The city never slept, and neither did its hunters.
Ochieng sat in the dimly lit penthouse, the skyline stretching endlessly before him. He could feel it—danger lurking in every corner. The call had been a warning. A ghost from his past. But which one?
Tielen poured himself a drink. "You look like a man ready for war."
Ochieng smirked. "War was always inevitable."
A knock on the door.
Sienna's voice from the other side. "They've made their move."
Ochieng exhaled slowly. "Show me."
---
In the underground intelligence center, screens flickered with classified data.
Sienna pulled up an encrypted file. "The call was traced. It came from someone we assumed was dead."
The name appeared on the screen.
Kieran Aldrin.
Ochieng's eyes narrowed. "That's impossible."
Kieran Aldrin had been buried years ago. A man whose death was necessary for the balance of power.
Tielen cracked his knuckles. "Well, he's back. And he's making sure you know it."
Ochieng felt a slow rage building. This wasn't a warning. It was a challenge.
---
Outside, a convoy of black SUVs pulled up to a secluded warehouse. Armed men stepped out, their movements sharp and practiced.
A familiar face emerged from the shadows—Kieran Aldrin.
His smirk was as sharp as ever. "Let's see if Ochieng still knows how to play."
He gestured to his men. "Surround the city. Cut off his exits. We end this before sunrise."
---
Back at the penthouse, Ochieng leaned over the table, eyes locked on the map of Emerald City.
Sienna studied him. "What's the plan?"
Ochieng's voice was calm. "We let them think they have the upper hand."
Tielen grinned. "And then?"
Ochieng's gaze turned ice-cold. "We remind them who they're dealing with."
The pieces were in place. The game had begun.
And only one king would remain standing.
--