chapter435

If you asked Lydia what scared her most, it was the Azure Alliance.

"So, which faction did they want you to join?" Connor asked, curiosity clear in his voice.

Lydia arched a brow. "You know about them too?" She paused, then nodded. Makes sense. You work for the government. The government goes to them for help sometimes, right? Of course you'd know."

The Azure Alliance was based somewhere in the southern hemisphere. It was a collection of different groups, but they all answered to the main organization, the Azure Alliance. Rumor was, they trained national armies, took on military contracts, and handled jobs all over the world anything from security to peacekeeping. Every single member was supposed to be three, five, even ten times stronger than your average soldier.

That's why Lydia called them a bunch of maniacs. And for the past three years, these maniacs had been on her case nonstop. She was so over it.

Connor looked thoughtful. "So what's your plan for dealing with them?"

Lydia let out a little huff. "No idea what sort of super freak runs the Azure Alliance, but he's got all these other freaks following his lead. Every time I send them packing, it's after a fight. They lose, and they leave."

But the next time, they'd just send someone even tougher. Lydia had no clue what kind of maniac was showing up this time.

Connor coughed quietly, almost like he was embarrassed. You're still injured. You can't fight. Let me handle it."

Lydia blinked at him. "But your..."

"I only have trouble seeing at night. I'm not blind."

Connor knew he'd been playing up his weakness around Lydia. He wasn't actually helpless. He just liked when she worried about him. Shooting at night might be tough for him right now, but getting into a fight was no big deal.

Aiden pulled the car into a deserted, empty lot. The single dim streetlight barely lit up a corner of the pavement. Lydia and Connor stepped out, disappearing into the darkness.

fit

The maniacs s followed close behind, parking their cars before a group of mercenaries in all black stepped out. They moved like shadows, quiet and dangerous, carrying an air of mystery and threats Their clothes tight, like a second skin, perfect for slipping through the dark? Most wore masks or hats that hid their faces, but their eyes-sharp and cold, like hawks-were visible, scanning everything. They looked like they could spot danger in a heartbeat.

Each one had a heavy-duty belt loaded with gear-pistols, knives, grenades glinting in the weak light Their moves were quick, efficient, not a single wasted gesture. When they walked your could barely hear a sound, almost like big cats stalking through tall grass. They worked together so well, they barely needed to talk. Just a glance or a signal, and everyone knew what to do.

At the front of their formation was a man who didn't match the others at all. He looked relaxed, even a little lazy. His handsome face wasn't covered, and he carried a black sniper rifle

He walked over one shoulde

right toward Lydia and

Connor, his smile just a little wild, a little reckless.

"Northruler Theodore, reporting in. Here to meet the legendary hacker, L."