Chapter 42: The Secrets We Hide

Maxing out Isabelle Holt's loyalty meter was proving more difficult than I'd anticipated. She wasn't like Graves or Blake, whose motivations were rooted in self-preservation or power. Holt's allegiance to Cassandra stemmed from something deeper—something personal. And while I'd managed to crack her foundation, the final push eluded me.

Sitting in my room late at night, I stared at the glowing [Loyalty Meter: Isabelle Holt – 85%]. It hadn't budged since our last meeting.

"Alright, Hathor," I said aloud, leaning back in my chair. "How do I max her loyalty meter?"

The system's interface remained silent, offering no guidance. Typical.

Then, an idea struck me. If convincing her directly wasn't working, perhaps I could take another approach—find something about her, something buried deep that even she might not realize was holding her back.

"Activate [Deep Investigation]," I commanded.

The skill's icon lit up in my HUD, and a stream of information began to flow. I sifted through her public records, employment history, personal connections, and anything else the system could dig up. But it wasn't until I hit a cluster of encrypted files that things got interesting.

"Decrypt," I murmured, my curiosity piqued.

Within moments, the files unraveled, revealing something that made me sit up straight.

[Subject: Isabelle Holt]

Incident: Brother, Ethan Holt, disappeared 10 years ago during an undercover narcotics operation. Case classified as unsolved.

Current Status: Presumed dead, but nobody recovered.

Emotional Impact: Survivor's guilt, unresolved grief, and suspicion of foul play within the department.

I leaned back, processing the information. Her brother. That had to be it. The loyalty to Cassandra, the drive to block investigations—it all made sense now. Holt wasn't just working out of friendship; she was protecting Cassandra because she believed Cassandra was the only one who'd ever been honest with her about Ethan's disappearance.

I had to use this.

I arranged to meet Holt the next day at a quiet café. She arrived wearing her usual stern expression, but I could tell she was intrigued.

"You've been busy," she said, sitting across from me.

"You have no idea," I replied, sliding a coffee toward her. "Thanks for coming."

"What's this about?" she asked, crossing her arms.

I didn't beat around the bush. "Ethan Holt."

Her entire demeanor changed in an instant. The steely mask she always wore cracked, and for a brief moment, raw pain flickered across her face.

"What about Ethan?" she asked, her voice softer, almost hesitant.

"I know about his disappearance," I said gently. "And I know it's been haunting you for the past ten years."

Holt's jaw tightened, and she looked away, her hands clenched into fists. "That's none of your business."

"It is if it's the reason you've been holding back," I countered. "You don't trust me because you don't trust anyone. You've been betrayed before—by the people who were supposed to have your back. But I can help you, Isabelle. I can find out what really happened to Ethan."

She looked at me sharply, her eyes narrowing. "And why would you do that? What's in it for you?"

"Because I don't just want your loyalty—I want your trust," I said, leaning forward. "You're one of the smartest, most capable people I've ever met. I need you on my side, fully and completely. And if helping you find closure is what it takes, then so be it."

Holt stared at me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she let out a long breath and nodded. "Alright. If you can help me find out the truth about Ethan, I'll consider trusting you. But don't make promises you can't keep, William."

"I don't make promises I can't deliver on," I said confidently.

As soon as Holt left, Hathor materialized beside me with a mischievous grin.

[System Notification: New Side Mission Unlocked!]

[Side Mission: Truth Beneath the Shadows]

Objective: Uncover the truth about Ethan Holt's disappearance.

Reward: Loyalty Meter for Isabelle Holt maxed out + Roulette Spin (Legendary Tier)

Bonus Objective: Prove Cassandra's direct involvement in the cover-up. Reward: Talent Upgrade – Negotiation Mastery Lv. 2 → Lv. 3.

"Well, well," Hathor said, leaning against the table. "Looks like the system's throwing you a bone. You think you've got what it takes to pull this off?"

I smirked. "What do you think?"

"I think you're in over your head," she teased. "But hey, that's never stopped you before."

I spent the next few hours mapping out my strategy. Ethan's disappearance wasn't just a personal matter for Holt—it was tied to Cassandra's operations. That much was clear. But if I wanted to prove it, I'd need to dig deeper, find the threads that connected them, and unravel the truth.

The first step? Accessing Cassandra's internal files.

The second? Confronting the people who were involved in the operation ten years ago.

And the final step? Making sure Holt was there when the truth came to light.

"This is going to be fun," I muttered, a grin spreading across my face.

Hathor laughed. "Fun for you, maybe. For everyone else? Not so much."

"Exactly," I said, already feeling the thrill of the chase.

Uncovering the truth about Ethan Holt's disappearance was going to take every ounce of skill I had. The deeper I dug, the more dangerous it became—not just for me, but for the entire team. But I didn't have a choice. This wasn't just about gaining Isabelle Holt's trust; it was about proving to myself that I could take down Cassandra's empire piece by piece.

