The next day, Liam was unusually enthusiastic about work. as the events from previous day proved that this job might serve him well. However today would turn out very different and from the moment he stepped through those doors, he ran into Jim Kent near the entrance and behind Kent were Elaine and Amir.
The moment Kent saw Liam, he said, "Good, you're here. Come with me at once."
Liam didn't even get a word out before Kent brushed past him and headed straight into an SUV. Amir and Elaine followed suit, entering a separate SUV entirely.
"Well, uh… okay," Liam muttered, caught off guard, before turning to follow. He ended up in the same SUV as Elaine and Amir. Tires screeched, and within seconds, about four vehicles sped off.
Inside the car, Liam asked, "Where exactly are we going?"
Amir, seated in the front passenger seat, answered without turning around. "There's been a major commotion between the Netherlights and the Dallas Grizzlies this morning. If we don't get there soon, we might be staring at an all-out faction war."
Elaine interjected, "Apparently, a body was found this morning, an A-tier and an E-tier, and the Netherlights think it was Ray Hooks from the Dallas Grizzlies."
Liam replied, "That sounds really bad…"
Amir immediately cut in, "Bad is an understatement. If this turns into an all-out faction war, Michigan as a whole won't recover for a very long time."
The SUVs sped down the road and in no time, they pulled up before the scene. Several SUVs bearing the Angels' insignia were parked around a five-star hotel in Detroit. It was the same hotel Ray Hooks was known to stay at.
Members of the Netherlights faction had swarmed the area. Their faction leader gave the management of Jaime Lewis Hotel, a strict ultimatum: produce Ray Hooks in thirty minutes, or they'd bring the entire hotel to the ground.
They even went as far as making the threat public, though intentionally, to ensure human civilians had time to flee. The hotel manager, now cornered, wasted no time and immediately put out a call to USOV.
Ray watched from one of the top floors, the highest actually, staring out the window. He knew he was outnumbered by a ridiculous margin and had no chance of outrunning this one. Of course, he'd already placed an SOS call to his faction back in Dallas, but it would still take a while for any of them to reach Michigan, unless one of them had teleportation.
As soon as USOV's vehicles pulled into the premises, every available agent they had poured out. Liam could see it clearly, the thirst for blood in the eyes of these men—and he understood it. If Ray really was the killer, then they had every right to want justice paid in blood. That was the thought running through his mind.
Kent walked toward the SUV where he could feel the highest concentration of mana flaring. At first, the Visors from Netherlights moved to block his approach, until the window rolled down.
A red-haired man leaned slightly out and said, "Let him through." The Visors stepped aside immediately, and the man who spoke stepped out from behind the vehicle as well. It was the faction leader, Ryan Red.
Ryan had a muscular, athletic frame with a defined torso. His red hair was styled in a swept-back voluminous cut. He wore a fitted black leather jacket with silver zippers, left open to show his chest and abs. His dark pants were snug, and his hands were gloved—fingerless, with red knuckle guards.
"President Ryan, I don't think I need to overstate how this act from your faction currently endangers the citizens of this state," Kent began, getting straight to the point.
Ryan cut in immediately, his tone sharp and furious. "Well, you should've thought about that before letting that scumbag overstay his welcome in Michigan. Now Anthony's dead, and you come at me with this bullshit?"
Kent responded firmly, "Is there any proof that Ray was truly behind your Visor's death?"
Ryan snapped, "Proof? Who the hell else could it be? He steps into town, and days later he's already fighting over turf with my faction, something I heard you had to personally settle. Then, not long after that, one of my guys ends up dead and the monster we put down goes missing? I may not be a damn detective, but I don't need to be to put two and two together."
Kent let out a sigh. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Ryan had made a reasonable argument. While he tried to keep the conversation going, Liam quietly focused on assessing the strength of everyone present.
