The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 14: Under New Shadows

The group didn't slow until they reached the next safehouse. It was a small, nondescript building nestled between a closed pawn shop and an abandoned diner. Victor knocked three times on the back door, and a panel slid open.

"Victor," the man behind the door greeted. "Didn't expect to see you tonight."

"Change of plans, Marcus," Victor said curtly. "Let us in."

The door opened, and they filed into a dimly lit room. Unlike the previous safehouse, this one was far more Spartan. There was a single couch, a foldable table, and a few mismatched chairs.

Victor motioned for Adam to sit. "We'll be safe here for now," he said.

Adam sank into the couch, his mind racing. He opened the system interface, his heart pounding as he prepared to ask his first question of the day.

"Victor," Adam said, looking up from the glowing screen. "I need to understand more about this Leon Vargas. You trust him?"

Victor shrugged. "Trust isn't the word I'd use. Leon's a businessman. As long as you're useful to him, he'll protect you. Cross him, though, and you'll find yourself in deeper trouble than you're in with Jared."

Adam frowned. He didn't like the idea of being a pawn in someone else's game, but his options were limited.

"Why does Leon care so much about Jared?" Adam pressed.

Victor leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Jared's been stepping on Leon's turf for years. Drugs, weapons, money laundering—you name it. Leon doesn't just want Jared out of the picture; he wants to crush him completely. If you can help him do that, you'll be valuable."

---

Adam turned his attention back to the system.

Adam's stomach twisted. "Victor," he said, "Jared's going to use his connections in the police. He's coming after everyone tied to Leon."

Victor cursed under his breath. "Figures. He's desperate."

"We need to warn Leon," Adam said.

Victor nodded. "I'll handle it. You stay here and keep your head down."

---

Victor left the safehouse, leaving Adam alone with Marcus. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint hum of the overhead light.

"So," Marcus said, breaking the tension, "you're the kid causing all this trouble for Jared?"

Adam glanced at him. "I guess you could say that."

Marcus chuckled. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts don't mean much if you're dead."

"Thanks for the pep talk," Adam muttered.

Marcus smirked. "Just saying. Jared's not the kind of guy you mess with and walk away unscathed. You better have a plan."

Adam didn't respond. He didn't have a plan—not yet.

---

Hours passed, and the weight of the situation bore down on Adam. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being pulled deeper into a war he didn't fully understand.

The system's glowing text appeared, breaking the silence:

Adam shot to his feet. "Marcus, we've got a problem."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "What kind of problem?"

"Jared's going after Leon's main base," Adam said. "A raid's about to happen."

Marcus cursed. "We need to warn Victor. Now."

---

Adam didn't waste a question on the system to ask where Leon's operations hub was located. Instead, he trusted Victor would already be on the move.

Adam frowned. Distractive measures? What did that even mean?

"Marcus, do you know how to contact Leon directly?" Adam asked.

Marcus shook his head. "Only Victor has that line. But we can radio him."

"Do it," Adam said.

---

Victor's voice crackled over the radio. "What's wrong?"

"Jared's targeting Leon's base," Marcus said. "We need to warn him now."

"I'm already on it," Victor replied. "Leon's evacuating his people as we speak. Stay put. We can't afford to lose you."

Adam exhaled in relief but couldn't shake his unease. Jared wasn't just after Leon—he was after anyone tied to him, including Adam.

The system's final message of the day appeared, its words heavy with foreboding:

Adam clenched his fists, the glow of the system reflecting in his determined eyes. If Jared wanted to find him, he'd make sure the man regretted it.