Xo Novel
201
Tony turned, his gaze shifting to the computer beside him, an idea brewing in his mind. His eyes narrowed as a mischievous plan took shape. With a purposeful stride, he crossed the room and powered on the computer, ensuring everything was in order before proceeding.
Despite his tender age, Tony possessed an uncanny swiftness. He stared intently at the dark screen of the computer, anticipation brimming within him. A single red dot emerged, transforming into a string of Ustranian letters in vivid red. He typed furiously, squinting his eyes in concentration. His obsidian eyes, dark and penetrating, remained fixed on the screen. A smile tugged at his lips after a few minutes, knowing that Sam would no longer trouble him. Tony didn’t rush to shut down the computer; instead, he stretched his body, leaning back and tapping the table rhythmically, eagerly awaiting what would come next.
Moments later, the phone rang, cutting through the anticipation. It was Thalia. Tony picked up the call nonchalantly, as if he had all the time in the world. “Hello.” “Sam told me he can’t come tomorrow. You may relax now,” Thalia informed him.
“Okay,” Tony replied with a flat tone, masking his satisfaction. Thalia couldn’t help but wonder why he didn’t express curiosity about Sam’s absence. It was out of character for him. “Aren’t you curious why he’s not coming?” she probed. Thalia knew Tony had his secrets, particularly about his identity. It would make sense for him to show more concern. But then the truth struck her – unless…
“He said there are issues with the goods in Irushea. So he has to rush over there. This has nothing to do with you, right?” Thalia inquired cautiously, sensing that things were not as they seemed. “Really? I’ve only advised Sam to oversee them himself. He ignored my advice, and now his goods are in trouble, aren’t they?” Tony responded, his grin widening.
“I didn’t mention anything about the goods being held…” Thalia gasped, realization dawning upon her. “So it was you?” Tony feigned innocence. “Uh… What are you insinuating? I merely made an educated guess!” he dismissed her accusation.
“Don’t treat me like a fool! How could you be so accurate? You… You’re deliberately driving Sam crazy!” Thalia exclaimed, feeling a growing sense of alarm. Not only was Tony capable of devious schemes, but he executed them with chilling precision. She started to question the true extent of his abilities. Could he indeed possess the alleged God’s point of view? Taking a deep breath, Thalia mustered her courage and asked, “Aren’t you afraid that Sam might give up on the goods just to see you? He’s desperate to uncover your identity.”
“It’s possible,” Tony admitted, pausing to choose his words carefully. “But which do you think he’s more obsessed with – Shadow Seeker’s identity or mine?” Thalia hesitated, pondering the question. “This time, I’d have to wager on Shadow Seeker. You’re a member of Darknetz; it won’t be long before we unveil your true self. But with Shadow Seeker, Sam has been searching for years. He would risk everything to find her as long as there’s a trace of her existence.”All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.
Thalia felt a shift in the conversation, sensing that Tony was leading her somewhere. “What are you getting at? Do you know where Shadow Seeker is?” she pressed, desperation tinged with hope in her voice. Tony maintained his silence, his knowledge lingering in the air. How could he not know? While he intended to exploit his mother in his grand plans, he couldn’t let Sam discover her true location. But he wasn’t willing to go to such lengths… There were other ways to divert Sam’s attention, as long as Tony understood his Achilles’ heel. Thalia hit the mark, noticing the silence on the other end of the line.
“So you do know,” Thalia concluded, stating more than questioning. “No, I don’t,” Tony denied, masking his inner turmoil. “You’re lying!” Thalia accused, her intuition serving as her only ally. Without substantial evidence, she knew she couldn’t prove her claim, but her gut told her otherwise. This boy held secrets far beyond anyone’s comprehension. Still, Tony refused to offer a response. “I’m also here at Moonwalk Pack to search for her, but I’ve lost her trail. If you do know where she is, let me know. It’s essential for me to recruit her into Darknetz.”
“She’ll never join us,” Tony declared, his voice firm and certain. Thalia pressed on, refusing to accept his certainty. “How do you know? Do you even know her?” Thalia demanded, desperate for any shred of information. “It’s been years. If she truly wished to join Darknetz, she would have done so already,” Tony answered, his tone edged with finality. Thalia wasn’t convinced, realizing there was more to his response. “How do we know if we don’t give it a try? If Shadow Seeker joins us, Darknetz will be unstoppable. We’ll have nothing to fear!” she implored.
Tony pursed his lips, grappling with his conflicted emotions. He struggled to find the right words, the truth behind his actions. “Do you know where she is?” Thalia persisted, hoping for a definitive answer. “No!” Tony snapped, his frustration seeping through. “But-” Thalia began, only to be cut off sharply by Tony. “I’ve only encountered her once. That’s how I know she’s at Moonwalk Pack,” he lied, skillfully avoiding any suspicion. Thalia couldn’t fault that statement, though she sensed there was more beneath the surface.
“So, you leaked Shadow Seeker’s location to Sam?” Thalia questioned, trembling with disbelief. “Will he be able to distinguish if I fed him false information?” Tony jested, leaving Thalia speechless. “You’re the worst!” she exclaimed. How could a young boy possess such wickedness? Tony coughed, attempting to brush off her accusation.