Chapter 202: The First Test-1
The silence lingered.
Not stunned-
Measured.
Damien’s gaze stayed on the man sitting across from him.
His face.
His voice.
His presence.
Perfectly replicated.
Not an imitation. Not even close.
Exact.
His eyes narrowed slightly-not in disbelief, but calculation.
Useful.
+25 Points
But Damien Blackwood was not a man who accepted anything at face value-no matter how
impressive they appeared on the surface.
Because something like this wasn’t just useful-it was dangerous.
In the wrong hands, it wouldn’t just deceive-it would destroy. Identities could be stolen, trust could be manipulated, entire systems could collapse under something this precise, this flawless.
His gaze shifted briefly between the men wearing the masks, sharp and assessing.
Control. That was what mattered.
Not the technology itself-but the people behind it.
Because a tool like this demanded more than skill. It required absolute loyalty, discipline, and restraint. The kind that didn’t crack under pressure, didn’t waver when tested.
Anything less – Would be a liability.
Across from him, Ashcroft leaned back slowly, eyes still fixed on Cruz-on himself. His jaw
tightened, irritation flickering beneath the surface.
“…I don’t like it,” he said flatly.
16
|||
Chapter 202 The First Test 1
Cruz tilted his head, the movement eerily identical. “You don’t have to.”
Ashcroft’s own voice answered him.
That did it.
Ashcroft leaned forward slightly, eyes sharpening. “Yeah,” he muttered. “That’s exactly the
problem.”
Hudson remained silent, composed, still wearing Damien’s face like it belonged to him.
The tension began to rise again-
Until Damien moved.
Just a slight shift forward.
“Enough.”
One word.
And that was all it took.
The room settled instantly.
+25 Ports
Ashcroft leaned back again, exhaling slowly through his nose. The tension didn’t fully leave him- but it folded back under control, where it belonged.
For now.
On the screen, Harper grinned, eyes practically sparkling.
“Okay… now that’s impressive.”
Her tone had shifted-less teasing, more admiration.
“With this?” she continued, gesturing slightly. “No one will question a thing.”
Damien finally looked at her.
“Good.”
A pause.
Then-
“We proceed.”
The words landed simply.
Decisively.
16
O
Chapter 202 The First Test-1
And that was that.
A brief silence followed-short, but weighted.
Then Monroe spoke, as composed as ever.
“And if someone looks closer?”
That shifted the room.
Not panic. Not doubt.
Just awareness.
Because that was the real question.
Harper didn’t answer immediately this time.
For once, she actually paused to think.
And in that rare moment, something shifted.
A flicker passed through her eyes-sharp, dark, unmistakably serious.
Gone was the bubbly, carefree Harper Lin they were used to.
In her place stood someone else entirely.
Colder. Heavier. Dangerous.
Not the PR employee.
+25 Points
But the Oyabun of the Takahashi Empire-the woman who now ruled one of the most powerful and dangerous dynasties in existence.
“If someone looks close enough,” she said slowly, “then it won’t matter what face you’re wearing.”
Hudson’s lips curved faintly. On Damien’s face, the expression carried a darker weight-sharper,
more dangerous than it should have been. It wasn’t just the mask. Hudson himself carried his own
kind of danger-far from some random soldier. He was lethal, born and built for this.
“Then they’re already a problem.”
Beside him, Cruz-wearing Ashcroft’s face-tilted his head slightly, his gaze darkening.
“And what better way to handle problems…”
A brief pause.
“…than to eliminate them.”
16
O
Chapter 202 The First Test 1
+25 Points
Harper nodded lightly. “Mmhmm… Snaggletooth and Nibble have been quite lonely lately. They could use some playmates.”
Monroe blinked. “I’m sorry-who?”
Cruz answered without hesitation. “Ms. Harper’s pets.”
A pause.
“Two great whites.”
The room went still.
“They’re housed near our main base,” he continued calmly. “The island operates off-grid-same
location where we run the Takahashi cyber intelligence network across North America.”
His tone remained even.
“The surrounding waters are secured with submerged reinforced barriers set deep enough that smaller marine life can pass through unnoticed. To anything larger…” he paused slightly, “it’s a closed perimeter.”
Comments
LUCK DRAW >
16
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.