Aca nodded in agreement. "They're even spreading rumors about us, trying to damage our reputation."
I clenched my fists, anger simmering within me. "That's not going to fly," I declared, my voice firm. "We'll expose his lies and bring him down."
IM smirked. "I'm ready for some payback."
Yolan clapped her hands together, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Alright, then it's settled. We'll hit his house tonight, take the money, and plant some evidence to incriminate him."
Dove raised a hand, a thoughtful look on her face. "Wait, we need to be strategic about this. We can't just barge in and grab the cash. We need to make it look like he was caught red-handed."
Aca nodded. "Maybe we can create some fake documents, emails, or something that links him to the stolen ideas."
Irune grinned. "And we can leave a trail of clues that lead back to him, making it seem like he was trying to cover his tracks."
The room buzzed with excitement as they brainstormed their plan. It was a risky operation, but they were determined to see it through. The stakes were high, but the potential reward was even greater. They were fighting for their company, their livelihoods, and their future.
"That rich kid might have a maid, right? How about... we create a false receipt using that kid's name, showing that he purchased a lot of... hmm... maybe topped up a bunch of money to a gambling site? And lost it all? We could even add that he's now in debt," I suggested, the plan taking shape in my mind.
Dove started typing on her laptop keyboard. "Great idea! And... Xian, you can imagine controlling people's minds, right?"
I nodded, a smirk playing on my lips.
"Then make that maid spread the news on the internet," Dove finished, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
In the dead of night, Yolan, IM, and I stood hidden in the bushes behind the rich kid's sprawling mansion, all three of us clad in our "hero" suits. I couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed; I wasn't really enjoying wearing this suit often because it made me feel like a fool under the mask.
"Xian, imagine the three of us becoming invisible," Yolan whispered, her voice barely audible.
I nodded, focusing my concentration. The three of us are invisible. No one can see us... I imagined with all my might.
A tingling sensation spread throughout my body, and I felt my presence fading into the darkness. I glanced at IM and Yolan, and their forms also shimmered, becoming translucent before disappearing entirely.
"Can you see me?" I whispered, testing the invisibility.
"Nope," IM replied, his voice a mere breath in the night air.
"Me neither," Yolan added.
With a satisfied nod, I led the way towards the mansion, our invisible forms gliding silently across the manicured lawn. The house was a sprawling structure, its numerous windows glowing with warm light.
"Alright," I whispered, "let's find a way in."
IM approached a side door, his hand passing through the solid wood as if it were nothing. "I'll scout ahead," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
Yolan and I waited, our senses heightened, listening for any sounds of alarm. After a few moments, IM reappeared, a mischievous grin on his masked face.
"Coast is clear," he reported. "There's a safe in the study on the second floor. Let's go."
We followed IM through the door, our invisible forms moving effortlessly through the opulent mansion.
As we passed through the door, we found ourselves in a bustling kitchen filled with the sounds of clinking pots and pans and the chatter of several maids working late into the night.
"You know, it's hard to stay awake at this hour, haha!" one maid said as she walked past us, oblivious to our presence.
The three of us instinctively held our breath and moved out of her path, careful not to make a sound.
That was close, I thought, my heart pounding in my chest. We needed to be more cautious if we were going to pull this off without getting caught.
"We're going the wrong way..." IM whispered, backing out of the kitchen and into the hallway.
Yolan and I followed him, taking in the grandeur of the mansion. It wasn't as massive as a castle, but it was certainly large for a house. High ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and polished marble floors showcased the owner's wealth and extravagance.
We moved silently through the halls, our footsteps muffled by the plush carpets. Paintings of stern-looking ancestors adorned the walls, their eyes seeming to follow our every move, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
"Which way now?" Yolan whispered, her voice barely a breath.
"Let me make sure we're going the right way... wait here... or we should split up," IM replied, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Both of us nodded in agreement.
With that, IM used his power to phase through the wall, disappearing from sight. Meanwhile, Yolan and I parted ways, each taking a different hallway to cover more ground. I cautiously made my way down one of the corridors, my senses heightened, alert for any signs of movement or danger.
The hallway I chose was lined with closed doors, each one a potential obstacle or opportunity. I pressed my ear against one of the doors, listening intently for any sounds within. Silence. I tried another door, then another, but each one yielded the same result.
Frustration began to gnaw at me. We were on a tight schedule, and every wasted minute increased the risk of getting caught. I needed to find that study, and fast.
Just as I was about to give up on this hallway, a faint sound caught my attention. It was a muffled conversation, coming from behind a door at the very end of the corridor. I crept closer, my heart pounding in my chest.
Imagine... enhanced hearing, I thought, focusing my power.
The voices became clearer.
"But sir, the funds are already allocated for the new project," a woman's voice protested.
< Chapter 121 > Fin.