The Great Purge

The Director General of Police left Lassen's villa with a strange sense of unreality. The conversation he had just had with this enigmatic man kept playing over and over in his mind. The USB drive in his pocket felt like it weighed a ton.

Ignoring Adrian, who was waiting near the car, he raised his hand and simply declared:

— I'll walk Don't follow me

Lassen's bodyguard nodded silently, remaining still. The Director walked away, his footsteps echoing on the paved path leading to the main road. The cool night air and the surrounding silence helped him organize his thoughts.

Upon arriving home, he carefully locked the door to his study. Sitting at his desk, he inserted the USB drive into his secure computer and waited for the files to open. What he saw left him speechless.

Names, dates, addresses, message exchanges, videos of secret meetings... The list stretched across dozens of pages. He quickly identified more than twenty individuals embedded in ministries, strategic enterprises, and even key police positions. The evidence was irrefutable: years of meticulous espionage orchestrated by Geria.

The Director felt a slow, burning anger rise within him. These traitors had endangered national security. But he couldn't act alone. He had to move quickly, but with the utmost discretion.

He picked up his secure phone and contacted two of his most trusted colleagues, high-ranking officers who shared his loyalty and sense of duty.

— Gentlemen, we have a national crisis on our hands I'm sending you some documents Meet me in my office in an hour Not a word to anyone

---

An hour later, the two officers arrived, their faces heavy with gravity after reading the files the Director had sent. In the secure room, the three men devised a detailed plan to capture all the spies in a single operation.

The Director issued his instructions, his voice firm:

— Each target must be neutralized simultaneously No alarms can be raised I want separate teams for each individual The evidence is damning, but we must capture their tools, encrypted messages, and anything they might use against us

The officers nodded, and the orders were relayed to carefully selected special units.

---

In the early hours of the morning, the operation began.

Unmarked vehicles discreetly positioned themselves near the residences and offices of the targets. Teams equipped with state-of-the-art equipment waited for the signal. At precisely 5:30 a.m., the teams deployed. The raids were swift and methodical.

In an apartment downtown, a team broke down the door of a computer analyst. The man, still in his pajamas, didn't have time to touch his computer before two agents pinned him to the ground.

In a quieter suburb, another spy, working in a key ministry, was caught trying to burn documents. A hidden camera in an agent's uniform recorded the entire scene.

Outside a strategic factory, another team interrogated an engineer suspected of transmitting classified schematics to Geria. The panicked man was arrested before he could even defend himself.

Radios crackled in the control room where the Director supervised each operation in real-time.

— Target 5 neutralized Hard drives secured

— Target 9 in custody No resistance

— Target 15 attempted to flee but was intercepted

Each update strengthened the Director's resolve. These traitors would never again endanger the country.

By the end of the operation, more than thirty spies had been arrested, and significant amounts of compromising material were seized: computers, documents, audio recordings, and even secret bank accounts.

---

Back in his office, the Director reviewed the preliminary reports flooding his screen. The recovered evidence corroborated all the information provided by Monsieur X. Every detail was accurate, down to the spies' habits and schedules.

He leaned back in his chair, exhausted but satisfied. His phone suddenly vibrated. A notification appeared: a cryptic message.

> So, satisfied?

The Director frowned before replying.

> The information was accurate But who are you really?

A few seconds later, a response appeared.

> Just someone who hates having his peace disturbed

The Director let out a bitter smile. He knew he didn't fully understand everything yet, but one thing was certain: this mysterious man was far more than just a genius.

---

Meanwhile, Lassen was comfortably seated in his villa, reading a novel with a steaming cup of tea by his side. The system interrupted his quiet moment.

[Hôte, the Director's operation was a success. The spies have been captured, and his final message has arrived. Would you like to read it, or shall I leave you to your noble pursuit of doing nothing?]

Lassen put down his novel, sighing as he skimmed through the message displayed on the system's illusory screen.

"Hmm, serious to the end, that guy. He really wants to keep an eye on me. Impressive, isn't it?"

[Surprisingly, not everyone shares your love for chaos and idleness. Some actually take their work seriously, hôte.]

Lassen shrugged lazily.

"Maybe I should send him a fruit basket. Something like, 'Thanks for saving the country with my help.'"

[Brilliant. Because nothing says 'I'm a mysterious genius' quite like bananas and kiwis.]

Lassen chuckled before picking up his book again.

"Note to self: find new ways to mess with this guy. He could be useful. Now, quiet, I'm going back to my true passion."

[Your passion for idleness is truly legendary, hôte.]

With that, Lassen immersed himself back in his novel, the faintest smile playing on his lips.