I tie my shoes and stretch my body a little. I speak in a calm tone: "Hey, Ava, did you find out where John's family is held hostage?" and Ava speaks through my phone fast.
"Yes, sir, I have found where they are being held. There at Schultz Mansion is the private residence owned by Anderson and his wife, Eliza Schultz. Location: North America, Georgia… Do you want me to send this information to the police, sir?" Ava spoke in a calm but weird tone…
'Looks like Ava has found out and linked how twisted this whole thing is… Huh? But send the cops this information? That's just a stupid idea, but again, Ava 100% does not want me to get involved with something like this and people like this. That's why she said we should just give this information to the cops…'
"Ava I understand what your thoughts might be, but we will not give this information to the police because we both know the police can be bought with money, and don't tell me you can make all the news channels talk about this. I know you can, but that's not profitable…
Just upload the info about John's family on a USB, and also make sure to leave a little part of you on the USB, but make it undetectable."
"Ok, sir, but please be careful and don't shut the phone off, please. Last time you did that, I was worried." Ava spoke in a calm tone, and I just smiled and shook my head, and I spoke, "Ah, Ava, don't worry about me, ok? If something, let's say, does happen to me, you take care of Abby, ok? and nothing else. I will be back for sure."
I speak in a joking tone, and Ava speaks fast: "Sir, please don't say things like that; it sounds like you are going to do something reckless…" And I cut the call and, with a smile, send Ava a winking emoji, and then I turn the phone off…
Ava sure is nosy, but again, she is only worried for me…
I stand up, grab the USB, put it in my pocket, twist the watch dial on my Omnitrix, and push the dial down, and with a green flash…
There was nothing there anymore…
———
Wow, really nothing, huh? Even though there is this one case that might be him, he still has left nothing behind, huh? Impressive, but this is as expected for someone like him…
Xu was sitting while reading a report on his table. The report was nothing… They had no leads. It was truly impressive, but just then Xu blinks his eyes and stands up, walks to the window, and looks outside. There was nothing there outside the window…
"Are you a ghost?" Xu spoke while looking out of the window. There was a hill below—nothing, no one could climb. up to this…
"No, I am human just like you, old man… Anyway, have you done what I asked for?" I speak in a casual tone as I am sitting on the chair Xu was just sitting on a few seconds ago…
Xu turns to me and looks at me for a second before speaking. "Hmm, yes, the information you asked for is all on the table. There are 2 reports... First, on the groups and organizations all around the world, the other on people who aren't exactly... normal. Superhumans, if you will."
I open the report and give the first report a light read…
Report 1: Global Organizations and Secret Societies
The Ten Rings Organization
The Hand (Japan-based Ninja Organization)
SHIELD (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division)
HYDRA (The Old Order of Hydra)
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
The Hellfire Club
Bloodpack and Deacon Frost
...etc.
I smile while looking at the names on the first report… And then quickly open the other report and lightly read it…
Report 2: Superhuman Individuals and Abnormal Phenomena (Pre-2006)
Blade (Eric Brooks)
Luke Cage
Mutant Phenomenon
Notable Individuals:
Wolverine (Logan)
Professor X (Charles Xavier)
Notable Mutant Threats:
Magneto
Mystique
3. Superhumans and Enhanced Individuals
Captain America (Steve Rogers)
Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)
Etc…
I close both of the reports, and I smile at Xu and speak, "Good job, old man. You're more capable than I thought you'd be, but I expect nothing less from you." I lean back on the chair and pull out the USB drive and put it on the table…
"Your next task will be on a time limit… In this USB there is information about a family. What I want you to do is safely kidnap them. I want the woman and the 2 boys safely out of the place they are in right now, and also do this with as few casualties as possible." I spoke calmly, not giving Xu a chance to speak…
And Xu looks at the USB and then looks at me… And then he speaks, "Ok, and what else? I presume you did not come here to just take the report and give me a new task, did you?" Xu spoke in a calm tone as he sat down in front of me on the guest chair, and I smiled at him. This old man was smart…
But that's what makes this easy. This is why I like smart people…
And just then Xu pressed a button on the table, and then a man wearing a suit opened the study room and walked in with a respectful bow, but then the man looked at Xu and then at me in shock…
Why was his boss sitting on the guest chair while this—who even is that kid? Sitting on the boss's chair?!
