Omega Evolution || YeonBin

Chapter 38: The Gala [3]

The grand hall stretched out in silent opulence, the soft murmur of the gala barely reaching the darker recesses where shadows pooled like liquid. Yeonjun had long since left the shimmering crowd behind, his polished shoes now silent against the estate's marble floors.

His gaze remained sharp, locked on the man ahead of him—the target, a representative from the Enso Pharmaceuticals and a linchpin in the network of corruption that had drawn Artemis out tonight.

The man's gait was casual, almost too assured, weaving through the winding corridors that led deeper into the estate. Minjun followed, his body a study in precision and control, every step calculated to avoid notice. As the target disappeared around a corner, Minjun slowed, his instincts pricking.

Something shifted.

A faint sound reached him—the deliberate rhythm of boots on stone, the low hum of conversation. Guards.

He paused, pressing himself into an alcove, his form melding seamlessly with the shadows. The voices grew closer, accompanied by the metallic rustle of equipment. These weren't ordinary estate guards—their movements were too disciplined, their intent too deliberate.

Minjun's fingers brushed the inner lining of his jacket, retrieving the black velvet case hidden there. With practised ease, he snapped it open and pulled out the digital watch nestled within. Its surface was cool, almost soothing, against his skin. With a single press of the watch's interface, the transformation began.

A ripple of black particles erupted from the device, swarming over his body like living ink. The nanobots moved with purpose, weaving together into a sleek, seamless suit that adhered to his form. The material swallowed the light around him, rendering him a phantom against the darkness. A final surge brought the mask over his face, and the digital interface blinked to life, overlaying his vision with augmented clarity.

Artemis had emerged.

He flexed his fingers, the suit responding in perfect harmony with his movements. Through the mask, a thermal scan painted the corridor ahead. Five figures moved in formation—guards, armed and alert. Their path intersected his, blocking his pursuit.

Artemis crouched lower, his gloved fingers brushing the cold stone floor. The guards were too close for comfort now, their voices carrying fragments of orders and suspicion. One of them stopped just a few paces away, his flashlight beam sweeping the corridor.

Artemis remained still, his breathing measured, the nanobot suit dampening even the faintest sound of his presence. When the guard turned to follow his comrades, Artemis moved—a whisper of motion as he slipped further into the shadows.

The group reached the corner, their leader motioning towards the hallway Artemis had just vacated. "Check it thoroughly," the man said. "Something feels off."

Artemis narrowed his eyes behind the mask. His augmented vision tracked their movement, calculating the exact timing of their patrol. The suit's interface highlighted a narrow ventilation shaft just above them—his escape route.

With fluid precision, Artemis leapt upward, his enhanced grip allowing him to silently hoist himself into the shaft. Even with the gloves on, the metal surface was cold under his palms, the confined space amplifying the faint hum of his suit. Below, the guards passed without so much as a glance upward.

Once they were gone, Artemis slid from the vent, his landing silent. His pursuit resumed, his presence now more a whisper than a shadow.

The target had stopped in a private study, his silhouette visible through the frosted glass of the door. Artemis approached, his augmented interface scanning for any remaining threats.