What are you afraid of?

Ambarino, FBI headquarters...

The chief detective stood in front of the room full of detectives. The situation has gone out of their control. Chief detective Anton was fortunate to get a direct call from the President of the continent. (I don't want to make the world-building too complicated.)

"People, any progress." Anton peered in the face of all twelve detectives and other associates relating to the case.

There was no lead or evidence to move the case forward; the room fell silent.

"If you think 102 bodies was big deal, I have news I want to personally break to all of you." Anton stepped back to lean on the desk.

"Someone has activated the SPIDER again." Anton sighed, "Our work has increased more."

"Luton and Sirion continents have already started the investigation. Our president wanted us to finish the 102 bodies case first." Anton said.

The silent room was unable to maintain silence. The news of Spider was more shocking than 102 dead bodies.

"I have another thing I want to share." Anton tapped the desk to get everyone's attention.

Anton picked up a pen and wrote a note on a paper and attached it to a documented case, "I made a deal with one of my informers from Spider. The underground community is spending quite a lot of money to buy information about our killer."

Anton dropped another crucial piece of news for the FBI, "The Spider has no idea who this killer is." Anton laughed, "And the best part is, many buyers are questioning the ability of Spider."

This was the fourth conference meeting in two days, and every time it ended with only Anton talking and others listening. The conference came to end when there was no information to pass and a topic to discuss.

...

Lucas was already on the flight for Calisota state.

He had just touched the Calisota runway a system notification rang.

[Ding! Generating a timed-exclusive character profile.]

[Name: Alex Godman

Details: He moved from the Bospora continent with his family to escape the world of organized crime. His family had ties with Devlin Mafia from the Bospora continent, which they want to completely erase from their past. Alex is a genius banker. His uncle proposed to invest, but Alex refuses to use any illegal money from him. His uncle got killed while being tangled with the Devlin mafia. Now the mafia is after him and his family.

Task: Get him to join him at any cost.

Time Remaining: 37:46:33

Location: Oconee State, Oconee Harbor]

'Can't you give me some break?' Lucas continued to walk, 'Can I just abandon this guy?'

[It will be best if you don't. This guy is a money-making machine, and you are going to need a lot of it in the future.]

"Ok. Ok."

Lucas pulled his phone out and opened the map.

He looked at how long it will take him to reach the harbor from Calisota state airport. According to the map, an estimated time of four hours was shown.

'I think I can reach by 8:00 pm if I moved fast enough.'

Lucas searched for any car rental service near the airport and easily found one as well.

Outside the airport, he waited for fifteen minutes and a guy delivered the car and required documents for the service.

With full gear, Lucas showed his driving skills and drove towards the harbor.

He registered his entry to the Oconee state border. From the border, the harbor just took him another hour to reach.

He reached the harbor, half an hour early to his estimation, and parked the car in the parking of the mall near the harbor.

From the parking, he walked on foot to the harbor, "Now, how do I find them?"

[Location: Oconee harbor, Morning Dew hotel, floor no. 3, Room no. 304]

"Ok, that's a very specific address. You are so generous this time."

[I just made use of Spider CyberNet.]

"I take my compliment back." Lucas said, "So how should I approach them."

[I am updating the details of Alex Godman to a more detailed version. After reading it, you can decide for yourself how to approach him.]

Lucas went through the information on his activities with Alex in the past few weeks. It was evident that Alex was desperate to start something good, but his past kept hindering him.

'I think I know what to do. A person like Alex needs direct confrontation.' Lucas said, "We will enter his room and wait for him there."

[I like that idea.]

'I don't want to book a room in the hotel. You can do your illusion thing, right?' Lucas asked after a thought.

[Yes. Let's go.]

'Don't get too excited.' Lucas walked towards the Morning Dew hotel.

Lucas walked right through the main entrance and then towards the stairs. In no time he was standing in front of room no. 304. Nobody suspected anything. But a small problem stopped him.

'How am I supposed to enter? We didn't think this thoroughly.' Lucas said.

[You didn't think this thoroughly. I was already prepared; use the cane.]

'I am not shooting or breaking in. We will find some other way.' Lucas didn't want to do anything that might raise suspicion for Alex before entering the room.

[Who told you to shoot? The cane is a multi-purpose tool.]

Lucas didn't ask another question and took the cane in hand.

[Now put the tip to the keyhole.]

Lucas followed the instruction. The tip morphed into a key and fit right into the hole. The door unlocked.

Lucas looked left and right in the passage and entered the room, locking the door again.

'Let's find a place to sit and wait. God knows how long they are going to take to come here.' Lucas looked through the room.

Observing the room, Lucas decided to sit on the chair which was on the corner of the room. Next to the chair was a wooden stool with a lamp on it. Turing the lamp on; he sat on the chair. It was the perfect location to have a direct view after entering the room.

'Let's wait…' Lucas pulled the details on Alex and went through it again planning a conversation between them.

…

After an hour, the sound of the door being unlocked attracted Lucas to the door.

'Now you get ready with your thing… They are here.' Lucas said.

[I am always ready.]

Alex pushed the door open.

Lucas saw two people enter the room. The two people saw the light of the lamp and a person sitting in the chair.

Alex reacted to put himself in front of his fiancée, Rebecca. He assumed Lucas to be someone from the mafia coming for him and his family. His first thought was to run out of the room.

