In the top-floor office.
The glow of the holographic screen fell across Lucian's handsome face. Reclining in his spacious leather chair, he slowly tapped his fingers against the armrest as he watched the test subjects on the surveillance feed. Having stamped their fingerprints, they were heading out, their faces full of awe and unconcealable excitement.
"Sir, the first-stage data for all five thousand subjects has been archived," Jade Balance's voice sounded at just the right moment. "There are 4,210 LV3 physical enhancers, 520 energy projection types, and 270 special types. The physical readings of those 280 suspected spies are all within normal thresholds. No second-stage mutations have been detected so far."
"They're behaving themselves for now." The corners of Lucian's mouth slowly lifted, the mockery in his eyes undisguised. "But they only respect the rules because those slaps hurt enough. Once they leave this building, once the cameras outside start flashing, once they're back among the resources they can fall back on... the greed and ambition buried in their hearts will grow like weeds."
Lucian casually switched off the holographic projection.
The blue light faded, and the office grew dim again.
"Don't worry about who those spies take the samples to. Let them analyze them and knock themselves out." Lucian stood, looking down over the bustling city below. "Have the field units get the suppression modules ready."
"The show has only just begun."
On the street below, the first batch of subjects to finish signing their agreements finally pushed open Vought Tower's heavy doors. Blinding flashes merged into a blaze of daylight, shutters clicked furiously, and the eyes of the entire world focused on them at that moment.
The crowd outside erupted.
The various forces lurking in the shadows finally extended their claws as well.
In the shade cast by