The Damned Demon
chapter-713

In one of the largest hospitals under WHA's management, tucked away in a private VIP suite, Lenny stirred awake, his eyes flickering open like those of a man clawing his way back from the dead. With a grunt, he pulled himself up, mind groggy—until memories hit him like a fist to the gut.

Hellbringer. The bony and scorching hand around his neck. The nightmare he was forced to endure, a hell he couldn't escape.

His fists clenched, his lips curled back in a furious roar, and he yanked the IV from his hand, swinging his legs off the bed. But as his feet hit the floor, a sickly green web of veins pulsed beneath his skin, creeping across his face and arms. He gasped, staggering to his knees, a cold wave of nausea and pain overwhelming him.

The door burst open as several doctors rushed inside. The head doctor gasped, "Sir! Help him up, quick!"

Two assistants scrambled to his side, grabbing his arms and helping him back onto the bed as they reattached the IV. The head doctor's voice quivered, "Sir, please. You can't remove the IV—it's the only thing keeping you stable until we can find a solution to your… ailment."

"Ailment?" Lenny growled, his voice ragged, his eyes hollow. "Are you saying I'm sick? I'm not sick, damn it… I just need my dose…"

"Dose?" The head doctor echoed, a look of confusion spreading across his face.

But before he could press further, the door slammed open again, and a team of officers in thick, heavy armor stormed in, their presence immediately filling the room with an oppressive weight. The doctors stumbled back in shock, exchanging nervous glances as the officers moved into position, forming a line in front of Lenny's bed.

Lenny's eyes narrowed as he pointed at them, fury mounting, "Who the hell are you bastards? Can't you see I'm sick? Get out of my sight!"

A middle-aged man stepped forward from behind the officers, wearing a crisp, formal suit and flashing his ID with calm authority, "Mr. Lenny, I'm John, from the Global Surveillance Bureau. We're placing you under arrest for child trafficking, illegal experimentation, and a list of other charges you don't want to hear. To put it simply, you're coming with us, and things will proceed more smoothly if you cooperate."

"E-Excuse me?" Lenny staggered to his feet, his face contorting in disbelief, "Did you just say you're arresting me, the Supreme Commander of WHA?"

John's face remained impassive, "I believe I was quite clear. You have two minutes to cooperate before we use alternate methods."

Lenny snarled, grabbing John by the collar and pulling him close, "Listen, you neat bastard. I'm not going anywhere. I can end your career with one call, you hear me?"

But his bravado faltered as he saw the officers behind John silently raise their glowing guns, each one infused with a radiant yellow energy that sent a sharp chill down Lenny's spine.

John's voice didn't waver as he replied, "I wouldn't recommend getting physical. The guards behind me are some of the top S Rankers from our bureau, and if you resist, they'll restrain you by force."

Lenny's hands began to tremble as he released John, "Fine… You said I had two minutes. Let me make a call, and then you fucking bureau dogs would be begging for mercy at my feet," He grabbed his wrist device from the table, dialing Derek with a scowl as he slipped the earpiece in.

The line connected, and Lenny breathed a sigh of relief, "President, it's me, Lenny! These damn GSB dogs are here, saying I'm under arrest on bogus charges. You have to—" His voice trailed off, his face paling as Derek's voice crackled on the other end. Lenny's expression twisted with desperation as he whispered, "W-What? No, there must be another way! Please, Derek! Don't do this—Fuck!"

But the line went dead. Lenny stood frozen, his mind reeling as he realized Derek had abandoned him, leaving him to the mercy of these bastards. The man he'd trusted to look out for him, the man he'd done all kinds of dirty shit for, had turned his back without hesitation.

He couldn't believe that Derek told him to do whatever the GSB wants and to let himself get arrested! How could that bastard betray him like this? Lenny couldn't even threaten or retaliate since he knew Derek was capable of doing worse to him.

John's calm voice broke the silence, "Time's up, Mr. Lenny. Let's go."

Lenny gritted his teeth, but with ten guards, each armed and ready, he had no choice but to nod, his face twisted with humiliation, rage, and fear.

"Um…please wait," the head doctor interjected, his voice nervous. "The Commander requires an IV at all times and frequent replacements to avoid a coma." He handed John a pack of fluid bags, pushing the IV stand forward.

"Thank you, doctor. We'll handle it from here." John nodded before turning back to Lenny, who glowered, his face taut with barely suppressed rage. He…the Supreme Commander, was now reduced to a pathetic patient and a criminal!

