Will stood alone amidst the thick fog in the industrial district, his sharp eyes scanning the shifting shadows.
A masked man emerged from the mist, his voice calm but cutting, "You're braver than I expected, Will."
Will remained still, his voice cold, "You said you have information about my past… speak."
The man chuckled softly, "Edgar knew a lot, didn't he?"
Will's fist clenched tightly, the memory of Edgar still fresh and painful. "Edgar is dead… but if you know something he left behind, you need to tell me."
The man stepped closer, "Yes, Edgar is gone… but his secrets aren't. The question is: are you willing to pay the price to uncover them?"
Will closed his eyes briefly, then replied firmly, "I'll pay any price… if it reveals why I came back and who's behind all this."
The man chuckled again, "Good… expect a signal from me soon. But be careful, Will… the truth isn't always what you wish for."
He vanished into the fog, leaving Will alone, his mind racing with endless questions.
Will returned to The Phoenix headquarters, his steps slow under the weight of his thoughts.
Jack was waiting at the door, greeting him with a sarcastic grin, "Welcome back, Mr. Mystery. Good news?"
Will sighed, "Not good… just more riddles."
Ethan, seated in the background, voiced his concern, "You're playing with fire, Will… digging into Edgar's past isn't a game."
Louis, ever the calm thinker, added, "Edgar knew too much… that's what got him killed. The question is: will we share the same fate?"
Will looked up, his sharp features resolute, "If that's the price for the truth… so be it."
Jack gave a sideways grin, "Oh, this is going to be fun…"
But in his eyes, a hidden worry lingered.
Scene Ten: Edgar's Puzzle
In a dimly lit room filled with old files and city maps, Will sat alone, sifting through Edgar's dossier.
Old photographs, cryptic notes, and a map of the city marked with red X's over certain locations.
He muttered to himself, "Edgar… what were you trying to tell me?"
His eyes caught a piece of paper handwritten by Edgar: "The truth isn't in what you see… but in what the shadows hide."
Will gripped the paper tightly, whispering, "I need to find what you left behind… before my enemies find me."
In a room filled with glowing screens, a shadowed figure observed Will and The Phoenix members closely.
"Well done, Will… but the game has only just begun. Let's see how far you'll go."
He pressed a button on his device, sending an anonymous message to Will's phone: "Secrets don't come cheap… be ready for more."
The man chuckled darkly as the screen displayed a photo of Edgar smiling… a photo no one knew how he had obtained.
The clock had passed midnight when Will sat on the leather couch in The Phoenix headquarters, holding Edgar's note with a slightly trembling hand.
He whispered to himself, "The truth isn't in what you see… but in what the shadows hide."
His mind was burdened with questions. Why had he returned in time? Who was behind the system? And what did Edgar have to do with all of this?
A soft knock on the door broke his train of thought, and he looked up to see Jack enter with a faint smile.
"Haven't slept yet?" Jack asked as he moved to sit across from him.
Will gave a bitter smile. "How can I sleep? Every time I get closer to the truth, more riddles appear."
Jack threw himself onto the chair, sighing. "That's because you're a magnet for trouble, my friend."
Will chuckled lightly but quickly returned to seriousness. "I found this note in Edgar's file."
Jack raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he glanced at the paper. "The truth isn't in what you see? Think he left something hidden for us?"
Will nodded. "Edgar wasn't the type to leave things to chance. There must be something hidden… and maybe that man I met in the industrial district knows more."
Jack muttered sarcastically, "Oh, another mysterious guy? Great… just what we needed."
Will smiled faintly. "Yeah, because there's not enough mystery in our lives already."
After a moment of thought, he added, "We need to start searching the places Edgar frequented."
Jack stood up eagerly. "So, we've got a treasure hunt? Count me in."
Will gave him a sharp look. "Don't forget… we might not be the only ones searching."
Jack chuckled, "There's always someone after us. That's part of the fun, isn't it?"
Will whispered, "If this is fun to you… you're crazier than I thought."
They stepped out into the corridor together, the eerie silence of the headquarters surrounding them. It was clear that this night would be a long one.
Their steps led them to an old library tucked away in one of the city's back alleys.
The library was deserted at this hour, but faint lights from inside hinted at someone's presence.
Will pushed the door open slowly, the hinges creaking softly as they stepped in, taking in the sight of dust-covered bookshelves.
Jack whispered, "Man, when was the last time anyone cleaned this place?"
Ignoring the comment, Will walked toward the main desk, where an open notebook lay.
"Edgar was here…" he muttered, touching the notebook cautiously.
A voice from behind startled them, "Digging into Edgar's past? Not a wise idea."
