Nahome was curious, and even his cigarette went out as he asked the drone.
"Who are the responsible ones?"
"According to information obtained in the last few hours, the main culprit is a man named Zarek, a first-class bearer who is part of a criminal group of bearers called the Foundation."
The Foundation was an organization of bearers with criminal and megalomaniac aims, operating worldwide. Zarek, one of the principal and most powerful members, stood out as a central figure within this organization.
"Zarek?"
Nahome knew the magnitude of the danger in the city and, hurriedly, took his phone from his pocket and called Ava, the commander of the Tower in the country.
According to the Alliance, Zarek was one of only two first-class bearers in the entire world. His name commanded both respect and fear, to the point where the Tower considered him the greatest threat to the balance between humans and bearers on the planet. His fame as a powerful bearer was internationally recognized, and he was one of the untouchables and undefeated, titles given to those bearers who had never been touched in combat and much less defeated.
Ring! Ring!
"Ava, can you hear me?" the agent asked first.
"Did something happen?" was the first thing the commander said, reading the Tower files in her professional office.
"The drone informed me that Zarek is involved in all this."
Nahome's concern was evident on his face, but the commander did not behave the same way.
"I figured he would be in this chaos. Agent, I will send reinforcements to help you," Ava's calm voice was either admirable or terrifying at the moment.
Nahome promptly and courageously refused the suggestion.
"Commander, it won't be necessary. I won't take long and, even if I need help, I'll find a way to survive."
Ava sighed in disagreement but did not try to change Nahome's mind.
"Just don't die, agent," was the last thing Ava said before she ended the call herself.
With the drone accompanying him, Nahome was informed of something upon reaching the ground floor.
"Agent Nahome, I have located the presence of a person standing on the roof of the Montreal building, which is near the central avenue," the drone reported.
His calm steps to the location, close to where he was, didn't take long to get there. The streets, filled with overturned cars, destroyed houses, and blood everywhere, would frighten someone with a weak mind.
The agent entered the building's reception with slight apprehension; there was nothing but objects and lifeless people on the reception floor.
He didn't mind the scene and went to the elevator, pressed the button for the top floor, and just waited while he took an energy device out of his pocket.
"If I were a bearer, at least I would already know where Zarek is."
Upon exiting the elevator and reaching the top of one of Dynami's tallest buildings, Nahome encountered a man sitting on the edge of the skyscraper.
The exchange of glances between the two revealed unfamiliarity.
"Who is he?" the agent asked, with attentive eyes and a secure posture.
"The man in front of you is named Hideki, he is a third-class bearer and is part of the criminal group of bearers called the Foundation."
With dark clothing and blond, straight hair in a shaggy cut, his dark almond-shaped eyes, along with his serious demeanor and emotionless expression, made Hideki as enigmatic as Sam.
The man, whose name was Hideki, commented expressionlessly to the agent.
"Zarek was expecting you."
The slow steps and the aura of the most feared among all bearers chilled the atmosphere. The agent turned, and before him stood Zarek.
"I can smell a strong scent of sadness. Besides that, it's good to see you again, little Nahome," Zarek was there in flesh and blood, with a smile both pleasant and intimidating.
A familiar voice not heard for years made agent Nahome, worried and surprised, think automatically.
"I can't stay long," Nahome's eyes fixed on the imposing presence emanating from Zarek.
Zarek walked toward Hideki and seemed to enjoy the reunion with Nahome.
"It's strangely pleasant to see your reaction after so many years," Zarek said, referring to Nahome, his old friend.
Zarek, as mentioned earlier, was an old friend of the agent. His wavy, long, white hair fell to his chin, and his dark attire with a black overcoat made him even more imposing. His tonic mouth was of great value, for his smile was a trademark, a way to impose his presence above all and everyone.
"We already know that you and the Foundation did all this," Nahome said, with a serious expression, facing Zarek like a soldier.
"You people from the Tower meddle in everything, you even remind me of the Americans."
Zarek showed no discomfort with the Tower. He despised them immensely.
"Zarek, what are you doing? What's the goal this time?" Nahome questioned, getting so close that the smoke from his cigarette almost reached Zarek.
"Our goal is a bit far from here, perhaps in a spacious and important place," Zarek smiled for no reason, but seemed to find the situation amusing.
The short distance between the agent and the bearer did not intimidate Nahome, who no longer cared about the old friendship with Zarek.
"You have three hours to disappear for good. Otherwise, we will have a problem."
"How many people do you think I have killed?" Zarek retorted, his tranquility and brief laughter shattering a human's morale.
Without hesitation, Nahome drew his weapon with his right hand and pointed it at Zarek's forehead.
"No more damage, Zarek!"
"It's incredible... I never manage to understand you, little friend," Zarek said, with a slight smile of disdain.
A brief silence marked the end of the reunion. Nahome turned and walked towards the elevator, shouting to his friend as he walked away.
"Three hours, Zarek! Three hours!"
Nahome's shout and threat had no effect; Zarek remained impassive. In a low tone, Zarek said to Hideki.
"Go to the southern military bases and kill as many people as are trying to evacuate."
"Okay, boss."
While Hideki took charge of a massacre in the southern bases, Zarek focused on fulfilling the Foundation's objective in Dynami.