Several dignitaries sat around a grand table in a dimly lit room, the shadows dancing on the walls as the faint light from a chandelier overhead flickered. The atmosphere was tense, and although a few whispered among themselves, there was an underlying unease that hung in the air like a thick fog. One seat, the most luxurious of them all, remained conspicuously empty, drawing the occasional glance from the assembled men.The heavy main door creaked open, slicing through the murmurs and plunging the room into silence. All heads turned as Dere entered, his presence commanding the space instantly. A group of stern-faced men flanked him, their footsteps echoing ominously as they circled the table, scanning the faces of those seated. The dignitaries rose to their feet in a unified, almost mechanical motion, their expressions masking the anxiety brewing beneath.Dere moved with deliberate calm, his gaze sweeping across the room before he reached his seat. He lowered himself into the chair, the leather creaking softly under his weight, and with a wave of his hand, he signaled the others to sit.
"Make we start," he said, his voice steady and laced with authority.
A dignitary raised his hand slightly, hesitating for a moment before speaking. Dere's sharp eyes caught the gesture.
"Chief Abolaji, talk."
Chief Abolaji cleared his throat, his voice trembling despite his efforts to keep it firm.
"Boss, e don reach your ear say dem dey kill our party members one by one."Dere's expression remained unreadable as he nodded.
"On behalf of my colleagues here," Abolaji continued, his voice gaining strength as he saw the other dignitaries nodding in agreement, "we dey... no say we dey fear but we dey worry about how una go take handle dis thing. And... we also wan talk about Miss Blessing Onajite."
Dere's eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of interest igniting in their depths.
"Continue," he urged, leaning back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin.
"With her still dey waka free," Chief Abolaji pressed on, "if she talk wetin happen between her and our comrade, e fit spoil our name for the DPP. We dey wait for your advice on these matters."
He sat back down, his face tight with tension as the room collectively held its breath, waiting for Dere's response.Dere allowed the silence to stretch, the weight of his authority pressing down on the room. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, deliberate.
"From wetin I dey hear so... One, una dey fear this assassin. Two, una dey slack for una work, allow loose end to dey waka free. Blessing still dey out there, and una dey here dey talk."Chief Abolaji rose again, sweat beading on his forehead.
"We apologize, Boss. We dey seek your direction for these issues—"
"Direction for wetin?" Dere's voice cut through the air like a blade. "Na everything I suppose tell una?" He paused, his tone shifting to a crisp, controlled English, the switch adding a cold finality to his words.
"And there's another matter. Dumi Edema escaped from your custody. Una think say I no go find out?"
The room fell into a stunned silence, the gravity of Dere's revelation sinking in like a stone in water. Chief Abolaji opened his mouth to speak, but Dere silenced him with a raised hand.
"You all know wetin una go do for all these matters. If I need to visit it again, heads go roll. The past deaths, I go handle am. We go blame the other parties at the press conference tomorrow. Make sure say we talk am well for all our campaigns."
He paused, his gaze locking onto Chief Abolaji. "As for the Dumi matter, somebody gat pay. And you know who, because she suppose dey your custody. I don talk my own."
Without another word, Dere rose, his movements smooth and deliberate as he exited the room. The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, sealing the room in an oppressive silence.Chief Abolaji's bodyguards, their expressions grim, moved in on him with lethal intent. The other dignitaries watched in silence, their faces impassive as Abolaji's life was extinguished before them. The room was thick with the stench of fear, but no one dared to show it.The weight of Dere's command hung over them like a death sentence.
John paced restlessly in his room, his footsteps heavy against the polished wooden floor. The tension in his body was palpable, every movement charged with frustration. Without warning, he swung his fist at the wall, the impact reverberating through the room.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it," he growled, the words escaping between clenched teeth.Adeola's voice cut through the tense silence, calm and measured.
"I understand that you're upset about your failure to capture the assassin, but perhaps we should focus on her impending threat to come after you."John halted mid-stride, his jaw tight as he processed her words.
"That's just part of it," he muttered, his voice strained with pent-up emotion.
"What's the DPP saying?"
"There was a press release earlier today," Adeola responded, "claiming that the DPP is being threatened by their political opponents."
"And the public's reaction?" John's gaze was sharp, his mind already working through the implications.
"They seem to be rallying behind the DPP, sir. The party's approval ratings have increased by five percent and are expected to rise further."John stopped pacing, his brow furrowed in thought. He was about to respond when he hears a beep signal informing him of a call.
" Who's that?"
"Blessing." Adeola replies.
She never calls, he thought, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Put her through," he ordered, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity.The line clicked open, and Blessing's voice came through, sounding hesitant but determined.
"Um... John, can we talk, please? About that night at Van Vogel's—I didn't tell you everything that happened."
