The atmosphere in the FBI’s War Room was thick with tension. Agents huddled around large monitors, their faces illuminated by flickering screens that displayed maps, encrypted messages, and real-time data. The air felt charged, every person aware that they were standing on the precipice of something dangerous. It had been days since Mr. Black’s last appearance, but the lull had only heightened the sense of unease. The team had grown restless, eagerly awaiting the next move in the twisted game Mr. Black played. Sarah Coleman, though calm on the surface, could feel the knot of anxiety growing tighter in her chest.

  She exchanged a quick glance with Daniel Briggs, who sat beside her, fingers poised over his keyboard, eyes scanning the latest reports. "It's been a while since Mr. Black's last video," Sarah remarked, half-joking, her attempt at lightheartedness masking the worry gnawing at her. "I wonder what's going on..."

  Before Briggs could respond, Section Chief Mercer entered the room, his face taut with urgency. His brisk movements indicated that this wasn’t just another routine update. "Agents, to the meeting hall now," he said, his voice sharp. "A new video just came in from Mr. Black."

  Sarah’s stomach sank as she followed Mercer out of the War Room. She exchanged another look with Briggs, who seemed to share the same unease. The video had finally arrived, and they all knew that the calm before the storm had come to an end.

  In the meeting hall, the agents quickly took their seats. Mercer wasted no time, stepping up to the console and pressing a button. The large screen in front of them flickered to life, and the unmistakable figure of Mr. Black appeared on the screen. His devil’s mask, his all-black attire—everything about him exuded a chilling charisma that sent a ripple of unease through the room.

  "G'day everyone," Mr. Black greeted them with a mocking tone, his voice smooth but laden with malice. "It’s been a while. Hope you haven’t missed me too much. Doesn’t matter, because I’ve missed you a lot. I’ve been busy, but don’t worry, I’m back with a bang. Literally."

  The room fell into a heavy silence. Every agent hung on his every word, knowing all too well that the games were far from over.

  "I’ve been away preparing a surprise for my lovely play buddies," Mr. Black continued. "It’s called ‘Seek, Find, or Bang.’ I’ve sent a file to you. Attached is a list of cities where our game will be played. I can’t say all, but I can mention the countries: Egypt, Japan, Britain, France, China, and America. Good luck, buddies. Oh yeah, your time starts... now."

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  The video cut off abruptly, leaving an eerie stillness in the room. The agents exchanged uneasy glances, processing the gravity of what had just been revealed. Sarah’s mind raced as she tried to make sense of the cryptic message. What did he mean by "Seek, Find, or Bang"? Which cities were at risk? How many lives were at stake this time?

  Mercer wasted no time addressing the situation. "This video was sent to the respective countries' security agencies with a file attachment," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "Officer, have you decrypted the file?"

  An officer stepped forward, his face tense as he relayed the information. "Sir, I’ve decrypted it. The first city to be attacked is New York. The date is today, at 5 PM. It’s 11:15 AM now, which gives us approximately six hours."

  A wave of urgency swept through the room. Sarah felt her heart race. New York. The sheer scale of the city made it almost impossible to predict where Mr. Black might strike.

  "New York is so big... where do we even begin to look?" Sarah muttered under her breath, her mind working in overdrive.

  One of the officers spoke up, his tone focused. "Mr. Black never chooses a target without a reason. He would likely aim for the most populated area."

  Another officer chimed in, his voice full of logic. "What about the timing? What if he targets a place that becomes very populated around 5 PM?"

  Mercer immediately took charge, barking orders. "Quick, find locations in New York that fit that scope. We need to be ready."

  Daniel Briggs furiously analyzed the data on his screen, his eyes scanning for patterns. After a few moments, he looked up. "I’ve cross-referenced the data. We have three possible locations: an amusement park, the beach, and a church. Given what we know about Mr. Black, he likes to make a statement. He goes for shock and horror. Among these three, the one that best fits his M.O. is..."

  Sarah’s stomach churned as she pieced it together. "The church," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "That devil is targeting the church, oh my God."

  Mercer’s jaw tightened. "Agent Briggs, how sure are you of this?"

  Briggs was quick to respond, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "Given the intel we have, I’d say 75 percent."

  "I can work with that," Mercer said, his tone firm. "Agent Luke, contact the agents in New York. Get them ready. Deploy the anti-bomb squad and SWAT teams. I need every available agent on this operation."

  "Yes, sir," Agent Luke responded immediately, already heading out to make the necessary calls.

  Mercer turned back to Briggs, his expression intense. "Agent Briggs, stay here and continue deciphering the possible locations for the other bombs. We need to prepare for the worst."

  "Yes, sir," Briggs replied, diving back into his analysis.

  The room was filled with a sense of frantic urgency as the team mobilized. Sarah remained in her seat, her mind racing. New York was the first target, but what about the other cities Mr. Black had mentioned? Egypt, Japan, Britain, France, China, and America—what kind of chaos was he planning for those nations?

  As Mercer’s voice faded into the background, the weight of the task at hand bore down on Sarah. They were facing a global threat, and the clock was ticking. The next few hours would determine how many lives could be saved—and how many would be lost.