I started with the official reports on Ethan's disappearance. The system's [Deep Investigation] skill was invaluable, pulling up files that had been locked behind layers of encryption. I found the original case report from ten years ago, written by a detective who had since retired under suspicious circumstances. The report detailed how Ethan had gone undercover to infiltrate a major narcotics operation, but his last known location was never disclosed.

The details were vague—deliberately so. Key witnesses had "disappeared," evidence had been "misplaced," and the investigation had been quietly closed after only a few months.

"This screams cover-up," I muttered to myself, scrolling through the files.

Hathor appeared beside me, lounging casually in the air. "You don't say. So, what's your move, genius?"

"First, I need to find the detective who wrote this report," I replied. "If anyone knows what happened, it's him."

The detective, Michael Carter, had relocated to a small coastal town after his abrupt retirement. According to the system's data, he hadn't spoken publicly about Ethan's case since leaving the force. That was enough to raise my suspicions.

I tracked him down to a modest house overlooking the ocean. When he answered the door, he looked like a man who had aged ten years for every one that had passed. His eyes were tired, his hands trembling slightly as he clutched the doorframe.

"Mr. Carter?" I said, flashing a polite smile. "I'm William. I'm looking into Ethan Holt's case, and I was hoping you could help me."

He froze, his expression hardening. "That case is closed," he said gruffly. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Closed, maybe," I replied, "but not solved. And I think you know that better than anyone."

He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder as if expecting someone to be watching. Finally, he stepped aside and gestured for me to come in.

"You've got five minutes," he said.

Inside, the house was sparse but clean. Carter sat heavily in a worn armchair, gesturing for me to take the couch.

"What do you want to know?" he asked, his tone weary.

"Everything," I said simply.

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Ethan was a good cop," he began. "Too good, maybe. He got close to something big—too big. And that's what got him killed."

"Who was he investigating?" I pressed.

Carter hesitated, his gaze darting to the window. "Cassandra's operation," he admitted. "She wasn't as powerful back then, but she had connections. People in high places who were willing to protect her. Ethan was getting too close, so they took him out. Made it look like he just disappeared."

"Who gave the order?" I asked.

"I don't know," Carter said, shaking his head. "But I know this—someone in the department was involved. Someone high up."

I nodded, filing that information away. "Thank you, Mr. Carter. You've been a big help."

As I left, I couldn't shake the feeling that Carter was holding something back. But for now, I had enough to work with.

Back at my base, I laid out everything I'd gathered. Ethan's undercover work had brought him dangerously close to exposing Cassandra's network. Someone in the department had leaked his identity, ensuring that he wouldn't survive the mission.

The question was: who?

Using [Deep Investigation], I started cross-referencing the names of officers involved in the case with Cassandra's known associates. It didn't take long to find a connection—Deputy Commissioner Isabelle Holt herself.

But the more I dug, the less sense it made. Holt had been assigned to Ethan's case, but her reports were thorough and showed no signs of tampering. She had even pushed for the investigation to continue after it was officially closed.

"She really did care about him," I murmured.

"What's that?" Hathor asked, appearing beside me again.

"Holt wasn't involved in the cover-up," I said. "She was trying to find the truth, just like I am."

"So why did she stop?" Hathor asked.

I thought for a moment before the answer clicked. "Because Cassandra convinced her that it was too dangerous. That she'd lose everything if she kept digging."

"And now you're going to use that against Cassandra," Hathor said, a sly grin spreading across her face.

"Exactly," I replied.

I arranged another meeting with Holt, this time in a secure location where we wouldn't be interrupted. When she arrived, I could tell she was on edge.

"You said you had something to show me," she said, crossing her arms.

"I do," I said, gesturing for her to sit. "But first, I need to ask you something. Why did you stop investigating your brother's case?"

Holt stiffened, her jaw tightening. "That's none of your business."

"It is if you want my help," I said calmly. "I know you were close to the truth. And I know Cassandra convinced you to back off. But what if I told you she wasn't protecting you? What if she was protecting herself?"

Holt's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

I laid out the evidence I'd gathered, showing her the connections between Cassandra and the officers involved in the cover-up. Slowly, I watched her walls begin to crack.

"You're lying," she said, but her voice wavered.

"I'm not," I replied. "You've been loyal to Cassandra because you thought she was the only one you could trust. But she's been lying to you from the beginning. She let your brother die to protect her empire, and she's been using you ever since."

Holt stared at the files in front of her, her hands trembling. For a long moment, she didn't say anything. Then, finally, she looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and pain.

"If you're lying to me..." she began, but I cut her off.

"I'm not," I said firmly. "And I'll prove it to you. But I need you to trust me, Isabelle. Just this once."

She nodded slowly, and I knew I'd taken another step toward maxing out her loyalty meter.

[System Notification: Side Mission Progress – 50% Complete]

"Halfway there," Hathor said, smirking. "Let's see if you can finish the job."

I knew Isabelle Holt wasn't an easy person to win over. Years of loyalty to Cassandra had molded her into someone who saw trust as a weakness. But I also knew that the cracks were already forming. All I needed was the right leverage to shatter her allegiance completely.

