Episode 5 – Beneath the Mansion

"The underground passage... has been opened."

Ethan's words echoed through Adrian's office.

Adrian immediately stood. "Who opened it?"

"We don't know. The security system detected movement below the mansion ten minutes ago."

Kai, who had been passing by the office, overheard the conversation.

"What's going on?" he asked.

Adrian hesitated for only a second.

"Stay with Liam."

Kai frowned. "I'm not staying behind while everyone else is in danger."

For the first time, Adrian looked directly into Kai's eyes.

"This isn't an argument."

The room fell silent.

Kai nodded, though he wasn't happy about it.

---

A few minutes later, Adrian, Ethan, and four armed guards gathered near the old library.

Ethan pulled a dusty book from the shelf.

With a loud click, part of the bookshelf slowly slid aside, revealing a narrow staircase leading underground.

Cold air rushed upward.

The passage hadn't been opened in years.

The group descended carefully, flashlights cutting through the darkness.

The tunnel walls were old stone, covered with dust and spiderwebs.

Suddenly, Ethan stopped.

"There."

Fresh footprints.

Someone had walked through the tunnel recently.

Adrian knelt and examined them.

"One person."

"They're wearing combat boots," Ethan added.

"Not one of ours."

They continued deeper into the tunnel.

At the end stood a heavy steel door.

It was slightly open.

Inside was a hidden room filled with old wooden crates, faded maps, and locked cabinets.

Most of the room had been untouched...

Except for one open cabinet.

Someone had searched through it.

"They were looking for something," Ethan said.

Adrian's gaze landed on the floor.

A silver button lay beside the cabinet.

He picked it up.

The letter K was engraved on it.

"Kane Industries," Ethan whispered.

Victor.

---

Back upstairs, Kai stayed with Liam in the living room.

The little boy quietly colored another picture.

"What are you drawing now?" Kai asked.

Liam held up the page.

This time, it showed three people holding hands.

Kai smiled.

"Who's this?"

"That's you."

Liam pointed to the tallest figure.

"That's Adrian."

Then he pointed to the smallest one.

"And that's me."

Kai's heart softened.

Before he could respond, Liam added something unexpected.

"But there's another man."

Kai blinked.

"What man?"

"The scary one."

Liam's smile disappeared.

"He was watching me before I came here."

Kai's expression changed instantly.

"What did he look like?"

Liam shook his head.

"I don't remember his face."

"But..."

"He wore a ring with a black snake."

Kai's smile faded.

He had never heard of such a ring.

---

That evening, Adrian returned from the tunnel.

His suit was dusty, and his expression was darker than ever.

Kai immediately stood.

"Did you find anything?"

Adrian placed the silver button on the table.

"This belonged to Kane Industries."

Kai stared at it.

"So Victor really is involved?"

"Maybe."

Adrian wasn't convinced.

Victor was clever.

Too clever.

Leaving evidence behind didn't feel like his style.

Someone wanted Adrian to believe Victor was responsible.

Which meant...

Someone else was still hiding in the shadows.

Outside the mansion gates, a black car waited with its headlights off.

A man inside lowered his phone after sending a single message.

> Phase Two begins tomorrow.

He smiled as the mansion lights flickered in the distance.

"They still haven't realized..."

"...they're protecting the wrong secret."

End of Episode 5 🖤

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