The Northvale Key

Episode 16

Mom, don't ask why! Get out of that house in ten seconds or I will never forgive myself! Hurry!

Cassian snatched the phone from Lianna’s hand. Ma'am, it's Cassian. Listen to me. Grab your car keys, run to the outer gate. Don’t look back. There’s a fatal gas leak that could trigger an explosion. Do it now!

Cassian ended the call. He looked at Lianna, who was now slumped in her chair, weak. We have to go there. But you are not allowed to enter the house area.

Cassian, how did you know? Lianna whispered, her face pale as a sheet.

A hunch, Lianna. That silver coin... it wasn't just a decoration. Let’s go!

They ran out of the Valerian building. The cold night air greeted them in the dimly lit underground parking lot. Cassian opened the car door for Lianna, but his steps stopped. His senses caught a very specific scent—a mixture of expensive tobacco and burning pine wood.

That smell sent a jolt of electricity down Cassian’s spine. The same scent from the night his family’s home burned down fifteen years ago.

Lianna, get in the car. Lock the doors. Don’t come out until I return, Cassian ordered, his voice suddenly very low and dangerous.

Cassian? Where are you going?

I have something to settle. Go to the main road, wait for the additional security team I called through the office system. Hurry!

Lianna wanted to argue, but the look in Cassian’s eyes stopped her. Those weren't the eyes of her submissive husband. They were the eyes of a predator scenting its prey. Lianna started the engine and drove away, leaving Cassian alone in the stifling silence of the parking lot.

Cassian turned slowly. From behind one of the large concrete pillars, a man stepped out. The man wore a perfectly tailored charcoal grey suit. His hair was slicked back, and a lit cigar was tucked between his fingers.

Long time no see, little Northvale, the man’s voice was heavy, like metal grinding against metal.

Cassian clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. Gage. You’re still alive.

Mr. Gage laughed softly, the smoke from his cigar dancing under the flickering neon lights. Death is a very difficult thing for me, Cassian. Especially after the mission at the Northvale residence wasn't truly finished. You should have died with your father that night.

You're the one who planted the bomb at the Ashworth house? Cassian hissed.

Just a small gift to remind you who’s in control, Gage stepped closer, his footsteps echoing arrogantly. I'm surprised you could detect it. It seems the Northvale blood in your veins has started boiling since you plugged that key into the global system.

What do you want, Gage?

Gage stopped three meters in front of Cassian. His cold eyes stared at Cassian with pure disgust. You just activated the Syndicate. You’re starting to move numbers that were supposed to stay dead. The Coven doesn’t like the rising of ghosts.

I don't care what the Coven likes or dislikes, Cassian replied coldly.

You should care, boy. Because now you have a very beautiful weak point, Gage smiled thinly, his eyes glancing toward the parking gate where Lianna’s car had just passed. Lianna Ashworth. Your poor wife doesn't know she's sleeping with the world’s number one target.

Touch her, and I will burn your whole world down, Cassian threatened.

Gage laughed out loud. Burn the world? With what? The numbers on your laptop screen? Listen, Cassian. I’m here to give you a choice. A test of loyalty.

I have no loyalty to you.

Not to me, but to your beloved wife, Gage inhaled deeply from his cigar. The choice is simple. Tomorrow morning, you must use your Syndicate access to freeze all of Valerian Group's assets. Bankrupt the company. Make Lianna Ashworth a beggar. If you do it, the Coven will consider the Northvale blood debt settled. You can live in peace as an ordinary person with your poor wife.

And if I refuse?

Gage stubbed out his cigar on the concrete pillar. If you refuse, or if you try to protect Valerian further... then we will destroy your Syndicate from the inside. And your wife? She won't die in a quick explosion. She will disappear, inch by inch, until you beg me to end her life.

Cassian felt a rage he had never felt before. This wasn't about money anymore. This was about pride and the life of the only person he loved. The transformation within him was complete. He was no longer the patient note-taker who took Cyrus’s blows.

You think you can threaten me in my own place? Cassian asked, his voice now trembling with lethal authority.

Your place? This is just a dingy parking lot, Cassian. You have no physical power here, Gage reached for something in his pocket—a small detonator. The Ashworth house hasn't exploded yet. I’m still holding the button. One move from me, and your mother-in-law and those servants will be ashes.

Cassian fell silent. His heart beat fast. Lianna just called, they should be out by now.

Suddenly, the earpiece in Cassian’s ear beeped softly. Agent D’s voice came through clearly. Target safe, Sir. The house has been evacuated. Our bomb disposal team cut the circuit ten seconds ago. Your orders?

A small smile appeared at the corner of Cassian’s lips. The tension in his shoulders vanished, replaced by an absolute coldness.

Why are you smiling? Gage asked, his brows furrowing.

