The maintenance lift shuddered as it climbed toward Level 42. Inside, Chano checked his watch. The building's power was fluctuating—Rina and Don Rico were fighting for control of the electrical grid, and every flickering light was a pulse in their digital war.
"Master, you're almost there," Phenphen's voice whispered. "But watch it. Rico isn't just a hacker; he brought 'The Twins' with him. Former Special Action Force. They don't use keyboards; they use lead."
"Copy," Chano replied, his eyes going cold. "Philip, status?"
The Knight's Stand
Down on the mezzanine, the "Labobo" persona was long gone. Philip stood amidst a pile of groaning mercenaries, his breathing steady, the heavy brass stanchions in his hands dripping with the evidence of his work.
A group of six professional hitters, wearing spiked boots to counter the slip-agent on the floor below, finally reached the top of the stairs. These weren't protesters; they were Rico's personal guard.
"Philip, you're outnumbered," one of them growled, drawing a tactical baton.
Philip didn't respond with a joke. He spun the brass poles, the whistling sound cutting through the air like a blade. "I'm not outnumbered. I'm just in a target-rich environment."
He lunged. Philip moved like a whirlwind, using the weight of the brass to shatter bones and the length to keep the knives at bay. He was the Knight of Aegis—the physical shield that allowed the Master to work in peace. Every strike was calculated, every parry followed by a devastating counter. He wasn't just fighting; he was clearing a path.
The Master's Interception
DING.
The lift doors opened on Level 42. The high-security archive was a labyrinth of glowing server racks and freezing air. At the far end, Chano saw two silhouettes: CFO Arthur Sterling, frantically plugging a drive into the master console, and Don Rico, leaning against a pillar with a smirk.
"Arthur, stop," Chano's voice echoed through the room.
Arthur jumped, his face turning paper-white. "Chano? You shouldn't be here. Rico said the lobby was secure!"
Don Rico sighed, checking his gold watch. "The lobby is a mess, Arthur. My brother's obsession provided a distraction, but I didn't expect the 'Master' to be so... persistent. Twins, deal with him."
From the shadows of the racks, two men emerged. They moved with the synchronized precision of predators. They didn't go for their guns—they wanted to finish this quietly.
Chano didn't panic. He reached into his belt and pulled out a small, palm-sized device—a Portable EMP Burster.
"Software is Rina's kingdom," Chano whispered as the Twins closed in. "But in this room, I am the one who decides what stays online."
He triggered the device. The server lights died instantly. The emergency red lights flickered on, casting the room in a bloody hue. The Twins hesitated, their high-tech night-vision goggles suddenly sizzling with static, blinding them.
In that split second of darkness, the Master moved.
Chano didn't fight like a soldier; he fought like a ghost. He used the server racks as cover, striking from the shadows with brutal efficiency. A strike to the throat, a sweep of the legs, a tactical taser to the chest. Within thirty seconds, the two "elite" guards were twitching on the floor.
The Confrontation
Don Rico backed away, his tablet dead in his hands. Arthur was shaking, his hand still on the drive.
"The data is already 90% wiped, Chano!" Arthur yelled. "You can't stop the deletion!"
"I don't need to stop it," Chano said, walking toward them through the red mist of the emergency lights. "I just need to redirect the cache. Rina? You there?"
"Always, Master," Rina's voice came through the speakers, sounding triumphant. "I caught the HR spy. I used their credentials to create a 'Mirror-Drive.' Arthur isn't deleting the evidence—he's sending a copy of it directly to the National Bureau of Investigation."
Arthur's knees buckled. Don Rico looked at Chano, his eyes full of hatred. "This isn't over. You think you can take down a family like mine?"
"I don't need to take you down," Chano said, his hand resting on the server console. "I just deleted your bank accounts. Efficiency is beauty, Rico. And right now, you're looking very ugly."
The traitors are down and the data is safe, but Don Rico still has a lot of powerful friends. Would you like to see the team celebrate their victory back at the penthouse, or should we follow the mysterious 'L' who has been watching the entire fight from the shadows?