The image of Viktor's cruel smile still haunted Alia. She knew that to survive in this world, kindness alone wasn't enough; she had to be calculated and strategic. Her hands trembled, but her resolve was ironclad as she pulled a checkbook from her bag. She quickly wrote out the check, pressed it into her colleague's hand, and whispered in a low, firm voice:
"Take this it's 1 billion. It is for you and your family. Leave this city immediately. Get as far away as possible before you cross Viktor's path again. Do not work for anyone else. Start a new life with your family, far away from the shadows of this dark world."
The colleague was still reeling from the shock. He clutched the check with trembling fingers, staring at Alia in disbelief. Tears of gratitude streamed down his face, for he realized that Alia had just gifted him a new life.
Without giving him a chance to speak, Alia turned and hurried away from the platform. She was preparing herself for her next confrontation with Viktor. Deep down, she thought, if Viktor had the power to take lives, she had the power to save them. This was her first step toward truly stepping into her role as the Godmother. Alia hurried, following Viktor closely as he walked. He was making his way through a deserted alleyway outside the station, the hem of his long coat fluttering in the wind. Hearing the sound of her footsteps, Viktor stopped, though he did not turn around to face her.
Alia stepped up right behind him. Viktor brought his hands behind his back, and without hesitation, Alia reached out and took his firm hands into her own.
The moment was profoundly still, as if the world around them had paused. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, there were no words between them—no explanations or accusations. There was only a silence that spoke volumes. Viktor slowly tightened his grip on her hands; her warmth seemed to bring a sense of serenity to his icy, rigid persona. They did not look at each other, standing there simply holding hands as if, through this silence, they were beginning to recognize each other's existence all over again. They began to walk, their hands still firmly clasped. Breaking the silence of the deserted street, Viktor said in a low, grave voice, "I am taking you to Iceland, Alia."
Alia looked at Viktor, surprised. With a mixture of hesitation and curiosity, she asked, "Why? Why Iceland, all of a sudden?"
Viktor kept his gaze fixed ahead, maintaining that familiar, icy intensity. He replied calmly, "I want to show you that blue injection I told you about, the one beneath the water. You need to see with your own eyes how that mysterious blue liquid can alter the flow of life."
There was such a profound mystery in his words that it sparked new questions within Alia's mind. She realized that Viktor was not just making her a part of his life, but was intent on making her a witness to the most secretive and dangerous experiments of his dark world. Alia felt a surge of both unknown excitement and dread as she contemplated what terrifying truth might lie beneath the icy waters of Iceland, hidden within Viktor's "blue injection."Without saying a word, Viktor led Alia toward his private jet, which sat waiting for them. As they reached the steps of the aircraft, Viktor didn't stop; instead, he scooped Alia up in his arms, cradling her securely.
The interior of the jet felt like another world—luxurious yet shrouded in shadows. Viktor sat down, settling Alia onto his lap, and held her close against his chest. In the soft, dim blue lighting of the cabin, Viktor's face looked particularly mysterious. He leaned in close to Alia's ear and whispered, "Do not be afraid, Alia. After you see the blue water of Iceland and that injection, nothing in this world will ever look the same to you again."
Resting her head against Viktor's chest, Alia could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She felt as though she had embarked on a journey from which there was no turning back. As the engines of the private jet roared to life, they began their flight toward their mysterious, icy destination. Exhausted by the long journey, Alia drifted into a deep sleep while still nestled against Viktor's chest. The steady, low hum of the aircraft and the rhythmic beat of his heart provided her with a strange sense of security.
Just then, a flight crew member approached them with extreme caution. Bowing their head slightly toward Viktor, they whispered, "Sir, we are only moments away from our destination. Everything has been prepared according to your instructions. Should we initiate all protocols the moment we land at the laboratory in Iceland?"
Viktor was gently stroking Alia's hair, as if trying to reassure her even in her slumber. He looked toward the crew member and gave a single, sharp nod with his cold, unreadable gaze. He didn't speak, but with a slight movement of his hand, he signaled that he was ready for the next phase of his plan.
