Chapter 366: Playing Dirty

When West returned to Shadow Reapers, he immediately went into the command room.

"Pull up everything we have on the people I've fought recently."

Everyone looked at him. "Everyone?"

"Everyone."

Files began appearing one after the other. Names like Bloodstain were quickly crossed out because they couldn't have any involvement to this.

West stared at the list of names, not able to connent any of them to the current situation... until another name came to him.

The executive... from Haden Groups.

The man West had sent flying through the glass of the top floor while saving Liz.

West suddenly frowned. "Wait."

He looked at the screen. "Bring up the executive from Haden Groups I put in the hospital."

Someone brought up the file. "Mathew?"

"Yeah."

West rubbed his chin. "He isn't awakened."

"Correct."

"Then he can't be the Multiplier."

"No."

West nodded but then paused as his eyes slowly widened. "He may not be."

Everyone went silent.

"But what if someone he knows is awakened?"

The room suddenly felt much quieter as West stared at the photograph.

Now... everything suddenly felt different. "Launch an investigation."

One of the analysts blinked. "Into Mathew?"

"His entire life."

West's voice became firm.

"Family. Friends. Relatives. Business connections. Associates. Anyone who has traveled from Blackridge City to Misty High City within the last month."

The team immediately got to work and after a few hours, someone came rushing in.

"Boss!"

West turned to see the man holding a thick file.

"We found something."

West took it and noticed the first page contained a family photograph.

Mathew stood in the center, his mother stood beside him and next to them was a much younger man.

West's eyes immediately widened as he recognized the same face from the billboard.

This was the same awakened who had arrived in Misty High City on Monday... Angel Trigger.

West slowly lowered the photograph. "You're kidding me."

The analyst swallowed. "Angel Trigger is his younger brother."

West looked at the photograph again and finally, the pieces connected.

His expression slowly hardened. "So they're siblings..."

Since Mathew and Angel Trigger were siblings, Angel Trigger had returned from Blackridge City because of the incident.

West figured the Multiplier worked for him. They had most likely arrived at Misty High together.

West's fingers tightened around the file as a cold smile slowly appeared on his face. "Now we're getting somewhere."

The discovery changed everything.

West closed the file with a surprisingly calm expression.

Jax stood nearby, staring at the photograph. "So that's the bastard?"

"That's him."

Jax whistled. "Well... this explains a lot."

West looked at him. "Unfortunately, we're going to have to play dirty as well if we want to get them back."

Jax's expression changed. "You already have something in mind?"

West's lips curved slightly. "Something."

---

The following evening, Misty High most exclusive entertainment district was alive.

The streets glittered due to enormous neon signs while luxury vehicles rolled toward the entrances of private clubs as crowds of wealthy patrons and awakened elites moved through heavily guarded doors.

But one particular establishment was considerably more exclusive than the others.

Expensive music played as extravagant lighting flashed within the enormous club.

Several floors overlooked the central dance area, private booths surrounded the edges, and an enormous bar stretched across one entire side of the building.

It was the sort of place where money stopped being a concern and tonight, the atmosphere changed the moment the doors opened.

Angel Trigger walked inside with several bodyguards surrounding him.

The surrounding crowd immediately exploded.

"Angel Trigger!"

"Oh my God!"

"He's actually here!"

"Can I get a picture?"

People began moving toward him but his guards immediately created a barrier.

"Please step back."

"Give him some space."

Angel Trigger barely acknowledged the commotion since he was accustomed to it.

Fame had followed him for years as one of Blackridge's most recognizable young awakeners, he could barely walk through a public establishment without attracting attention.

He wore an expensive black shirt beneath a tailored jacket, with several pieces of jewelry around his neck and wrist.

A relaxed smile rested on his face.

"Let them enjoy themselves," he stated.

His guards understood and allowed a few people closer.

Several beautiful women dressed skimpy outfits with their hot legs on dosplay immediately gathered around him.

Angel Trigger sat down in one of the private sections while drinks were brought over.

Laughter filled the booth and for a while, everything seemed normal until someone approached.

