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**CHAPTER 11: THE HUNT BEGINS**
**MI6 Headquarters, London – 9:00 AM**
Sir Frederick Ward stood at the head of the conference table, his gaze cold and calculating as he studied the reports in front of him. The deaths of Richard Langley and Theodor Krause had already sent shockwaves through the intelligence community, but the recent assassination of Matthias K?nig in Germany confirmed a disturbing pattern.
All three men were taken out with military precision. No witnesses. No evidence. The work of a professional.
Only one name fit the profile—Renzo.
Ward exhaled sharply, the tension in the room palpable, and turned to the two men sitting across from him.
Michael Carter and Scott Reeves.
Michael Carter was a seasoned MI6 field operative, known for his methodical approach and relentless pursuit of high-value targets. He had tracked down cartel leaders, rogue agents, and war criminals—but Renzo was a different kind of ghost, a phantom whose very existence seemed to defy logic.
Scott Reeves, on the other hand, was a senior analyst with a knack for uncovering hidden trails of money and other critical intelligence. His expertise lay in identifying financial anomalies and tracing funds back to their source. Despite his seemingly mundane desk job, Scott was an invaluable asset in the field.
“This isn’t just another hitman,” Ward said, his voice gravelly as he tapped a file on the table. “Renzo is too clean. Too precise. No digital footprint. No connections. We suspect he’s former military, possibly trained by a ghost organization we haven’t uncovered yet.”
Carter leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. “You want us to track him down?”
“I don’t want you to track him, Carter,” Ward replied, his eyes narrowing. “I want you to find him. Identify him. And if the opportunity presents itself—eliminate him.”
Scott glanced at Carter, then back at Ward. “Do we have any evidence for tracking?”
Ward handed him a separate file, the paper crinkling under his fingers. “That’s where you come in, Scott. K?nig’s offshore accounts show irregularities in the payments. Trace them. Find out who handled the money and where it went. We’ve got intel from BND that K?nig was killed because he refused to pay Renzo for a job. That’s why I believe trailing K?nig’s financial details is our best shot.”
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Scott Reeves: "Sir, how did the BND get this information"
Frederick Ward: "According to them, K?nig’s head of security was on a call with him when it happened. Heard everything. The shot, K?nig collapsing… even Renzo’s voice before the line cut off."
Scott Reeves: "Renzo spoke?"
Frederick Ward: "That’s what they claim. If true, K?nig knew his killer before he died."
Carter smirked, a hint of excitement glinting in his eyes. “Sounds like you’re giving us a blank check.”
Ward’s expression remained firm, unyielding. “We cannot allow an assassin of this caliber to keep operating unchecked. Start in Germany. K?nig was his last known target—see what you can uncover.”
Carter stood, sliding the file off the table with a sense of purpose. “I’ll be on the first flight.”
As he walked out, Scott followed, already scanning the financial data in the file. “I’ll start tracking the money trail. If Renzo was paid, there’s a record of it somewhere.”
Carter nodded, determination etched on his face. “And I’ll focus on the ground. Let’s catch this ghost.”
Together, they had a plan forming in their minds.
Renzo had been untouchable for years. But everyone made mistakes.
And Michael Carter and Scott Reeves were going to find his.
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**Stockholm, Leon hotelroom - 9.00AM**
The room was shrouded in darkness, saveLeon was transferring his money from his work account to his main account, making sure every transaction was untraceable. His fingers danced over the keyboard with practiced ease, each keystroke calculated and precise. The faint hum of the computer was the only other noise, a constant backdrop to the clandestine operation unfolding in the quiet of the night.
for the dim glow of the computer screen. In the silence, the only sound was the rhythmic tapping of keys. Leon sat at his desk, his expression unreadable as he typed furiously, his eyes flickering with a cold intensity.
Once he finished the transfer, Leon leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk playing on his lips. His work was done, for now. He had left no traces, no evidence. Just as he always did.
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**Munich, Germany – 3 Days Later**
Carter and Scott stepped out of their rental car, glancing up at the towering corporate headquarters of K?nig Enterprises. The aftermath of Matthias K?nig’s assassination had left the company in chaos. Security had been tightened, and investigators had swarmed the area, but Carter knew better than to rely on official reports.
He had to find Renzo’s trail himself.
Their first stop was the underground parking garage where K?nig had been killed. The charred remains of a black Mercedes S-Class marked the spot where the explosion had occurred. K?nig’s body, found in the car and Koing driver body found in a car trunk, had been reduced to little more than ashes. The sheer brutality of the act underscored Leon's ruthless efficiency.
Carter crouched near the remains of the car, examining the scorched concrete. The heat from the explosion had obliterated most evidence, but he was determined to find any clue, no matter how small.
Standing, he pulled out his phone and called their MI6 contact in Germany.
“Get me every traffic camera feed near K?nig Enterprises and this parking garage from the night of the assassination,” he said, his voice steady.
A few minutes later, Carter’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, frustration flickering in his eyes as he reviewed the footage. “Renzo parked the car in a blind spot. There’s nothing useful here.”
Meanwhile, Scott was analyzing the financial records he had obtained. “These offshore transactions are too clean. I’m going to dig deeper—find out if anyone here had access to K?nig’s accounts.”
Carter nodded, his focus unwavering. “If K?nig refused to pay, then someone here knows why. You handle the financial leads—I’ll go over any additional reports and see if we missed something.”
Scott glanced at the building, his mind already racing with possibilities. “If anyone from the board knew about the missing payment, they might’ve had a reason to keep it quiet.”
As Scott walked toward the entrance, Carter reviewed the surveillance reports and other evidence they had gathered.
No matter how careful Renzo was, even ghosts left shadows.
And Michael Carter and Scott Reeves were about to start chasing one.
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End of Chapter 11
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