Chapter 48: The Rebellion

The sun had barely risen when Hathor's voice chimed in, cutting through my thoughts like a blade.

"Horus, the system has detected betrayal. Individuals who consumed the loyalty bind serum but have yet to reach full loyalty are harboring thoughts of rebellion. Do you wish to proceed with an investigation?"

For a moment, I said nothing, letting the revelation settle. Then, I smiled—a slow, cold curve of my lips.

"Locate them," I ordered.

"Confirmed. The system has identified their current location: an abandoned warehouse in the industrial district. There are eight of them present, including Hawke, Ortiz, and Ruiz. They appear to be conspiring with others who were not subjected to the serum."

I turned to John, who was seated across from me in my office. "Gather the squad. No one leaves that building alive unless I say so."

The warehouse stood like a forgotten relic, its rusted exterior barely illuminated by the early morning light. My forces surrounded the building with precision, silent as shadows. Drones hovered overhead, feeding live footage to the tactical display on my tablet.

"Positions secured," John's voice came through my earpiece.

I nodded, gripping the handle of the warehouse door. "No one makes a move until I say. I want them to know exactly why this is happening."

The door slammed open with a thunderous crash, the sound reverberating through the cavernous space. All eyes turned toward me as I stepped inside, flanked by my most loyal enforcers. My black trench coat billowed slightly as I walked, the click of my boots echoing ominously.

Hawke stood at the center of the group, his massive frame towering over the others. Beside him, Ruiz and Ortiz exchanged nervous glances. A handful of low-ranking officers and a couple of political aides lingered near the edges, their faces pale with fear.

"Good morning," I began, my voice calm but carrying an edge that made the air seem heavier. "I hear you've been... restless."

Hawke stepped forward, his jaw clenched. "We're not going to let a kid like you control us. You think you can just march in here and demand loyalty? We've had enough."

I tilted my head slightly, my smile never wavering. "Enough, you say? Funny. I thought you'd had enough when I defeated you, one by one. Yet here we are."

Ruiz took a shaky step forward. "We've served you without question. But this... this is too far. We're not puppets."

My smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, unyielding stare. "Puppets? No, you're worse than that. Puppets don't think they can cut their strings."

I raised a hand, signaling to John. The doors behind me slammed shut, the sound echoing like a gunshot. A squad of my men stepped forward, their weapons drawn and trained on the group.

"Do you know what happens to traitors?" I asked, my voice eerily soft. "Let me show you."

I gestured to one of my men, who dragged a trembling aide forward. The man had been among those conspiring but had no significant influence. He was a message—a warning.

Before anyone could react, I drew a pistol from my coat and shot the man in the leg. He collapsed with a scream, clutching the wound as blood pooled beneath him.

The group recoiled, horror etched across their faces.

"You see," I continued, pacing slowly, "I don't need your loyalty to survive. I've built an empire out of nothing. What I doneed is obedience. And disobedience..." I gestured to the writhing man on the ground. "...has consequences."

Ortiz was visibly shaking now. "You're insane," she whispered.

I stopped directly in front of her, leaning in so our faces were inches apart. "No, Ortiz. I'm necessary. And you? You're expendable."

I turned to Hawke, who was glaring at me with barely contained rage. "You were the strongest among them. The smartest. Yet here you are, aligning yourself with cowards and failures. Did you really think this would end any other way?"

Hawke lunged at me, his fists swinging. But I was faster, sidestepping his attack with ease. A sharp kick to the back of his knee sent him crashing to the ground.

"You're predictable, Hawke," I said, standing over him. "And predictable people are easy to destroy."

Ruiz and Ortiz tried to back away, but my men closed in, forcing them to stay put.

"Here's how this works," I said, addressing the room. "You're going to pledge your loyalty to me again. And this time, you're going to mean it. Or you can join him." I nodded toward the man still groaning on the ground.

One by one, they capitulated. Hawke, his pride shattered, muttered his allegiance through gritted teeth. Ruiz, tears streaming down her face, swore she would never betray me again. Even Ortiz, defiant to the end, finally lowered her head in submission.

Once they had all spoken, Hathor's voice echoed in my mind.

System Notification: Betrayal resolved. Loyalty meters recalibrated. All subjects have been stabilized.

