Chapter 814: Tip of the iceberg

Deep lines appeared between Sven’s brows as he looked back at Atlas with confusion. "A deal?" he blurted out. "If that deal involves getting me out of here, then I’ll take it."

"As I mentioned, it’s not the deal you think it is, but it’s not bad either," Atlas repeated, thinking the voices in Sven’s head were so loud that the man couldn’t hear him properly. "After the crime you committed, I’m not so corrupt as to not think about the victim. I can’t do that. Even if I wanted to, I’m not above the law."

"Forget it." Sven snorted, pushing himself away from the table. "If you’re not going to get me out of here, then forget it. I’m not listening to your offer—I don’t care about it."

Atlas arched a brow briefly, unfazed by Sven’s response. "I’ll catch them for you."

"Hah?"

"Those other people," Atlas said, keeping it vague because Sven surely knew who he was talking about. "It’s strange that you confessed to everything you did, but I’m sure there’s a reason. I might not be able to get you out of here because this is a result of your own actions. However, I can put them behind bars just like you."

Slowly, Atlas leaned closer. "Sven, you’re the most vengeful person I’ve ever known. How can you accept that while you’re going to rot in here, your accomplices are outside, walking freely? That isn’t fair, is it?"

Sven pressed his lips together, narrowing his eyes at Atlas. For a moment, he slid his gaze toward the corner where the officer was standing. He cleared his throat and huffed, then snapped his eyes back to Atlas.

"Atlas." Sven leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Are you doing drugs?"

Atlas arched a brow. "What?"

"Or are you just crazy, with a loose screw in your head?" Sven made a circular motion in front of his ear. "Didn’t you hear my statement? I did it, and I did it alone. Why are you still looking for other people to be involved in this? Isn’t having me here not enough? Or did you just get addicted to exercising your power?"

"Goodness! Tsk tsk tsk!" he continued, clicking his tongue in dismay. "You’ve probably lost it. What a crazy man. Talking nonsense. Hey, Atlas! If you’re going to come here again next time, make sure what you want to talk about is asking for my forgiveness and getting me out of here. Otherwise, don’t even bother."

Having said that, Sven leaned back and cast the officer an indifferent look. "Hey, isn’t my visitation time over? Come and get me out of here. I don’t want to talk to someone who belongs in the psych ward."

The officer in charge casually walked over to Sven, unlocked the handcuffs from the table, and then re-fixed them in place as he had done when Sven first entered. After the brief procedure, the officer escorted Sven away while Atlas remained seated in the chair.

Before Sven could go through the door, he looked back at Atlas one last time. He didn’t say anything, nor did his expression change, but Atlas could tell that Sven seemed to be assessing him before leaving.

’That is strange,’ Atlas thought to himself as he stood up and walked out of the visitation room.

As he walked down the hallway toward the exit of the state prison, Atlas couldn’t help but think about Sven. The thing he’d said about Sven being the most vengeful person Atlas had ever known was true. It was clear, since Sven would do anything to bring Atlas down, even at the cost of the family business.

If Sven didn’t get what he wanted, then no one else would. That was how Sven had lived, and perhaps, it was how he would live his entire life.

Today, Atlas tested Sven to get confirmation. The first test was to see Sven’s reaction when he mentioned Allen regaining consciousness. The second test was to confirm whether or not Sven was working alone or had any outside help.

That was why Atlas had suddenly brought up the "other guys."

Sven denied it and kept verbally attacking Atlas’s mental state. But that also answered Atlas’s question.

’There’s definitely someone else,’ Atlas thought, his eyes sharpening as he walked closer to the exit. ’His reaction is... more than strange. If there was no one else, Sven would’ve at least said there was—just to give me some unnecessary work. After all, he’s already locked up, and he would stay there for a long time.’

What else would Sven lose?

However, not only did Sven deny there was another party, but he completely took the offensive side. No matter how hot-blooded and reckless Sven was, that man was also an opportunist.

’And that look on his face before he left...’ Atlas stopped at the parking lot and looked back at the building. "... He was scared. I’m sure of it."

Atlas kept his lips pressed into a thin line, realizing there was much more to this than he thought. Getting Sven imprisoned was far from the end.

It was just the tip of the iceberg.

"I don’t feel good about this," Atlas whispered, feeling his heart thud and clench for some reason. He slowly reached to his chest. "What’s next?"

That was the only question that dominated his mind because Atlas was certain the person behind Sven wouldn’t stop just because Sven was locked up. If anything, he feared the enemy was already on the move, and Atlas had no idea which side they would attack first.

Atlas sighed heavily and reached for his phone, dialing Hugo’s number. "Where are you? I need your help, Hugo. They’re already on the move... those people Dad mentioned. I think they’re already on the move."

---

Meanwhile...

Stephen Bennet sat on the couch alone, staring at the small pill bottle in his hand. Reluctance flickered across his eyes, and his mouth pressed into a tight line.

’Just one of these, and they told me that I’d be able to...’ His thoughts trailed off, his heart heavy, before the weight of his son’s situation solidified in his mind.

Just then, he heard the door click. Stephen quickly clasped the bottle and hid it in his suit. Lifting his eyes to the door, he rose to his feet to welcome Chairman Bennet.