NOVEL NEXT Chapter 181: Birthday ?
The Ingredient Room
This room was more protected. Scanners lined the door.
Bella warned him. "Max, this door has thermal detection. You can't touch the handle directly."
Max used the flat torch to heat the metal slightly until it matched body temperature. The scanner blinked green.
He entered.
Rows of chemicals, neatly organized. Vials. Powder containers. Liquid samples. And behind a glass panel—restricted supply.
Bella's voice came again. "Third column. Blue label. Take one. That's the enhancer stabilizer."
Max collected it, then gathered two more that Bella highlighted. He placed everything into the impact-proof case.
"Now the files," Bella said.
He exited the ingredients room and walked toward the records chamber.
This was the hardest part.
---
The Records Room
The hallway had two cameras. Bella looped one, but the second was moving.
"Max… wait. Camera rotation cycle changing."
Max stopped behind a metal cart.
"Give me ten seconds," Bella muttered.
Max waited.
Bella worked. "Okay… now move!"
Max rushed forward, slid his card into the reader, and entered the room.
Rows of shelves, binders, printed reports, digital logs.
He plugged his portable drive into the central terminal.
"Transfer started," Bella said. "Three minutes."
Max pulled printed files meanwhile — the names of athletes they suspected, the dates of submission, the drug batch numbers. Everything.
He stuffed them into a file bag.
Suddenly—
Bella's voice cut through sharply.
"Max— two guards heading to your door. I don't know why. You need to hide NOW."
Max's eyes shot around the room. No closet. No blind corner.
Only one option—under the central table.
He slid under immediately.
The door opened.
Two guards entered, chatting casually.
"You heard? They're upgrading the system again."
"Seriously? Another upgrade?"
"Yeah. Supposedly someone tried breaching last month."
Max held his breath.
One of the guards walked CLOSE to the table.
His foot stopped inches from Max's face.
Bella's voice came quietly through the earpiece: "Max… don't move."
The guard stood still for a second…
Then turned away.
"Let's go check the west wing," one guard said.
Door shut.
Max exhaled.
Bella whispered, "Transfer complete. Get out."
Max grabbed the drive, secured it, and exited the room.
---
Bella Joins the Mission
As Max reached the checkpoint, Bella's voice changed.
"Max… stop. The guards changed position. You can't exit alone. I'm coming inside."
"What? Bella, no—"
"Too late."
Bella slipped out of the van and headed toward the east door. She moved fast, bypassed the disabled camera, and reached Max's position in under thirty seconds.
She looked at the bag he carried. "You got everything?"
"Yeah."
Bella nodded. "Then follow me. The south hallway is clear. We'll exit from the maintenance gate."
They moved together this time, synchronizing steps, keeping low.
One guard turned the corner ahead—
Bella grabbed Max and pulled him behind a supply rack.
The guard passed them without noticing.
They continued.
Finally, they reached the back maintenance exit.
Bella tapped her device on the lock.
Door opened.
Both of them slipped outside quietly.
---
They crossed behind the dumpsters, moved around the fence, and reached the van.
Max opened the back door.
Bella entered quickly.
Both of them sat, breathing hard.
Max held up the evidence case.
"Everything?"
Bella nodded.
"Everything."
Max smirked.
"Hmm good lets calll the boss to update him."
"Okay do that."
Bella said as she sat upriht.
"Hello, Max."
"Boss."
"Is it done?"
"Yes, boss. It's done."
"Any complications?"
"None. They didn't even realize anything."
"Good," Dayo said. "Regroup. I'll tell you what to do with the evidence soon."
"Alright, boss."
"Good work."
"Thank you."
Max dropped his phone and exhaled before turning to his partner.
"Well, you heard the boss," he said, grabbing his jacket. "Let's move."
Bella nodded and pushed herself up from the chair, stretching her arms a little.
"Hm. Alright."
They walked out of the small safehouse office and headed toward the car. As soon as they entered, Bella leaned back in the passenger seat, letting her head rest against the seat cushion.
Max glanced at her as he started the engine.
"Are you that tired?"
Bella opened one eye and smirked.
"Yeah… what do you think? We've been awake for almost twenty hours."
Max chuckled. "Fair enough. Just sleep. I'll handle the driving."
Bella didn't argue. She shifted slightly, folded her arms, and closed her eyes.
The car moved out slowly.
And as they drove, Max's mind drifted.
***
Dayo drove home with a lot on his mind. Max and Bella's call replayed in his head — the evidence was finally in his hands. He was thinking about the best way to use it.
When he pulled up to his house, something felt off.
No lights. No movement.
The place was completely dark.
He frowned.
"By this time they should be home…"
He checked the time.
9:30 p.m.
"Ah… where did they all go?" he muttered as he grabbed his keys.
He walked toward the door — instantly, his senses sharpened.
The house felt too quiet.
He stepped in carefully.
No lights were on.
No sound.
Nothing.
His instincts kicked in — slow steps, body slightly lowered, ready for anything.
He moved toward the switch, hand hovering over it.
Click.
The lights flipped on before he touched it.
And a deafening scream erupted:
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAYO!!"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO!"
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"
Dayo jumped back so hard his fist nearly came up for a punch.
He froze.
Then he blinked.
The room was packed.
Alice.
Ulrich.
Wayne.
Valerie.
His parents.
His signed artists.
Coach Richard.
Timon.
Nearly everyone he knew.
They were all smiling, shouting, recording, even livestreaming.
Confetti shot into the air.
Music started playing.
Someone popped a small sparkler cake from the kitchen.
Dayo just stared, eyebrows high, confused, shocked, but smiling.
"What… the… hell?" he said, overwhelmed. "I forgot it was even today."
Just immediately his little sister Janet Jumped and hugged him. "HAPPY birthday day big bro I love you."
Dayo hugged her and amiled. "Love you too lil sis."
Dayo looked at everyone around and smiled. "This is a suprise."
Alice ran forward and hugged him. "We know! That's why we planned it this way!"
Wayne slapped his back. "Guy! You think we'd let you skip your birthday?"
Valerie waved her phone. "The stream is at five hundred thousand viewers already!"
Coach Richard laughed. "You scared me this morning, but you scared yourself more just now."
Everyone laughed.
Dayo finally relaxed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Damn… you guys really got me."
His mom stepped forward with a warm smile.
"You work too much. Today, you rest."
Dayo looked around again, the surprise finally settling in.
The room glowed with lights.
People were talking, filming, cheering.
His name was all over the decorations.
For a moment — a long moment — he forgot the stress outside, the accusations, the chaos online.
For this one night…
He was just Dayo.
Surrounded by the people who loved him.
He smiled softly.
"Alright… let's celebrate."