'That's probably what he is thinking… ha.'
"Take this USB and find the people in it, and I want all 3 of them with zero casualties. Bring them to safety and do it as quickly as possible." Xu spoke in a commanding tone, and the man in the suit bowed and, without question, walked out of the room and closed the door…
I smile at Xu and speak, "Wow, is that the aura of a king??" I spoke in a teasing tone, and Xu was not amused at all, so I spoke again, this time talking about the important stuff…
"Yes, you're right, old man. I have 2 more tasks for you. The first one is simple: I want you to start transforming the Ten Rings… into something new, something better. It will be more like 95% would change, but 5% would still be here acting like the Ten Rings." I speak in a calm tone as I smile at him, and Xu's face changes when he hears my words…
'Oh, I see he understands if he changes the 10 Rings fully, the world itself will feel the change… So he's only changing the insides… The outer layer still will look like the 10 Rings… a mask. I don't even know what he has in mind for this transformation, but by only changing the 95% from the inside, he has already put a mask on the secretive 10 rings…' Xu's mind moves fast, analyzing every word James said with speed almost inhuman…
"Ha, you seem to like to hide like a ghost, hmm? What will the true name of our organization be?" Xu spoke in an amused tone as he grabbed the cup of tea on the table and sipped it with a smile on his face…
"'The Zero Circle'—that will be the name of my new organization. Only the most important, and only those at the top of this organization, will know 'The Zero Circle.' People who are in this circle right now are, well, you and me. What do you think of the name, old man?" I speak in a calm tone as I match his smile with my own…
"The Zero Circle? Hmm, the way you're making it sound like my Ten Rings will just be an army, the king and generals will be in 'The Zero Circle,' right? Smart, the most important part of a kingdom is their brains. If the enemy knows where the general is and just kills the general, the army is of no use… You speak like you have been in war…" Xu speaks in a calm tone as he looks James right in his eyes…
And I smile at him and speak, "What? Really? Oh, come on, I just wanted to hide myself from the world. Plus, if there will be people joining the Zero Circle, they will be powerful people, and those people will also want to keep their faces hidden. I am not building a kingdom for war, old man…" and I shake my head as I speak…
And Xu lets out a laugh, and then he speaks: "Ha, yeah, sure, the same young man who broke into my kingdom is now claiming he is a peacekeeper? Oh, my kids nowadays grow fast, huh? What is the second task?" Xu spoke in an amused tone; he did not believe any word I said…
"Yeah, the second task is even easier. You just have to let the company owner named 'JD' into China's market to make some little calls so 'JD' can start his company and expand it in this country." I speak in a calm tone as I look around the room. Honestly, it was boring, like a plain study room…
"JD? Is that someone you know? or will he be in the Zero Circle?"
Xu questions in an unsure way because Xu did not know who 'JD' was… But the reason Xu was questioning was actually deeper because, so far, Xu has no clue about who James Lee is and where he comes from, so he can only assume that James has other people working for him… But this was bad for Xu because this means James Lee has more power than Xu thought he had…
"No, JD will not be joining the Zero Circle. In fact, keep everything away from JD. Just support him and make it easier for him to enter the Chinese gaming market. You know the Chinese government has a bad habit of controlling the companies that work in their country, so I just want some freedom for 'JD,' since he is not well known in China, no other reason…"
I speak in a calm tone as I smile at him, and Xu blinks, and he takes a deep breath.
"Ok, supporting JD is done, and I will start changing the Ten Rings... but for now I will work on bringing the 3 people… anything else?" Xu speaks in a cold tone. He had maybe thought about something…
"No, nothing else for now. That's all I need. And also, give me your phone number. I would need to call you, old man. Wait, you use a phone, right?" I speak in a casual tone, and for a second Xu looked speechless…
"YES, I use a phone. I don't send letters, young man…" Xu speaks in a calm tone, but I could sense his annoyed tone under his calm facade…
"Ha, that's good. I thought I would have to teach you how to use a phone or something. By the way, how are your children doing? Hmm? I hope you're not treating them too harshly, old man." I spoke in an amused tone, and I could feel how Xu's body tensed up…
"My children are fine… Why did you ask?" Xu spoke in a cold tone; this time he was not joking or calm…
With a smile on my face, I answered, "Well, because your daughter has a bad habit of peeking, hmm? Don't you know? old man" And I look at the door of the study room… and the door moves just a little bit… like someone was leaning on it to hear what was going on inside…
And Xu's eyes go wide… He looks at the door… And Xu spoke in a stern tone, "Xialing, come out. I have told you not to peek at me when I am in the study room, right?"
