Kneel before me!

The very next day.

Inside John Ruben's mansion.

At this very moment in the large spacious living room, John was seated on the family sized sofa. His demeanor was entirely different from what he exuded the day before and this was due to the mind blowing details he had forcibly gotten from his target.

His expression wasn't anything strange. He was just angry, mad, terribly rage-filled, whatever he could call what he was feeling now.

The situation wasn't going down as it ought to and as much as he hated to admit it, it most likely seemed Jacob might have been right with his speculation. Under his very own nose, there was someone snitching on him, breaking the confidentiality bond he had put up. The massive self-control he harbored presently prevented him from venting out his anger on the glass table in front of him.

What can I do now?, he wondered. His finger traced a line on his brows as he ruminated, worry beginning to mount up in him. He was thinking of calling out every staff in the mansion but he still began thinking otherwise. Just what could he do?

"Summon each and every one of the staffs."

Rasmus appeared right in front of him, speaking those words to him.

He squinted his eyes. "And why should I do that?"

"You have a suspect already, correct?"

"Yes,"

"Then you should get the hint of what I mean."

He had told the being that he would handle the whole situation himself but at the end of the day, he still always needed it to give out clues during his states of uncertainties. This was the result of him being a mere mortal.

"Benito!" His loud voice resounded into the intercom he had just picked up from the stool near the chair.

From behind, he could hear footsteps approaching in a haste toward him. A view of a man in white butler's uniform came into his view. He put down the receiver and turned to access the man closely from head to toe. The man was Benito Yen, the Head Butler of the mansion.

"You summoned me, sir." The butler said hesitantly with his head bowed. On a closer inspection, he was trembling before his cold-looking master.

John kept on staring at him coldly before eventually speaking. "Assemble everyone here, now. Including the bodyguards stationed outside." He ordered.

Immediately, the butler left his presence, going to perform the duty bestowed upon him. About three minutes later, the butler arrived with the fellow staffs of the mansion.

By the right stood a team of butlers and cooks numbered over ten. As for the left, it was occupied by six hefty looking men who were dressed in black suits and shades, apparently the bodyguards.

"I called you all here for something important," John began, repressing the cold vibe he was emitting before. "There's something I'm looking into and that was when I discovered another thing."

The expressions of the staffs revealed confusion as they were wondering what he was insinuating. His words were like riddles to them and they couldn't seem to comprehend any of it.

"There's no need to panic. It's just something simple. And this will actually lead me to a better understanding,"

'Spill it out already!' They figuratively yelled in their minds.

"So," John said as he relaxed himself on the sofa, "what I simply need, okay, is your names,"

Names?

They became more confused. What they were actually expecting him to say was far different from what they were now hearing. Literally, they thought one of them was in trouble, but this? What could he need their names for?

"Sir," the head butler raised a hand, "I hope you don't mind me asking a question,"

John shook his head. "Not at all. Go ahead,"

"Thank you, sir. Can I ask what you need our names for?"

John's eyes immediately turned cold but he refused to show it in his expression. Instead, he let out a sinister smile as he made to give a reply to the questionnaire speaking on behalf of the rest.

"Well," His deep brown eyes landed squarely on every of them. "I figured out there's been a setback on the interaction I have with you all. Moreover, isn't it bad that as your master, I don't even know any of your names?"

"E— Even the bodyguards?"

The other stuffs awkwardly gulped in fear at the supposed courage of the butler to still speak out again.

"Even the bodyguards," John said with a slight nod. "So, who will be the first to go? And Benito, there won't be any need for yours."

One by one, they began the quest of stating their names to him. He made sure to listen attentively in order to catch something in particular. More like a hint or so.

He eventually revealed a shrewd smile. He might have found his suspect but he still wasn't sure if that was truly what he was looking for.

'The hint given by Stephen Ryder stated the initials of the supposed person to be V. C. What is the name of that bodyguard again? Vincent Callum?'

"Vincent, wait behind. The rest of you, leave."