The side missions loomed large in my mind. Maxing out her loyalty meter was one thing, but the second part—exposing Cassandra's betrayal in a way that would break Holt's trust in her once and for all—was the real challenge.

After our meeting, I spent the next few days deep in research, using [Deep Investigation] to uncover every detail I could about Ethan's disappearance. The key, I realized, wasn't just proving Cassandra's betrayal—it was making it personal.

Through my search, I unearthed an old surveillance video from the night Ethan disappeared. It had been buried in a police database, mislabeled and forgotten. The footage showed Ethan meeting with an informant at a warehouse. Moments later, a group of armed men stormed the building, guns blazing.

What made the footage damning wasn't the ambush itself—it was the grainy image of Cassandra's right-hand man, Victor Kane, standing at the edge of the chaos, giving orders.

But that wasn't all. Digging deeper, I found financial records linking Victor to bribes paid to several officers who had been involved in Ethan's case. Cassandra's fingerprints were all over the operation, hidden beneath layers of proxies and shell accounts.

I also uncovered something unexpected: a handwritten letter from Ethan to Isabelle, written just days before his disappearance. It was never sent, likely confiscated during the investigation and forgotten. In the letter, Ethan expressed his suspicions about a mole in the department and his fears that Cassandra was pulling the strings.

It was raw, emotional, and exactly what I needed.

I arranged a meeting with Isabelle at the same secure location as before. This time, I came armed with the evidence I'd found. When she arrived, she looked more composed, but her eyes betrayed the storm brewing within her.

"You said you had proof," she said, her voice steady but cold.

"I do," I replied, setting a laptop and a stack of documents on the table. "But before I show you, there's something you need to see."

I handed her Ethan's letter. She hesitated before taking it, her hands trembling slightly as she unfolded the paper. As she read, her expression shifted—from confusion to anger, and finally to heartbreak.

"He knew," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "He knew someone was going to betray him."

"And he trusted you to protect him," I said gently. "But Cassandra made sure you couldn't."

I played the surveillance footage next, watching as her eyes widened at the sight of Victor Kane. She leaned forward, her jaw tightening as the ambush played out on the screen.

"She knew," Isabelle said, her voice shaking with rage. "She let him walk into a trap."

"She orchestrated it," I corrected, sliding the financial records toward her. "These are the bribes paid to the officers who covered it up. All routed through accounts controlled by Cassandra's network."

Isabelle stared at the evidence, her breathing uneven. "Why are you showing me this?" she asked, her voice cracking.

"Because I need you to see the truth," I said. "Cassandra doesn't care about you, Isabelle. She never did. She used you—just like she used Ethan. But you don't have to let her win. You can still make this right."

The system chimed softly in my ear.

[Hidden Mission: Earn Isabelle Holt's Complete Trust Without the Use of System Items – 70% Complete.]

So close, yet not enough. I needed more.

"Isabelle," I said, my voice softer. "There's something else."

She raised her head, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"Ethan didn't just stumble into Cassandra's trap. He knew it was coming. This was his last message to you."

I handed her a small recording device I had recovered from the evidence archives. When she pressed play, Ethan's voice filled the room.

"Isabelle, if you're hearing this, it means I didn't make it. I want you to know that I never doubted you, not for a second. But I have to ask you one thing—don't let Cassandra fool you. She's not who you think she is. Protect the people, Isabelle. Do what I couldn't."

Tears streamed down her face as the recording ended. "Why didn't I see it sooner?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Because you wanted to believe in her," I said. "But now you know the truth. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"

The system chimed again.

[Hidden Mission Complete! Reward Unlocked: Legendary Talent – Master Manipulator: Instantly Detects Weaknesses in Your Opponent's Resolve.]

Isabelle closed her eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath. When she opened them, they were filled with a fiery determination I hadn't seen before.

"You're right," she said quietly. "It's time to end this."

The system chimed again.

[Side Mission Complete! Reward Unlocked: Legendary Roulette Spin.]

[Loyalty Meter: Isabelle Holt – 100%.]

As Isabelle gathered the evidence and prepared to leave, Hathor appeared beside me, practically buzzing with excitement.

"Well done, genius," she said. "You've got yourself two rewards—let's see what you've won."

The glowing roulette wheel appeared in front of me, spinning rapidly.

The first spin landed on:

[Legendary Skill: Absolute Authority – Command Respect and Obedience Instantly at a Cost of $$$$$$ Per Use.]

The second spin landed on:

[Legendary Talent: Master Strategist – Perfectly Anticipate Enemy Tactics and Counter Strategically.]

"Now that," Hathor said, grinning, "is going to make you unstoppable."

Before leaving, Isabelle turned to me, her expression unreadable.

"I still don't trust you completely," she said, "but I know you're right about Cassandra. I'll help you—but don't make me regret this."

"You won't," I promised.

As she walked away, I couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. Isabelle Holt was one of Cassandra's strongest allies, and now she was on my side.

"Four down," I muttered to myself. "And Cassandra's empire is starting to crumble."

Hathor smirked. "You've got momentum now, kid. Let's see how far you can take it."