6 Hours Later — Location Unknown
The room was cloaked in shadows, save for the soft glow of a single desk lamp resting on an imposing secretariat table. The lamp's light was deliberately dim, casting long, flickering shadows across the walls and barely illuminating the features of the man seated behind the desk.
He sat motionless in a sleek swivel chair, his face hidden in the darkness. His tailored suit whispered of power and control, yet he exuded a cold, calculated calm.
A sharp knock broke the silence.
"Come in," the man's voice was low, steady, and commanding.
The door creaked open, and a soldier stepped inside. Dressed in a crisp military combat uniform, the man's eyes were sharp, betraying the gravity of the news he carried. He stopped before the desk and bowed deeply.
"Sir," the soldier began, voice steady but respectful, "I have the mission report for Commander Greed's operation in Bangladesh."
The man behind the desk picked up a pen, idly spinning it between his fingers. Without looking up, he said calmly, "Give me a brief report."
The soldier swallowed hard. "Yes, sir… I'm sorry to say, but Commander Greed has been KIA. Some SNA operators interfered and compromised the mission."
There was a pause. The man's pen stopped spinning. He finally looked up, his eyes cold and unblinking.
"Did he complete the mission?"
"Yes, sir," the soldier replied. "We have secured the uranium."
The man smiled faintly, a shadow of satisfaction crossing his face. "Then it's not a problem. The mission was the priority. The man was expendable."
He leaned back, voice dropping to a quiet but firm conclusion. "You may go."
The soldier bowed again, then turned and left the room silently, the door clicking shut behind him.
Alone now, the man rose and approached a massive screen mounted on the wall. The screen flickered to life, revealing six shadowed figures gathered in a video call. Their faces were hidden in the gloom, each one seated alone but united in purpose.
The man addressed the group with deliberate clarity. "You heard the report. Greed has done his part."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"Now it's your turn. One by one, you will complete the missions assigned to you. Each success bringing us closer to the future we envision."
A slow smile crept across his face. "For a new world."
The six voices on the call joined together, low and resolute:
"For a new world."
The screen went dark.
The man returned to his chair, sinking into it with a sense of anticipation.
"This is going to get interesting," he murmured to himself.