New Variables

How could Jack fall into such a trap?

Refusing directly and decisively would have been the smart move.

"Sorry, I haven't spent enough yet!" Therefore, Bradley's attitude fluctuated, moving from bad to good to bad again, but the reasons behind these shifts were varied.

"Okay, let's not dwell on how many times your adopted daughter used her hypnotic spells during the driving test," Jack partially revealed the truth and shifted the conversation, "You mentioned that things have changed?"

"Yes."

Recognizing the importance of business, Bradley looked serious and said, "Follow me."

Jack and Hermia followed Bradley upstairs and into his office. Bradley handed a stack of A4 papers to Jack.

"Hmm..." Jack carefully examined the pile of papers, squinting slightly.

"Members of The Eye provided us with some information," Bradley pointed to the one Jack happened to turn over, "You're quite familiar with this person, Daniel Atlas."

"You're right," Jack nodded, "Daniel was a person with a strong desire for control. I helped him develop his magic skills. However, he strayed from the path and lost touch with his magic, so I terminated our collaboration. I advised him to go back to square one, retrain, and rediscover his magical abilities."

"Um..." Hermia interjected, "Is magic a bad thing?"

"It's not, but he became overly reliant on it," Jack shook his head, speaking earnestly.

"As a magician, it's normal to know a few magic tricks, but if you lose touch with your own magic, you're no longer worthy of being called a magician. Moreover, Daniel had the potential to join The Eye, which was his dream."

"That's correct," Bradley nodded with satisfaction and gazed at Jack with even more approval.

What a wonderful son-in-law he would make! Unfortunately, he was a scumbag...

Bradley sighed, his feelings toward Jack becoming increasingly mixed.

Jack: "..."

I clearly didn't do anything!

"Then... what about these three?" Jack looked down and saw familiar names but pretended not to recognize them.

"The Daniel Atlas you know and his three companions are Jack Wilder, Merritt McKinney, and Henry Reeves," Bradley explained. "The four of them have now formed a magic performance group, receiving funding from Arthur Tresler."

"So, you're saying..." Jack looked knowingly at Bradley, "What's their purpose? Are they working for Arthur, or do they have something against him?"

"Why would you consider the possibility of them working against Arthur?" Bradley asked curiously.

"It's quite simple. In my opinion, Daniel isn't that kind of person," Jack stated. "Although he was once blinded by money, under my guidance, he's had a change of heart; otherwise, he wouldn't have been willing to start over and rekindle his magic."

"But... if that's the case, it raises another question," Hermia chimed in, "If Daniel and his companions intend to do something to Arthur, what kind of action are they planning? They don't seem to be members of The Eye."

"That's the issue," Bradley said with a serious expression. "According to our intelligence, their target is indeed Arthur. It was through this that we discovered that the four Daniels received an invitation from The Eye."

"Interesting," Jack remarked with genuine interest.

"Are you taking this so lightly...?" Bradley sighed, "Arthur is their assessment task to enter The Eye, and this invitation from The Eye appears to be a forgery."

"You've hit the mark," Bradley nodded, "They were deceived."

"So, in other words, someone is posing as The Eye and using these magicians who aspire to join it for their own purposes?" Hermia asked in surprise.

"At present, that seems to be the case. Moreover, if their objectives don't align closely with yours, we might not have detected the issue," Bradley explained.

"So, where do we stand now?" Jack inquired, "What are the new organizational requirements? Are we changing the target or continuing with the original plan?"

"The target remains the same, but we're adding some new objectives to the existing ones."

Bradley's voice cut through the air as he set forth his plan, emphasizing the importance of not allowing anyone to exploit the name of The Eye for personal gain. His stern demeanor betrayed his commitment to this cause.

Jack, usually the voice of contradiction, nodded in agreement, surprising everyone present with his unwavering cooperation. He not only accepted the task but also analyzed it logically, displaying a newfound willingness to collaborate.

Bradley couldn't help but wonder if this was some elaborate ruse, as Jack's behavior today was uncharacteristically docile. His eyes darted from Jack to Hermia, searching for any signs of deception.

"What strange thoughts are brewing in that mind of yours again?" Jack quipped, his exasperation evident in his expression. He seemed to silently declare, "You have issues, she has issues, everyone has issues. Can we please get back to business?"

Clearing his throat, Bradley regained his composure and said, "Alright, since you're on board, let's get down to business. I'll send you the information we've gathered. In two days, the Four Horsemen, including Daniel, plan to perform at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. It could be their first step in the plan. We should be there to witness it. What do you think?"

Jack pondered for a moment before responding, "Well, that should work. Although calling them directly might be faster, I want all four of them to trust me, and I also want to uncover the mastermind behind this operation. So, let's go to the venue and see what unfolds."

With a sly grin, he added, "I'm curious to see if little Daniel has improved over the years."

In truth, Jack could have taken more direct action to resolve the situation swiftly. For example, he could have confronted Arthur and explained everything, simplifying the matter. However, he had other plans in mind. He relished the idea of making the situation more complex and engaging. Moreover, he wanted to coordinate Daniel and the Four Horsemen's actions with his and Hermia's, believing it might yield better results.

Of course, someone like Arthur wasn't foolish enough to keep all his funds in one account. In the original movie, Daniel and his team had emptied Arthur's account, but Arthur had another ace up his sleeve. He transferred an additional $10 million to Bradley, tasking him with tracking down Daniel and the others.

In short, Jack intended to play the long game, slowly siphoning off Arthur's wealth and leaving him high and dry. The stage was set for a thrilling showdown.

.....

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