Tavara – Royal Meridian Hotel, Presidential Summit Hall
The opulence of the Royal Meridian glittered beneath diamond chandeliers, but a storm churned beneath the surface. World leaders, tycoons, intelligence directors, and secret monarchs gathered under the guise of diplomatic progress—but everyone knew the summit was a chessboard, and power was the only currency.
Damien adjusted the cuff of his tailored suit, standing beside his father, Constantine Blackwood—the elusive financier whose influence stretched across twelve governments. The older man's silvered beard gleamed beneath the lights as he greeted a Saudi prince with a nod.
"You feel it, don't you?" Constantine said under his breath. "The fake smiles. The real threats."
Damien's eyes scanned the hall. "They're all here. Every dynasty, every rival... some allies... and a few enemies hiding in plain sight."
Across the room, Nora entered, radiant in a crimson satin gown, accompanied by her mother—Dr. Evelyne Maddox—finally recovered but cautious. Her steps were graceful, but her eyes never stopped searching.
Evelyne leaned toward her daughter. "Don't let them see weakness. Every gaze here can strip you bare."
---
In a Private Lounge – Minutes Later
Nora met Damien in a private security pod behind the hall, surrounded by soundproof glass and encrypted scanners.
"He's coming," she said. "Nexus has moved. The Brazil feed confirmed it."
Damien frowned. "Then it's starting."
Just then, Elijah entered, followed by Talia and Nora's brother, Adrian Maddox—a naval strategist stationed in Singapore, now recalled secretly for this summit.
"There's a leak," Adrian said grimly. "One of the summit staff is relaying movements to an unknown third party. But the message trail loops through the Helix node data."
Talia's fingers flew over her pad. "I'll triangulate. If they're inside, I'll find them."
---
Ballroom – Main Event Begins
The summit's host, Tavara's Prime Minister Arlen Duvall, took the stage. "Tonight marks the birth of a new age," he declared. "An age of truth, cooperation, and shared legacy—"
BOOM.
The chandeliers above exploded in shards of crystal as the entire ballroom descended into chaos.
Gas erupted from vents. Panic swept the room. Bodyguards shielded presidents and oligarchs. Gunfire echoed.
And from the smoke, a figure stepped onto the shattered stage.
The Hunter.
A cybernetically enhanced mercenary. Once believed disbanded. Loyal to only one master: Nexus.
He removed his mask, revealing a familiar face—Victor Blackwood, Damien's estranged uncle. Once a war criminal. Now reborn.
"Hello, nephew," he spat. "Still trying to save the world?"
Damien's pulse surged. "You should've stayed dead."
Victor raised a wrist device. "You should've never been born."
Just as he activated it, Talia's counter-hack kicked in, sending a feedback shock through his arm. Nora flung a blade—embedded it in his cybernetic shoulder.
Victor fled amid the chaos. But the damage was done—diplomatic files stolen, alliances fractured, and trust obliterated.
---
Later – Rooftop Helipad
As helicopters began evacuation protocols, Nora looked to Damien. "He knew our names. Our roles. Even the summit floor plan."
Damien nodded. "The traitor is someone close. Inside the bloodline."
Evelyne stepped forward. "Then we start with our own families."