Chapter 78: The Founder Falls

"I found you first."

Professor Adrian Falk stared at the silver memory card in his trembling hand.

For the first time, the man who had controlled Raven for decades looked afraid.

"Impossible," he whispered.

"Nathaniel never came this close."

Arthur shook his head.

"He didn't need to."

"He only needed you to believe he hadn't."

Every monitor in Blackridge Station continued playing Nathaniel's prerecorded message.

"By now," Nathaniel said calmly,

"Every encrypted archive connected to this network has received a complete copy of Raven's records."

"Destroying this train changes nothing."

"The truth is already everywhere."

Arthur checked his tablet.

"He's right."

"The upload is complete."

"Interpol servers... received."

"National Financial Crimes Unit... received."

"International press... received."

"Judicial oversight offices... received."

"Multiple independent journalists... received."

"There isn't a single copy anymore."

"There are thousands."

Several Raven operatives slowly lowered their weapons.

One looked at another.

"It's over," he muttered.

"He exposed everything."

Professor Falk's calm smile finally disappeared.

"Cowards!"

"You swore loyalty!"

"We swore loyalty to Raven," one operative replied.

"Not to a dead organisation."

One after another, rifles dropped onto the platform.

Some operatives removed their communication earpieces.

Others simply walked away.

"Stand your ground!" Falk shouted.

No one obeyed.

Victor stepped forward despite the pain in his shoulder.

"You spent decades teaching people that fear creates obedience."

"Looks like Nathaniel proved hope is stronger."

Falk glared at him.

"You think you've won?"

"You've destroyed one network."

"Another will replace it."

"Maybe," I answered.

"But they'll never have your secrets."

"Nathaniel made sure of that."

Sirens echoed through the valley.

This time they were getting closer.

Arthur smiled after checking the live emergency channels.

"No one's blocking them anymore."

"The government firewall just collapsed."

"They're all coming."

Dozens of flashing lights appeared beyond the abandoned station.

Police.

Federal investigators.

Military police.

Vehicles poured onto the access road from every direction.

Falk quietly slipped the memory card into his pocket.

"You still don't understand," he said.

"That card is worth more than every archive Nathaniel released."

"What's on it?" Damien demanded.

Falk smiled again.

"My successor."

Before anyone could react, he pressed a hidden switch inside his walking cane.

A cloud of thick white smoke erupted around him.

"Smoke screen!" Arthur shouted.

"Don't let him escape!"

Victor and Damien rushed forward.

By the time the smoke cleared...

The platform was empty.

"Tunnel," Margaret called.

"He used the maintenance shaft."

Arthur checked the thermal cameras.

"Negative."

"No heat signature."

"He vanished."

"Not possible," Damien muttered.

"It is if Richard built another exit," Victor replied grimly.

The sound of helicopters filled the sky.

Searchlights swept across Blackridge.

Federal agents surrounded the station within minutes.

One senior investigator approached Margaret.

"We've received the archive."

"It's authentic."

"Financial records, witness files, recruitment lists... everything."

"Then Raven is finished," Margaret said.

The investigator hesitated.

"Not completely."

"Why?"

"Because according to these files..."

"Raven officially dissolved three years ago."

"Three years?" Victor frowned.

"That's when Nathaniel died."

"Exactly."

"Someone replaced it with another organisation."

"Under another name."

Arthur quickly searched the newly unlocked database.

"He's telling the truth."

"Raven ceased operating after Nathaniel's final breach."

"Every remaining operation transferred into something called..."

"Project Aster."

"Aster?" I repeated.

"I've never heard of it."

"Neither had Nathaniel," Arthur answered.

"That's why he couldn't finish the investigation."

Sophia slowly climbed down from the station roof.

Her eyes remained fixed on the empty platform where Falk had disappeared.

"He wasn't the Founder anymore," she said quietly.

Everyone turned toward her.

"What do you mean?" Victor asked.

"Adrian Falk created Raven."

"But someone removed him three years ago."

"He stayed alive only as a symbol."

"Someone else has been giving the orders ever since."

Silence settled over the station.

"Who?" I asked.

Sophia shook her head.

"I never saw them."

"Only one codename appeared after Raven fell."

"Aster."

Arthur's tablet chimed one final time.

A new encrypted message appeared.

Sender:

Unknown.

The message contained only one sentence.

"Congratulations on defeating yesterday's enemy."

"Now come find today's."