System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

The tension from the Olympus standoff had barely dissipated when the office door opened, revealing the powerful, elderly man. Lena snapped back to attention, her hand hovering near her waistline.

"Who are you, and how did you get in here?" Lena demanded, her voice sharp.

Falcon 1 immediately stepped forward, placing himself between Lena and the newcomer. "He is an ally, ma'am. He is the master of Jason and... of all of us."

The realization of the man's identity—Jason's mentor—immediately reset the power dynamics in the room. Lena and Cassandra quickly exchanged glances, understanding the significance of this figure.

Lena stepped forward, offering a professional, if cautious, greeting. "I am Lena Rossi, and this is Cassandra. We are currently representing Ethan Blake's interests while he is temporarily incarcerated."

The old man smiled, a faint flicker of warmth in his sharp eyes. "Please, call me Grandpa Falcon," he said, his voice deep and strong, completely incongruous with his age. "No need for formalities. I heard on the road that my apprentice and your boss were arrested, so we decided to hurry and bring the merchandise to support you."

Lena's brows furrowed in confusion. "Merchandise? Sir, what merchandise are you referring to?"

Grandpa Falcon looked genuinely surprised. "Ah, it seems Jason didn't tell you about us. We are your suppliers of weapons and armored vehicles. Furthermore, my people have returned from the Middle East, and they are ready to be deployed for whatever is needed."

Cassandra instinctively surveyed the dozen men who had followed Grandpa Falcon—they shared the same lethal, controlled aura as Falcon 1 and Falcon 2. She didn't need to question the decision; she knew Ethan and Jason only aligned themselves with serious power.

"Welcome, Grandpa Falcon," Cassandra said, offering a genuine sign of respect. "We appreciate the immediate backup. Things are more complicated than you might realize."

She quickly outlined the situation. "The attack started because of my kidnapping. During the rescue, the Congressman was cornered and detonated a bomb, attempting to murder all of us. We escaped alive, but Ethan had to be hospitalized. Jason turned himself in to protect him inside the prison walls." Cassandra took a deep, frustrated breath. "Now they are in Lexington because our supposed-to-be-quiet boss couldn't keep his mouth shut and attacked a prosecutor."

Grandpa Falcon listened to the tale without a word, his expression growing grimmer with each detail.

"My apologies, Mr. Davies," Grandpa Falcon said, noticing the stressed lawyer on the sofa. "I also brought my most trusted legal counsel."

A stern, silver-haired man stepped forward—Mr. Stone, the Falcon's lawyer.

"Mr. Stone," Davies greeted him stiffly, nodding.

Mr. Stone addressed Grandpa Falcon immediately. "Sir, there is much to prepare. We need immediate, full information on the charges, the facilities, and the security protocols. I need your permission to use my contacts to investigate what exactly is happening inside Lexington."

"Do what needs to be done, Stone," Grandpa Falcon ordered.

Davies straightened in his seat, his political instincts flaring. He knew this was the moment to secure his value.

"With all due respect, Mr. Stone, while your external contacts are invaluable," Davies began smoothly, "the legal handling of Mr. Blake's case is highly delicate. Securing his release—whether through court or, ah, other means—will cement the new organization's relationship with the few political contacts we have left. I believe it is crucial that I personally maintain control over the communication channels with the courts and the local authorities to ensure our narrative remains clean and that Royal's profile is maintained in the public eye."

Davies thought: I can't let this old man's lawyer steal the credit for freeing the boss. That credit is my key to staying relevant at the top of this food chain.

"I need to be the one who delivers the final paperwork, Mr. Stone," Davies concluded, his tone polite but firm. "For the sake of our longevity."

Mr. Stone, the Falcon's lawyer, turned his full, severe attention to Davies. His voice was precise, every word designed to expose a weakness.

"Of course, Mr. Davies," Mr. Stone said smoothly, though his eyes were cold. "We respect that you want to maintain control over the public narrative. So, tell us what progress you have made with your invaluable network. Have you managed to visit Mr. Blake since his incarceration?"

Davies shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. "No. They have him locked down. No visitor clearance."

"Understandable. Have you managed to secure an audience with the prosecutor or the judge overseeing his initial arraignment? Do you even know who has taken charge of the case files?"

Davies swallowed hard, staring at the floor. "No... I haven't yet. Everything is moving incredibly fast."

Mr. Stone's expression hardened, and he scoffed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "If these are the 'crucial contacts' you presume to possess, then, Mr. Davies, you have essentially accomplished nothing in the past forty-eight hours."

He leaned closer to Davies, his voice dropping to a dangerous level. "I suggest you formally withdraw from the case. You won't be able to withstand the consequences of failing here. If anything goes wrong—if Mr. Blake's freedom is jeopardized because you couldn't secure basic information—it won't be mine or Mr. Falcon's head that rolls. It will be yours."

"Hold on, Stone," Grandpa Falcon interjected calmly, raising a hand. "Don't be too hard on him. He is doing what he can within his limitations. It's a very high-profile case."

Though Grandpa Falcon was intervening, the condescending remark about Davies' "limitations" stung the women. Lena and Cassandra bristled; the attack felt like a direct assault on the operational chain that Ethan had put in place.

"Mr. Davies is doing his job, considering the unprecedented political pressure," Lena said, her voice sharp with defense. "He has experience in this city."

"He risked his neck to get us initial information, and that counts for something," Cassandra added, crossing her arms defensively.

Grandpa Falcon looked at the two women, his expression shifting from calm amusement to stern seriousness. The air in the room seemed to drop ten degrees.

"I see that you feel we are undermining your authority," Grandpa Falcon stated, his voice flat and powerful. "I will be direct: I respect Ethan Blake. I do not know either of you, or Mr. Davies, well enough to trust you with the life of my disciple. I will not gamble Jason's and Ethan's freedom simply because a bunch of young people don't know their place!"

His gaze swept over them, burning into them with decades of accumulated experience and power. "We are dealing with federal charges of terrorism. This is not a street brawl, and it is certainly not a political maneuver to secure credit. Mr. Stone handles the law. My men handle the muscle. You, ladies, will coordinate the financial flow. That is the chain of command, effective immediately."

The tension was absolute. The message was clear: While Ethan was away, the old guard—the true power—was taking control.