Thompson felt a pang of caution. He knew exactly where Ethan wasāhe was currently dismantling an entire criminal empire in the frozen Northābut he couldnāt reveal a single detail. He didnāt know what Ethanās ultimate plans were for these kids, and he wasnāt about to compromise the "shadow king" by saying too much.
"I understand your concern. I actually saw him not too long ago," Thompson said. He chose his words carefully, keeping his tone light and reassuring. "Heās been incredibly busy with some private projects and travels. He isnāt the type to stay in one place for long, as you know."
Hailey looked slightly relieved, but the sadness in her eyes remained. "Does he know weāre looking for him?" Hailey said.
Thompson looked at his son and then back at the girl. He reached into his pocket and felt the encrypted phone. "Tell you what. Let me make a call. Iāll see if I can get a message through to him for you," Thompson said.
"Would you really? Thank you, Mr. Thompson," Hailey said.
"Donāt thank me yet. Like I said, heās a very busy man. But Iāll do what I can," Thompson said. He signaled to his Royal bodyguards to give him a bit of space, stepping a few meters away to pull out the device that connected him to a world these students couldnāt possibly imagine.
Thompson stepped into a quiet alcove, his Royal bodyguards forming a silent perimeter that discouraged anyone from approaching. He pulled out the encrypted device and dialed the priority line.
Ethan pressed a button on his flight headset as the Falconās rotors hummed in the background.
"Thompson. I assume things are moving smoothly in if youāre calling me at this hour," Ethan said.
"Everything is perfect on the political front, Ethan. But Iām standing here with Max and his friendsāspecifically Hailey. They are worried sick about you. Theyāve been looking for answers since your release," Thompson said.
There was a brief silence on the other end, save for the crackle of the radio. Ethan looked out at the horizon, the weight of his new spiritual power still settling in his chest. He hadnāt forgotten the people who stood by him when he was behind bars.
"Iām currently in transit. Tell them to head to the Royal main headquarters in the city. I should be landing in approximately one hour. Iāll meet them there," Ethan said.
"Iāll bring them personally. Itās better if I ensure they get through security without any issues. See you shortly," Thompson said.
"Safe travels, Congressman," Ethan said.
The line went dead. Thompson tucked the phone away and returned to the group with a wide, reassuring smile. The tension in Maxās shoulders visibly evaporated, and Haileyās eyes widened with hope.
"Good news. I just spoke with him. Heās been traveling, but heās actually arriving back in the city as we speak. He wants to see you all in an hour," Thompson said.
"Wait, really? We can actually go there?" Max said.
"Iāll take you myself. My car is waiting outside," Thompson said.
The group hurried down the marble steps of the capitol. Waiting at the curb was a stretched black limousine, flanked by two black SUVs filled with Royal security. Thompson ushered the students inside the plush, leather interior. As the door closed, muffling the sounds of the city, Hailey looked out the tinted window with a nervous flutter in her chest.
"I canāt believe heās finally back. I thought heād forgotten about us after everything that happened with the trial," Hailey said.
"Ethan isnāt the type to forget his friends, Hailey. Heās just... playing in a much larger league now," Thompson said, glancing at the silent guard sitting in the front seat.
The limousine pulled away from the curb, weaving through the Boston traffic toward the massive, high-tech skyscraper that served as the heart of Ethanās empire. Inside the car, the students talked excitedly, but Thompson remained quiet, wondering how they would react when they realized the "friend" they knew was now the man who held the strings of the entire state.
The limousine crossed the bridge into the North End, and the atmosphere inside the car shifted from excitement to pure awe. The students pressed their faces against the tinted glass. What had been a scarred, war-torn district only months ago had been transformed into a futuristic citadel of glass, steel, and lush greenery.
"Is this really the same neighborhood? Look at those condominiums... they look like something out of a sci-fi movie," Max said.
"Itās incredible. I read in the Financial Times that property values here have spiked so hard that any early investment is looking at nearly a 2500% return. This is the most expensive real estate in the country now," Hailey said.
The limousine glided past rows of high-end boutiques, luxury residential towers, and gleaming corporate headquarters. The area was humming with activityādrones moved overhead in organized patterns, and the streets were patrolled by private security in sleek, black uniforms.
"Itās like a city within a city. Imagine living here... having an office in one of those towers. Youād be at the center of the world," one of the students said.
Thompson listened to them from the corner of the seat, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. He thought about the fact that the "friend" they were so desperate to find didnāt just live hereāhe owned every single brick, of this district.
"It certainly is a testament to what the right leadership and vision can do for a territory," Thompson said.
The car approached the main perimeter of the Royal Headquarters. A massive gate of reinforced carbon fiber stood in their path. Two guards approached, their helmets reflecting the city lights. They didnāt just check IDs; they scanned the vehicle with advanced sensors that hummed with a low, blue light.
"Identification confirmed. Congressman Thompson and guests. Proceed to the Alpha Plaza," the guard said through a localized comms system.
As the gate slid open with a hiss of hydraulics, the students went silent. They were entering the heart of the beast. They passed through two more security checkpoints, each more intense than the last, until they pulled into a private underground terminal that looked more like a military bunker than a parking garage.
"This is insane, Max. Ethan works here? As what, the head of security?" Hailey said.
"Weāre about to find out, Hailey," Max said, though his voice wavered with uncertainty.
The elevator doors opened, and Thompson led them out. Instead of a lobby, they stepped into a panoramic executive lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire bay. Above them, a rhythmic thwack-thwack-thwack began to vibrate through the ceiling.
"Thatās him. The helicopter is landing on the roof," Thompson said.