"Mr. Godman, don't worry, I am not here for your life." The deep voice froze the feet of both people in place.

'System, why does my voice feel different?' Lucas wasn't talking about the sound. The sound was the same as before, but the tone and emotions were heavy.

[Your fear factor went up. That has some effect. I will adjust it to normal. The situation doesn't fit this type of voice.]

'You were just testing it, right? At least inform me in advance.' Lucas didn't get any answer. He returned his focus to Alex and Rebecca standing near the door.

"Please forgive my intrusion. I came a bit early so I showed myself in." Lucas's voice was returned to just deep and breathy like before, "Why are you standing there like you saw a ghost? Come sit." Lucas pointed at the two chairs placed in front of him.

The door was right behind them, and it was still open. But Alex took a deep breath took Rebecca's hand and looked into her eyes. Alex closed the door and walked toward Lucas pulling Rebecca with him.

They took a seat. They got to see the changed face of Lucas in the light.

"I want to negotiate…" Alex wanted to ease the situation. But he was cut off.

"Mr. Godman, I am not related to Vadim. I am here with an offer for you." Lucas came directly to the point.

Alex widened his eyes in shock and let a sigh of relief. The thought of putting Rebecca in danger frightened him. He had been trying his best to save his family from Vadim and his men. Vadim had already killed his uncle and now he was after him and his family.

"Who are…" Alex didn't get to finish his question.

"Let's put my introduction to the side. Why don't you ask about the offer first?" Lucas didn't let Alex talk again.

"Offer?" Alex at the moment can only follow the flow of the unknown man.

"I want to invest in your global fund project," Lucas said.

It didn't surprise Alex at all. His project attracted too many people and he was in a precarious situation due to his project plan.

Alex wanted to deny him like he always did, "I only…"

"I will provide you with a completely legal fund," Lucas said again cutting him off.

Alex's denial stopped mid-way. The offer compelled him to give some thoughts to it.

Rebecca glanced at Alex. She knew the situation Alex was on. If he continued on the path, he will destroy himself one day.

"No, we…" Rebecca wanted to reject the offer for Alex.

"Miss. Rebecca, I understand your concern for him. But if he continued on the current path, he is going to sink deep into crime and corruption. He hadn't told you everything, has he?" Lucas said. He had complete information on Alex's meeting and deals.

Rebecca looked at Alex. She wanted an answer.

"This is not the time for argument. I will continue with my offer. If you are willing to take my offer, I will solve your difficulties with Vadim Kalyagin." Lucas said.

Alex now had another reason to not reject Lucas's offer.

"I need some time." Alex couldn't make such decisions at the moment.

"You are still thinking about my alternative motives. How about I solve your Vadim problems right now, right here?" The system took charge of gain.

This time Lucas didn't say anything. He was getting used to it.

Alex widened his eyes again. Either this man was trying too hard or giving a bluff, Alex decided to let things progress. Both the offer benefitted him.

Alex nodded to show his agreement. Alex tried to reach into his bag to take some documents out. This was his way of doing things.

"No need for that. First, give a call to Vadim. I will talk to him." Lucas said.

Alex again froze for a moment.

A scary thought crossed his mind. He immediately discarded it. But his hands and back were sweating. He felt like someone has grabbed him by his neck and he cannot free himself from him.

Alex wanted to take his steps back. But when he looked at the eyes of the man sitting in front of him he couldn't muster enough courage to lift that step.

His senses were telling him he had got into trouble much worse than the mafia chasing for his life.

Alex's hands reached for his phone, he dialed a number from his memory and called.

"Hello!" Vadim picked up the phone.

"Hello! This is Alex Godman." Alex had no words to lead the conversation, introduced first.

"Ha… Ha… Of all people, you called me. You should know by this time, no one is going stop me from coming after you." Vadim said.

Turning the loudspeaker on, Alex took the phone towards Lucas, "Someone wants to talk to you." Alex ignoring the threat said his last sentence.

"Mr. Vadim, I want a transaction between you and me." Lucas's tone became chilly and heavy.

After silence from another side of the phone, "Who are you?"

"I am the new associate of Mr. Godman. So, I want to propose a transaction for leaving him alone." Lucas said.

"Ha… Ha… The transaction, with me… For Godman family, only death is waiting for them." Vadim wasn't someone to be easily talked with.

"You might regret your decision, Mr. Vadim. My offer has a higher value than the life of the Godman family." Lucas said.

Again after a silence, "Tell me then. I want to know what I might regret."

"Mr. Vadim, how many people are there in your family?" Lucas asked.

Vadim took it as a blatant threat and screamed a few curses, "Just tell me who are you and I will personally come to give you the information."

"Mr. Vadim, don't misunderstand me. For my side of the transaction, I really need a number of your family for comparison purposes." Lucas said without a change in tone and voice.

Again there was silence from another side, "There are only two, me and my daughter. What are you comparing?"

"Just two… It is really minuscule compared to the 102 members of the Pranas family." Lucas said.

Alex's hand shook, nearly dropping the phone. Vadim became silent for a long period of time.

'Do you think a threat like this works on a mafia boss?' Lucas said after hearing the system conversation.

[Just watch. If this doesn't work, we have John Wick. What are you afraid of?]

Lucas fell silent.