And well, a second later the door opens, and there was a young girl there… She was wearing a traditional dress, holding her dress tightly, almost as if she was scared that she got caught…
"Is that your daughter? old man? You should treat her better, you know?" I speak in an amused tone as I stand up and walk to the little Xialing… and I could feel Xu again tensing up in his seat…
I look down to Xialing's eye level, and I put my hand out and pat Xialing's head, and I speak in a soft voice, "Hey, Xialing, aww, don't be scared. No one is going to scold you for peeking, ok? If your dad ever bullies you, just tell me, ok?? I am your mom's friend…" And Xialing's eyes grew wide when she heard what I said, and she felt warm because of my actions…
And so Xialing spoke fast like a young girl spoke fast… "What? You know, Mama?? Woah!" She spoke like a giddy girl… And well, Xialing was not the one who was shocked the most in that room… There, the most shocked person was Xu…
He could not believe James's words… or his actions…
"REALLY? You know, Ma?? What's your name?" She spoke in a happy tone, the fear in her eyes going away as she spoke...
"My name? I'm James, but you can call me Big Brother, ok?? And yes, I know your Ma; she was super strong!" I speak in a giddy way, matching her voice playfully...
And all this time Xu was too shocked to speak...
"Hmm, I'll tell you stories about your Ma later, ok? I have to leave now. See you later, Xialing. And also make sure to tell Shang I said hi." I keep speaking in a soft but cheerful voice, and Xialing actually looks a little down when James says he is going to leave, and Xialing does a little respectful curtsy with her dress, and she speaks, "Um, ok… Bye, thanks for coming, and sorry for peeking…"
And then I stand up and look at Xu, and I smile and speak, "Ok, old man, I am going now. I'll call you, and when I do, you better have the 3 people I want, ok? Till then, do the other 2 tasks. I'll give you updates through the phone…" I walk to the window and, with a smile, put my leg out and then fall down…
And Xialing was stunned! She runs to the window and peeks out, and she sees nothing…
And Xu steps closer to Xialing, and he keeps his hand on her shoulder, and Xu speaks, "You did well, daughter, but what was that giddiness? I don't remember telling you to act that way…"
And Xialing speaks in a shy tone, "I don't know why I just felt better when he patted my head, and, uh, is it true? that he knows Mom?" And hearing Xialing's questions, Xu was well stunned himself…
And Xu sends Xialing away, and then he walks around the study room like he was walking in a crime scene… And then Xu speaks: "Check everything… find out who he is…" And a second later a whole team of people were now in the study room. There were people looking for the smallest fingerprints, and even the hidden cameras in the room were removed…
After 13 minutes…
Xu was sitting on his seat and reading the report he just got…
"No fingerprints, no hair follicles, no sweat drops, zero leads... just as I expected in the hidden cameras, the window just opens, and then there was a flash, and he just came out of thin air…
Worst part… he looked at every single hidden camera almost like he knew this whole room was a setup… He did not even try to hide that he knew this was a setup… His face was a little different… The cameras have his face, but he did not hide it. That means he does not care if we find that face or track it…
And the test I did with Xialing showed me that he does not have any plans about my family… If he did, he would have acted differently, and what was that?? He pretty much lied to Xialing about knowing…
No, he did not know her; if he did, she would have told me… Is he making me doubt my own family?
Ha… I still can't understand him. He just keeps getting harder to read… But it's not like I don't have anything… I have leads… He will slip, and when he does, I will know everything… But still there is a part of me that feels…
Like, even if I knew who he was, it wouldn't matter…
Ha, he really is like a ghost.