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Chapter 66: Luciano

Ethan stood on the rooftop of Nova Tech, his gaze fixed on the city skyline. The soft hum of the city below and the gentle breeze above gave the illusion of peace, but his mind was far from calm.

There was too much on his plate now. The weight of Yamal’s words lingered in his thoughts, and the events from the recorded footage were replaying in his mind like a haunting movie.

Nemesis.

Ethan wondered what kind of organization Nemesis was. He had thought about the meaning of Nemesis in the title of Five Ghosts of Nemesis and was surprised to find out that it referred to an organization.

Ethan let out a sigh and leaned on the rooftop. He looked at his hands, opening and closing them like he was trying to think. 'Should I just form my core now?'

The thought surfaced again, tempting him with the promise of immediate power. But he shook his head. He knew the cost. Completing the mission held rewards far greater than rushing things now.

His mind wandered to his current attributes—Strength, Speed, and Endurance. He was overjoyed when he knew that he could increase these through physical training, but Intelligence and Charisma? Those seemed more abstract.

Could they be improved through similar means? But how?

He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. 'What would it take to push these further?'

His thinking was interrupted by soft footsteps behind him. He turned and saw one of his staff looking nervous. She was small, and her big round glasses were crooked on her nose. Her face was red, and she was moving her hands.

“Hi, sir,” she greeted, her voice soft but audible.

Ethan raised an eyebrow but kept his cool demeanor. “Hello,” he replied smoothly. “Can I help you with something?”

The woman seemed startled by his response but quickly composed herself. “Oh! Um… I didn’t mean to bother you, sir,” she stammered. “I just… well, I—”

“Relax,” Ethan said, his tone gentle. “You’re not bothering me. Take your time.”

Chloe took a deep breath. She tried her best to control herself right now. “Oh. I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Chloe,” she said, feeling shy but more sure of herself now. “I work with the developers’ team. I—um—heard from Mr. Turner that you built the prototype for Quick yourself. Is that true?"

Ethan nodded.

Chloe seemed even more surprised as she continued, "Everyone on the team was amazed to hear that. They didn’t expect our founder to also be…” She paused, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red.

“To also be…?” Ethan prompted, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Chloe looked down, fumbling with her glasses. “To also be… so brilliant,” she finished quickly.

Ethan chuckled softly. “Well, that’s kind of you to say, Chloe. But what brings you up here?”

Chloe hesitated, clearly debating whether to continue. “I—uh—actually had some suggestions for Quick,” she said. “But I didn’t know if I should bring them up. They’re not exactly big ideas, just… small improvements that might help. I didn’t want to bother anyone, but since you’re here…”

Ethan tilted his head slightly. "Go ahead, tell me your ideas.”

Chloe blinked in surprise, her nervousness giving way to cautious excitement. “Really? Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Ethan said with a nod. “I’m always open to hearing ways we can make things better. Let’s hear it.”

Chloe smiled, her earlier nerves melting away as she began explaining her suggestions. She talked about the app and said it could be easier to use in some places.

She suggested making Quick easier to use. This includes fixing some steps and adding new features so more people can use it.

Ethan listened intently, nodding occasionally. He was really impressed with Chloe’s ideas. Her suggestions were practical and showed that she understood how users interacted with the app.

After about thirty minutes, Chloe stopped talking and realized how long it had been. “Oh! I'm very sorry! I've been taking so much of your time,” she said, feeling embarrassed.

Ethan waved her apology off. “Don’t worry about it. Chloe, your ideas are awesome. I'm really impressed with how much you thought about this.”

Chloe blushed again but smiled. “Thank you, sir. That means a lot.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Ethan leaned against the railing, his curiosity piqued. “You mentioned you were stuck on something earlier. What’s the issue?”

“Oh! Right!” Chloe exclaimed. She took out a tablet from her bag. She quickly showed Ethan the code she was working. “I am trying to fix these bugs, but nothing works. Every time I fix one thing, another thing goes wrong. I feel stuck.”

Ethan took the tablet, his sharp eyes scanning the code. After a moment of silence, he began typing, rewriting a few lines. His fingers moved swiftly, and within minutes, he handed the tablet back to Chloe.

“Try running it now,” he said with a confident smile.

Chloe did as he instructed, her eyes widening as the program worked flawlessly. “It… it worked!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up. “How did you—?”

Ethan shrugged. “Just a matter of looking at it from a different angle.”

Before he could say more, a soft chime sounded in his head.

=====

[Charisma +3]

=====

Ethan was surprised and smiled. He thought, 'So that's how it works!' He felt really excited.

Seeing Ethan’s bright smile, Chloe assumed it was because of her suggestions. “I’m so glad you liked my ideas, sir,” she said, her own smile growing.

Ethan looked at her, his grin softening into a genuine smile. “Thank you, Chloe. Your input was invaluable. I’ll make sure Jordan knows about the improvements you’ve suggested—and the bug fix we tackled together.”

Chloe beamed. “That means a lot, sir. Thank you!”

