The Vendetta's Path

Chapter 2

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the city, Zeus made his way back to his hotel. His mind was still reeling from his conversation with Jin-Woo, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

As he walked into the hotel lobby, Zeus was greeted by the friendly face of the receptionist. "Welcome back, Mr. Zeus," she said, her voice warm and inviting. "Did you have a good day?"

Zeus smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It was interesting," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I met someone who claims to have information about the Haneul Group."

The receptionist's eyes widened, her expression curious. "Oh?" she said. "What kind of information?"

Zeus hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about the receptionist's friendly demeanor put him at ease. "Apparently, they have evidence of the Haneul Group's wrongdoing," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And they're willing to share it with me."

The receptionist's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's amazing," she said. "But be careful, Mr. Zeus. The Haneul Group is not to be underestimated."

Zeus nodded, his eyes locked onto hers. "I know," he said. "But I have to try. I owe it to my family."

The receptionist's expression softened, her eyes filled with compassion. "I understand," she said. "If there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Zeus smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the receptionist. "Thank you," he said. "I appreciate your kindness."

As Zeus made his way to the elevator, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he was one step closer to getting the revenge he so desperately sought.

But as he stepped into the elevator, Zeus's phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his heart racing with anticipation.

The text message was from an unknown number. "Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight," it read. "Come alone."

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. Who was this mysterious person, and what did they want with him?

As the elevator doors opened, Zeus stepped out into the hallway, his eyes scanning the area. He was alone, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being watched.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Mercedes, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark.

"Zeus," she said, her voice low and husky. "I see you're getting mysterious messages. Care to share?"

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What did Mercedes know, and how did she know it?

But before he could respond, Mercedes's phone suddenly buzzed in her hand. She glanced at the screen, her expression changing from curiosity to concern.

"What is it?" Zeus asked, his voice low and urgent.

Mercedes's eyes locked onto his, her expression serious. "It's Victoria," she said. "She's in trouble. And I think we're the only ones who can help her."

Zeus's eyes widened, his mind racing with possibilities. What kind of trouble was Victoria in, and how did Mercedes know about it?

But before he could ask any questions, Mercedes grabbed his arm, her eyes gleaming with a sense of urgency.

"Come on," she said. "We have to go. Now."

As Mercedes pulled Zeus along, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What was going on with Victoria, and why did Mercedes seem so concerned?

As they walked, Mercedes explained that Victoria had sent her a cryptic message, saying that she was in trouble and needed help. Mercedes had tried calling her back, but Victoria's phone had gone straight to voicemail.

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What kind of trouble could Victoria be in? And why had she reached out to Mercedes for help?

As they turned a corner, Zeus saw a sleek black car waiting by the curb. Mercedes opened the door and gestured for Zeus to get in.

"Where are we going?" Zeus asked, his voice low and cautious.

Mercedes's eyes locked onto his, her expression serious. "We're going to Victoria's apartment," she said. "She lives in a high-rise building in the financial district."

As they drove through the city, Zeus couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. What were they going to find at Victoria's apartment? And what kind of trouble was she in?

The drive seemed to take forever, but finally, they arrived at Victoria's apartment building. Mercedes led Zeus to the elevator, and they rode up to the top floor in silence.

As they stepped out of the elevator, Zeus saw that Victoria's apartment door was slightly ajar. Mercedes's eyes locked onto his, her expression concerned.

"Victoria?" Mercedes called out, her voice soft and tentative.

There was no response.

Mercedes pushed open the door, and Zeus followed her into the apartment. The living room was in disarray, with furniture overturned and papers scattered everywhere.

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What had happened here? And where was Victoria?

Mercedes moved through the apartment, calling out Victoria's name. But there was no response.

As they searched the apartment, Zeus couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Where was Victoria, and what had happened to her?

Finally, they found a note on the kitchen counter. It was from Victoria, and it was addressed to Mercedes.

"Mercedes," the note read. "I'm in trouble. I've discovered something big, and I think I'm in danger. Please meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone."

Zeus's eyes locked onto Mercedes's, his expression serious. "What does this mean?" he asked.

Mercedes's eyes were wide with fear. "I don't know," she said. "But I think we're in over our heads."

As they stood there, frozen in uncertainty, Zeus's phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his heart racing with anticipation.

The text message was from an unknown number. "You're getting close to the truth," it read. "Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone."

Zeus's eyes locked onto Mercedes's, his expression grim. "It seems we're not the only ones who are interested in Victoria's disappearance," he said.

Mercedes's eyes were wide with fear. "What do we do now?" she asked.

Zeus's jaw clenched, his mind racing with possibilities. "We go to the old warehouse at midnight," he said. "And we come prepared for anything."

As the clock struck midnight, Zeus and Mercedes made their way to the old warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The building loomed before them, its towering structure shrouded in darkness.

Zeus's eyes scanned the surrounding area, his senses on high alert. He could feel the weight of the unknown pressing down on him, and he knew that they were taking a huge risk by coming here.

Mercedes's hand brushed against his, and he felt a jolt of electricity run through his body. He turned to her, his eyes locking onto hers.

"Ready?" he whispered.

