Chapter 21: Silent Moves and Deeper Bonds

Evan sat in his underground lab, methodically analyzing the data on his screens. His enhancements had reached new heights, but numbers on a display meant nothing if he couldn't test their real-world effectiveness. The six-month deadline given by the General still loomed over him, but rushing things wasn't an option. If he released the Super Soldier Serum too early, it would disrupt the balance and alert powerful forces—the same forces that would rather eliminate the source than negotiate.

For now, he had to wait and plan.

Amelia sat nearby, casually scrolling through her own interface, pretending not to observe him. She had been with him long enough to recognize the subtle signs when Evan was deep in thought—his eyes became sharper, his fingers tapped lightly against the console, and most importantly, he didn't speak unless necessary.

She finally broke the silence.

"You're hesitating."

Evan glanced at her. "No. I'm calculating."

She smirked. "Same thing in your case."

Evan leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. "If I release the serum now, it sets off alarms. There's a delicate balance in the underground market. The moment someone gains too much power too quickly, everyone else starts panicking. Governments, criminal organizations, intelligence agencies—they'll all come crashing down at once."

Amelia nodded, processing his words. "So, you want to wait. But how long?"

"Long enough for the inevitable paranoia to subside. If I move too soon, someone will get too curious and try to preemptively remove me. It's not about who buys first—it's about who will keep buying without questioning me."

Amelia tilted her head, intrigued. "And you think waiting a few months will solve that?"

Evan smirked. "Not entirely. But it gives me time to set controlled expectations."

She raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

He turned his screen toward her, revealing a series of fake market movements he had started manipulating. It was disinformation, carefully placed rumors and artificial black-market dealings, hinting at a competing enhancement serum that was supposedly in early development.

Amelia's eyes narrowed. "You're… making it look like someone else is already working on a serum?"

Evan nodded. "If the world thinks someone else is still struggling with prototype-stage enhancements, then my eventual reveal won't seem sudden or unnatural. It will look like I was just another player who figured it out a little faster."

She grinned, clearly impressed. "So when you finally drop it, everyone will just assume you had a head start, instead of seeing you as the biggest anomaly."

"Exactly," Evan confirmed. "By the time I introduce the real serum, they'll already expect something like it to exist. That keeps me from standing out too much."

Amelia smirked. "You know, for someone who's practically a walking god, you really don't like being in the spotlight."

Evan shrugged. "It's easier to control things from the shadows. The moment you're the center of attention, you lose maneuverability."

Amelia leaned back against the table, watching him. "So, if you're delaying the serum, what are you doing in the meantime?"

His expression darkened slightly. "Exxcorp."

She frowned. "Still hung up on them?"

"They've been too quiet," Evan muttered. "They disappeared after their last failed mutant experiment, but that doesn't mean they've stopped. Organizations like that don't just give up."

Amelia crossed her arms. "So what's the plan?"

Evan tapped on his screen, pulling up classified reports and satellite images he had hacked from various sources. He pointed to a research facility on the outskirts of New York, surrounded by high-security perimeters and hidden defenses.

"They're still running something. They just moved it underground—literally."

She narrowed her eyes. "That's not just a lab. That's a fortress."

"Exactly. And the only reason to bury your research that deep is if it's something that shouldn't be found."

Amelia pursed her lips. "What's in there?"

Evan's fingers glided across the interface, pulling up incomplete files, corrupted reports, and glitched-out blueprints. Whatever Exxcorp was working on, someone had tried to erase all traces of it.

He finally spoke. "If I had to guess? Something worse than their last experiment."

Amelia sighed. "You're gonna break in, aren't you?"

Evan smirked. "I haven't decided yet. But I am going to find out what they're hiding."

Amelia studied him for a moment before rolling her eyes. "You're insane."

"I prefer meticulously prepared," Evan corrected.

She shook her head, standing up. "You know, for all your planning and schemes, I don't think I've ever seen you actually relax."

Evan raised an eyebrow. "Relaxation is inefficient."

Amelia gave him a skeptical look. "Bullshit. Even machines need cooldowns. You might be superhuman, but your mind still operates on human psychology—which means, at some point, you need to step back."

Evan chuckled. "You think I need a vacation?"

She shrugged. "No. I think you need a break that isn't tied to world domination."

He smirked. "And what do you suggest?"

Amelia tapped her chin playfully. "Something simple. Something that doesn't involve you rewriting the balance of power."

Evan leaned back, thinking. "Fine. I'll humor you. What's your idea?"

She grinned. "How about dinner?"

He blinked. "Dinner?"

"Yeah. Normal human interaction. You sit, you eat, and you pretend not to be an all-powerful mutant overlord for one evening."

Evan stared at her, unimpressed. "That sounds ridiculous."

Amelia smirked. "Which is exactly why you should do it."

He sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine. One dinner. But if anything about this feels forced, I'm leaving."

She held up her hands. "Fair enough."

Evan exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "This is a waste of time."

Amelia grinned. "No, this is what normal people do. Try it sometime—you might not hate it."

Evan watched as she walked toward the exit, still skeptical but mildly amused. Amelia was one of the few people who challenged him without being a threat.

For once, he decided to let someone else lead the plan.

For now.