Ethan watched as she left the rooftop, her steps lighter than before. Once he was alone again, he leaned against the railing, his smile returning. 'Suppose I can improve my attributes like this. In that case, I’ll find a way to unlock my full potential without compromising the mission.'

***

Ezra pushed open the door to a pristine white room, the soft hiss of the hydraulic mechanism filling the silence. Inside, Maya sat stiffly on a sleek chair, her arms crossed and her eyes fixed on the wall ahead. The stark white walls and minimal decor made the atmosphere feel sterile and almost oppressive.

“How are you doing?” Ezra asked cautiously as he stepped inside, his voice soft but tinged with concern.

Maya turned her head quickly and glared at him. “What? Do you think I'll be happy after everything that happened?” she asked, angry.

Ezra sighed. He knew nothing he said would make any difference. “Please, Maya. We are all on the same team. We all want to save Mark.”

“Then why,” Maya shouted, her voice trembling with anger, “are we still here? Why aren’t we doing anything?”

Before Ezra could respond, the door behind him opened again. A new presence entered the room, and the air seemed to shift instantly. The presence was strong and impossible to ignore.

Luciano.

He was a large man with broad shoulders and a strong build. The first impression of him would be like you were looking at those warriors of the empires' time. His hair was cut short as if he was in the military. His sharp eyes looked around the room with a calm but strong intensity.

Maya froze for a moment, her anger momentarily replaced by surprise. “Luciano?” she said, her voice quieter now.

Luciano nodded slightly, his expression unreadable. “Maya,” he said with a deep voice. “It’s been a long time.”

Maya stood, her posture rigid but respectful. “It has. Does Nemesis finally wish to take care of its members now?”

Luciano looked at her with curious eyes, but he didn’t say anything. He kept his gaze steady as he studied her.

“Just don’t do anything stupid,” Luciano said finally, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable weight.

Maya’s jaw tightened, her frustration bubbling to the surface again. “If saving Mark is stupid,” she said defiantly, “then I’ll gladly be stupid. Maybe I should just leave Nemesis entirely.”

Luciano's expression did not change, but the room felt colder. His eyes narrowed a bit, and the intensity of his presence shifted. It was like staring into the eye of a storm, and Maya felt her confidence waver.

“You know,” Luciano said, his tone measured but firm, “that’s not possible.”

The subtle change in his aura was enough to make Maya swallow hard. She knew all too well that Luciano’s words were never empty threats. He was a man of action, and defiance against him was a dangerous game.

Ezra, sensing the tension, stepped between them. “Let’s take a deep breath,” he said quickly. “We’re all feeling upset, but fighting each other won’t help.”

Luciano looked at Maya for a moment before turning his attention to Ezra. “You’re right,” he said simply, his tone neutral. “But I need her to understand that recklessness won’t save Mark. It’ll only put more lives at risk.”

Maya looked away, feeling frustrated. “What’s the plan?” she asked quietly but firmly.

Luciano took a slow breath out. His face relaxed a little. “We can’t mobilize Nemesis right now,” he said. “There are too many crises unfolding across the world that require our surveillance, power, and resources. The organization’s hands are tied.”

Ezra and Maya exchanged a glance, both understanding the weight of Luciano’s words. Nemesis wasn’t just a group of elite operatives—it was a global force, quietly maintaining balance in a chaotic world. If Nemesis was stretched thin, then the situation was far worse than either of them had realized.

“But,” Luciano continued, his tone shifting slightly, “Nemesis has assigned me to assist the Five Ghosts. That includes handling this situation with Mark.”

Maya’s eyes widened slightly, her anger replaced by a flicker of hope. “You’re here to help us?”

Luciano nodded. “Yes. And,” he added, his gaze sharpening, “it’s also time for me to scout for potential recruits. Nemesis always needs fresh talent.”

When he said that, both Maya and Ezra’s minds immediately turned to the same person.

Ethan.

Ezra’s lips curved into a faint smirk as the thought solidified in his mind. “I think we might know someone who fits the bill.”

Maya crossed her arms, her expression skeptical but curious. “You think he’s ready for something like this?”

Luciano’s sharp gaze shifted between the two of them. “Who are you talking about?”

Ezra straightened, his voice steady. “Ethan Cole. He’s… unpolished, but there’s potential. A lot of it.”

Luciano raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Tell me more.”

Maya hesitated, her frustration still simmering beneath the surface. As she thought about Ethan, she started to understand him better. Even though she had doubts, she noticed his determination, adaptability, and charisma. These qualities made her wonder if he could take on the challenge.

“He's new to this,” Maya said, “but he has the potential to make a difference.”

Luciano folded his arms and seemed deep in thought. “If you both say he’s okay, I’ll think about it. But he needs to be ready for what’s coming. He can’t hesitate or show weakness.”

Ezra nodded. “We understand. But if anyone can handle it, it’s Ethan.”

Luciano’s gaze lingered on them for a moment before he nodded. “Very well. Let’s see if your faith in him is justified.”