Chapter 148: CH 148: Free to go

Words : 1030 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

Chapter 148: CH 148: Free to goAmong the people who had seen the announcement from Howard was Anthony, the leader of the casino base. The screens had flickered to life, broadcasting Howard’s words to every corner of the base, and now the air was electric with excitement and anxiety. Everyone present in the base had heard the announcement made by Howard. The room was abuzz with murmurs and discussions, as people processed the implications of Howard’s words. Now that everyone was aware of what was happening outside the casino, they all wanted to leave, especially since there were those who had discovered that they had the blackstone mark on their arms. The marked individuals were eager to join Howard’s faction, and the unmarked ones were desperate to find their place in this new world. However, things were a little bit rough, as families were torn apart by the uneven distribution of the mark. Some parents had it, while their children didn’t; a sister who had the mark wanted to leave, but her younger brother didn’t have it, and she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him all alone. Yet, she couldn’t stay in the casino when other people are planning to leave. The casino had turned into a battleground of emotions, with arguments erupting left and right. A sister blamed her brother for being too clingy, while the brother begged to go with her, his eyes brimming with tears. The tension was palpable, and Anthony was finding it hard to think clearly. Ajax stood beside him, trying to help out in whatever way he could. Since most of the executives were gone, Ajax had been shadowing Anthony, taking orders and instructions from him. Anthony had initially thought that Ajax was trying to gain his trust, to position himself for a nomination as an executive. But as he looked at Ajax, he realized that he might have misjudged him. Ajax’s eyes were fixed on the crowd, his expression a mixture of concern and determination. Anthony wondered if he had been wrong about Ajax’s motivations, and if the young man was genuinely trying to help. The thought gave him a glimmer of hope, and he decided to trust Ajax a bit more than before. However, to Ajax, although he was going around with Anthony, taking orders from him, acting and caring for the people. He wasn’t trying to gain Anthony’s trust or curry favor; instead, he was biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment to initiate his long-awaited plan. And with the commotion that was going on today, it seemed like the perfect day for him to put his plan into motion. The chaos and confusion would provide the perfect cover for his true intentions. As he scanned the room, his gaze landed on Jeff, who was emerging from a corner of the casino. Their eyes met, and Jeff nodded slightly, his expression remained neutral, but Ajax knew that their plan was about to unfold. His face broke into a subtle smile as he continued with his sheepish task behind Anthony. Meanwhile, Anthony, who had been deep in thought, suddenly looked up, his patience worn thin by the quarrels and shoutings. "That’s enough, everyone!" he boomed, his voice echoing through the casino. The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Anthony. "I’m not stopping anyone from going wherever they want to go," he continued, his tone firm but measured. "But please decide on what’s best for yourself." The words hung in the air, and for a moment, the crowd seemed to be weighing their options. "The door will be opened for anyone who wants to leave, and if you decide later to come back, the door will also be opened for you," Anthony declared, his voice calm and reassuring. "I will always be here," he added, his words a promise of stability in the midst of uncertainty. "You can leave tonight if you want, and if you wish to wait till tomorrow morning, then all is well, but you should stop quarrelling with each other." he said, giving the crowd a sense of freedom to make their own choices. Once Anthony had spoken, he nodded to the man in charge of the door, who promptly set about opening it. Anthony then made his way into his office, with Ajax following closely behind him. Another subtle move to avoid raising suspicion, Ajax thought to himself, as he trailed behind Anthony. The man in charge of the door sprang into action, and the heavy doors creaked open, revealing the dark night beyond. Surprisingly, a lot of people had decided to set out of the casino that night. About a hundred people, almost half of the entire population, began to file out of the doors, their faces set with determination. Even those that didn’t have the mark had also followed after them, hoping maybe they’ll accept them if they claim to be family. The sound of murmured conversations and shuffling footsteps filled the air as they disappeared into the night. Inside Anthony’s office, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He couldn’t stop thinking about Howard, who had made the public announcement. "I can’t believe Howard is now appearing on TVs," Anthony said to himself, a mixture of surprise and curiosity etched on his face. "He used to hate everything about politics and anything having to do with showing his face to the public, but I guess time changes people," he mused, his thoughts drifting back to memories of Howard’s past. His thoughts then shifted to the information given to him by two young kids about the existence of superpowers and their master, whose name had escaped his mind. "I want to see those kids," Anthony said out loud, his voice firm and resolute. Ajax, who had been standing quietly behind him, was taken aback by the sudden declaration. "Huh?" he blurted out in shock and surprise, his eyes widening in alarm. But Anthony was already on his feet, striding out of his office with a sense of purpose. Ajax’s eyes followed him, his mind racing with questions and concerns. What was Anthony planning, and how would it affect his own plans?

Chapter 148: CH 148: Free to go

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