The rest turned to leave the room, leaving just one bodyguard standing in the left behind. The bodyguard tried to keep his cool but inwardly, he was trembling. His mind was in disarray. What was going on? Does the boss have a deeper motive behind the asking of their names?

John stood up immediately, slowly walking over to where the bodyguard was standing. He stood directly in front of the bodyguard, showcasing his domineering nature. Although he was a clear 5'9" in height, somewhat shorter than the 6'3" bodyguard, he managed to make the bodyguard tremble the more. The bodyguard dared not look into his eyes for fear of his nervousness being found out.

The elephant was actually afraid of the ant!

"Do you have any idea why I told you to wait behind?" John asked.

The bodyguard shook his head. "No, sir."

John smirked slightly, making him look more or less a devil. "Yesterday, you recall I went out without the escort of you and the other members of your crew, right?"

The bodyguard nodded affirmatively.

"Well then, I did that to clarify something. And guess what I found out? ...V. C."

The sudden flinch of the bodyguard did not go unnoticed by John. His reaction had sold him out and John, however, was prepared to exploit it.

"So, are you going to start explaining yourself or what?"

"I don't understand what you mean, sir." The bodyguard still managed to utter the words correctly.

"Take off your shades." John ordered and the bodyguard did as commanded. "Now look me in the eye,"

Nervously, the bodyguard casted his grey set of eyes on his boss, directly exchanging eye contact and the next thing that happened seemingly escaped his senses.

John's eyeballs suddenly turned completely dark, like the time he fell into a coma. But this time, there was an eerie glow to it. "Kneel before me!"

.....

"We tried hard but we still couldn't get in touch with him. Funny enough, his line wasn't even on all through. If there's anything you have to say, please do. That's why I called you here. I'm open to any thoughts from you two,"

Inside the office of the managing director of Sky Broadcasting Organization, the director himself, Troy Smith, addressed the two individuals sitting opposite him.

"Do you mind a suggestion, sir?" Ryan asked.

"Go ahead, Mr Stones,"

"Thank you," Ryan said. "Since we already got his home address, why don't we send a volunteer over there. Someone that could attempt to win him over with the right words,"

The man sitting beside Ryan, the third man in the office, stared confusingly at him. "And who could you possibly be suggesting?" Brent Williams asked.

Ryan shrugged. "I don't know. We'll have allow the director decide on that," He said without looking at the other man.

The director subconsciously rubbed his eyebrows. Were the other two trying pick up a fight right in front of him? "I think I agree with you, Mr Stones. We need to try win him over physically, especially now that we've been unable to connect with him. We have to make sure he doesn't slip from our fingers at all cost." He directed his gaze to the news director. "Mr Williams, do you have any opinion against it?"

"No, sir." Brent Williams shook his head.

"Well then, if I may ask, do any of you have any suggestions on who is much capable of helping out with the task of convincing the man?"

"I don't think I have anyone," Brent Williams said and turned his head to look at Ryan. "But why don't we suggest Mr Stones to the task. I'm sure he's much capable of handling it,"

Ryan shot him a glare. "I beg your pardon,"

"Since you suggested it, shouldn't you volunteer to do it? At least, you're really smart, certainly the convincing type. Or have you forgotten your secret dub? The witty one?"

"Excuse me?"

"It's okay," the director cautioned both men. "There's no need arguing on who should do the task. I'll pick out someone myself, okay? Thank you."

The two men nodded in understanding.

"I'll be leaving first," Ryan immediately stood up from the seat and left the office.

"Are you sure about what you told me?" The director asked, soon as he felt Ryan was obviously out of hearing.

Brent Williams nodded. "Yes, sir, certainly. Mr O'Leary managed to overhear them and I'm sure he didn't cook it up when he said they already have information about the reporter."

"Did he also manage to find out the motive behind their actions?"

"No, sir. He wasn't able to,"

The director touched his jaw, tracing on it slightly. "Tell Mr O'Leary to keep a closer eye on them. We need to look deeply into this. I can't permit it if there are traitors in this organization."