I opened my eyes and glanced back at the news as Nick drove.
Interesting, I thought.
So, Nelson and Alexia's mother… and those two others—Jaime and Guinevere. A few of the Unity leaders as well. Not all of them.
My thoughts drifted briefly to Mariko. I considered her little schemes, then decided not to pry. I was curious about the outcome, but I would find out soon enough.
I sat inside the VIP room, waiting.
Alexia arrived shortly after. She was wearing a suit, her jacket draped loosely over her shoulders as usual. She took a seat near me and spoke without hesitation.
"People within Unity suspect me. Not everyone—but a few. I blamed it on your Blackdragon Legion and your general, Phawta Noknoi. Either way, I want to enter the Enhanced Eternal Super Soldier programme once it's ready."
I studied her for a moment before responding.
"Fine. Either way, you're my ally now. Anyone who follows your leadership within Unity can go through it as well."
She nodded and continued, "I said I would allow the rest of Unity to go through it too."
I looked at her calmly. "Fine. Since you've already agreed to it, it works in your favour. It keeps you out of their radar for now."
She hesitated, then added, "My mother is also a member of Unity. Her name is Cordelia. She isn't easily fooled. She's always given me the feeling that she knows exactly what I'm thinking… like she has eyes that see everything."
I watched her as she spoke, my thoughts turning to her mother.
Cordelia had always sensed more than she let on. In fact, she suspected her daughter more than anyone else—enough to believe she might be the traitor. She had even sent someone to follow her here.
Of course, I had already dealt with that.
I altered their memories. Changed what they believed they had seen.
After that, everything was fine.
"Don't worry so much," I said calmly. "Even if people find out you're the traitor, I trust you'll kill them… or I'll deal with it myself if I have to."
Then I added evenly, "Just enjoy the food and the drinks. You have nothing to worry about. In the end, we both get what we want."
"One more thing," I said. "Be more careful when we meet—just in case. Someone was following you here."
Her expression didn't change. "It was my mother. I knew she suspected me." She paused briefly. "I'll be more careful from now on. That was my mistake."
She reached for her drink and took a slow sip, her gaze steady.
We sat in the VIP room for a while, eating and drinking in silence.
I checked my device, scrolling through messages and reports.
"Follow me, Alexia," I said at last. "We're going somewhere."
We left together and got into the car. After a short drive, we stopped near an unmarked building.
I took out masks, hoods, and a cloak, handing a set to Alexia. She looked at me, but didn't ask any questions.
Eventually, we reached the top of the building, moving across the glass roof.
She glanced at me. "So you want us to attack another hidden Unity base?"
"Yes," I replied evenly. "Why not? We'll be fine. One base was already attacked by my Legion. This one will be attacked by two unknown figures."
She was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.
Unity would be left debating what was really happening.
"There's something else," I said. "I found someone who defected from Unity a few years ago. A man you know—Rick."
She turned slightly, listening.
"He's attacking another base right now on my behalf. Unity will think there are at least two new factions moving against them. Not just the Eternal Empire."
I passed Alexia two firearms, identical to my own. She took them without a word.
We fired through the glass together, shattering it as we dropped. Even as we fell, we shot several Unity members below, their bodies tumbling through the air before hitting the ground.
We landed amid the chaos.
Unity soldiers closed in on us from all sides, weapons raised.
It didn't matter.
We moved without hesitation, dealing with them swiftly and efficiently. Within moments, the area was secure.
Alexia kicked the door. It tore free from its hinges, crashing forward and killing several Unity members behind it.
Inside, a woman sat calmly, watching us. A Unity leader.
She studied us for a brief moment, then moved.
She leapt through the window, firing plasma rounds at us as she went. We dove aside and took cover as the shots burned through the room.
I looked at Alexia. From a single glance, she understood my intent.
I gave chase.
The woman fled, hurling objects in my path and firing at me as she ran. I kept moving, dodging when I could and taking cover when necessary.
When she finally looked back, Alexia was already there—standing directly in front of her, firearm aimed at her head.
The sudden sight distracted her for a split second.
I took advantage of it and kicked her from behind, forcing her down onto one knee.
She spoke once, panic breaking through her composure."Who the hell are you two? Where did you come from?"
I didn't answer.
I fired. The shot ended it instantly, her body collapsing to the ground.
I passed Alexia several graffiti cans. She caught them without comment.
Together, we marked the building and the place where the Unity leader's body lay with a random insignia before leaving.
We were back in the car, Nick driving us toward another location.
As we stopped, another man entered the vehicle. He glanced at Alexia first, a faint smile touching his lips.
"It's been a few years, hasn't it, Alexia Warfare?" he said calmly. "Still as beautiful as ever, I see."
Then his gaze shifted to me. He straightened slightly.
"Eternal Imperial Highness," he said respectfully. "I did as you asked. My faction destroyed and bombed their hidden base. The leader is dead."
He paused briefly before adding, "We left our trademark behind as well. Everything is going according to plan."
"Good work, Rick," I said. "Here's your payment."
I transferred the funds to his account using my device. He checked it, then smiled.
"Thank you, Eternal Imperial Highness," he said. "I'll continue to carry out the work you've ordered. Good day to you both."
He stepped out of the vehicle.
I watched through the window as he walked away. Members of his faction emerged quietly around him, falling into step as they blended seamlessly into the crowd.
"So Rick formed his own faction," Alexia said. "A mercenary group, I'm guessing."
"Your guess is correct," I replied. "They take mercenary contracts, but they handle assassinations and other work as well. Either way, they operate for me."
I glanced back toward the window. "Rick has been loyal since the day he left Unity."
"Do you allow Rick's faction to go through the Super Soldier programme as well?" Alexia asked.
"Of course," I replied calmly. "They work for me. Why wouldn't I? I have nothing to worry about."
I looked at her briefly. "You haven't gone through it yourself yet. But humans have evolved since then. Naturally stronger. Faster. They age more slowly, with longer lifespans."
I paused.
"But of course," I said calmly, "you've gone through a different type of Super Soldier programme already, haven't you?"
"Yes," she replied. "The Warfare Industries Super Soldier programme. All Unity members undergo it when they join."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"When I go through the Enhanced Eternal Super Soldier programme, my power will increase even further."
"When we finally create the Enhanced version," I asked, my gaze steady, "do you want to stop there, or push even further once we've achieved our goals?"
"Of course not," she replied firmly. "Why stop? Limits only exist if you place them on yourself first."
"Nick drove us to the estate of Alexia's mother. Cordelia was there, waiting as we arrived."
Alexia looked remarkably like her mother—pure white-blond hair, deep blue eyes reminiscent of the ocean.
Her mother watched as Alexia stepped out of my vehicle. I studied them both. Cordelia's gaze lingered on my car, though she could not see me through the tinted window.
She walked closer to the vehicle and knocked. I pressed the button, and the window rolled down. She smiled at me warmly.
"Hello, Eternal Imperial Highness," she said. "It's lovely to finally meet you. Would you like to come in for dinner? I just made it."
I regarded her with an unreadable expression. "Sure. Why not? That sounds lovely."
Alexia glanced at me but did not question my agreement.
I stepped inside. Portraits and photographs adorned the walls—images of Cordelia, Alexia, and her brother Nelson, captured together in different moments of their lives.
I also noticed portraits and photographs of two different men—her ex-husbands from two failed marriages. She had kept them on display, smiling in each picture as if they were still fond memories.
In separate photos, one of each man appeared with Nelson as a baby, and another with Alexia as a child. The images captured her beaming with them, her children nearby, preserving moments of her past lives.