8 The End of the Game

    48 Pearls

    bAs /bsoon as Stephen’s threats fell, one of the Montedra military officers standing beside Landon let bout /ba bcold /bugh. “Dream on. You think our unity iis /ias fragile as your power games? In Montedra, every citizenb–/bbfrom /bscientists to the people on the streets–is fighting tooth and w to stop this virus. You don’t get bto /bbscream /bfrom a cage and pretend you’re still important.

    Tessa ignored the prisoner’s ranting. Calmly, she retrieved a transparent vial from her portable cold bcase /band stepped toward the cell.

    Stephen’sposure cracked. He lunged for the bars, panicked. “What are you doing?!”

    “If you’re so confident in the virus you created,” Tessa said evenly, her tone utterly tranquil, “why not test it on yourself?”

    Before he could react, the syringe was already in her hand. With a clean, practiced push, the needle sank into his arm.

    Cold serum flowed into his veins. Stephen’s eyes flew wide.

    “You-! How dare-” He tried to charge forward-

    Landon’s boot mmed into his chest,unching him into the back wall of the cell.

    Without a word, Landon stepped forward again, nting his polished shoe squarely on Stephen’s hand. A sharp crack followed by a scream cut through the cell as bone gave way.

    “You think you can touch her?” Landon’s voice was frigid. “If you’re so fond of spreading viruses, then you can enjoy the result yourself.”

    Stephen shook, trembling from the pain, but his eyes still burned with venom. “You’ll regret this… The moment I die, my backup copy of the Z Project will auto–upload to the Yalvaria Council. Montedra’s going to burn.”

    “Oh?” Tessa lifted a small USB stick between two fingers. “You mean ithis /ibackup? The one hidden in the Council’s server? We cracked itst night.”

    Stephen’s face went chalk–white.

    The military officer gave Tessa a look of unhidden admiration. “Ms. Tessa, I heard you’vepleted the antidote. This entire nation owes you a debt.”

    “I only did my part,” she replied, slipping the syringe away. Everyone’s worked for this. I’m just one of many.”

    “Let’s go.”

    Landon’s fingers closed around hers as he gently led her out of the cell block.

    Behind them, Michael looked at the crumpled figure on the floor and shook his head. “Blind to the end.”

    Stephen’s cries turned into muffled sobs.

    He finally understood: he had lost from the beginning.

    He had lost to Montedra’s unity. He had lost to Tessa’s brilliance. He had lost to Landon’s unshakable will.

    Chapter b583 /bThe End of bthe /bbGame /b

    18 Pearls

    bAs /bbthey /bbexited /bthe military base, Landon finally broke the silence. “Tessab… /bis there bany /bbway /bbyou /bbcan /bbstep /baway from theb, even briefly?”

    bHer /bbsteps /bhalted. She turned to him sharply, panic flickering in her eyes. “Why? What happenedb?/bb” /b

    Her voice trembled. There was only one reason Landon would bring this up–one person.

    Her grandfather.

    Landon’s silence was answer enough.

    Michael sighed. “Go see him, Tessa. I’ll take care of the remaining adjustments to the antidote. I promiseb.” /b

    Landon took her hand. It was cold and trembling. “No matter what happens,” he said softly, “I’ll be right there.”

    Tessa’s fingers curled against his palm. She had known–deep down–for days. But knowing didn’t make it hurt any less. Her voice was barely a whisper. “Okay.”

    They didn’t speak again. The drive was long, but heavy with unspoken emotions.

    When the car stopped in front of the hospital, Tessa sat frozen at the bottom of the steps, staring at the ss doors ahead. Her feet felt like they were made of lead.

    Landon stood behind her and gently pressed a hand to her back. “Come on,” he said quietly. “He’s been waiting a long time.”

    He knew: the only reason the old man was still breathing was because he wanted to see his granddaughter onest time.

    Sunlight streamed over their sped hands, silent but steady, as if trying to lend them strength.

    Tessa inhaled deeply.