The dimly lit library smelled of old parchment and dust, a relic of time itself. Hood leaned back against the towering bookshelves, his arms crossed, watching Zayn and Aria with keen eyes.
**"Do you know about the Crimson Serpent?"** he asked.
Zayn and Aria exchanged glances before nodding.
**"Yes,"** Zayn replied. **"After the world president, Adrian Veylor, was mysteriously murdered, the vice president took over, promising to rule for one year and conduct global elections."**
Aria added, **"The elections are coming soon, but nobody knows who will win. It's been chaotic ever since Adrian's death."**
Hood gave a small nod. **"And do you understand how the world elections are conducted?"**
Zayn took the lead. **"Each country selects its representatives, and those representatives present the achievements of their president to the Global Parliament. The Parliament then votes based on the deeds of the president."**
Aria nodded. **"It's a unique system, but it does ensure only the most deserving leaders rise to power."**
Hood smirked. **"You know who created this system, right?"**
Zayn's expression darkened. **"Yes. Manav. Our president. My grandmother told me how, after the destruction of the Dome, he established this system. The Global Parliament even wanted him to be the first global president, but he rejected the position."**
Hood's gaze flickered, lost in thought. **"That's right. And what happened after adrian veylor's death?"**
Zayn exhaled. **"Manav turned his attention to the Crimson Serpent. That organization had terrorized Mars for over four centuries, running everything from underground trafficking to high-scale planetary warfare. Manav wiped them out personally, using the strongest commanders at his side—Ryan Jim, Dain, Elyas, Liora, Karael, and Thane."**
Aria crossed her arms. **"The organization was erased.
Hood took a step forward. His voice carried a weight that made the air tense. **"To bring down Manav, we must understand something crucial."**
Zayn and Aria listened intently as Hood raised a single finger. **"History moves in a pattern. Power never stays in one place forever. Empires rise and fall. Kings are crowned and overthrown. The same will happen here."**
A chilling silence followed
At the **Global Parliament**, the top detectives of Mars gathered inside a sleek, high-tech conference room. A large holographic screen displayed the case file: **The Murder of World President Adrian Veylor.**
Vice President **Gareth Morsen** stood at the front, addressing them. His sharp blue eyes scanned the room as he spoke with authority.
**"Until the elections are conducted next year, I will be ruling. But I have one priority: we must solve Adrian Veylor's murder. This is not just any crime—it's a global matter. Which means, detectives, you are working on the most important case in the history of Mars."**
The detectives, a mix of different backgrounds and nations, sat in silence, absorbing the weight of his words.
Gareth turned to the screen, pressing a button. A **holographic timeline** appeared, detailing the night of Adrian Veylor's murder.
**"Here's what we know,"** he continued. **"Adrian was last seen at the Presidential Tower, alone in his office. Surveillance footage shows no one entering or leaving. At exactly 2:37 AM, his life signal was cut off."**
The lead detective, **Varian Kord**, leaned forward. **"So you're saying… he was killed in a completely secure, locked-down office? That's impossible."**
**"That's what makes this case special."** Gareth's voice was cold. **"No entry. No exit. And no weapon found."**
Another detective, **Seraphine Vex**, narrowed her eyes. **"Are we considering internal betrayal? Someone in the government?"**
Gareth smirked. **"That's what you're here to find out."**
He turned to the assembled team. **"You have one mission: find the murderer. Use your brains, use your resources. The fate of Mars depends on it."**
With that, the **Cerebral Order** was officially formed—the elite detective unit tasked with solving Adrian Veylor's murder.
The air smelled of burning incense and something ancient—something unnatural. The **witch's house** was deep within the shadows of **Dusthaven**, surrounded by mist-covered woods.
Ryan Jim, adjusting his collar uncomfortably, whispered, **"Sir, why are we doing this again?"**
Manav, his face unreadable, simply replied, **"We need to find the Book of Prophecy."**
Priya, standing beside her brother, added, **"If we perform this ritual, we might uncover its location."**
Ryan Jim sighed, rubbing his temples. **"Sir, with all due respect, you don't even believe in this stuff. Why are we—"**
Manav interrupted, his voice calm. **"I don't believe in superstitions. But Priya does. And she's never wrong about things like this."**
Ryan Jim threw his hands in the air. **"Great. And I'm stuck between you two."**
The door creaked open, revealing a **woman wrapped in black robes**, her golden eyes shimmering in the dim candlelight. She studied them carefully before stepping aside.
**"Come in."**
They entered cautiously, the room filled with mysterious relics and books stacked in impossible piles. The witch led them through a narrow corridor until they arrived at a **small, rustic kitchen**.
Ryan Jim blinked. **"Wait. The kitchen?"**
The witch turned, giving a sly smile. **"Magic is best performed where life is strongest. And life begins in the kitchen."**
Manav remained still, his expression blank as always.
The witch motioned for them to sit. **"Before we begin, tell me… how far are you willing to go to find the truth?"**
Priya looked at her brother. **"As far as we need to."**
The candle flames flickered wildly, as if sensing the storm that was about to unfold.
And with that, the **ritual began**.