Dawn had not fully broken when gray light began to creep through the gaps in the curtains of Daniel's apartment.
The city was still half-asleep.
But inside the room, no one was truly resting.
The computer screen remained lit.
Data about Dr. Arman Virelli was clearly displayed.
A name that had now become the center of all answers… and all dangers.
Ethan stood by the window, staring outside without truly seeing.
His mind was working faster than usual.
Piece by piece, everything was finally starting to come together.
Daniel broke the silence.
"This facility… isn't officially registered."
He pointed at the screen.
"It's listed as a private energy research center, but there's barely any public activity."
Leonard Graves crossed his arms.
"The perfect place to hide something big."
Victor Hale rubbed his still-tired face.
"The deeper we dig, the worse everything gets."
Ethan finally turned around.
"He's not just in hiding."
He stepped closer to the screen.
"He's continuing his work."
Daniel nodded.
"And most likely… further along than before."
Leonard smiled faintly.
"Which means we'll be walking into a place that's not just guarded… but also prepared."
Victor immediately raised his hand.
"I'll stay here."
No one protested.
Ethan spoke softly,
"We don't have time to wait."
Daniel looked at him.
"You want to head there right now?"
Ethan nodded.
"If he knows we're closing in, he'll disappear."
Leonard let out a short breath.
"And I hate chasing shadows."
Daniel closed his laptop.
"Alright."
He stood up.
"We move out now."
Victor looked at each of them one by one.
"You haven't even slept."
Leonard replied casually,
"Sleep is for people who aren't being hunted."
Victor shook his head.
"I'll stay here and make sure the systems keep running."
Daniel patted his shoulder.
"That's an important role."
Victor sighed.
"And much safer."
A few minutes later.
The car glided forward again.
This time heading toward the city's outskirts.
The sky slowly shifted from dark to pale blue.
The roads were still relatively empty.
Ethan sat in the front seat.
His eyes were focused.
Daniel drove with full concentration.
Leonard sat in the back, looking as casual as ever.
But his eyes kept scanning the surroundings.
"You know what's interesting?" he said suddenly.
Daniel glanced at the rearview mirror.
"What?"
Leonard replied,
"All of this started from a single recording."
He continued,
"And now we're heading to the man who might be behind everything."
Ethan spoke softly,
"Not might."
Leonard smiled faintly.
"Strong conviction."
Daniel said,
"I just hope we're not too late."
The journey took about an hour.
The farther they got from the city center, the sparser the buildings became.
Replaced by vast fields and some old industrial facilities.
Finally
they saw it.
A large complex stood in the middle of a remote area.
Surrounded by high fences and barbed wire.
The buildings were modern, a contrast to the surrounding environment.
Daniel slowed the car down.
"That's the place."
Leonard observed from inside the car.
"It doesn't look like a regular lab."
Ethan said,
"Because this isn't a regular lab."
They stopped a few hundred meters from the main gate.
Daniel turned off the engine.
"How do we get in?"
Leonard answered quickly,
"Not through the front."
Ethan pointed to the right side of the complex.
"There's a service road."
Daniel nodded.
"I saw it on the map earlier."
Leonard smiled.
"Good. We're not going in like guests."
They moved carefully toward the side fence.
No guards were visible.
Yet that only made everything feel more suspicious.
Daniel whispered,
"Too quiet."
Leonard replied,
"Places like this don't need many people."
Ethan found a spot where the fence was slightly lower.
"Here."
Leonard climbed over first.
His movements were light.
Daniel followed.
Ethan last.
They landed on the inside without a sound.
The complex grounds were spacious.
Several small buildings surrounded the main structure.
No activity.
No sounds.
As if the place was empty.
Daniel whispered,
"I don't like this."
Leonard said,
"I'm starting to like it."
Ethan walked forward.
"Keep moving."
They made their way toward a side door of the main building.
The door was locked.
Daniel pulled a small tool from his pocket.
"Give me a minute."
Leonard leaned against the wall.
"Time's starting to run out."
A few seconds felt longer than usual.
Then.
Click.
The door opened.
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Get in."
The building's interior was cold.
Dim white lights were on.
A long corridor stretched out before them.
The walls were clean.
Too clean.
Ethan walked first.
His steps were slow but steady.
Leonard followed.
Daniel closed the door behind them.
"This place is like a hospital."
Leonard replied,
"Or an experiment facility."
They passed several glass-walled rooms.
Inside, laboratory equipment was visible.
Computers.
Machines.
And something larger.
More complex.
Daniel whispered,
"He's really still working…"
Ethan did not respond.
He kept walking.
Until they finally reached a large room.
The automatic doors opened as they approached.
And inside
a man stood with his back to them.
Tall.
Erect.
His hair was starting to turn gray.
He was staring at a large screen at the front of the room.
As if he had been waiting.
"Faster than I expected."
His voice was calm.
No surprise.
No fear.
Ethan knew at once.
"Arman Virelli."
The man turned slowly.
His face was the same as in the photos.
But more alive.
More… dangerous.
He smiled faintly.
"Ethan Blackwood."
His eyes shifted to Daniel and Leonard.
"And your friends."
Leonard raised an eyebrow.
"You knew we'd come."
Arman nodded.
"Of course."
Daniel said tensely,
"You didn't try to run."
Arman let out a small laugh.
"Why would I?"
He stepped slightly closer.
"This is my place."
Ethan stared at him sharply.
"You started Helios."
Arman did not deny it.
"That's right."
Ethan stepped forward.
"You're also the one responsible for my mother's death."
Silence fell instantly.
Yet Arman remained calm.
His smile did not fade.
"Not entirely."
Leonard smiled faintly.
"An interesting answer."
Daniel clenched his hands.
"We have proof."
Arman nodded.
"I'm sure you do."
He continued casually,
"And I'm also sure you don't understand everything."
Ethan said coldly,
"Explain."
Arman looked at him.
Deeply.
As if assessing something.
"If I explain…"
he paused for a moment.
"…you might wish I'd lied."
Ethan did not blink.
"Just try."
Arman smiled faintly.
"Alright."
He turned to the large screen behind him.
Complex data appeared.
Graphs.
Simulations.
Energy readings.
"Project Helios…"
he spoke softly.
"…was never about power."
Daniel furrowed his brow.
"Then what?"
Arman looked back at them.
His voice was lower now.
More serious.
"It was about survival."
Silence filled the room.
But this time
it was not from fear.
But from something that was starting to become clear.
They had not yet understood what they were truly up against.
And perhaps
their enemy was not just one man.
But something far larger.