Chapter 154: Spy Mission Activated!

Chapter 154: Spy Mission Activated!

Acrid Country… Ocean Roar City… Reek Manor

The Reek Manor was a labyrinthine fortress of gleaming glass and black steel, perched on the jagged cliffs overlooking the turbulent waves of Ocean Roar City.

Inside, the air buzzed with tension as agents moved swiftly through expansive hallways lined with surveillance screens, tactical maps, and rooms dedicated to advanced weaponry and intelligence gathering.

At the colossal entrance, guarded by two towering automated sentinels, stood a man whose mere presence caused a ripple of shock to spread through the Rhemon agents like a silent alarm.

Heziah Eric.

Once dismissed as expendable—a mere pawn among the lower ranks—Heziah had been written off as dead. Abandoned on the battlefield during a brutal mission, his survival was deemed impossible, and his name had long since faded into the annals of forgotten casualties. Yet here he stood, not only alive but seemingly untouched by the ravages of war. His piercing gaze swept over the agents before him, freezing them in their tracks.

Heziah's remarkable revival was no accident. Tessa's decision to heal him had been both deliberate and transformative. Only the rare power coursing through her moon-infused hands could achieve such a feat. Her healing ability was more than a simple restoration; it was a rebirth, a reawakening that imbued Heziah with vitality and strength far beyond his former self.

The miraculous liquid known as the elixir of life was the only known substance that could be of equal value as Tessa's healing.hands, it could also turn a man on the brink of death into a force to be reckoned with.

Whispers erupted among the crowd, a mix of disbelief, fear, and suspicion. The six older agents who had fought alongside him froze in place, their faces pale. To them, Heziah was a ghost resurrected. The younger ones who were new, exchanged puzzled glances, struggling to understand the gravity of his sudden appearance.

Heziah, however, stood unfazed. His composure was as sharp as ever, and his presence radiated the aura of a man who had seen the worst of life and survived. Behind that calm exterior, he was replaying the final moments of his conversation with Tessa and Bandel Blue.

---

Earlier That Day: The Deliberation

At the back of a large, custom-fitted truck owned by Bandel Blue, Tessa paced restlessly. The confined space was meticulously designed, with plush seating and advanced tech panels, but none of it could calm her fraying nerves. They had arrived at this location following Bandel Blue's unique ability to pinpoint Adrian's whereabouts by simply knowing his name. For three long days, they had waited, gathering intelligence and observing from a distance. But the endless waiting, paired with the mounting uncertainty, was wearing Tessa down.

Her voice cut through the tense silence. "We can't waste any more time. Adrian's in there, and who knows what they're doing to him!" Her hands gripped the edge of the truck's seats, knuckles white, as her blue eyes burned with an intensity that could pierce steel.

Bandel Blue, leaning casually against the truck wall with his arms crossed, gave a slow shake of his head. His calm demeanor was a sharp contrast to Tessa's urgency. "Storming the place is suicide," he said, his voice low and measured. "Yes, I am a god, Tessa, but even gods have their limits. There are things out there that can kill a Kaelrian god—and I have no intention of discovering what they are."

He straightened slightly, his gaze darkening. "Reek Manor isn't just another stronghold; it's a fortress. And Rhemon? He's not your run-of-the-mill villain. Even Solaris, as powerful as he is, treads carefully around him. This is a man who brainwashed an entire civilization, a man so feared that a city bears his name. He's methodical, ruthless, and, frankly, I suspect he's more unhinged and crazier than I am."

Heziah sat at a custom-built table within the truck, his posture steady, his silence deliberate. His thoughtful face, etched with the seriousness of the present situation, betrayed little emotion, but his sharp eyes flicked between Tessa, the quiet Nyala and Bandel, calculating every possible outcome.

Bandel pressed on, his tone firm. "We need stealth. Someone who can infiltrate, gather intel, locate Adrian, and create an opening for extraction. And who better than Heziah? They think he's dead. His sudden return will throw them off balance, grant him access, and keep us under the radar. If he plays his cards right, he could even get Adrian out himself."

Tessa folded her arms, her brows knitting in doubt. "But can they trust him? Can he sell it?"

Heziah's eyes locked onto hers, unwavering. "They will trust me," he said, his voice low and deliberate. "I'll make sure of it. I've got a score to settle with those bastards," He paused as he voiced out his desire to go on this mission. Then he continued: "The Rhemon agents may be ruthless, but they're practical. If I spin them a believable story—how I clawed my way back from the brink, spent months in the shadows recovering, and now want vengeance on those who abandoned me—they'll take me back, if only to use me."

He paused, his gaze hardening. "And once I'm inside, they'll never see what's coming."

---

Present: The Spy Mission Begins

Now, standing before the imposing doors of Reek Manor, Heziah felt the weight of their carefully crafted plan settle on his shoulders. The air was tense, thick with anticipation. The agents approaching him did so cautiously, their weapons lowered but ready to snap into action at the slightest provocation.

From the group, an older agent stepped forward, his uniform bearing the insignia of a Level 4 operative. Selar. His grizzled features twisted in disbelief, his voice trembling ever so slightly. "Heziah? Is it really you?"

Heziah's lips curled into a cold smirk. "Surprised to see me, Selar?"

Selar's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Heziah, his gaze raking over every detail. "We didn't mean to leave you behind," Selar muttered, his tone defensive yet tinged with guilt. "Your condition seemed… hopeless. I hope you understand. But how—how did you survive?"

Heziah's smirk faded, replaced by a bitter scowl. His voice dropped, each word laced with venom. "You did leave me. I was as good as dead in your eyes. But I'm not that easy to kill." He stepped closer, his tone darkening. "I crawled out of that hellhole, barely clinging to life. A woman found me—gave me a bottle of the elixir of life. Without it, I'd be just another name on your list of failures. But I'm here, Selar. I'm alive, and I've come back with a purpose. I want in. I've got unfinished business."

A ripple of unease spread through the gathered agents, their murmurs growing louder. Selar's expression hardened as he weighed Heziah's words. Finally, he turned to the others. "Take him to the Commander. If he's lying, we'll find out soon enough."

Heziah nodded, his face impassive as two agents moved to flank him. As he crossed the threshold of Reek Manor, his eyes briefly flicked to the hidden earpiece concealed within his collar. A faint, steady whisper filtered through. Tessa's voice, calm but resolute. "Stay sharp, Heziah. We're counting on you."

He didn't reply, but his jaw tightened in silent acknowledgment. This was the beginning of a dangerous game, and failure was not an option.