Upon hearing the butler’s suggestion, Sawyer hesitated, his expression darkening.
"You want me to go to Sawyer? Impossible! You know damn well Sawyer and I have never seen eye to eye. Begging him is out of the question!"
Sawyer immediately waved the idea away, his refusal absolute.
Watching this visceral reaction, Jax felt a pang of helplessness. The dynamics were becoming all too clear. The Helios Syndicate operated less like a family and more like a cutthroat corporation. Sawyer and his eldest brother were akin to rival department heads, brothers in blood but enemies in practice. They fought overtly and covertly, locked in a cold war to impress the patriarch and secure the position of the next CEO.
It was a cliché straight out of a prime-time drama, yet an inescapable reality for a dynasty like theirs.
If Sawyer went to his brother on his knees to beg for Jax’s sake, he would permanently lose standing within the Syndicate. He would be "half a head shorter" than Sawyer from that day forward. Any hope of ascending the hierarchy would vanish, replaced by a life of owing favors and being checkmated at every turn.
Jax had no desire to drown in the murky waters of their internal family politics.
After a moment of deliberation, Jax decided patience was the safer play.
"Brother Sawyer," Jax said, breaking the silence. "You said you could handle the identity issue yourself. It won't drag on too long, right?"
Sawyer quickly puffed out his chest, eager to regain face. "Don't you worry. Give me three more days. I guarantee I’ll have it settled for you!"
"Three days..." Jax forced a bitter smile and nodded.
Three days was an eternity. He had zero intelligence on the status of his fortress. In this apocalypse, anything could happen in the blink of an eye.
Communication was currently limited to physical letters, a method Jax found woefully insecure. He didn't trust the messengers. If a courier peeked at his correspondence and his secrets were exposed, it wouldn't just be his property at risk—it would be his life.
Yet, he couldn't simply sit here while the clock ticked. Outside, the Black Rain continued to fall, though its intensity had waned significantly. Jax estimated the rain would cease completely within a week.
And when the Black Rain stopped, the Insect Swarm would erupt.
If he wasn't back at his fortress to command the defenses, resisting the Swarm would be a mathematical impossibility. Anxiety gnawed at him. He glanced out the window at the weeping sky and sighed.
"Damn it. Why is nothing ever easy?"
Jax shook his head, retiring to his room to rest. But he had barely laid down when a flash of light swept across his window, followed by the sharp, rhythmic honk of a car horn.
He peered through the glass. A sleek, silver-gray Mercedes had pulled up to the villa’s entrance, its headlights cutting through the gloom.
A middle-aged man stepped out first. He wore a refined, tailored suit and wire-rimmed glasses. The rain blurred the details, but Jax felt a nagging sense of familiarity.
He was followed by a second man—shorter, but radiating the unmistakable aura of authority.
The villa’s front door opened. The butler, holding a large black umbrella, rushed out to shield the guests. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he ushered them inside.
Jax remained in his room on the first floor, lying still. The walls were thin enough that the conversation from the foyer drifted clearly to his ears.
"Mr. Sawyer, my apologies for the late intrusion!"
"Haha! It’s no trouble at all. I was just wondering what brings Director Kaine to my humble abode at this hour?"
"Well, nothing major! Just needed to verify a few things. Do you have a moment?"
"For you, Director? Always. Butler, serve the tea!"
"Director Kaine, Dr. Aris, please, come in."
Dr. Aris.
Lying on the bed, Jax’s eyes narrowed. He instantly placed the man in the glasses.
It’s him again.
His mind raced back to dinner, when Vance had stopped by. Jax hadn't been eavesdropping intentionally, but his senses were sharp. He recalled Vance mentioning that "Sawyer"—Sawyer’s brother—was helping Dr. Aris fix a critical failure, something involving a competition and a specific blueprint.
The Penetrator Ballista.
