TAP.....TAP.....TAP...
After a few quick taps on the microphone, Thomas inhaled, then turned to face the camera positioned before him.
"Greetings, citizens of Prov Island."
The island seemed to pause as markets grew quiet and conversations stopped mid sentence.
"We've all faced a difficult month adapting to sudden change, especially during the evacuation of residents near the test site."
He paused, letting his words settle before continuing.
"We must watch out for one another now more than ever. All I ask is that you hold on a little longer and trust me to lead our clan through this."
He stepped back from the podium, bowed once to the cameras, and the feed cut to black.
The moment Thomas turned away, his expression hardened, every trace of warmth erased.
Six guards in dark suits moved to escort him to the car.
The car rolled through the city, and Thomas watched the aftermath of the Pillars' assault.
His people moved through the wreckage, slowly restoring what had been damaged.
Thomas's reflection lingered in the car window, eyes tired but sharp.
Smoke rose from distant streets, and the soft sounds of rebuilding drifted through the air.
He knew he had to act before things went from bad to worse.
Thomas sat quietly for the rest of the ride, legs crossed and eyes closed, letting the silence settle around him.
When they reached headquarters, Thomas and his guards made their way to the massive gates.
He halted there and turned to his men.
"No one goes in or out unless I authorize it. Understood?"
"Understood, sir."
As Thomas made his way toward his office, the massive gates closed behind him with a slow, heavy rumble.
Inside his office, he secured the door and windows.
With a light tap on his watch band, a concealed elevator opened beside the fireplace.
Before the elevator could descend, Thomas punched in a code and swiped his eye over the scanner.
As the elevator descended deep beneath the headquarters, he shrugged off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, muscles tensing in anticipation of what lay ahead.
Thomas caught a glimpse of his slightly messy golden hair falling along the sides of his face.
He pushed it back into place, and for the first time in a long while, he noticed how tired he looked.
After a few seconds, the elevator slowed and came to a stop.
Thomas stepped into the hidden lab beneath the headquarters, where the science team worked nonstop.
He entered the lab, its wide interior unfolding beyond the small doorway, a sight he had long grown familiar with.
Thomas has expanded the lab to its full capacity, filling it with machines, cables, supercomputers, healing tanks, and specialized research stations, every addition driven by his need to stay ahead, no matter the cost.
Additionally, a secured section held humans and beasts behind dim glass.
He passed them as if they were nothing more than equipment.
In the center of the lab, a healing tank hovered a few inches above the floor, its pale fluid glowing faintly with an unnatural light.
Thomas laid his jacket on the desk and walked directly toward the floating tank.
"Science team, give me a full report."
"Sir, we successfully extracted all remaining poison from the subject. His vitals have stabilized, and he should regain consciousness within six hours."
"Excellent work."
With a satisfied smile, Thomas placed his hand on the healing tank.
The cold radiating from it seeped into his skin, sending a slow shiver down his spine.
"When can we proceed to the next phase?"
A long, awkward silence followed Thomas's question, and it immediately infuriated him.
"I said, when can we proceed to the next phase?"
His eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened, the fury in his voice echoing through the lab.
"Sir, with all due respect, we have to be careful. If the king discovers what's happening down here, he'll wipe out everyone on this island without hesitation."
Thomas appeared frustrated and impatient.
"This time, the AC-project has to succeed. We don't have much time left."
"Sir, I understand that we are running short on time, but we must be patient and act wisely."
Rage surged through Thomas as he paced in front of the healing tank, jaw tight, breath sharp.
Suddenly, he lunged forward, gripping a lab assistant by the collar and yanking them into his line of sight.
"Send the outside team. Use every resource necessary to speed this up. We don't have time to wait. Just get it done."
The entire science team froze, terror written across their faces. Every one of them knew that a single mistake now could cost them their lives.
Thomas lingered for a moment, eyes fixed on the healing tank, then exhaled sharply and made his way back upstairs to his office.
"Notify me as soon as he wakes up."
He stepped into the elevator, the science team quietly returning to their work, and before the doors could close, his fist slammed against the thick metal, blood seeping from his knuckles.
Breathing hard, Thomas pressed himself against the wall, letting the rage simmer.
'The AC project has to be successful, or the V-clan will perish in the near future, and we will never see another day.'
YOU ARE READING
UNIFIED W
FantasyIn this world where people have crystal powers, fate chose Kai to once again reunite the seven clans, who are in a constant civil war with each other for centuries. Although Kai were chosen, his path is full of despair and pain, but a voice keeps te...