Mercedes nodded, her eyes gleaming with a mix of fear and determination.

Together, they stepped into the warehouse, their footsteps echoing off the walls. The air inside was thick with the scent of decay and rot, and Zeus could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.

As they moved deeper into the warehouse, Zeus's eyes adjusted to the darkness. He saw that they were standing in a vast, empty space, the only sound the creaking of the old wooden beams.

Suddenly, a faint light flickered to life in the distance. Zeus's heart skipped a beat as he saw a figure standing in the shadows, the light casting eerie shadows on the walls.

"Welcome, Zeus," the figure said, its voice low and menacing. "I've been waiting for you."

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. Who was this person, and what did they want with him?

As the figure stepped forward, Zeus saw that it was a woman with long, flowing hair and piercing green eyes. She was dressed in a black leather jacket, and a small smile played on her lips.

"You're looking for Victoria," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "But you're not going to find her. At least, not yet."

Zeus's eyes locked onto hers, his jaw clenched in anger. "What have you done with her?" he growled.

The woman laughed, the sound sending shivers down Zeus's spine. "Oh, Victoria is quite...enthusiastic about her work," she said. "But I think she's in over her head. And I'm afraid you are too, Zeus."

As the woman spoke, Zeus felt a sense of unease growing inside him. What was going on, and what did this woman want with him?

Suddenly, Mercedes spoke up, her voice firm and resolute. "We're not going anywhere until you tell us what's going on," she said.

The woman's eyes flicked to Mercedes, a look of surprise crossing her face. "Ah, the little gold digger," she said. "I didn't think you had it in you, Mercedes."

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What did this woman know about Mercedes, and what did she want with her?

As the tension between them grew thicker, Zeus knew that they were running out of time. They had to get out of there, and fast.

But as they turned to leave, Zeus felt a hand on his shoulder, spinning him back around. He saw the woman's face inches from his, her eyes blazing with a fierce intensity.

"You're not going anywhere, Zeus," she hissed. "Not until you've played by my rules."

And with that, everything went black.

As Zeus's world went dark, he felt himself being dragged backwards, his feet scraping against the rough concrete floor. He tried to struggle, but his arms were pinned to his sides, and he was unable to move.

Mercedes's voice was faint, but Zeus could hear the panic in her tone. "Zeus! Zeus, wake up!"

But Zeus was unable to respond. He was trapped in a dark, hazy world, unable to move or speak.

As he lay there, Zeus's mind began to clear, and he realized that he was being held captive. He was tied to a chair, his wrists and ankles bound by thick ropes.

The woman's face appeared in front of him, her eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "Welcome back, Zeus," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "I see you're feeling a bit more...cooperative."

Zeus's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. Who was this woman, and what did she want with him?

The woman smiled, her lips curling upwards in a cruel smile. "My name is Sophia," she said. "And I'm afraid you're going to be staying with me for a while."

As Sophia spoke, Zeus heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the warehouse. He turned his head, trying to see who was approaching.

Mercedes appeared in front of him, her eyes wide with fear. "Zeus, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't know what was going to happen."

Sophia's eyes flicked to Mercedes, a look of annoyance crossing her face. "Ah, the little gold digger," she said. "I think it's time we had a little chat, don't you?"

As Sophia spoke, Zeus felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He knew that he had to get out of there, and fast.

But as he looked around, Zeus realized that he was trapped. The warehouse was deserted, and there was no sign of escape.

Sophia's eyes locked onto his, a look of triumph crossing her face. "You're not going anywhere, Zeus," she said. "Not until you've done what I want you to do."

And with that, Sophia turned and walked away, leaving Zeus and Mercedes alone in the darkness.

As the minutes ticked by, Zeus's mind began to clear, and he realized that he had to think fast. He had to come up with a plan, and he had to come up with it now.

But as he looked over at Mercedes, Zeus saw that she was staring at him with a look of pure terror in her eyes.

"What is it?" Zeus whispered, his voice barely audible.

Mercedes's eyes locked onto his, and she mouthed a single word: "Victoria."

Zeus's heart skipped a beat as he realized what Mercedes was trying to tell him. Victoria was in danger, and they had to get to her before it was too late.

But as Zeus looked around the warehouse, he knew that they were running out of time. They had to escape, and they had to do it now.

And so, Zeus began to think, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew that they had to be careful, that they had to come up with a plan that would work.

But as he looked over at Mercedes, Zeus saw that she was staring at him with a look of determination in her eyes.

"We're going to get out of here," she whispered. "We're going to get out of here, and we're going to save Victoria."

Zeus's eyes locked onto hers, and he nodded. They were in this together, and they were going to get out of it together.

And with that, Zeus and Mercedes began to think, their minds racing with possibilities. They knew that they had to be careful, that they had to come up with a plan that would work.

But as they sat there in the darkness, Zeus couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. They had to escape, and they had to do it now.

And so, Zeus and Mercedes waited, their eyes locked onto each other as they waited for the perfect moment to strike. They knew that it wouldn't be easy, that they would have to be careful.

But they were determined to escape, and they were determined to save Victoria. And as they sat there in the darkness, Zeus knew that they would stop at nothing to make it happen.