Back at the safehouse, the air buzzed with tension. Isabella inserted the black drive into a secured laptop while Alexander kept watch by the window. The file loaded slowly—encrypted with layers that would've taken normal hackers days to break. But Elias had joined them again, and his skills were anything but ordinary.
Five minutes later, the screen flickered to life.
Rows of data scrolled across the monitor—names, dates, operations.
Blacksite Tokyo. Directive 9.
Operation Marionette.
Project Ashfall.
And one header that made Isabella stop breathing: "KINGS."
"What the hell is this?" she whispered.
Alexander leaned over her shoulder. His eyes narrowed as they scanned the screen.
"This isn't just a list. It's a chain of command."
Elias whistled low. "These aren't just members of the Circle. These are rulers behind it. Puppeteers of governments, arms trades, monarchies, and shadow markets."
And among them, three names were highlighted in red.
One was crossed out: Mercer.
One was unknown: Codename "Crownless."
And the last…
Isabella felt her stomach twist.
"No. That can't be right."
Alexander looked at her, confused.
"What is it?"
She pointed. "That last name… that's my father."
Bloodline of Secrets
The room fell into silence.
"He's dead," Isabella said, voice brittle. "He died in a car crash when I was sixteen."
Elias spoke gently. "Or so you thought. If he was part of the Kings, they'd make sure he disappeared cleanly. No loose ends."
Alexander reached for her hand but paused. She stood still, rigid, caught between disbelief and fury.
"This changes everything," she murmured. "Lazarus wanted us to find this. He needed us to."
Elias sat back, arms crossed. "He gave you a piece. Now he's waiting to see what you'll do with it."
Isabella's eyes burned with new resolve.
"We find the truth. We bring down the Kings."