As he was escorted down the sterile hospital corridors, his fury dimmed, replaced by cold thoughts.

Betrayed by Derek, outmaneuvered by the GSB…how had he been exposed? Who dared leak his secrets? He clenched his fists, the sickly green veins briefly pulsing under his skin as his mind raced, trying to grasp who might have orchestrated this downfall.

—

In the vast, silent expanse of the WHA President's office, Jim stood with his head lowered, tension radiating off him as he stammered, "President, I…I will take all responsibility for this!" He forced the words through gritted teeth, anxiously watching Derek's back, who remained by the tall windows, gazing out with his silhouette shadowed against the bright light.

The heavy silence and Derek's uncharacteristic stillness weighed on Jim like a shroud. It felt as if the very air was suffused with an oppressive, barely-contained storm.

"Tch, stop this silly act, Jim. You taking responsibility doesn't change the fact that we lost our biggest leverage against that goddamn cult!" Hart's voice cut through the silence, his tone sharp and irritated. Reclined on the sofa, he brushed his blonde beard, casting an annoyed look at Jim.

Jim turned toward Hart, desperate to justify himself. "I swear, we followed every procedure as planned. Nothing could have gone wrong, and Hellbringer or his cult members were never near the site. We checked the footage a thousand times—no unknown personnel infiltrated the Bridge Station. And with our scanners and security arrays, no one could have disguised themselves to get past."

Hart's brows furrowed, his tone skeptical, "Then that means someone from within tampered with the teleportation chamber. So, tell me, who had access to it that day?"

Jim hesitated, casting a quick glance at Derek's back, "Only the usual tech team and assistants. We've mind-scanned all of them, and they're clear. And then there was the um…" His voice trailed off as he hesitantly added, "…the president's wife, who did a routine check. Beyond that, we don't know who could have compromised the chamber."

Hart cleared his throat at the mention of Derek's wife. He rose from the sofa and said, "Alright. You can go, Jim. We'll contact you if we need anything further."

Jim nodded, visibly relieved. He glanced once more at Derek, then quickly left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Hart sighed as he turned back to Derek. "I know this sounds strange, but with Lenny's arrest and the teleportation chamber compromised at one of the most secure sites in the world, I'm beginning to think—"

*Click*

But his words were cut short as the door opened, revealing an elderly, bald man with a white beard and piercing green eyes, his impassive expression framed by a neat brown suit.

"Father?" Hart's surprise was evident, not expecting Albert Hart's sudden appearance.

Albert's gaze remained steady. "Son, give Derek and me a few minutes alone. There's something we need to discuss privately."

Hart stiffly glanced at Derek's back, nodding as he left the room without further question, the weight of his father's request clear in his eyes.

As the door closed, Albert approached Derek, standing quietly behind him before resting a hand on Derek's shoulder, subtly noticing the tremble beneath, "It's alright, Derek," Albert said, his voice low and even, "We always knew this could happen—that you might be betrayed by those closest to you. I just hoped we'd be wrong, and I'm sorry you had to find out this way. But it's clear now: only your daughter could have handed Lenny over, and only your wife could have compromised the teleportation chamber. You set the traps, hoping they'd never jump in. But they did."

Derek's fists tightened as he slowly turned to face Albert, his face a mask of cold anger, pain, and betrayal, "I gave up everything for them…my soul, my heart… And yet my wife, my daughter…" His voice cracked with disbelief and bitterness, "How could they do this to me? I wanted to build a new, better world for them. Why can't they see it?"

Albert's eyes held a steady, cold gleam as he replied, "Because they're blinded by mortal ideologies, Derek. They're incapable of comprehending what lies beyond. They cling to trivial values, bound by their own weakness. I know you wanted them with you, thought they would be your legacy. But once a man leaves behind his mortality...he won't need anyone. A true legacy is born from greatness, not dependence. Once we reach our goal, none of this will matter."

Derek closed his eye, his breathing slowing as Albert's words sank in, filling the hollow space within him. He exhaled slowly, his voice a low murmur, "You're right… I shouldn't need anyone." Opening his eye, it held a hardened light, "But I had hoped… I believed they'd see reason, understand my vision. Now I see they've been corrupted. And I know precisely who is responsible for that corruption." His voice grew dark, a deadly glint flashing in his eyes.

Albert gave a nod of approval, his voice smooth as silk, "Isn't it time you dealt with that person once and for all?