"The President's definitely S-tier, maybe even higher. Around ten A-ranks with him; some of them pushing past the usual threshold and a few solid B-tiers. On our side, Kent's S-tier, but I doubt he could beat Ryan in a one-on-one. Amir's nearing A-tier, and Elaine's solid A. If Ryan decides to turn all this on us instead, we're outnumbered. Unless I bring out my summons. but doing that publicly would put me in a really bad position"
Meanwhile, several floors up, Ray watched everything unfold from the window. He turned to the two men in the room with him and said, "Get ready. If USOV manages to fully draw their attention, we're leaving this hotel the moment we get an opening."
That was when Ryan glanced at his watch and said, "Well, time's up. Step aside, Kent." His voice was deep and extremely furious, and as he spoke, red aura surged around him, his eyes glowing crimson.
Kent didn't move ordered. Green energy poured from his body, his eyes glowing to match. "I'm afraid I can't do that," he said flatly.
The moment shifted. Every USOV agent around them sensed it, immediately channeling mana, activating their own magic energy in response. Even Liam's lightning aura flared to life on instinct. The sheer pressure from so many high-tier visors gathered in one spot started fracturing the hotel's outer structure. The tension peaked but at that moment of tension, when it felt like all hell was about to break loose...
BOOM!
Something dropped right in the middle of the visors, producing a thunderous clap that echoed like a bomb. As the dust quickly cleared, it revealed Mr. Garene Grey. His eyes glowed gold, and a radiant golden aura surrounded him. My god, did he look furious. His imposing figure immediately surmounted the overwhelming pressure around him.
Ryan's men instinctively took a step back, they frankly couldn't help but do so. Ryan on the other hand locked eyes with Garene Grey, and it looked like a fierce standoff between their magic energy auras. Liam, watching from behind, muttered, "Damn." He had never experienced S-tier power like this before, especially Grey's. It reminded him of the feeling he had when Selene Marquis had floated above him some time ago.
Grey stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Step back, Ryan. We will take it from here. Ray will be placed under arrest, and a full investigation will follow. If he is found guilty, he will face the law to the fullest extent."
Ryan met Grey's gaze for a long moment, then slowly powered down. Without another word, he turned and walked back to his SUV. Before climbing in, he glanced over his shoulder and said, "Director Grey, regardless of the respect I have for you, I will make sure Ray Hooks doesn't leave Michigan until justice is served."
He slid into the back seat and shut the door, his tinted glass immediately rolling back up. The driver reversed the vehicle, and then drove off. One by one, the other visors followed, their cars moving behind each other.
Elaine and Amir both let out deep sighs of relief, as if they'd been holding their breath the entire time. Liam understood their reaction, even he felt himself relax a little now that the ordeal was over.
Mr. Grey glanced upward, his eyes locking directly onto Ray, who was watching from a high floor. Ray noticed immediately and realized his planned escape was no longer possible especially when Grey motioned with his fingers for him to come down. Frustrated, Ray checked his phone whilst clenching his other fist, wondering how long it would take the Grizzlies to reach Michigan. However, knowing he couldn't stall any longer, he reluctantly descended the stairs.
When Ray appeared before Grey and the agents, a smirk curled on his lips. "Well, Director," he said, "I don't know why the Netherlights are after me, but I'm sure I had nothing to do with their business."
Grey's expression remained stern. "That's what we'll find out during the investigation. But for now, Ray Hooks, you're coming with us. Effective immediately, you're under arrest until this matter is resolved."
Ray's smirk vanished as he snapped, "What the fuck do you mean by under arrest?!"
Grey shot him a cold glare. "Do not make me repeat myself."
Ray froze instantly, he wasn't crazy enough to continue. Kent nodded toward an agent near Liam, signaling him to bring the mana-dampening cuffs. As the agent stepped forward, Liam interrupted, stretching out his arm. "Let me," he said. The agent nodded and handed over the cuffs.
Liam took them and locked both of Ray's arms behind his back. He then leaned in just enough for Ray to hear him and muttered, "You fuckin' chicken."
Ray's face twisted with rage, and he let out a low growl, but he was powerless. The cuffs suppressed his magic, and with so many High Tiers present, resistance was futile. Liam guided Ray toward one of the SUVs. They all climbed in and the convoy drove off toward USOV headquarters.