CHAPTER 98: GENUINE APPRECIATION

Within a spacious office featuring a large dark wooden desk, built-in bookshelves, brown leather chairs, excellent lighting, expansive windows, and a neutral color scheme that exuded both professionalism and wealth,

Faction President Nacht sat behind his desk dealing with routine faction work and documents when urgent knocks rang through his door. He grunted slightly as he raised his head from the paperwork. "Come in."

A woman in a dark suit and matching pants hurried in with obvious concern etched across her face.

"What is it?" he asked, immediately noticing his subordinate’s troubled expression.

"Sir, I just got word that Dorian Graves is back in the city," she said, her voice carrying alot of worry.

Nacht’s face went so grim that fury was clearly visible in his face. "Who gave you that information?" he demanded, dropping his pen and abandoning his work entirely.

"A friend in USOV, she told me he came to see Director Grey and left shortly after," his subordinate replied quickly.

"This friend of yours didn’t mention what he came in for?" Nacht pressed, trying not to jump to conclusions just yet.

The woman shook her head, making it clear she had no additional details about the purpose of Dorian’s visit.

Nacht then dismissed her with a wave. "Carry on with your work." She nodded and left immediately, and as soon as the door closed behind her, Nacht slammed his fist against the desk.

His discontent with this news was obvious, but he was certain of one thing—there was absolutely no way he was letting that psychopath back into his city.

...

The scene shifted back to the aftermath of the battle in downtown Detroit, where a golden blob of energy rose from the beheaded monster and flowed directly into Liam. Several translucent screens appeared before him as he walked back toward the other Visors.

[Nega-fusion Soul Absorption Complete]

[You have Leveled up]

[You have Leveled up]

[You have Leveled up]

[+14 stat points available]

[+1 Skill upgrade token]

Ayan Dan was still looking at Liam with undisguised awe when her focus was suddenly shattered by Gabby’s desperate scream from near their vehicles: "Boss! We’re losing him!"

Ayan immediately turned toward the urgent call and sprinted toward her subordinates, with the others following close behind. Gabby had tears streaming down his face as he held Jeremy in his massive arms, the wounded man wheezing in pain and struggling for each breath.

Ayan dropped to her knees beside them. "Hey, don’t you dare die on me, Jer—we’ll patch up a wound like this in no time," she said with forced optimism, but even as she spoke, she could see it was already too late.

Jeremy’s body was growing cold, and soon his eyes stopped moving entirely as he let out his final breath. The others immediately realized what had happened, and some turned away in grief and frustration.

"No, man! Come on!" Gabby yelled in anguish, while Ayan gently closed Jeremy’s eyelids with her palm, with the pain of doing so, evident on her face.

She stood slowly from her crouched position and patted Gabby on the back before walking toward Liam, who had been watching the tragic scene unfold. "Thank you for stepping in when you did," she said quietly.

Liam’s response was equally soft. "I’m sorry about him," he said, nodding toward her grieving team as he recognized they had just lost one of their own. She simply nodded in acknowledgment and turned back toward her team to handle the aftermath.

Liam and Brian began walking back toward the USOV agents who had arrived earlier, and the members of Team C approached Liam with continuing amazement at what they had initially witnessed.

Sarah stepped forward, and said with this uncharacteristic sincerity. "USOV’s lucky to have you," —a clean, clear compliment with no teasing or jokes, just genuine appreciation that somehow hit differently coming from her.

Elaine looked at Liam and nodded approvingly, clearly in agreement with Sarah’s assessment. However, it was time to return since their job here was finished, and the cleanup crew would handle whatever remained.

...

The sleek Maybach sedan carrying Dorian Graves pulled up to a grand luxurious hotel with an elegant white facade and warm golden lighting that made the entire building glow. The illuminated "HR" logo gleamed prominently at the top of the structure, marking it as one of Detroit’s most exclusive establishments.

Dorian stepped out of the vehicle with this grace and walked through the hotel’s grand columned entrance into the opulent main lobby.

He approached the marble reception desk and asked simply, "Where is he?"

The receptionist immediately understood whom he was referring to, the guest who had apparently rented out every available space in the entire hotel for his stay. "He’s by the poolside, sir," she replied courteously.

Dorian turned without another word and made his way toward the pool area, where he found exactly what he’d expected. There, lounging on an expensive poolside chair and sipping wine, was a young man with pale skin and dark hair, wearing dark sunglasses. He was shirtless with only shorts on, while two men in expensive suits stood behind him, watching their surroundings silently.

"Boss, Dorian is here," one of the guards said after leaning down to inform his employer.

Edmund immediately sat up with obvious excitement lighting up his features, as Dorian approached and sat of one of the loungers close to him, "Hello, Dorian! Have you told the director about the faction building?" he asked eagerly, clearly expecting good news.

"Yeah, about that—you might need to get dressed and come with me to see Grey himself," Dorian said with that familiar half-smile and casual shrug that somehow managed to be both charming and threatening.

Edmund’s excitement dimmed slightly. "Okay, but I thought you said you’d handle everything yourself."

Dorian scoffed, "Isn’t it obvious? They still hate me," he said, then stood and turned to leave. He paused mid-step and tilted his head back toward Edmund with a more serious expression. "Oh, and by the way, remember that you’re going as the faction president and sole leader of the faction. I’ll need you to get your shit together for this meeting, understood?"

Edmund nodded quickly, absorbing what Dorian was telling him as he watched the pale man walk away.