บท 109: Chapter 87 edited
The night air clung heavily to the remnants of the decaying stone walls of the old property, vines crawling up its facade like ghosts from a forgotten era. Lights flickered inside the Greene Planet Ecopark Fundraiser, turning the once-abandoned structure into a vibrant, throbbing party. The DJ's beats pulsed against the aging stone, a stark contrast to the slow disintegration of the world outside.
Kage and Fields arrived in a sleek car, pulling up to the entrance with an air of understated confidence. As the vehicle's door opened, they stepped out into the scene, each donning the sleek anonymity of their Photostatic Veils.
Kage's voice was low and steady, meant only for Fields. "So, my name is Lucius's Fox. Are you still going with Strawberry Fields?"
Fields cast a sidelong glance, her lips curving slightly. "Fields is good."
Kage smiled faintly, acknowledging her choice. "Fields it is."
The two moved seamlessly through the crowd, confidence exuding from their every step. At the entrance, Kage handed their tickets to the doorman, who nodded with a smile. "Buenas," he said, a greeting both warm and professional.
Inside, the party was in full swing. A sea of guests dressed in their finest mingled beneath the high ceilings, drinks in hand, their laughter and conversation barely audible over the thumping bassline. Kage grabbed two wine glasses from a passing tray, offering one to Fields, who accepted with a slight grimace, her eyes scanning the room.
The night shifted as the hundreds of fundraiser attendees turned their gaze upwards toward a balcony. There stood Dominic Greene, sharply dressed and proudly wearing his Quantum lapel badge. The lights cast a stark shadow across his face as he addressed the crowd.
"We are in a spiral of environmental decline," Greene began, his voice echoing with gravity. "Since 1945, 17% of the planet's vegetated surface has been irreversibly degraded. The Tierra Project is just one small part of a global network of Eco Parks that Greene Planet has created to rejuvenate a world on the verge of collapse. I hope that tonight, you'll make the decision to be part of that. Thank you."
As Greene's speech ended, applause swept across the room, but Kage's attention was elsewhere. Among the shifting figures of the crowd, he spotted Mathis whispering to the police Colonel. Something about the exchange drew Kage's attention, sharpening his instincts.
On the mezzanine, Greene basked in the aftermath of his speech. Investors surrounded him, congratulating him, their smiles hiding deeper intentions. Greene accepted each word with practiced charm, his eyes flitting toward the guests below.
On the first floor, Mathis guided the Colonel toward Kage and Fields. "Miss Fields, Mr. Fox, this is my friend, Carlos."
Fields extended a polite smile, offering her hand. "Pleased to meet you."
The Colonel nodded, his voice smooth and controlled. "Ma'am. Mr. Fox, Mathis has spoken a great deal about you. I want you to know my entire police force is at your disposal."
Kage offered a knowing nod, his eyes briefly flickering to the Colonel before responding. "Well, that could be very useful."
As the Colonel excused himself to mingle elsewhere, Mathis leaned in close to Kage, his voice barely a whisper. "The bastard's good at acting. If we hadn't done that last-minute check like you suggested, we'd be walking into a trap."
Kage's expression remained neutral, but his eyes darkened. "Let him play his role. We'll give him a surprise."
Mathis and Fields exchanged glances, each understanding the silent strategy in play.
On the mezzanine, Greene stood like a king holding court, surrounded by environmental activists and Greene Planet supporters. The air buzzed with self-congratulation, investors eager to secure a piece of the eco-empire.
A sharp-dressed man, INVESTOR 2, leaned in towards Greene, his voice tinged with concern. "You know, there are people in this country spending half their paycheck just to get clean water. What do you think of that?"
Greene, never one to miss a beat, responded smoothly, "The Bolivian government is the problem. They cut down the trees, then act surprised when the water and the soil wash out to sea."
MALE INVESTOR 1, pulling out a checkbook with a practiced flourish, added, "I couldn't agree more. I hope this figure is to your liking."
Before Greene could respond, Camille appeared from the shadows, her presence both graceful and dangerous. She slid her arm around Greene, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she addressed the investors, "Chéri, you shouldn't tease. Why don't you tell them about all the land you bought up outside Potosí?"
On the first floor, Kage observed the scene with Fields, Mathis, and the Colonel. His enhanced eyesight allowed him to read every word from Camille's lips, her revelations cutting through the noise of the fundraiser like a blade. Without turning, he spoke quietly to the Colonel. "It's been a pleasure. Will you excuse me?"
The Colonel nodded, his polite facade unwavering. "Of course."
Kage leaned down, planting a light kiss on Fields' cheek before slipping away, his movements quiet and deliberate, making his way toward the mezzanine.
Camille's voice, now more pointed, continued to cut through the polite conversation above. "Somehow the logging rights went to a multinational corporation that cut down the forests, but only after our last government sold the land to Greene Planet."
Greene's laugh was tight, strained, his embarrassment barely concealed as he played for the audience. "Or have I got my facts crossed?" Camille added with a smirk.
Greene frowned, his eyes darting to the investors as he tried to regain control of the narrative. "Yes, I think you did. You'll excuse us?" he said, steering Camille away from the crowd, his grip on her arm tightening.