The guards immediately stepped forward upon spotting the man wearing a gray hoodie. "Private area."

The hooded man stopped. "I need to speak with Angel Trigger."

"Leave."

"It's important."

"You heard him."

The man didn't move, resulting in one of the guards placing a hand against his chest.

"Unless you want to be escorted out, I'd suggest you walk away."

The hooded man sighed. "It's about West Einstein."

Angel Trigger, who had been laughing moments earlier, slowly raised his head upon hearing that name. "Let him through."

The guards hesitated. "Sir?"

"I said let him through."

They stepped aside, giving the hooded man room to walk into the private area.

Angel Trigger observed him suspiciously. "Do I know you?"

"No," the man stopped several feet away. "But I have information about West Einstein that you might want."

Angel Trigger's eyes narrowed. "Interesting."

He slowly leaned backward. "How exactly did you know I'd be interested in information about West Einstein?"

A faint smirk appeared beneath the shadow of his hood as he reached up and slowly pulled the hood backward.

The moment his face became visible, everyone froze.

One of the women beside Angel Trigger nearly dropped her glass.

A guard's hand immediately moved toward his weapon while another stepped forward. "West Einstein?!"

The room seemed to lose all sound.

Angel Trigger stared for perhaps two seconds with a look of genuine shock across his face.

Then it disappeared an this expression became composed again.

West casually pulled out a chair. "Mind if I sit?"

Angel Trigger stared at him before laughing. "You've got some nerve."

West sat down. "I've been told."

Angel Trigger leaned forward. "So you figured it out."

West shrugged. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist."

A grin spread across Angel Trigger's face. "But it took you a week."

A few people nearby exchanged nervous looks while West simply stared at him. "Doesn't matter."

He leaned back. "All that matters is that your little scheme is over."

Angel Trigger suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahahaha!"

The women around him looked confused while his guards remained completely tense.

West didn't react as Angel Trigger kept laughing loudly.

The music suddenly stopped and the entire club became silent.

Angel Trigger's laughter continued for another two seconds, being the only sound in the entire club now.

He looked around and noticed everyone staring.

He frowned. "Why did the music stop?"

One of the guards whispered, "Sir... I think the DJ thought you were finished laughing."

Angel Trigger stared at him. "...Turn it back on."

As the music resumed, West couldn't help smirking.

Angel Trigger's amusement slowly disappeared as he leaned forward. "Just because you've figured things out doesn't mean anything has changed."

His voice became colder. "I still have two people you cherish."

West's eyes narrowed as Angel Trigger continued.

"And I'm still going to make your life a living hell for what you did to my brother."

"I'm going to make you suffer," he added with a vicious smile. "Until you're begging me for the sweet relief of death."

The people surrounding them became increasingly uncomfortable.

However, West didn't look worried. Instead, he smiled.

"You think you're the only person who knows how to play dirty?"

Angel Trigger's eyebrows lowered while West continued. "From the moment I figured out it was you, I already made my move."

Angel Trigger's smile vanished. "What do you mean by that?"

West leaned back comfortably. "You heard me."

Angel Trigger stared at him for a few seconds before it finally clicked.

His eyes widened as he immediately reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "No..."

West chuckled as he began dialing. "It's too late."

Angel Trigger ignored him, staring at the screen as the number he dialed rang repeatedly.

"Pick up," he gritted his teeth.

"Come on..."

Finally, the call connected.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end was frantic.

Angel Trigger immediately straightened.

"Mom?"

There was heavy breathing followed by shouting. It sounded like several people talking at once.

"Angel!"

A different voice was ciming from the other end.

"Where is my mother, what's happening?"

"Your mother has been taken," the voice yelled out.

Angel Trigger's expression completely changed. "What?"

"You can speak to her," the voice responded again.

His mother's voice broke. "Angel, I don't know where they took me. They came into the house and—"

The call suddenly became chaotic.

"Mom!"

Angel Trigger stood up causing all the women around him to immediately move away.

His guards looked at each other while Angel Trigger's breathing became heavier.

"Who did this?"

Only static answered him before the call disconnected.