The neon lights in the old archive room flickered slowly.
Daniel stood before a row of metal shelves filled with boxes of old documents. A fine layer of dust floated in the air each time he opened another box. This place was one of the archive warehouses belonging to an old company that had partnered with Elena Ward's laboratory twenty years ago.
He had been searching for nearly an hour.
And finally, something caught his eye.
An old data cassette with a faded label.
Daniel lifted it carefully.
The handwritten text on the label was barely legible, but one name was still clear.
Ward Laboratory - Helios Test Log
Daniel's heart beat a little faster.
"This might be what we're looking for," he murmured softly.
He immediately took out his portable tablet and connected an adapter for the old data reader. A few seconds later the screen lit up.
The first file opened.
The date made Daniel pause for breath.
Two days before Elena Ward's death.
Meanwhile, in a small safe house on the outskirts of the city, Ethan paced back and forth in the narrow living room.
The house was simple, just one floor with windows covered by thick curtains. It was usually used by Daniel to store confidential company documents.
But tonight, it had been turned into an emergency shelter.
Victor Hale sat on the sofa with his hands still loosely bound. His face looked pale and tired, but he made no attempt to escape.
He knew it would be useless.
Ethan stopped pacing and stared at him.
"We're far from Marcus's place now."
Victor did not respond.
Ethan continued in a cold voice.
"Now you can start talking."
Victor stared at the floor for several seconds before finally speaking softly,
"I already told you… you don't want to know."
Ethan let out a short laugh.
"I've come this far. There's no reason to stop now."
Victor looked at him with a weary expression.
"You don't understand how those people operate."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"If they were truly powerful, they wouldn't need to attack Marcus's house like that."
Victor shook his head slightly.
"Precisely because they are powerful."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Victor stared at the covered window.
"They don't care who sees."
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
Ethan finally said,
"Who are they really?"
Victor opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, the front door opened.
Daniel entered, slightly breathless.
He carried a laptop bag and a small box.
"I found something."
Ethan turned immediately.
"What is it?"
Daniel set the box down on the table.
"Old records from Sophia's mother's laboratory."
Victor tensed instantly.
"What?"
Daniel gave him a sharp look.
"You must recognize this."
He pulled the data cassette from the box.
Victor went pale at once.
"That's impossible…"
Ethan stepped closer.
"Why?"
Victor whispered,
"That record was supposed to have been destroyed."
Daniel sat down in a chair and turned on his laptop.
"Fortunately for us, someone forgot one copy."
A few seconds later the video began to play.
The screen showed a clean, white laboratory room.
Several scientists could be seen working at research tables.
In the center of the room stood a woman with long dark hair.
Sophia.
No.
Ethan immediately realized his mistake.
It was his mother Sophia.
Elena Ward.
Victor covered his face with his hands.
"Oh God…"
In the recording, Elena spoke to the camera.
"This is the research log for Project Helios."
Her voice was calm but firm.
"We have finally succeeded in stabilizing the cell regeneration phase."
Daniel fast-forwarded the video a few seconds.
Elena continued,
"However, this technology is far too dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands."
Ethan stared at the screen seriously.
Elena added,
"Some people have tried to force us to hand over the project."
Daniel paused the video.
He turned to Victor.
"Who were those people?"
Victor bowed his head.
"Helix."
Daniel nodded.
"That's what we thought."
But Victor shook his head.
"Not just them."
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Play the rest of the video."
Daniel pressed the button again.
On the screen, Elena walked closer to the camera.
Her expression grew more serious.
"If something happens to me…"
she paused for a moment.
"…I want this recording to serve as evidence."
Ethan felt his chest tighten slightly.
Elena spoke again,
"There is someone within the organization who is more dangerous than the rest."
Victor whispered softly,
"Don't…"
But the video kept playing.
Elena continued,
"He is not just a member of Helix."
She stared directly into the camera.
"He is the one controlling everything from the shadows."
Daniel stared at the screen with full focus.
"Who is he?"
But before Elena could say the name
the laboratory door in the video suddenly burst open.
Several armed men entered the room.
The recording became chaotic.
The scientists screamed.
The camera fell to the floor.
But just before the video ended, one figure was seen entering the room.
The man wore a dark suit.
His face was only visible for a moment.
But it was clear enough.
Daniel stopped the video.
Silence fell over the safe house.
Ethan stared at the screen.
"Zoom in on his face."
Daniel enlarged the image.
Victor closed his eyes in despair.
"No…"
Ethan leaned closer to the screen.
But the image was still too blurry.
Not clear enough to identify him.
Daniel sighed.
"The recording quality is too poor."
Ethan stared at Victor.
"You know him."
Victor did not answer.
Ethan spoke more sharply,
"Who is he?"
Victor finally opened his eyes.
His face was full of fear.
"I can't say his name."
Daniel said coldly,
"You'll live longer if you talk."
Victor shook his head.
"You don't understand."
Ethan stepped closer.
"Try explaining."
Victor looked at both of them.
"When Elena refused to hand over the Helios technology…"
he paused for a moment.
"…he was the one who gave the order."
Daniel asked,
"The order to kill her?"
Victor closed his eyes.
"Yes."
Ethan felt anger slowly rise in his chest.
His mother Sophia had not died in an accident.
She had been murdered.
Daniel said softly,
"If we can restore this recording, we might be able to identify his face."
Victor tensed immediately.
"No!"
Ethan gave him a sharp look.
"Why not?"
Victor swallowed hard.
"Because if you find out who he is…"
Victor's voice trembled.
"…you'll realize something far worse."
Daniel crossed his arms.
"What?"
Victor spoke almost in despair,
"He's still alive."
Ethan was not surprised.
"That much was obvious."
But Victor continued,
"And he still controls Helix to this day."
Daniel asked,
"Was Marcus working for him?"
Victor did not answer.
But the silence was answer enough.
Ethan said softly,
"Marcus was just a small part of this game."
Victor nodded weakly.
"Exactly."
Daniel looked at the screen again.
"Then we have to find out who that man is."
Victor stared at them with a pale face.
"You don't understand."
Ethan said coldly,
"Try explaining again."
Victor took a long breath.
"If you really find out who he is…"
he looked at Ethan.
"…you'll realize that your enemy has been very close from the start."
The room fell silent.
Daniel and Ethan exchanged glances.
But before they could speak again.
Daniel's phone suddenly vibrated on the table.
He looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Daniel answered.
"Hello?"
For a few seconds he only listened.
His expression slowly changed.
Ethan asked immediately,
"What is it?"
Daniel slowly ended the call.
"Someone is trying to break into our company's server system."
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Who?"
Daniel answered softly,
"Someone looking for files on Project Helios."
Victor went pale at once.
"They've found us…"
Ethan stood up straight.
"No."
His gaze turned cold.
"This time…"
he stared at the screen showing Elena Ward's recording.
"…we'll be the ones to find them first."