They turned quickly to find an elderly man with round glasses staring at them from behind a stack of books.
Will asked seriously, "Who are you?"
The man replied calmly, "I am the keeper… Edgar trusted me to protect his secrets."
Will took a step forward, saying, "If you trusted him, then you should trust me too. I need to know what he was hiding."
The man studied him for a few moments before responding, "Edgar knew this moment would come."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small key. "This is the key to a secret drawer in this library. You'll find what you're looking for there… but be warned, every answer will lead you to greater danger."
Jack muttered under his breath, "There's always 'greater danger'… what's new?"
Will took the key, nodding at the man. "Thank you… we won't forget this."
As they started searching for the hidden drawer, Jack grinned, "What do you think we'll find? Treasure? A letter? Or maybe a trap?"
Will replied calmly, "We'll find out soon enough…"
They opened the drawer carefully, finding an old envelope and a small leather journal inside.
Will opened the journal and read softly, "Everything began in New Orvita… the city that hides more than it shows."
Jack whispered, "New Orvita? That place is crawling with mafia… things just got more complicated."
Will closed the journal, his eyes sharp with determination. "Then… this is the real starting point."
Will and Jack left the library with quick steps, their minds occupied with the new information.
Jack, looking at the dark streets, said, "New Orvita… I haven't visited in a while, but I remember how chaotic it was."
Will responded, "Chaos is the perfect place to hide secrets… and maybe the key to everything lies there."
As they walked, a black car suddenly stopped in front of them.
The front window rolled down to reveal a man in his mid-thirties, his hair neatly styled and a sly smile on his face. "Will… I knew you'd go looking for the truth."
Will narrowed his eyes. "And you? Who are you?"
The man laughed. "I'm just the messenger… but if you're looking for Edgar, you'll need more than just a small key."
Jack muttered, "Why do we never get direct answers?"
Before Will could respond, the man tossed a card at them. "Come to New Orvita… and you'll find what you're looking for."
The car moved quickly, disappearing into the horizon, leaving behind more mystery.
Jack picked up the card and read it aloud, "The Abyss Club… I think that's our next destination."
Will whispered, "The Abyss? The place controlled by the most dangerous mafia in New Orvita?"
Jack gave a half-smile. "Looks like we're going to be very busy soon."
The next day, Will and Jack's car stopped in front of the large gate that marked the entrance to the Abyss district in New Orvita. The area appeared to be sealed tightly, filled with shadows that almost obscured everything.
"This is the place… I think we're in the eye of the storm now," Will said as he got out of the car.
Jack looked around skeptically. "Everything seems too quiet. The Abyss doesn't usually sleep, does it?"
Will raised an eyebrow. "Silence is the worst thing that can happen in places like this. We need to be careful."
They walked toward the heavy gate, guarded by a group of massive men wearing black coats, their eyes sharp as blades.
One of them stepped forward and spoke in a rough voice. "Where do you think you're going?"
Will looked at him confidently and said, "We're here to meet someone who knows about Edgar."
The man eyed them cautiously before smiling and saying, "Enter, but be prepared for what you'll find."
As they entered, the atmosphere was thick with violence. Around them, groups of men moved quickly, and many doors opened and closed without ceasing.
Will and Jack exchanged looks, as if they had stepped into another world, a world filled with danger and deceit.
Jack muttered, "What have we gotten ourselves into now?"
Will replied calmly, "The Abyss isn't a place for the weak… but we don't have a choice."
They ventured further, facing a series of questions and confrontations with the mafia's followers, who were waiting for their guests.
In the far corner of the room, a well-dressed man sat, holding a cigarette that burned slowly. "You're here because you're searching for Edgar's secrets, aren't you?"
He raised his head slowly, his eyes never leaving Will.
Will answered, "Yes. We need to know the truth."
The man smiled. "Then, the journey will be more complicated than you think."
In the dark room filled with smoke, the well-dressed man watched Will and Jack, as if they were mere chess pieces in a complex game.
"Edgar was a smart man… perhaps too smart," the man said in a mysterious tone.
Will took a step forward. "Do you know where we can find his evidence?"
The man replied, "Edgar liked to play with shadows. And when he found the truth, he decided to hide behind it."
Jack spoke softly, "So he didn't leave us anything easy, did he?"
The man glanced one last time at Will. "He may have left you keys… but what they unlock will change your life."
Will looked at the man. "Where can we find the keys?"
The man smiled. "First, you must find the person who knew Edgar better than anyone else. He's the only one who can help you."
Before leaving them, the man added in a low voice, "But beware… because every answer will lead you down a more dangerous path."
Then he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Will and Jack to ponder what he had said.