Same Night, Unknown Location in New York
In a run down warehouse in New York City, a group of people worked in grim silence, their faces obscured by gas masks. The air was thick with the chemical tang of some white powder they were processing. Most of the workers were of Asian descent, their ages spanning from barely sixteen to the twilight of seventy. They were all women and were only wearing their inner garments. A well known trick to stop workers from hiding or stealing anything. A pervasive sense of dread hung in the air, amplified by the presence of three armed men who patrolled the area, their sharp eyes scanning for any sign of disobedience.
"Pack everything properly," barked one of the supervisors in Mandarin. His voice, like a whip, caused the workers to flinch. They exchanged fearful glances but quickly returned to their tasks, packing the powder into molds shaped like bricks.
One of the armed men turned to his companion and muttered, "These are the new ones. Make sure they fall in line." The other two men nodded in agreement, their grips tightening on their weapons.
Suddenly, the creak of the warehouse door echoed through the space. Instantly, the guards raised their weapons, their tension palpable. The lead supervisor raised a hand, signaling them to stand down. Through the door walked a figure clad in red, his attire reminiscent of a ninja, the lower half of his face concealed. Behind him trailed four men dressed in black suits. Three carried long, black plastic bags slung over their shoulders, while the fourth hefted a duffel bag.
Without sparing a glance at the workers or their overseers, the group made their way to a door on the far side of the warehouse. The lead supervisor barely acknowledged their presence, his focus remaining on the workers. The red-clad figure opened the door and entered, offering a slight bow. His companions followed in silence.
Inside, the room was dimly lit by lamps lining the walls, casting flickering shadows over an oval table at the center. Seated at one end was an elderly Chinese woman, her eyes closed as if in meditation. In front of her rested a delicate teapot and an empty cup.
The ninja knelt, lowering himself until his forehead touched the floor. The woman, unhurried, poured tea into her cup, her movements deliberate. She took a sip and finally spoke, her voice calm but commanding. "The weather is growing unbearably hot this year."
After a pause, she added, "Lift your head."
The ninja obeyed, meeting her serene yet piercing gaze. Her smile was gentle, almost grandmotherly, but her words carried weight.
"You made quite the noise retrieving their bodies. I thought I told you to act discreetly."
The ninja lowered his head again. "I apologize for failing you, Madam Gao. We had planned for a quiet operation during the staff break. However, a junior doctor returned unexpectedly."
"Did you kill him?"
"No, Madam Gao. I inflicted a shallow wound, enough to incapacitate him until we could leave."
"Then why the fire? It's all over the news. Such attention is unwelcome." Her voice hardened slightly.
"We discovered that they had already conducted extensive work on our men and Ronan Carbrey. We took all their drives and files, then burned the lab to erase any trace. We also disabled the emergency systems to ensure the sprinklers wouldn't activate."
At his signal, the four men stepped forward, laying the black plastic bags on the floor and placing the duffel bag beside them. Unzipping the bags revealed the corpses of the two Asian men who had drowned and the body of Ronan Carbrey. The duffel bag contained hard drives and documents.
"We will analyze these to determine what the authorities know about our men and Carbrey," the ninja said.
Madam Gao sipped her tea, contemplating. "Dispose of our men's bodies quietly. Ensure none of the other Fingers learn of this. Have Carbrey's corpse examined. I need to know why Bakuto was involved with him and what he hoped to gain."
The ninja bowed deeply before leaving with his team and the bags. Alone again, Madam Gao resumed sipping her tea, her expression inscrutable. One of the Five Fingers of the Hand, her name was a whisper in the shadows, feared and respected. The Hand's singular goal was immortality, and they would eliminate anyone who threatened it.
The sudden knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. "Enter," she commanded. The warehouse supervisor stepped in, unfolding a small piece of paper.
"We've received news," he began. "The heir of Rand Enterprises, Daniel Rand, arrived in New York last week. Initially dismissed as an imposter seeking the family fortune, medical tests have confirmed his identity."
Madam Gao's eyes narrowed. "Impossible. Daniel Rand perished with his parents in the plane crash orchestrated by Harold Meachum."
"Should we eliminate him?" the supervisor asked cautiously.
"No. Killing his parents was a misstep, and killing him would only compound it. His presence can be advantageous. Harold's recent arrogance has been grating. This boy could serve as a counterbalance."
The supervisor nodded. "Understood. I'll ensure Harold keeps tabs on him."
"Good. Ensure nothing ties back to us," Madam Gao said, her tone final. The supervisor bowed and left.
**
Next Day, Afternoon
Midtown High School
Behind the school, where students often escaped for a moment of peace, Ryan held one end of a USB drive, while Jared held the other endhis expression unreadable.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked.
"Yes. Now let go," Jared replied, gripping the other end.
Ryan hesitated before releasing his grip. "You realize you could get suspended if anyone finds out? And if you snitch, I'm going down too."
"No one's getting caught," Jared assured him, pocketing the drive. "But why do you already have it? I thought you were going to retrieve it during the basketball game."
Ryan smirked. "This is a backup I had on my computer. Most of the parents' numbers should still be valid."
Jared frowned. "Wipe that smirk off your face. And what's this about a password?"
"Three failed attempts and the drive wipes itself," Ryan said smugly. "Now, why do you need it? You wouldn't go to these lengths for a prank or some girl. Spill."
Jared sighed. "Fine. Follow me." He started walking toward an even quieter corner of the campus, Ryan trailing behind.
**
I was hoping you could support me on Patreon at Patreon.com/lazarus898 to unlock 25 advanced Chapters!!!
Help me Climb the power rankings by voting with more Power stones
To Give Subscribers on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/lazarus898/gift