John's eyes narrowed slightly, his instincts on high alert.
"Alright. Where are you?"
"I'm at M&K restaurant, close to your home."
"Way to pick a crowded place."
"I don't want you going anywhere secluded."
"Yeah, right. Considering I have an assassin on my tail, crowded sounds good. No worries, I'll be there."
"Bye," she said curtly before ending the call.John lowered the phone, exhaling deeply as the weight of the conversation settled over him.
"Adeola, prepare a bath. Quickly," he instructed, his mind already shifting gears.
"She might have something important to say... something that could be the final piece of the puzzle."
"Yes, sir," Adeola responded, her tone efficient as always.
John stood still for a moment, his thoughts racing. The tension from earlier had transformed into a steely resolve. This conversation could change everything, and he wasn't about to let the opportunity slip through his fingers.
Dumi walked over to clear a finished plate from a table at the M&K restaurant. As she lifted the dish, a voice called out, drawing her attention.
"Excuse me," a woman said. "Can you get me a virgin mojito, the best you've got? Not too cold, but chilled enough so it doesn't taste boring."
Dumi nodded, her expression neutral, and made her way to the counter.
Chilled enough so it won't taste boring, she thought, suppressing an eye roll. Must be nice to have money to throw around like that.
She set the tray of half-eaten food on the counter, shaking her head slightly before addressing the bartender.
"N'cole virgin mojito for table twelve."
As she watched the drink being prepared, Dumi's gaze lingered on the sleek bottle.
This could feed me for a week, she mused, the thought heavy in her mind.With the drink ready, Dumi approached table twelve, carefully placing the bottle and glass in front of the customer. She opened the bottle, the soft hiss of carbonation filling the brief silence, and poured the liquid into the glass.
"Here you go, ma'am."The woman smiled up at her.
"Thank you, dear," she said, before squinting slightly as if studying Dumi's face.
"Are you Mr. Edema's granddaughter? You look so familiar..."
A cold jolt shot through Dumi. She forced a polite smile, cutting the woman off quickly.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. You must be mistaken."
Her heart pounded as she recognized the woman—Blessing, the one who had spoken to her grandfather some time ago. Dumi turned away, her pulse quickening as she hurried to escape Blessing's gaze. Blessing watched her retreat, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.
I could've sworn... she thought, trying to recall if she could still remember the face she saw that night. The thought lingered as she turned her attention elsewhere, her mind occupied with other worries while waiting for John.A group entered the restaurant, their matching outfits drawing a few curious glances. Two women from the group made their way to the restroom. Moments later, they emerged, their expressions unreadable.Blessing, feeling an unexpected urge, excused herself and headed to the restroom. As she finished, a wave of dizziness washed over her, sudden and intense.
What's happening? she wondered, her hand reaching out to steady herself. Before she could react further, her vision blurred, and she collapsed to the cold tile floor.Back in the dining area, the group in matching outfits exchanged knowing glances. They stood and moved towards the exit, their movements precise, coordinated. The two women who had previously visited the restroom returned, their expressions unchanged as they entered the stalls again.Outside, the group gathered by a van parked discreetly nearby. The back doors swung open, revealing the dark interior. The two women emerged from a a corner in the restaurants vicinity, each carrying a large, zipped bag. They moved with practiced efficiency, loading the bags into the van before securing the doors. Without a word, they climbed into the vehicle and drove off, leaving the restaurant's calm facade undisturbed.
Blessing slowly regained consciousness, her vision blurred and gradually clearing as her surroundings came into focus. She was enveloped in darkness, a dim light barely illuminating the cramped space around her. As she tried to move, she realized she was tightly confined, her body bound in a restrictive bag. Squinting, she caught a glimpse of a zip line above her. The horrifying truth dawned on her: she had been kidnapped. With a trembling hand, she pressed a hidden button on her watch, sending an urgent message to John.
"I've been kidnapped," she whispered into the tiny microphone, hoping the message would reach him in time.
Nearby, Dumi stirred, awakening to the same disorienting darkness. Her heart raced as she saw the zip line and recognized her predicament.
Why would anyone want to kidnap me? she wondered. Drawing upon her resolve, she retrieved a small, concealed blade from her clothing. Carefully, she sliced a hole in the bag, then used her hands to tear it open, making a gap wide enough for her to escape. Stepping out of the bag, she found herself in the back of a moving van, surrounded by thugs who were oblivious to her escape.Despite the perilous situation, Dumi's eyes darted to another bag lying nearby. Another captive. She scolded herself for worrying about anyone else when her own life was in danger. The van jolted violently as it hit a pothole, sending the occupants momentarily off balance. Seizing the opportunity, Dumi sprang into action, her small frame a blur as she launched a swift kick at the scarred thug closest to her, connecting with his jaw and sending him crashing into the side of the van. The other thugs were momentarily stunned, their surprise evident as they scrambled to regain their footing.
