Bab 105: Chapter 84 edited
Mr. White, ever the calculating figure, sat calmly in his seat as the opera's somber notes filled the air. He wasn't about to reveal his hand. With a subtle motion, he removed his earpiece and slid it into his pocket, his eyes flicking to the departing guests. He smirked slightly and murmured, "Well, Tosca isn't for everyone."
His girlfriend gave a small nod, her gaze steady, mirroring his calm demeanor.
Meanwhile, in the darkened auditorium, Kage moved with purpose. His eyes scanned the rows, locking onto Mr. White. Kage was a shadow, slipping past unnoticed, a ghost in the crowded hall. As he passed their row, he casually discarded his own earpiece—no more need for it.
Far away, in the heart of the GI Joe Headquarters, Breaker watched the feed transmitted by Kage, the images sharp and detailed on his screens. Every move, every glance was recorded and analyzed.
Back in the Bregenz Opera House, tension was thick in the air. Kage emerged from the auditorium into the grand foyer, just as Greene and his men descended the staircase from their viewing suite. For a heartbeat, everything was still as their eyes met—hunter and prey, but who was which?
Kage's lips curled into a sly smile as he raised a hand in a mocking wave. Greene's eyes narrowed, recognizing the threat. This was no ordinary foe—this was Shadow. He threw Kage a look filled with icy disdain.
The moment held, stretched thin like a wire ready to snap. Then, Greene gave a curt nod to his three bodyguards. The chase was on.
Kage bolted, his feet a blur as he raced through the dining hall. Guns were drawn, shots fired. Diners screamed and ducked for cover, overturning tables as bullets whizzed past. Kage was relentless, taking down two of Greene's henchmen with precise shots before diving into the chaos of the kitchen.
Greene, Elvis, and their driver were already making a hasty exit through the foyer, but Kage wasn't done. In the kitchen, the third bodyguard lunged at him, but Kage moved like lightning, twisting and firing. The bodyguard fell, lifeless. No time to breathe—a fourth man burst in, gun blazing. Kage grabbed a frying pan, tipping it into the flames. A fiery burst exploded between them, giving Kage just enough time to dash through the stairwell exit.
His footsteps echoed as he sprinted up the stairs, the fourth man hot on his heels. But Kage was ready. With a quick tap on his wrist, his suit shimmered and shifted, the stealth mode activating. The colors darkened, the suit's surface absorbing the light. Light blue accents glowed faintly on his biceps, abdomen, and legs, giving him a spectral presence. He vanished, turning invisible to the naked eye.
Kage reached the rooftop, his breath steady, mind focused. With practiced precision, he flicked his wrist, sending the small, deadly device hurtling through the air. It spun silently, its red core glowing ominously, as if sensing the violence to come. The blade struck the ground with a sharp thud, embedding itself deep in the concrete. Cracks spidered out, the red light intensifying, the blinking quickening. A high-pitched beep echoed, a grim countdown that promised destruction.
Without a second glance, Kage leapt from the building's edge, disappearing into the night. The fourth bodyguard burst through the stairwell door, his eyes scanning for his target, but Kage was already gone. Then he heard it—the beeping, rapid and insistent. His eyes widened with realization. He didn't hesitate—he sprinted to the edge and jumped, seconds before the explosion rocked the rooftop, flames erupting into the sky.
Meanwhile, Greene, Elvis, and their driver were rushing down the stairs toward the exit. Greene's voice was sharp with anger and urgency. "Get rid of anything we brought with us. We've been compromised."
As they drove away suddenly, the fourth bodyguard landed with a bone-rattling thud on the hood of their car, dazed and struggling to move. Greene shielded his face, his irritation evident as he growled, "Is he one of ours?"
Elvis, with a nonchalant glance, shook his head. "Non."
Greene's voice dripped with disdain. "Then he shouldn't be looking at me."
The driver, expressionless, stepped out of the car, pulled his gun, and fired twice. The bodyguard slumped lifelessly to the ground. The driver got back in the car, and without a word, they sped off into the night, leaving only echoes of their escape behind.
In the dimly lit office, Breaker swiveled in his chair, eyes glued to the chaotic scene unfolding on his screen. The situation was deteriorating quickly. Without taking his gaze off the screen, he barked out to the AI assistant, "Get me General Hawks."
Meanwhile, across the base, General Hawks was in his study, meticulously reviewing a stack of documents. His wife entered the room, a knowing smile on her face. "Your line," she reminded him gently.
Hawks looked up, smiling back. "Thanks," he said, tapping a specific section of the table. The seemingly ordinary surface transformed, revealing a hidden computer panel embedded within. Leaning closer, he commanded, "Connect call."
A smooth, mechanical voice responded from the panel. "Connecting terminal."
Seconds later, Breaker's voice crackled through the speaker. "We've ID'd the pictures."
Hawks leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Show me."
Images began to appear one by one on the computer panel, each accompanied by detailed dossiers. Breaker's voice filled the room as he explained, "Gregor Karakov, former minister, now owns most of the mines in Siberia. Moishe Soref, ex-Mossad, now a telecom giant, and Guy Haines, special envoy to the Prime Minister."
Hawks grimaced as he processed the information. "Get Kage," he ordered.
Breaker nodded on the other end, then added hesitantly, "There's something else. They're accusing us of shooting Haines' bodyguard and throwing him off a roof. But I saw the live feed from Kage's glasses—he didn't do anything."
Hawks sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Don't worry. Kage probably already has the security feed from the cameras. We'll clear our names soon enough."
Breaker acknowledged this with a nod, and the connection ended.
At the Bregenz Airport, Kage was in top of an abandoned building Kage deactivated his suit and peeled off the Photostatic Veil from his face, revealing his true identity.
Kage then was already moving, tracking Greene's flight, which had landed hours earlier. He blended into the crowd effortlessly, his mind focused on the mission.
Suddenly, his Stark phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, seeing Hawks' name on the screen. He answered, hearing the General's impatient voice on the other end. "Where are you?"
"Did you get my pictures?" Kage responded, keeping his tone low and calm.
"Yes, we did," Hawks confirmed. "But the problem is this conversation. Can you link these people?"
Kage let out a weary sigh. "It's hard. They're careful."
Hawks' voice took on a sharper edge. "You've been accused by Guy Haines of killing his bodyguard. Do you have the security feeds?"
"I do," Kage replied, glancing around to ensure he wasn't being watched. "I got them before they could wipe it. I've already sent them to Breaker."
"Good," Hawks said, his tone softening slightly. "I'm sending another agent to support you. Go meet Mathis—he'll be your guide for this mission."
Kage nodded, ending the call.
Meanwhile, Greene's car sped through the winding streets, Elvis and the driver in tense silence beside him. Greene's mind was racing. He turned to Elvis, his voice cold and clipped.
"Did you get the details of the Shadow's identity from the security feed?" Greene demanded.
Elvis sighed, shaking his head. "Non. It was a fake disguise. The face he used belongs to an MI6 agent who died years ago."
Greene's knuckles whitened as he gripped the door handle, his teeth grinding in frustration. "Damn him," he hissed, staring out the window, plotting his next move.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone