CHAPTER 5 — THE ENEMY ETHAN NEVER DEFEATED
Within forty-eight hours, Brooks Global lost twelve billion dollars in market value.
Anonymous whistleblowers accused the company of fraud.
Fake financial records appeared online.
Government investigators surrounded headquarters.
Television reporters camped outside the building.
Employees panicked.
Shareholders demanded Amelia resign.
Even worse...
The attacks were perfectly timed.
Whoever planned them understood Ethan's systems better than almost anyone alive.
Late that night, Amelia inserted the mysterious flash drive into an isolated computer.
The screen came alive.
Ethan appeared.
Older.
Thinner.
But smiling.
"If you've reached this recording...
then Victor Lang is making his move."
Amelia frowned.
She had never heard the name.
Ethan continued.
"Forty years ago, Brooks Global had two founders."
"I built the company."
"Victor built the money."
"But greed changed him."
"He wanted power without limits."
"So I bought his shares and forced him out."
"I believed he disappeared."
"I was wrong."
The recording ended.
Daniel immediately searched old corporate records.
Nothing.
Every mention of Victor Lang had been erased decades earlier.
As if he had never existed.
Meanwhile...
In a luxury penthouse overlooking Manhattan...
An elderly man watched Brooks Global's collapsing stock price with satisfaction.
Silver hair.
Perfect posture.
Cold blue eyes.
Victor Lang.
He smiled while sipping expensive whiskey.
"After forty years..."
"It's finally my turn."
Standing behind him were senators.
Bank executives.
Media owners.
Federal lobbyists.
People powerful enough to reshape governments.
Victor laughed quietly.
"Ethan won the company."
"But I'm going to own the country."
Then his assistant entered.
"Sir..."
"There is one problem."
Victor looked annoyed.
"What?"
"The daughter..."
"...has opened the underground vault."
May you like
For the first time in decades...
Victor stopped smiling.
