Chapter 139: Black Dominion

Chapter 139: 139: Black Dominion

Inside the guest room, Nova scanned the entire room with her eyes. Finding no hidden cameras or listening devices, she undressed and stepped into the adjoining bathroom, sliding into the deep, steaming bathtub with a soft exhale.

?"Foggy face," she called out lazily into the mist.

?Anah materialized in the humid air, floating beside the tub with her arms crossed over her chest. "Mhm?" she hummed, casting an amused look down at Nova.

?"Trison’s assets, his territories, and his entire shadow organization... seize them," Nova commanded softly, leaning her head back against the porcelain edge. "Absorb Dora Halka’s and Clark’s holdings as well. I’m starting the mission."

?"Order received," Anah replied instantly.

?A translucent interface flared to life before them, its blue light cutting through the rising steam.

?[Notice: Three major underground syndicates successfully acquired and merged with Host.]

[System Directive: Please designate a name for your new organization.]

?A slow, lethal smile curved Nova’s lips as she read the glowing text. "Designate name: BLACK DOMINION."

?[Ding! Name confirmed. Organization successfully established.]

[BLACK DOMINION now controls three top-tier mafia houses.]

[Main Mission Completion Progress: 22%]

?With a quiet chime, the System screen faded back into thin air.

?"Which syndicate are you going to devour next?" Anah asked, her ethereal eyes fixed on Nova.

?"Cassian and Alan will trace my location soon enough," Nova murmured, her voice dripping with calculated calm. "Suppress the System notifications regarding my whereabouts until tomorrow morning. Tonight, we pay a visit to the high-stakes gambling dens."

?Anah nodded. With a flick of her wrist, she brought up the System controls, executing several quick commands to mask Nova’s signal before dismissing the interface. A fresh set of sleek clothing materialized in her palm, which she tossed onto the bed in the room randomly.

?"By the way... I sense no immediate hostility from Zara, but she gives me a deeply unpleasant feeling," Anah noted casually. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

?Nova began washing herself, her tone completely indifferent. "Who is Zara?"

?"The blonde woman downstairs," Anah replied.

?"Oh, her." Nova gave a dismissive nod. "If she gives off bad vibes, we can simply eliminate her. There is no need to leave potential threats breathing."

?Anah nodded in agreement, though her expression grew thoughtful. "Currently, she is blindingly in love with Lucian, while he treats her like garbage."

?"Men are notoriously blind to good goods," Nova remarked coldly, rinsing her arms. "Except for my men, of course."

?Anah sighed softly, floating closer. "What I am trying to tell you is that she isn’t an active threat right now because her focus is entirely consumed by Lucian. She doesn’t perceive you as a rival. But if that changes, it could cause significant complications."

?Nova paused, her cold gaze shifting to Anah. "What is she, exactly?"

?"She is a human cyborg," Anah explained, her voice dropping to a serious, informative register. "A biological human whose body was cybernetically re-engineered into a living weapon. She was programmed to be a emotionless puppet devoid of human cognition, but somehow, she developed autonomous sentience and genuine feelings. She appears harmless and meek on the outside, much like you when you choose to play innocent. But when ordered to kill, her combat parameters are absolute."

?Nova raised an eyebrow, a mocking glint in her eyes. "Are you implying she can kill me?"

?"Not entirely," Anah corrected smoothly. "But in your current un-awakened state, she possesses enough firepower to strip away half your life force. More importantly, she carries internal mechanical components capable of triggering System interface errors... energy signatures eerily similar to that Medusa head."

?Nova’s lips curled into a sharp, dark smirk. "How interesting. So Lucian is fully aware she is a cybernetic weapon, isn’t he?"

?"Precisely," Anah confirmed. "That is the exact reason he selected her to be his personal assistant and bodyguard."

?"I see." Nova nodded slowly, stepping out of the tub as a plush towel materialized in her hands. She dried herself off, her aura hardening into pure ice. "Whether she poses a threat or not is irrelevant. What matters is that she stays out of my way. If she crosses me... things will not end well for her too."

?Anah shook her head with a faint smile, floating back into the bedroom and taking a seat on the edge of the mattress. Nova stepped out of the bathroom, pulling on the sleek black attire Anah had provided.

?She gathered her raven hair into a high, commanding ponytail, noticing in the mirror that the silky strands now reached down past her knees. "Mhm... my hair has grown longer," she mused silently, running her fingers through the dark locks before turning her attention back to Anah.

?"What did you extract from Clark’s memories regarding the Medusa head?" Nova asked.

?"I extracted the entire exchange," Anah said, leaning forward. "The head was given to him by a mysterious entity. According to Clark’s memory logs, the figure wore a heavy black cloak that completely concealed their features. Clark couldn’t even determine whether the figure was male or female, though the System’s diagnostic scan identifies the individual as male."

?Nova’s brows knitted into a tight line. "They had no prior connection?"

?"None at all," Anah confirmed. "Clark was roaming the streets in desperation when this cloaked stranger intercepted him. The man claimed he could read Clark’s mind—specifically his obsession with capturing you for Dora. The stranger offered him a solution and handed over the sealed duffel bag containing the Medusa head."

?Anah examined her manicured nails before continuing. "He instructed Clark never to look into the eyes directly, warning that anyone who caught its gaze would be instantly petrified. Clark was skeptical at first, but the stranger manipulated his mind, convincing him it was the ultimate weapon. So Clark took the bag, returned to the mansion, heard your clash with Trison, and set the trap you walked into."

?Nova’s eyes narrowed into lethal slits as she buttoned her shirt. "The man wasn’t helping Clark. Clark was merely a disposable pawn used to test the Medusa head’s effectiveness against my System."

?"My thoughts exactly," Anah agreed, her expression growing dark. "I suspect this individual knows far more about you than he lets on. I attempted to pull deeper files from the System, but access to his identity is currently encrypted."

?A chilling, bloodthirsty smile broke across Nova’s face.

?"So... someone is lurking in the shadows, eyeing this body of mine," she murmured, her voice laced with a terrifying, calm authority. "Perhaps they intend to turn me into a mindless weapon, just like Lucian’s little girlfriend."

?"Do you have a specific suspect in mind?" Anah asked.

?Nova’s smile widened, casting deep shadows across her exquisite features.

?"No," Nova whispered softly, her eyes flashing with absolute malice. "But sooner or later, he will inevitably crawl out into the light. Until then... he can enjoy the short time he has left to breathe."