I smiled, slipping my pistol back into its holster. "Good. Now, get up. You've got work to do."

As they stumbled to their feet, I turned to John. "Clean this up," I ordered, gesturing to the wounded man.

John nodded, already signaling the medics.

As I walked out of the warehouse, the cold morning air hit my face. For a brief moment, I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile.

"Let this be a lesson," I muttered to myself. "No one crosses William Right."

The tension in the warehouse was palpable, the air thick with fear and despair. My men stood like unyielding sentinels, their eyes trained on the group of would-be rebels who now knelt before me, defeated and broken. But in the chaos, a single figure darted out from the shadows—a low-ranking officer named Kenton.

He bolted toward the warehouse's back exit, weaving through the scattered crates with surprising speed.

"William! One of them is escaping!" John's voice crackled through my earpiece.

I raised a hand to stop him. "Let him go."

John blinked, his confusion evident even through the comm line. "Are you sure?"

I nodded, my lips curling into a cold smile. "Yes. Let him think he's gotten away. Sometimes, the illusion of freedom is more useful than a cage."

Kenton ran as though his life depended on it—and perhaps it did. The warehouse's back door slammed shut behind him, and he sprinted into the dimly lit alley beyond. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding as he glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see my men in pursuit.

But no one came.

He stumbled to a halt several blocks away, leaning against a wall to catch his breath. A triumphant grin spread across his face as he pulled out his phone.

"They'll never get me," he muttered, dialing a number. "I'll tell Cassandra everything. She'll send reinforcements. We'll—"

The words died on his lips as a shadow fell over him.

John stepped out of the darkness, his towering frame cutting an imposing figure. Behind him, two enforcers emerged, weapons drawn but unnecessary.

"Going somewhere, Kenton?" John asked, his voice low and menacing.

Kenton's face drained of color as he tried to back away, only to find his path blocked.

"Wait! I—I wasn't really going to betray him! I swear!" Kenton stammered, his phone slipping from his trembling hands.

John didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed Kenton by the collar and dragged him back toward the warehouse.

When John reentered the warehouse with Kenton in tow, the room fell silent. The other conspirators looked up, their faces a mixture of relief and dread. Relief that they weren't the ones caught, and dread at what Kenton's capture might mean for them.

John shoved Kenton forward, forcing him to his knees before me.

"He tried to run," John said simply.

I crouched down to Kenton's level, my face inches from his. "You thought you were clever, didn't you? Thought you could escape and warn Cassandra? Did you honestly believe I hadn't accounted for this?"

Kenton whimpered, his eyes wide with terror. "Please... I wasn't thinking straight. It was a mistake!"

"Of course it was a mistake," I interrupted, my voice icy. "The moment you thought you could defy me, you sealed your fate."

I rose to my feet, addressing the room at large. "This is what happens to those who think they can outsmart me. I let him run, let him believe he was free, because I wanted the rest of you to see the truth: there is no escape. Not from me."

Turning back to Kenton, I motioned to John. "Strip him of his rank. He's done."

"No! Please! I'll be loyal! I'll do anything!" Kenton begged, tears streaming down his face.

I leaned closer, my expression unreadable. "Loyalty isn't begged for, Kenton. It's proven. And you... you've proven nothing."

John hauled Kenton to his feet and led him out of the warehouse, the door slamming shut behind them.

I turned back to the remaining rebels, who were now trembling under my gaze.

"Let this be a reminder," I said, my voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "Your loyalty is not a choice—it's an expectation. Betray me, and you'll wish for a fate as merciful as Kenton's."

One by one, they lowered their heads, their will to resist shattered.

System Notification:

Remaining conspirators' loyalty meters have increased by 10%.

As I walked out of the warehouse, John caught up to me, his face grim. "What do we do with Kenton?"

I glanced at him, a cold smile playing on my lips. "Let him live. For now. He'll serve as a walking reminder of what happens when you cross William Right."

John nodded, falling into step beside me.

"Do you think this will be the last rebellion?" he asked after a moment.

I chuckled softly. "No. But that's what makes it fun, doesn't it?"

As we stepped into the morning light, I allowed myself a moment of satisfaction. The message had been sent, loud and clear. And now, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the city learned it too.

System Notification:

Main Mission Progress: 96%.