The jet continued its descent over the grey, mysterious skies of Iceland. The aircraft touched down on a desolate runway in Iceland. It was the dead of night, and as the cabin door opened, the piercing, freezing air rushed inside, jolting Alia awake. She opened her eyes to find Viktor helping her descend from the plane.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, Alia stopped in her tracks, completely breathless. She looked up at the sky and was overwhelmed with awe. The Icelandic night sky was alive with the Aurora Borealis. It was a dazzling festival of colors an ethereal blend of vivid red, blue, and green, weaving together to create a magical, almost otherworldly display.
She had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. Viktor stepped beside her, his gaze fixed on the heavens, and said in a cool, detached tone, "Nature is far more mysterious than you perceive it to be. This Aurora is not just light; it is a manifestation of the Earth's strange, raw power. And the truth we have come to seek is even deeper than these lights."
Alia remained motionless, her eyes locked on the dancing colors above. It felt as though the Aurora was sending some kind of profound signal, one that was destined to change her life and her connection to Viktor forever.Viktor furrowed his brow, looking at Alia with newfound intrigue. Standing beneath the shimmering lights of the Aurora Borealis, Alia spoke in a calm but firm voice, "I know why this happens."
She pointed toward the sky and began to explain, "Charged particles from the sun, or solar winds, collide with the gas molecules in the Earth's atmosphere, creating these light displays. The varying colors red, blue, or green depend on the specific gases present in the atmosphere, such as oxygen or nitrogen."
Viktor was stunned for a moment. He perhaps had not expected Alia to explain this scientific phenomenon so clearly. A flicker of curiosity finally broke through his cold, impassive gaze. He said in a low tone, "You are not just emotional, Alia. You are also sharp-witted. When nature reveals its secrets in such a way, most people are filled with fear. But you?"
Alia looked directly into Viktor's eyes and replied, "I am not afraid. I only want to know the truth—whether it is the mystery of the lights in the sky or the truth behind your blue injection."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile traced the corner of Viktor's lips. He realized he had brought a woman with him who was not merely meant to be a passenger in his world, but someone who possessed the capacity to understand the balance between its darkness and its light.Viktor looked at Alia with genuine astonishment, the icy barrier in his eyes softening for a moment. He asked in a low, curious tone, "How do you know this so precisely?"
Alia looked up at the sky and offered a faint, wistful smile. Diving into the depths of her memories, she began to recount, "When I was very young, we lived in Korea. My father was a brilliant, intelligent man. Back then, when I would sit in my father's lap as a child, he would tell me stories for hours about the mysteries of the sky. That was when my deep fascination with science first began."
There was a poignant emotion in Alia's voice. Looking straight into Viktor's eyes, she added, "It was those lessons from my father that taught me today that there is a logical reason behind everything in nature. Just as I know that there must be a profound scientific truth hidden behind your mysterious blue injection."
Viktor remained silent for a long moment. Alia realized that the lessons from her childhood, imparted by her father, were the very things giving her the strength to stand tall and unafraid before a complex man like Viktor. Viktor's silence and the shift in his gaze suggest that Alia's childhood memories have stirred a profound, hidden emotion within him.
When he looks at Alia, he likely sees not just a companion, but a reflection of his own lost or suppressed memories. For someone like Viktor, who maintains rigid control over his emotions, hearing about the simple, authentic moments Alia spent with her father creates a sense of unsettling resonance. It is possible that his own childhood held a similar, special bond that he has kept locked away for years.
The lessons Alia received from her father and her love for science may be unlocking a door to old wounds or dormant memories within Viktor. It is possible that beneath the darkness of his world, there exists another side of him that is beginning to recognize itself through Alia's transparent and honest persona. Viktor's silence at this moment proves that to him, Alia is no longer just another "case study"; she has become a new mystery intertwined with the very fabric of his existence.