Chương 96: Chapter 95 – Help Wanted!

"What do you mean you can't find him?" Mordak's voice cracked through the receiver like a whip. The sound ricocheted off the polished oak desk, sharp enough to make the crystal decanter tremble.

"I have the bestest security systems in all of Falotopia, and you're telling me you can't find one scientist?" He paused, listening. His face flushed from its usual orange to a furious blood‑orange, veins bulging at his temples. The air in the office seemed to hum with static, the faint tang of ozone mixing with the sterile chill of recycled air.

"It is one scientist," he barked.

"If he didn't swipe out, then he has to be in the building! Check again!" A muffled reply came through the phone. Mordak's fingers drummed against the oak surface, each tap echoing like a countdown.

"I don't care," he said flatly. Another pause.

"Still don't care." Tap‑tap‑tap.

"Nope, still not caring." His tone slid from rage to bored contempt. He leaned back, the leather of his chair creaking under his weight.

"Look, I pay you to be my eyes and ears here, to see things, to hear things, to know things. If you're not doing that, then why do I keep you here?" Another garbled excuse. Mordak's lip curled. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"So, you are telling me this guy just up and vanished? So, not only is he a scientist but he's a…" he paused.

"What do you call those guys that do magic and illusions? Yeah, that's it …a magician. Is that what he does in his spare time? Performs all over Falotopia, just vanishing in plain sight?" Mordak paused, shaking his head in disgust.

"You know what? You and your entire team are fired!"

"That's right, you heard me! Vacate the building at once. I'll have GR send you your things. You can forget about getting paid too." Mordak slammed the phone down. Idiots, the lot of them. Now I have to hire someone to take over Elios' responsibilities… the boy just ain't right in the head anymore. Then find a whole new security team. What's next? The intercom buzzed, breaking his spiral.

"Sir, Jethro Hardscrabble is here to see you," his assistant's voice chimed through the speaker. Mordak's expression shifted instantly, fury replaced by a predatory smile.

"Excellent. Send him in." A polite knock preceded the door's creak when it opened. The assistant ushered in a man dressed to perfection… charcoal suit, silver tie, shoes polished to a mirror shine. The faint scent of cologne followed him, crisp and expensive.

"Will there be anything else, sir?" the assistant asked.

"No, thank you," Mordak replied, his tone suddenly silky. Turning to the visitor, he added, "Can I get you anything, Mr. Hardscrabble? A cup of everbrew, perhaps?"

"I wouldn't want you to go to any trouble," Hardscrabble said, voice smooth as glass.

"It's no trouble at all," the assistant assured him.

"Cream and sugar, if you wouldn't mind."

"Certainly, sir." The door closed softly behind him. Mordak gestured toward the chair opposite his desk.

"Well, Jethro, it's been a while, hasn't it?" Hardscrabble sat, crossing one leg over the other with practiced ease.

"Yes," he said, eyes glinting.

"I haven't been here since Elios fired me."