Because you just made the biggest mistake of your life, Gage, Cassian took one step forward. You came here carrying threats from the past, but you forgot that I am the owner of the future.

Gage pressed the detonator button violently. Die, Ashworth!

Silence. No sound of an explosion from a distance. No vibration. Only the sound of water dripping from a leaking AC pipe in the parking lot ceiling.

Gage’s face turned pale. He pressed the button repeatedly. What... how is this possible?

Your circuit is dead, Gage. Just like your career as the Coven’s executioner, Cassian stood tall, letting his aura as Mr. North come out fully. You threaten to destroy the Syndicate? You can’t even hack your own microwave without my help.

Gage threw the detonator to the floor and lunged forward, his hand reaching for a knife from inside his jacket. I’ll kill you myself!

Cassian didn’t dodge. As Gage approached, Cassian caught the man’s wrist with one hand, twisting it with a very efficient technical move until the knife fell. Cassian then landed a solid blow to Gage’s solar plexus, sending him collapsing to the concrete floor.

Cassian stepped on Gage’s hand as he tried to reach for the knife again. He leaned down, staring directly into the eyes of the man who had slaughtered his family.

Listen carefully, Gage, Cassian hissed. You want me to choose? I’ve already chosen. I choose to protect Lianna, and I choose to destroy you.

You...

"You won't be able to fight the Coven..." Gage groaned, coughing up blood.

"The Coven is just a group of old men afraid of losing their money," Cassian said, applying more pressure with the foot he used to pin Gage's hand down. "And I'm the one who holds the key to their vault."

Cassian released his foot. He stood tall, straightening his slightly dusty suit. "I'll let you live today. Go back to your masters. Tell them that Northvale is no longer hiding."

Gage tried to get up, his face filled with fear and hatred. "You think this is over?"

"This is only the beginning," Cassian said coldly. "From this moment on, every cent you own, every asset you're proud of, will start to evaporate. I won't kill you with a bullet. That's too easy."

Cassian reached for his phone and typed something quickly.

"Gage, check your personal account balance at the Swiss Bank," Cassian commanded.

Gage tremblingly pulled out his phone. His eyes widened. "Zero? How is that possible? That was a hundred million dollars!"

"That was just the warm-up," Cassian turned around, walking toward the elevator. "I'm giving you seven days, Gage. In seven days, you won't have enough money even to buy a newspaper to cover your body when you sleep on the sidewalk."

"Cassian! You can't do this!" Gage screamed frantically.

"Just watch," Cassian replied without looking back. "Seven days. That's the time I need to erase your existence from the world's financial history."

The elevator doors closed. Cassian stood alone inside the rising metal box. He saw his reflection in the polished elevator walls. His expression remained flat, but his eyes glinted with the fire of vengeance that was now fully ignited.

He stepped out onto the lobby floor and found Lianna waiting anxiously in front of the security car. As soon as she saw Cassian, Lianna ran and hugged him tightly.

"Cassian! Are you okay? Mom called, they're all safe! The house... the house didn't explode!" Lianna broke down in tears.

Cassian returned his wife's hug, breathing in the soothing scent of her hair. "I know, Lianna. It's all over for tonight."

"That man... who is he, Cassian? Why do you know him?" Lianna asked as she pulled back, looking at her husband with confusion.

Cassian fell silent for a moment. He wiped the tears from Lianna's cheeks. "He's just a ghost from the past who had the wrong address, honey. He won't bother us anymore."

"But Cassian, your face... you look different," Lianna whispered hesitantly.

"I'm just tired," Cassian lied with his usual gentle smile. "Ayo pulang. Besok adalah hari yang panjang. Kau punya perusahaan yang harus dipimpin, bukan?"

Lianna nodded, though suspicion still lingered in her eyes. They got into the car and drove away from the Valerian building. In the darkness of the car's cabin, Cassian reached for his phone once more. He opened the Syndicate app and added one name to the permanent blacklist: Gage and Coven Regional Assets.

Seven days, Gage, Cassian thought. The world will see how a Northvale collects a blood debt.

Suddenly, a notification arrived on his phone. It wasn't from the bank, but rather a flashing GPS coordinate in the old harbor area, accompanied by a short line of text:

Congratulations on your bravery in the parking lot. But Gage is just a pawn. The real king is waiting for you at Pier 9. Bring the Northvale Key, or Lianna will never wake up tomorrow morning.

Cassian's fist clenched tightly. He looked at Lianna, who was beginning to fall asleep tiredly on his shoulder. His wife's breathing was steady, looking so peaceful in the middle of the raging storm. Cassian knew that tonight he would not be able to sleep.

He had to decide: remain a protector in the shadows, or become the storm that destroys everything before the eyes of the world.