of numbers and symbols.
Rio's heart raced as he tried to make sense of the information on the screen. It appeared to be some sort of encrypted message, but without the key, it was meaningless to him.
He tucked the device back into his pocket and considered his next move. He needed to find a way to decode the message, but he didn't have the tools or the expertise to do so, at least for now.
He would have to find someone who did.
Rio thought he had escaped from the group of people from PharmaMedicor, but as he patted the bulge in his pocket where he had stashed the object he had found, he saw the group just ten feet away in a parking lot. They scanned the area once again before getting into their exquisite transport, especially Haydon.
Rio had a bad feeling about this man.
Rio knew he had to act fast. If Haydon and his group were closing in on him, it meant they were aware of his presence and were likely looking for him.
Rio continued to hide in the alleyway until their vehicle had vanished from his view.
His AD had been beeping incessantly in his pocket, updating him on the latest developments of the disaster. Rio was certain that nobody would ever mention anything about the missing flights in 2030.
With the thought of deciphering the coded message in the object that he had found, Rio strode to where he had parked his Hyperloop Pod, taking extra caution to ensure that nobody else paid any attention to him.
When he was about to key in the address of the person he had in mind who could help him decode the message, another urgent message beeped on his AD. With a frown, Rio opened the message.
It was from Mr. Kagiso - "I need to see you now."
Despite receiving the message from Mr. Kagiso, Rio couldn't help but think of the image of Mrs. Kagiso appearing in the PharmaMedicor company.
Something had happened to Batho; it was the first thought that leapt to Rio's mind when he read the message again.
Taking a moment to decide whether he should head off to decipher the coded message of the object in his pocket or find Mr. Kagiso, Rio let out a big sigh. A person as proud as Mr. Kagiso would not ask for help if something important had not happened.
Rio shook his head and cancelled the destination he had first keyed into the transit system in his Hyperloop Pod. He knew the way to Mr. Kagiso's mansion; almost everyone in this part of Slateville knew.
In the next thirty minutes, Rio found himself at the gates of the huge mansion again, greeted by the same butler.
Despite being in Mr. Kagiso's mansion, Rio could not shake off the images of the buildings, humans, and vehicles being crashed by the falling broken aircraft. The screams of the humans still echoed in his ears.
The tranquility in the mansion seemed surreal, having come from where the disaster had occurred. Rio wondered if the falling aircraft had stopped.
Rio's worry about the falling aircrafts and their potential relation to the missing flights in 2030 weighed heavily on his mind as he followed behind the butler's back to meet Mr. Kagiso.
The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together, but there were still missing links that needed to be uncovered.
He couldn't shake off the feeling that the people from PharmaMedicor company were somehow involved in both incidents. Their presence at the scene of the disaster seemed too coincidental, especially considering Mrs. Kagiso's earlier conversation about Haydon and their involvement in Batho's control.
Rio's thoughts raced as he tried to connect the dots. The coded message in the object could hold vital information.
Mrs. Kagiso and Batho were not in the living room or anywhere in the mansion that Rio could see.
The butler led Rio through the grand corridors to Mr. Kagiso's study, where he found the man seated behind his desk, looking grim.
"Mr. Kagiso, you wanted to see me urgently?" Rio inquired, noting the tension in the air.
Mr. Kagiso gestured for the butler to leave the room, and the butler nodded before quietly exiting. Rio pulled a chair and settled into it, waiting for Mr. Kagiso to speak.
"How far along is the investigation into Batho's identity?" Mr. Kagiso's voice held a sense of urgency.
Rio sensed that something significant had occurred. "This matter has evolved into something much larger than we initially anticipated," he replied, his expression serious. "The involvement of certain institutions and individuals requires us to proceed with caution." Thoughts of Haydon's piercing gaze flashed through his mind as he spoke.
Rio hesitated to divulge his discoveries about the missing flights in 2030 and PharmaMedicor's potential involvement. He wasn't certain how much Mrs. Kagiso knew about the situation, and discussing it without concrete evidence seemed unwise.
"Institutions and individuals?" Mr. Kagiso echoed, his eyes narrowing. Despite his unsettled state, he was quick to grasp the significance of Rio's words.
Rio shook his head. "I need more time to investigate. I'll update you as soon as I have concrete information."