"Get her!" one of them shouted, drawing a knife from his pocket.Without hesitation, Dumi sidestepped the first thug's attack, her movements smooth and calculated. She caught his wrist mid-swing, twisting it with enough force to make him drop his weapon. A sharp kick to his midsection sent him stumbling back, gasping for air. Another thug approached, his knife flashing menacingly in the dim light. Dumi's gaze locked onto the blade, her focus unwavering. She feinted to the left, causing him to lose his balance, then spun around with a powerful roundhouse kick that dislodged the knife from his grip. The weapon clattered to the floor near the other captive, who was struggling inside their bag.Dumi dove for the knife, rolling across the floor as another thug swiped at her with his blade. She snatched the knife from the ground, springing up in a crouch. The thugs exchanged wary glances, realizing they had underestimated her. Her eyes flickered to the bag, then back to the thugs.
"Stop her!" one of them yelled.
Ignoring their shouts, Dumi slashed open the bag, revealing Blessing. For a moment, Dumi was frozen in shock, but she quickly shook it off. There was no time to waste. Now armed with a knife, she felt a surge of confidence.The scarred thug charged at Blessing, his knife poised to strike. Dumi stepped in, parrying his attack with precision and speed.
Of all the people in the world, why Blessing? Dumi thought as she engaged the thug.
With a quick slash, she disarmed him, his knife clattering to the floor. Blessing, though lacking combat experience, proved to be incredibly agile, dodging the attacks of the other thugs with surprising ease. Dumi watched as Blessing moved, impressed by her agility.
At least she can hold her own Dumi thought to herself.
The remaining thugs realized that Dumi was the real threat and circled her, their knives raised menacingly. Dumi's eyes narrowed with determination as she faced them. She lunged forward, her blade a flash of silver as she knocked the knives from their hands with expert precision. One by one, the thugs fell, their weapons clattering to the floor. As Dumi stood among the defeated thugs, her chest heaved with exertion. She glanced around to ensure they were all incapacitated before turning her attention to Blessing, who was still in shock. Blessing could remember the figures that night. A small figure decimating larger foes with such speed and prowess, she'd recognized those moves anywhere
"We have to make our way out through the back of the van," Dumi said, moving towards the door. Blessing was speechless, still processing the chaos that had just unfolded. The van continued to move, its engine humming steadily.
"Can you jump?" Dumi asked if ignoring Blessing's state of shock. She inspects the door and finds out it'd being locked from the outside.
"Oh, come on!" she muttered, banging her fist against the door in frustration.
Blessing approached, her voice steady. "I've called someone who can help."
Outside the van, a loud thud echoed as Iron Hero landed in front of the speeding vehicle.
"And I think he's here," Blessing added with a hint of a smile.
Inside the van, the driver swerved erratically, trying to shake off the hero clinging to the roof. Iron Hero held firm, using a grapple hook to maintain his grip. He leaped to the front of the van, activating his suit's boosters, directing them against the motion direction of the van. The vehicle crashed into Iron Hero suit but his boosters make his suit powerful enough to withstand the impact bringing the vehicle to an immediate halt. The vehicle threatened to flip, but Iron Hero's grapple hook kept it anchored, pulling it back down with a crash.
"Oh no, you don't," Iron Hero muttered, stabilizing the van as it settled onto the road.
The police, already on high alert, quickly cleared the surrounding traffic, preventing any further accidents. Iron Hero approached the back of the van and ripped the door open, revealing Blessing and Dumi.
"Thank you, Iron Hero," Blessing said, her voice filled with gratitude, though she pretended not to recognize him. Dumi, without a word, slipped away from the scene.Iron Hero started to follow, but Blessing stopped him.
"Don't worry about her… I think I might have just found our assassin."
Moments later, the police arrived, cordoning off the area with bright yellow tape. A young detective emerged from one of the squad cars, extending a hand to Iron Hero.
"Detective Maiwake. Thanks for making this a lot easier," he said, gesturing to the handcuffed thugs being led away.
Iron Hero nodded in acknowledgment. The detective turned to Blessing, a smirk on his face.
"You again? What is it with you and kidnappers? Always managing to come out unscathed," he teased.
Blessing rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance.
"Look, I'm sorry for giving you a chocolate bar to make you talk last time," the detective apologized.
Iron Hero chimed in, his tone light. "Sounds pretty childish to hold a grudge over something so trivial. Detective Maiwake was just doing his job."
The detective chuckled, while Blessing shot a mock-annoyed look at Iron Hero.
Am I in big trouble now? John thought to himself, hiding a smile behind his mask.