Jax slapped his forehead. Of course! Dr. Aris is Sawyer's man. He’s in deep trouble with the Penetrator Ballista project and needs a solution fast. And I’m the only one who knows how to fix it.
Footsteps approached his door. Jax quickly settled back against the pillows, feigning sleep.
Knock, knock.
"Ahem! Brother Jax? Are you asleep?"
Jax waited a calculated two seconds before answering, his voice groggy. "Oh, Brother Sawyer? What’s up?"
"Sorry to wake you! The Chief Designer from the Defense Tower R&D Center, Dr. Aris, wants to have a word. Is it convenient?"
Jax’s mind whirred.
Dr. Aris was an arrogant, condescending prick who worked for Sawyer’s rival. Helping him would undoubtedly irritate Sawyer. However, Sawyer was a decent ally, while Aris had already insulted Jax to his face. Furthermore, Sawyer—who employed men like Aris—was likely just as unsavory. If Jax helped Sawyer directly, he risked being targeted or exploited by the main branch of the family.
But... this was leverage.
Jax grinned in the dark. He stood up, slid into his slippers, and opened the door.
"Brother Sawyer, I’m awake. Come in."
In the hallway stood Sawyer, looking tense, flanked by a smiling Director Kaine and a visibly awkward Dr. Aris.
"Well, if it isn't Director Kaine and Chief Designer Aris," Jax said, leaning against the doorframe. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Sawyer offered a helpless smile. "Haha, I see you’re already acquainted! I won't bore you with introductions, then. Essentially... Dr. Aris here needs a favor."
As he spoke, Sawyer shot Jax a desperate, pleading look. Play along, but remember whose side you're on.
Jax caught the signal. He flashed a subtle, knowing smile in return. I got you.
Sawyer’s shoulders relaxed visibly. He had wanted to prep Jax beforehand, but the silent understanding between them was enough.
The group moved to the living room. Jax took a seat, cradling a warm cup of tea, and looked directly at the Chief Designer.
"So, Dr. Aris. What exactly can I do for you?"
Dr. Aris let out a dry, strangled laugh. He didn't know where to start. Only hours ago, he had dismissed this young man as a fraudulent freeloader. Now, he had to beg him for salvation.
Seeing his Chief Designer floundering, Director Kaine stepped in smoothly.
"Ahem! It’s like this. This afternoon, I received a set of blueprints from Mr. Sawyer. I was informed they were your handiwork. I simply had to come and meet the genius behind the design! I didn't expect our mysterious architect to be so young."
Jax smiled politely, giving away nothing. "Director Kaine is too kind. I’m no genius, just a hobbyist."
"You are far too modest!" Kaine waved his hand dismissively. "To draft such schematics requires exceptional skill. Rest assured, I will be reporting your talents to headquarters personally. By the way... I heard you have a partnership with the Helios Syndicate?"
Jax glanced at Sawyer. The "Mr. Sawyer" looked like he had swallowed a lemon.
Sawyer was regretting everything. The contract he had signed with Jax was technically with the Helios Syndicate, not with Sawyer personally. He had failed to lock Jax down as his exclusive asset. Back then, Jax had just been a strong fighter; Sawyer hadn't known he was a master architect.
He silently cursed his lack of due diligence. He had treated Jax as a Physical Awakener, but looking at him now—the spatial manipulation, the complex blueprints—it was obvious Jax was a rare Psionic Awakener.
And now, the sharks were circling.
Jax took a sip of tea, enjoying the tension. He looked at Kaine and smiled.
"Yes, we have a cooperative relationship. I help the Helios Syndicate with a few small matters, and the Syndicate provides me with shelter. Simple as that."
Director Kaine’s eyes lit up. He leaned forward, bypassing Sawyer completely.
"Haha! In that case, would Brother Jax be interested in becoming an official designer for the main branch of the Helios Syndicate?"
Sawyer’s face went rigid.
Motherfucker! He’s poaching him right in front of my face!