Puppeteer

Lemuel recalled the woman he saw earlier, remembering her wily grin and lethal motions. ‘Sir, if a mercenary’s involved, then this mission...’ Lemuel’s voice trailed off. ‘Gets more complicated,’ Elias affirmed with a slight nod. ‘The fact that Shadowfire could hire Inga implies an extravagant sum offered.’ ‘Then why did you…?’ ‘Why did I let her go?’ Lemuel nodded. ‘Because Inga isn’t the strategist; she’s a consummate executor. The true puppeteer is the mastermind behind the scenes. Unless we capture the real leader of Shadowfire, eliminating Inga alone won’t suffice.’ Lemuel’s expression grew more solemn with Elias’s insight. The armoured vehicle continued its course, yet an abrupt burst of flames disrupted the tranquillity. In mere seconds, an earth-shattering explosion resounded, and mushrooming smoke billowed, forming a cloud above the distant fire. The ground trembled, fissures spreading across the turf. Unprepared for the sudden upheaval, Lemuel, who piloted the armoured vehicl