Elvis, Greene's henchman, stepped in to address the investors left in the wake of the exchange. "What a wonderful night," he said, smoothly redirecting their attention.
As they walked among the guests, Greene hissed at Camille, his mask of charm slipping. "You just cost me quite a bit of money, darling."
Camille, unfazed, replied with a smirk, "You can't put a price on integrity."
Greene's lips curled in a predatory grin. "I can try."
The tension between them was palpable, but behind Greene's frustration lay something far more dangerous—a man used to winning, now backed into a corner. Unseen by either of them, Kage was closing in, watching them.
The atmosphere in the Greene Planet fundraiser continued to simmer with tension, unnoticed by most of the guests, but those involved were far from relaxed. Greene, still trying to regain control after Camille's earlier remarks, shook hands with another guest while muttering to her, "Tell me you didn't drop by tonight just to piss on my parade. Or are you still after that General's head for your mantel?"
Camille, unfazed, smirked and shot back, "A little of both. Tell me where Medrano is and maybe you won't lose any more investors."
Kage, stalking them from a distance, could easily overhear their conversation. He continued to tail them as they reached the edge of the mezzanine, where the cracked stone railing left nothing between them and a long drop below. Greene feigned sadness as he replied, "You're really breaking my heart, choosing an insect like that over me."
Camille raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to throw me over?"
Greene, with cold calculation, responded, "No. You've been drinking, so maybe you slipped."
Camille, sensing the danger but refusing to show it, coolly responded, "Just think how much you'd miss me." She leaned in and kissed him, but Greene remained cold, unresponsive. With sudden violence, he shoved the broken section of the railing, causing it to shift slightly, making Camille jolt back.
Before anything could escalate further, Kage intervened, approaching smoothly and saying, "Good evening," his voice cool as ice. Turning to Camille, he added, "There you are."
At that moment, Elvis was walking up behind the trio, his movements deliberate, but Fields, watching from below, noticed the situation and excused herself from Mathis and the Colonel. "Would you excuse me?" she said politely, before walking toward the staircase.
As Fields left, Colonel said to Mathis."Come with me, old friend."he gestured for Mathis to follow him down the stone stairwell. Mathis suspected a trap but played along. Once they reached the basement, Mathis took his chance. Under the guise of camaraderie, he pressed the contact behind his signet ring into the Colonel's hand. The 50,000-volt shock dropped the Colonel immediately.
Knowing his face could be recognized, Mathis quickly applied the Photostatic Veil to mask his identity. With his new disguise in place, he dashed towards the exit, making his way to the car to support Kage.
Upstairs, Greene observed Kage closely, though his face was different. "Shadow from GI Joes, what a pleasure," Greene sneered. "But be careful with her. She won't go to bed with you unless you offer something irresistible. A shame—she's quite stunning when you get her on her back."
Camille, unimpressed, shot back. "I wish I could say the feeling was mutual."
Kage, unphased by Greene's sleazy comment, looked directly at him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Greene, but we have to go."
Greene knew he was cornered, unable to act without drawing unwanted attention. "Please, my friends call me Dominic," he replied, his voice dripping with forced politeness.
Kage smiled faintly. "I'm sure they do."
As they started descending the stairs, Greene, desperate to get in one last dig, called after them, "You two make a charming couple, though it won't end well for either of you."
Elvis, determined to stop them, rushed down the stairs but was abruptly tripped by Fields, who apologized innocently. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" she said, feigning concern as Elvis tumbled down.
Meanwhile, Kage exchanged a glance with Leiter as he and Camille exited the building. Once outside, Mathis and Fields were waiting in the car. Camille, now inside, questioned Kage. "So, GI Joes, huh? What the hell do you want from me?"
Kage, opening the car door for her, replied, "You're going to show me Dominic Greene's Tierra Project. Are you up to it?"
Camille sighed, still processing. "Do I have a choice?"
Kage smiled. "Do you want one?"
With a wry grin, Camille climbed into the car. "There's something horribly efficient about you."
"Is that a compliment?" Kage asked, as he closed the door and got in himself.
As Mathis drove away, two police motorbikes appeared in the rearview mirror, clearly following them. Kage noticed them immediately and recognized them as part of the Colonel's men. He couldn't allow them to follow.
Reaching into his coat, Kage grabbed a lighter—an unassuming item, but in his hands, it was a weapon. The lighter clicked open, revealing a tiny, blinking red LED inside. It wasn't just a lighter; it was a grenade.
Mathis noticed and muttered, "That's a grenade in Kage hand, be ready."
Fields and Camille, realizing what was happening, was ready.
In one smooth motion, he lobbed the lighter through the opening, sending it spinning toward the officers.
The lighter sailed through the air, a blur of silver, unnoticed amidst the roar of the motorbikes. It hit the asphalt just ahead of the riders and bounced once.
Just enough time for them to cover as the grenade detonated in a flash of light and force.
The explosion sent the bikes skidding, tires screeching in futile resistance as the officers were thrown from their seats. The blast echoed down the street, followed by a cloud of smoke and debris.
Mathis, now calm, glanced in the rearview mirror. "That must've caused quite a commotion."
Kage nodded. "Take us to Safe House 30."
Mathis hit the gas, and they disappeared into the night.
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