"Complicated?" At this, Michael was on high alert. "Is the Sigma Network there in force?"


    "No." The man stammered, intimidated by the terrifyingly powerful presence of the silent man opposite him. "There are only three of them."


    "We''re on our way now."


    Michael, though confused, gathered the others and rushed to the hotel. They had braced themselves for any number of scenarios-a full-blown shootout, or perhaps a trapid by the Sigma Network''s leader, waiting for them to walk right into it.


    But they never could have imagined this—the leader of the Sigma Network, with the door wide open, seemingly waiting for them. It was too bizarre.


    "You are...?" Michael asked tentatively, aiming his gun at Shanley.


    "The leader of the Sigma Network." Shanley cut him off, revealing his identity without hesitation. "I''m the one who sent the invitation."


    This bizarre turn of events left the five veterans utterly bewildered. Was he just turning himself in? They were skeptical. After all, the leader of the Sigma Network they knew of wasn''t this foolish.


    "Are you really the leader of the Sigma Network?" Michael asked, confused.


    Hadn''t Specter said their leader was a man in his fifties or sixties? This guy looked thirty at most.


    "Of course,” Shanley admitted without hesitation. Fearing they wouldn''t believe him, he added casually, "Three days ago, Specter and I shed on an uninhabited ind in Moralia Country. Her subordinate was captured, and she went in alone to rescue him. If you still don''t believe me, I can log into the Sigma Network''s backend."


    As he spoke, Shanley turned hisputer screen toward the people at the door.


    The five veterans exchanged shocked nces. The incident had been highly ssified; they had only learned about itter. And he could log into the backend- the leader''s personal ount.


    So, was this man really the leader of the Sigma Network?


    "Don''t move!" Once his identity was confirmed, all five of them raised their guns in unison, aiming at the man in the room. "What are you doing in Australis? And why do you want to see Specter?"


    They knew how skilled the Sigma Network''s leader was. If a fight broke out, none of them would be a match for him.


    "I have some business with her," Shanley replied, his tone conciliatory.


    "Cut the crap, Catherine scoffed, her mind sharp as a tack. “Subterra Vanguard and the Sigma Networke are mortal enemies There''s no reconciliation possible, you must have some other motive for wanting to see Specter."


    Shanley frowned and was about to exin when Robert''s voice cut in.


    "Whether you''re the real deal or not, you''ve fallen into our hands today," Robert said with a broad,


    unapologetic grin. "Specter will know for sure if you''re the leader


    the


    Sigma Network when she sees you."


    If he wasn''t, he was certainly connected to him. And if he was-Subterra Vanguard had hit the jackpot. Capturing the leader of the Sigma Network meant they would no longer have to live in fearof being targeted.


    "Are we leaving now?" Hearing he would get to see Specter, Shanley couldn''t contain himself and stepped forward.


    "Don''t move!" Michael warned, his gun steady and his tone grave. "If you move again, I can''t guarantee where this bullet willnd."


    Shanley stood his ground, shrugging off his suit jacket with a surprisingly calm demeanor. "You can tie me up."


    The Subterra Vanguard members were stunned. This all felt like a dream. Just two days ago, he''d let Specter and Lue go, and now he was willingly walking into his own demise?


    Their suspicion grew: Specter must have drugged the leader of the Sigma Network. What kind of drug was it? This stuff was potent!