Evan sat in his office, the multiple screens in front of him displaying classified intelligence reports, security feeds, and the latest news regarding ExxCorp. His plan had worked—partially. The government had turned its attention to ExxCorp, but that didn't mean they were allies. This was just a diversion, a way to shift focus while he continued maneuvering behind the scenes. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
The reaction had been expected, but now, the real game began.
His mind worked through the possibilities. ExxCorp was a corporation backed by some of the most powerful elites, and the government had turned a blind eye to their activities for years. So why act now? He knew the answer—because they had been forced to. Public scrutiny had risen after his strategic leaks. A scandal that large couldn't be ignored, and the government needed to maintain control.
But ExxCorp wouldn't sit quietly and accept their fate. They were already making their moves, and Evan had to stay ahead.
The first thing he needed to confirm was how much intelligence ExxCorp had on him. Unlike the government, who saw Mercer Biotech as just another rising power in the medical industry, ExxCorp knew better. They suspected that Evan was responsible for their data breach and the public leaks.
He pulled up a file on his screen. It contained ExxCorp's recent intelligence reports, stolen directly from their own security division. His system had infiltrated their databases without them even realizing it, pulling real-time updates on their ongoing countermeasures.
It was clear they were trying to profile him. But they were frustrated—because there was nothing to find.
His past didn't exist. There were no school records, no medical files, no childhood history—just a blank slate. They had pieced together details from the moment he had appeared, tracking his financial movements, his rapid acquisitions, and his technological advancements. The best they could do was speculate, tying his intelligence to underground tech circles, but they had no concrete proof of who he was before Mercer Biotech.
And that terrified them.
They were attempting multiple avenues of retaliation. Some efforts were financial—trying to manipulate stocks and force a hostile takeover of some of Mercer Biotech's suppliers. Others were physical—hiring private investigators, sending surveillance drones near his properties, and even placing a few spies in government meetings to track any mention of his name.
It was laughable.
They were trying to understand something beyond their reach, using old-world tactics against someone who had already rewritten the rules of the game.
But that didn't mean he could relax. If they were making this much effort, it meant they were desperate—and desperate people were unpredictable.
His next move was to confirm why the government had truly acted against ExxCorp. It was no secret that the U.S. government had always been aware of mutant experimentation, yet they had allowed it to continue for years. So why the sudden shift?
Evan accessed classified intelligence reports, bypassing firewalls as if they were nothing more than locked doors with easily replicated keys.
The reports confirmed what he had suspected.
The government had always known about ExxCorp's mutant experiments, but they had quietly allowed them to continue as long as it served a strategic purpose. They had used ExxCorp's research to track potential threats, experiment with controlled mutations, and even develop their own black-ops superhuman initiatives.
However, Evan's leaks had pushed everything into the public eye. Before, ExxCorp had been a quiet asset, something the government could use without needing to take responsibility. But now, with media pressure rising and international watchdogs investigating, the government had to pretend to be the good guys.
It wasn't that they had turned against ExxCorp out of morality—it was self-preservation.
The most interesting thing, though, was internal government faction conflicts. Some departments still saw ExxCorp as useful, while others viewed them as a liability. That meant not everyone was on the same page.
If Evan played his cards right, he could turn these factions against each other, forcing them to weaken themselves while he continued expanding his influence.
Later that evening, he sat across from Amelia in his office, both reviewing the information he had gathered. She was sipping coffee, her expression thoughtful.
"They're taking the bait," she said, looking over the reports.
"More than that," Evan replied. "The government isn't a single entity—it's a collection of competing interests. Some of them want ExxCorp buried, others still see value in their work. That division is useful to us."
Amelia nodded. "And ExxCorp? They're already trying to counter you."
Evan smirked. "I expected that." He gestured to one of the screens, showing data from ExxCorp's security networks.
"They aren't sending a full strike team," he explained. "They'll start with something simple—a covert attempt, a handful of hired professionals. Maybe an 'accidental' car crash, or a sniper. Something they think will be enough."
Amelia studied him carefully. "And when they fail?"
Evan's smirk widened. "Then they escalate. And when they escalate, they make mistakes."
She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "You enjoy this too much."
Evan chuckled. "I enjoy winning."
She sat down across from him. "Alright. So what's our next step?"
"Two things," Evan said. "First, we monitor their agents the moment they enter the city. I already have access to their travel arrangements and mission briefings. We'll know when they move before they do."
"And second?"
Evan's smile turned razor-sharp.
"We make sure the world sees what happens when someone tries to kill me."
Meanwhile, in ExxCorp's headquarters, the CEO, Nathaniel Essex, sat in his private study, reviewing the damage that had been done. Unlike the frantic responses of his board members and security teams, Essex remained calm, calculating.
He had seen many things in his career. This was not the first time someone had tried to challenge him.
The reports on Mercer intrigued him. There was no doubt now—Evan was responsible for the attacks on ExxCorp's infrastructure, the leaks, the investigations.
And yet… there was something more.
Essex had built ExxCorp with a singular purpose—controlling the future of human evolution. Every piece of research, every experiment, every subject they had worked on was meant to push humanity to the next level.
Now, someone outside h Evan is control was making moves that threatened everything.
He had options. His company still held significant power, and his influence stretched into the highest levels of government. But he needed to know what he was dealing with.
Killing Mercer outright was too risky. If he had managed to infiltrate ExxCorp's systems, if he had managed to turn the government's attention away from himself, then he was more than just another businessman.
That meant a direct test was required.
Essex leaned forward, tapping his fingers against the desk. A name came to mind.
Someone capable, someone enhanced, someone ExxCorp had personally modified through their experiments.
If Mercer was truly a threat, then he would prove it in battle.
Essex pressed a button on his intercom.
"Send in Agent Talon."
A moment later, the doors to his office opened, and a tall, heavily built man entered, his eyes cold and calculating.
"Sir."
Essex smiled slightly.
"I have a target for you."