NOVEL NEXT Chapter 120: The Organization
Zack sighed. Before the apocalypse, his life had been confined to a different social class, far removed from this shadowy elite. "Can you trace the founder of this organization?" he asked, his voice edged with impatience.
"Apologies, Sir, but I couldn't find any information about the founder," Ego admitted. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "However, I did find significant financial ties between ASR and several global syndicates, as well as half the individuals on Forbes's billionaire list."
Zack's jaw tightened. "So, they're tied to the elite and criminal underworld alike," he muttered. "Interesting." Turning back to Lilian, Zack gestured for her to continue. "How did you get involved with them before the apocalypse?"
"It was during a business negotiation," she said, her voice calm but reflective. "I was meeting with a client, and they brought someone else along. Later, I found out that person was a member of ASR."
Zack raised an eyebrow. "What did they want? Were they trying to recruit you?"
"Possibly," Lilian said, tilting her head in thought. "They didn't say it outright, but they seemed interested in forming a long-term partnership. At the time, I dismissed it as just another business deal."
Zack leaned back, his mind racing as he pieced together the fragments of information. The Vanguard organization wasn't just a player in the shadows; it was a kingmaker, pulling strings behind the scenes. And now, in this post-apocalyptic world, it posed a direct threat to his plans. "Ego," Zack said after a moment, his voice sharp, "dig deeper. Pull up anything we can use to find their active members or hidden bases. If they have assets, I want to know about them."
"Yes, Sir," Ego replied. "I'll begin compiling the data."
Turning back to Lilian, Zack's lips curled into a cold smile. "Good work. Now, it's time to dismantle this Vanguard organization piece by piece. We'll start with their visible assets and move from there."
"Um," Lilian nodded. The voice from her sound-generating device was much younger than her actual voice—light and sweet, almost childlike. "To be honest, my assets at the time didn't meet their standards. Most of the people who got in were the ultra-rich, the kind you'd see topping the Forbes rankings," she said, dropping a bombshell. It was hard to imagine that having tens of billions in assets wasn't enough to qualify.
"Then why did they still approach you?" Zack asked curiously. But as soon as the question left his mouth, something clicked, and he answered himself. "Wait—it's because your company is focused on import and export trade!"
Zack remembered hearing this in the news. Lillian's Group was well-known for dominating the import-export industry. "Exactly, Master," Lilian confirmed with a nod. "ASR's main operations are overseas, but they haven't abandoned the domestic market. From what I know, they didn't just approach me; they also contacted other wealthy individuals in the country, like the rodschilt."
"And they all agreed?" Zack asked, surprised. "What's so special about this Vanguard Organization that makes so many rich people line up to join?"
"No one said no," Lilian replied with a slight shake of her head. "And there's a good reason for that. ASR has developed a drug that extends human life and slows aging. It's not just a promise or an idea—it's real. Clinical trials have already proven it, but only a handful of people in the world know about it. When ASR representatives approached us, they brought samples of this drug to prove its authenticity."
Zack frowned. A drug that defied aging? It sounded like something out of a science fiction movie. "But later, I started to have doubts," Lilian said softly. "I began to suspect that the so-called miracle drug we took back then might have been the Zeta virus in disguise. The reason the virus spread worldwide overnight might be because people like us—wealthy elites—consumed it, thinking it was some kind of elixir."
"What?!" Zack's voice rose in shock. "Are you saying the virus was man-made?"
"No, not necessarily, Master," Lilian said quickly, waving her hands. "It's just a theory. I'm not certain about it. In the Vanguard Organization, I was only a team captain. My authority was much lower than the Black Hands, and I had no access to the organization's top secrets. I don't know for sure where the virus came from."
Her denial didn't do much to ease Zack's growing unease. What she had just said planted a seed of doubt in his mind. "Ego," Zack called out internally, "is there any chance the Zeta virus was artificially created?"
This question was critical. If the answer was yes, Zack knew he'd stop at nothing to take down this organization,"= even if it meant flattening half the planet. "Sir," Ego responded immediately, "based on the current level of human biotechnology, the probability of the Zeta virus being man-made is zero."
Zack let out a breath of relief. Ego's answer wasn't ambiguous or filled with percentages—it was a definitive zero. "However," Ego continued, "the possibility that the virus is a biological weapon from an alien civilization cannot be ruled out. Theoretically, with a sufficiently advanced level of technology, anything is possible."
"Aliens, huh?" Zack muttered, shaking his head. "Not my problem for now. Let's focus on dealing with the Vanguard Organization."
"How much do you know about their bases and operations?" Zack asked Lilian, turning his attention back to her.
"Not much, Master," Lilian admitted. "As a team captain, my knowledge is limited. But I do know that the Vanguard Organization has a base in Siberia, another one in the Yangtze River Delta in China, and a branch in Japan, although I don't know its exact location. There's also one in Australia," she said, marking the locations on the holographic map Zack had projected.
For locations she was certain of, she placed precise markers. For others, she drew rough circles to indicate the general area. There were four locations in total—one domestic and three abroad. "As for their internal structure, I don't have much to offer," Lilian said apologetically. "The organization is incredibly strict about compartmentalization. The headquarters doesn't contact us directly. Orders come through the Black Hands, and we only hear what's relevant to our assignments."
"That's fine," Zack said with a dismissive wave. "Just knowing their bases is a good start."
With his anti-electromagnetic devices and mechanical army, Zack wasn't too concerned. If the Vanguard Organization tried to come after him, they'd regret it. And if they didn't? Well, once he deployed his global strike system, they'd face their reckoning soon enough. The next morning, sunlight streamed into the third floor of the Mansion, bathing the room in a warm glow. Zack opened his eyes, glanced at the disheveled quilt, and let out a quiet sigh. He got up carefully, slipped on his clothes, and prepared to head downstairs.
Since Lillian's death, Sophia had become a completely different person. She clung to Zack like never before, terrified that one day he might leave her behind. "Are you awake?" Sophia's groggy voice came from behind him just as he was about to leave the room.
"Yeah. You should rest a bit longer," Zack said softly, pausing in his tracks. His strength was nearly thirteen times that of an average person, but Sophia was just a regular human. The difference between them was overwhelming.
Maybe it's time to give them the Super Serum, he thought to himself as he made his way toward the stairs. "By the way, Zack…" Sophia's hesitant voice stopped him again. "That new girl, Shadow… where did you find her?"