Jace pulled the dark gray jacket tighter around him as he walked through the bustling city streets. Neon signs flickered overhead, casting blue and red reflections across the wet pavement. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of gasoline and street food. The echoes of honking cars and murmuring crowds filled the air, yet his senses remained sharp—every movement, every shadow, every person brushing past was registered in his mind with absolute clarity.
Providence had changed him.
Hours ago, he was just another guy. Now? He was something else entirely.
[Status: Your presence has been flagged. Avoid surveillance.]
The notification flashed across his vision, subtle yet urgent.
Jace kept moving, his posture relaxed but calculated. Who flagged him? Government agencies? Private organizations? The Infinity Ledger?
His instincts screamed danger.
Across the street, a black sedan with tinted windows was parked too neatly near the curb. Two men in suits stood beside it, seemingly engaged in conversation, but their attention flicked toward him more than once.
They're watching me.
Jace exhaled slowly, adjusting his pace. He turned into a nearby alley, his mind already calculating escape routes. Providence, as if sensing his thoughts, spoke.
"Two hostiles approaching from behind. Estimated combat proficiency: Intermediate."
Jace didn't hesitate. He ducked behind a dumpster, body low to the ground, blending into the shadows. He didn't need to look to know they were closing in. His ears picked up every detail—their controlled breathing, the slight creak of leather holsters.
They're armed.
One of them spoke in a hushed tone. "You sure it's him?"
"Yeah. Orders are to grab him alive."
Jace smirked. Good luck with that.
The moment they stepped past him, he struck.
His right foot snapped out, kicking the first guy's knee inward. CRACK. A scream. The second man whirled, drawing his weapon—too slow.
Jace's hand clamped around his wrist, twisting violently. The gun dropped. He caught it mid-air.
One move. Two enemies neutralized.
The first guy was still groaning, clutching his dislocated knee. Jace knelt beside him, pressing the stolen pistol against his forehead.
"Who sent you?" His voice was calm, almost detached.
The man grit his teeth. "You're making a big mistake, kid."
Jace cocked the gun. "I don't make mistakes."
BANG.
Not his gun. A silencer.
The second guy collapsed instantly, a bullet through the back of his skull. A sniper.
Jace rolled out of the way as another suppressed shot struck the dumpster where he had been a second ago.
237 meters, rooftop, 10 o'clock.
His eyes calculated the sniper's position instantly.
In one fluid motion, he whipped the pistol around and pulled the trigger.
BANG.
The bullet cut through the air, striking true. The sniper's body slumped forward, his rifle tumbling off the rooftop.
A perfect headshot.
Jace stood, slipping the pistol into the waistband of his pants. The first guy was staring at him in horror.
"I—Who the hell are you?" the man stammered.
Jace didn't answer. He grabbed the man's wallet, flipping it open. No ID. Just a black card with a silver emblem.
Providence analyzed it instantly.
[Symbol identified: Black Veil. A covert mercenary organization specializing in retrieval missions.]
Jace frowned. "Who hired you?"
The man spat blood, glaring at him. "You have no idea what you're involved in."
Jace sighed. Wrong answer.
He struck the guy's temple, knocking him out cold.
Phase Two: Disappearance
Jace couldn't stay here. The sniper meant whoever was after him wasn't taking chances.
He jogged down the alley, emerging onto a quiet street. A 24-hour convenience store sat on the corner. He needed to get off the grid—no phones, no cards, nothing traceable.
Stepping inside, he quickly grabbed a burner phone, a memory card, and an already registered SIM—the kind used for disposable identities.
Providence spoke.
"Destroy your old phone first. Its GPS may still be active."
Jace nodded, taking out his personal phone. Without hesitation, he walked to the restroom in the back, snapped it in half, and submerged the pieces in the toilet. He flushed it twice, ensuring no one could recover the data.
Returning to the store's front, he quickly paid in cash. A safe purchase.
Outside, he leaned against a streetlamp, unboxing the burner phone. First step: wipe the factory settings. Second step: install the memory card and insert the SIM—preloaded with an untraceable number.
As he worked, Providence whispered.
"You are now marked. The Infinity Ledger will not stop."
Jace's fingers stilled. "Who are they?"
For the first time, Providence hesitated. "They control everything."
A chill ran down his spine.
Everything?
A new notification blinked across his vision.
[You are being tracked.]
Jace's grip on the phone tightened.
How?
A black SUV rolled past the store. Tainted windows. Slow speed. Watching.
Jace turned on his heel and walked the other way, blending into the night.
This wasn't over.
This was just the beginning.