The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 16: The Shadow's Warning

The drive back to the safehouse was silent except for the hum of the SUV's engine. The adrenaline of the ambush had worn off, leaving Adam with an ache in his chest. Victor's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, his face set in a grim mask. Marcus sat in the passenger seat, reloading his shotgun methodically, his movements sharp and practiced.

Adam stared out the window, the city lights flickering by like ghosts. His mind swirled with the weight of the last few days. He had no idea how much deeper this rabbit hole could go, but he knew there was no turning back now.

They arrived back at the safehouse, slipping in through the back entrance. Victor locked the door behind them and leaned against it, exhaling heavily.

"We bought Leon some time," Victor said finally, breaking the silence. "But Jared's not going to stop. He'll throw everything he's got at us now."

Adam didn't reply. His eyes were already on the system, waiting for the glowing text to appear.

"Victor," Adam said slowly, "we can't keep playing defense. We need to hit Jared where it hurts."

Victor gave him a hard look. "You've got ideas, kid? Because I'm all ears."

---

Adam didn't answer immediately. Instead, he posed his first question to the system.

Adam relayed the information, his voice steady despite the weight of the revelation.

Marcus whistled low. "A private club? That's not going to be easy to get into."

Victor rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Jared's network goes down, and he's blind and deaf. It's a solid play. But getting in and out without raising alarms is a whole other problem."

Adam posed his next question.

Adam read the answer aloud, and Victor nodded slowly. "Shift change gives us a small window. We'll need to move fast."

Marcus leaned back in his chair, smirking. "So, we're breaking into a club now? Sounds like fun."

---

The team spent the next few hours preparing. Marcus procured uniforms that matched the club staff's attire, while Victor went over the building's blueprints. Adam studied the layout intently, committing the details to memory.

As the clock ticked closer to the operation, the weight of what they were about to do pressed down on Adam.

Adam took a deep breath. He couldn't afford to hesitate now.

---

The club was an imposing structure, its neon sign glowing softly against the night sky. Adam, Victor, and Marcus parked a block away, blending into the shadows as they approached.

The employee entrance was exactly where the system had described. Workers in crisp uniforms filed in and out, their chatter muffled by the hum of the city.

Victor motioned for them to move. They slipped into the line of employees, their stolen uniforms helping them blend in seamlessly.

Inside, the club was a maze of corridors and locked doors. The thrum of bass from the main floor vibrated through the walls, a stark contrast to the sterile quiet of the employee area.

Victor led the way, his movements precise and confident. They reached the manager's office without incident, and Marcus worked quickly to pick the lock.

The office was small and cluttered, papers and binders strewn across the desk. Adam's eyes immediately went to the computer.

"Cover me," Adam said, sitting down and powering on the device.

The system's glowing text appeared as he typed:

"Got it," Adam said, relaying the number to Victor.

---

The server room was their next target. It was tucked away at the end of a long corridor, its door guarded by a burly man who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

Marcus took the lead, approaching the guard with a confident stride. "Hey, boss said to give you a break. We'll cover here for a bit."

The guard frowned but didn't argue. He muttered something under his breath and walked off, leaving the door unguarded.

Victor entered the passcode, and the door clicked open.

Inside, the server room was cold and humming with the sound of machinery. Rows of blinking lights cast eerie shadows across the walls.

"Let's make this quick," Victor said, pulling out a small device. He plugged it into one of the servers, watching as its screen lit up.

"This'll take a few minutes," he said.

---

Minutes felt like hours as they waited. The tension in the air was suffocating, each sound amplified by their nerves.

Finally, Victor's device beeped. "Got it," he said, pulling it free.

They exited the server room as quietly as they had entered, retracing their steps back to the employee entrance.

As they slipped into the night, Adam felt a flicker of hope. They had struck a blow against Jared, one that would cripple his operations.

But the system's final message of the day tempered his optimism:

Adam clenched his fists. The war wasn't over—it was only just beginning.