Chapter 18: Hidden in Plain Sight
The fallout from their mission at PRASASTI rippled across the city, though only in whispers. The trio had managed to extract critical evidence, but Maria, Julia, and Ikran knew they were far from safe.
Julia paced the length of the safehouse, her mind racing with everything they had uncovered. The files weren’t just technical documents; they were a damning exposé of Kentofes’ operations.
“Human experiments,” Julia muttered, her voice trembling. “How could they get away with this for so long?”
Maria, sitting on the edge of the couch, clenched her fists. “Because no one knew. PRASASTI has the money, the influence... They’ve buried the truth under layers of lies.”
Ikran leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. “And they’re not going to let us walk away with it. Kentofes isn’t invincible, but they’re ruthless. They’ll come for us.”
Julia stopped pacing and turned to him. “Then we make the first move. We take this evidence public—expose them before they have a chance to silence us.”
Maria hesitated. “That’s easier said than done. If we release this without a solid plan, they’ll spin it. Call it a hoax or label us as criminals.”
“We need a platform,” Ikran said. “Something they can’t immediately discredit. What about the media?”
Maria shook her head. “Too risky. Kentofes owns half the outlets in Pasadianka. The other half are too afraid to touch something this big.”
Julia’s mind raced as she considered their options. Suddenly, an idea struck her.
“What about a whistleblower site?” she asked. “Something anonymous, but credible enough to gain traction. If we leak the files there, it’ll spread faster than Kentofes can control.”
Ikran raised an eyebrow. “You know how to do that?”
Julia smirked faintly. “Let’s just say my dad taught me a thing or two about staying under the radar.”
The next several hours were a flurry of activity as Julia worked to encrypt and upload the files to a secure whistleblower platform. Maria double-checked the data, ensuring that every piece of evidence was clear and impossible to refute. Ikran monitored their surroundings, his weapon close at hand, watching for any sign of retaliation.
Finally, Julia leaned back in her chair, exhaling deeply. “It’s done. The files are live.”
Maria came to her side, staring at the screen. “Now we wait.”
The first signs of their success came faster than expected. Within hours, social media was ablaze with posts about the leaked documents. Journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens shared the information, each post adding momentum to the storm brewing against PRASASTI and Kentofes.
But the team’s relief was short-lived.
Somewhere in the heart of the city, Kentofes was already mobilizing. A sleek office filled with monitors displayed the leaked files, while a man in a tailored suit studied the screen with icy composure.
“We’ve been compromised,” one of his subordinates reported. “The files are spreading faster than anticipated.”
The man, Kentofes’ leader, turned to face the room. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with fury.
“Then we find them,” he said, his voice cold and precise. “And we remind the world what happens to those who stand in our way.”
Back at the safehouse, Julia’s phone buzzed with notifications as the leaked files gained traction. Maria and Ikran gathered around the screen, their expressions a mix of hope and anxiety.
“We did it,” Maria said, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Julia nodded, though her relief was tempered by the knowledge of what was coming. “Now we just have to survive.”
Ikran checked his weapon, his gaze fixed on the door. “They’ll come for us. We need to be ready.”
As the team braced for the storm ahead, one thing was clear: the fight against Kentofes had entered a new phase. They had brought the truth into the light, but at a cost they were only beginning to understand.