The Web of Control

Carter coughed, his body trembling from pain and exhaustion. The severed fingers on the floor served as a grim reminder of Surya's ruthlessness. He knew there was no escape now—only the truth would keep him breathing for a little longer.

"Talk," Surya ordered, his voice devoid of emotion. "How does Project Eclipse control intelligence agencies?"

Carter swallowed hard, his throat dry as sandpaper. "It's not about control in the traditional sense," he began. "It's about influence, infiltration, and data manipulation."

Surya remained silent, letting Carter spill everything under the pressure of pain and fear.

"The Architect designed Eclipse as a self-sustaining system," Carter continued. "It embeds operatives in key agencies—CIA, MI6, RAW, Mossad, FSB, MSS. These aren't just informants. They're decision-makers, analysts, tech specialists… people who shape policy and control the flow of information."

Surya's mind processed the implications rapidly. "A global puppet show," he muttered. "And the strings are pulled by one man."

Carter gave a weak nod. "Not just one man anymore. The system is automated now. AI-driven intelligence curation, deepfake misinformation, and predictive analysis algorithms—all run by Eclipse."

Surya's eyes narrowed. "Meaning?"

"Meaning that intelligence agencies don't even realize they're being manipulated." Carter's voice was weak but steady. "Eclipse feeds them fabricated reports, alters intercepted communications, and leaks false intelligence to shape their decisions. If a country needs to go to war, Eclipse makes sure the evidence justifies it. If an operative needs to disappear, Eclipse erases them from existence."

Surya felt a chill run down his spine. "Who holds the master key?"

Carter exhaled shakily. "The Architect. And those he trusts. But he's careful—he's never in one place too long, and Eclipse operates in decentralized nodes. Even if you take out one command center, others will keep functioning."

The system pinged Surya with cross-referenced intel. Fragmented reports, hidden communications, encrypted chatter—all confirming Carter's claims.

Surya took a step closer, his gaze piercing. "Where's the next node?"

Carter hesitated, his lips trembling. "Geneva."

A cruel smirk crossed Surya's face. "Good. Then that's where I go next."

He glanced at Trent, who had been silent throughout the entire exchange, his face pale with dread. "You're both of no use to me now."

Without hesitation, Surya raised his gun. Two shots echoed through the room.

The system confirmed the mission's completion, displaying the reward details. Surya barely glanced at it. His focus was now on Geneva—on the Architect.

Shadows Over Geneva

Surya wasted no time. With Carter and Trent eliminated, there were no loose ends in London—only the next phase of his mission. Geneva awaited, a city veiled in diplomacy and secrecy, where intelligence and deception thrived in the corridors of power.

His private jet, parked on abandoned air strip, was ready for takeoff. The Wagner squad, now battle-tested and fiercely loyal, boarded alongside him, each operative silent yet alert. They understood the weight of this mission—taking on the Architect meant stepping into a battlefield where every move was calculated, every shadow a potential threat.

As the jet soared through the night sky, Surya activated the system's intelligence module. "System, compile everything we have on Geneva's Eclipse nodes."

A holographic interface projected in front of him, displaying a web of connections. Several key locations flickered into focus—banks, private intelligence firms, diplomatic safe houses. But one stood out.

"The Zurich Trust," the system highlighted. "A financial front for covert operations. High probability of being an Eclipse node."

Surya's eyes narrowed. "Who runs it?"

"A man known as 'Alaric.' Former intelligence officer, now a ghost in the financial world. He launders black budgets, moves assets, and erases digital footprints for Eclipse operatives."

Surya leaned back, contemplating. "Then he's our first target."

The jet began its descent toward Geneva's private airstrip. A storm was brewing—not in the skies, but in the world of espionage. And Surya was ready to unleash it.