Mr. Kagiso shifted in his seat. "Rio, if you need... power or assistance to deal with these institutions or individuals, I believe I have a certain extent of influence in the government that can aid..."
Rio raised a hand to stop Mr. Kagiso. "It's not that. I have my own methods to infiltrate the institutions I need to investigate. It's just that I need time to connect all the dots." Rio was cautious about how much he should reveal to Mr. Kagiso, especially considering Mrs. Kagiso's potentially independent stance on the matter.
Mr. Kagiso's gaze lingered on Rio, a silent plea evident in his eyes, before he finally relented with a resigned nod. "Alright, if you say so," he conceded, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
"Is there anything else you wish to discuss or need assistance with?" Rio inquired, sensing that Mr. Kagiso's urgent summons likely involved more than just a progress report on the investigation.
Mr. Kagiso released a heavy sigh, the weight of his concerns palpable in the air. "It's about Batho," he began, his tone filled with apprehension. "He's been exhibiting the characteristics and memories of the other individual within him more frequently and prominently."
Rio leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "In what way?" he probed, eager to understand the extent of Batho's transformation.
Mr. Kagiso shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his unease apparent. "You recall your suggestion to converse with Batho during our last meeting, to ascertain if he retains the memories of the individual from three hundred years ago," he recounted, seeking confirmation.
Rio nodded, encouraging Mr. Kagiso to continue.
"I attempted to speak with Batho privately, away from my wife's watchful eye. She remains constantly by his side, fearful of losing him once more," Mr. Kagiso explained, his voice tinged with sadness. "During our conversations, Batho seemed to sense my intentions, yet he did not shy away from revealing that he possesses the memories and identity of Mr. Khamis, the individual who disappeared on a flight in the year 2030."
Rio's interest was piqued. "He was aware of your knowledge?" he clarified, intrigued by Batho's apparent awareness.
Mr. Kagiso nodded slowly, his expression troubled. "Not directly, but he would make references to events or individuals from three hundred years ago. He spoke of wars and historical details that only those who lived in that era would be aware of."
Rio leaned back in his chair, processing this new information.
"I took the liberty to investigate the background of this Mr. Khamis," admitted Mr. Kagiso with a hint of guilt flashing across his face.
"You did?" Rio's failed attempt to disguise the anger in his voice was evident, "I hope you know what the implication is if the people involved know about this."
As Mr. Kagiso spoke, his voice carried a weight of resignation and concern. "I have no choice," he began, his eyes searching Rio's face, "he seems fearless, as if he knows I'm aware of his true identity. And... my wife, she's always with him. I'm worried about her safety. He behaves differently when she's around, almost innocent."
Rio's hands clenched involuntarily in his lap as Mr. Kagiso mentioned his wife. Thoughts raced through his mind, conflicting emotions battling within him. He almost blurted out, "She's not as innocent as you think," but stopped himself just in time, realizing the potential consequences of such a statement.
Uncertainty clouded Rio's thoughts as he debated whether to reveal the truth about Mrs. Kagiso's involvement in the PharmaMedicor company. She had been speaking to one of the most influential people there, seeking a medicine called Zonizide to suppress Batho's symptoms. But Mr. Kagiso's protective nature towards his wife made Rio hesitate, unsure of how he would react to this revelation.
Lost in his own thoughts, Rio barely registered Mr. Kagiso's next words. "Just a few hours ago, you know there have been places hit by the falling aircraft." Rio nodded absentmindedly, his mind preoccupied with the complex web of secrets and lies surrounding Batho's identity.
"Batho stood in front of the hologram projected by his own AD," Mr. Kagiso continued, his voice tinged with sadness, "watching intently at the news. I saw him crying while watching the wreckage."
"Crying?" Rio's voice was barely a whisper, disbelief and confusion evident in his tone.
"Yes," Mr. Kagiso confirmed, his expression grave. "I suspect those aircraft are from the flights that went missing in 2030, and Mr. Khamis was on one of those flights."
Rio's mind raced, connecting the dots. The missing flights, Batho's strange behavior, the involvement of PharmaMedicor - it all started to make sense. "I would not be able to forget his eyes when he noticed I saw him crying," Mr. Kagiso continued, his voice filled with a mix of fear and sadness. "The hatred in his eyes could just kill me." He paused, visibly shaken by the memory of Batho's intense gaze.