The Zetta Sonic
Twenty Seconds

At the same time, Jayden was throwing his gaze out the window anyway. Monotonous appearance. Just a faint movement of clouds against a background of gray sky. He was still sitting in the same place with a different guard. The two guards sitting next to him disappeared somewhere for lunch. It's just him and Marcel. As he busied himself with the view of the clouds, Marcel was playing with his phone.

Ah, if only he could get that phone. He was eager to give a hint of his whereabouts. Let alone a smart phone like that, even an old-fashioned computer can.

No one knows Roban's purpose. There is no guarantee that this could be his last flight as well. All the uncertainty made him fret. Jayden hid it as deeply as possible. He sure didn't make much of a change in expression on his face. Marcel is still trapped on his phone.

Ah, just try he can have Marcel hand over his phone for a little while, Jayden thought again. Jayden sure can do something. Starting from opening the cell phone network, sneaking out of their security system, giving instructions to the Killer Bee.

Marcel grunts amusedly. “Do not think strangely. You can't escape from us.”

“Why? What's Roban's big plan to hire that many people?”

Marcel shrugs. “It's clear. Crush ICPA.”

“You must be lucky to get it all at once. Revenge and big pay. I'm pretty sure he gave you a bigger paycheck. Maybe, even bigger if you managed to rise in rank.”

The conversation caught Marcel's attention. The man dropped his phone. “Of course, the pay is much greater than the ICPA can provide. Even I'm sure what I'm getting right now is higher than you are in Special Force.”

Jayden pretended to be interested anyway. “Seriously? I thought you were just talking.”

Marcel was laughing. “Come on, you think how much they'll pay us. I get twice as much each month. Miris, huh? Criminals value our abilities more than justice enforcers. Speaking of criminals, you used to be one of them.”

His mind wandered into the past. He had seen the same condition. At that time, he was still on the opposite side of the ICPA. He kidnapped a group of people. The hostages were loaded with cargo planes. If they manage to get a ransom, the hostages will be released soon.

Freed in a slightly different sense. His comrades will soon open the door of the plane. The hostages would be shot one by one and then thrown out of the plane. Jayden remembers vividly how their screams were as well as how a woman pleaded not to be killed. Although he did not see the incident directly because he was sitting facing the computer, Jayden could imagine what was happening right behind him.

The old Jayden wouldn't care about the safety of others. They paid him handsomely or loaded him with a gun to get him to do something. Unfortunately, since seeing his sister killed, he judged human life higher. The moment followed by her joining the ICPA.

The memories came back to remind him that he could have the same fate. The memories gave him a good idea.

“Actually,” said Jayden while lowering his voice, “I get more than all the agents in ICPA.”

“Omong empty! There's no way ICPA gives you so much.”

“Indeed not ICPA, but myself.”

Marcel wincing. “What do you mean?”

“I stole it from them.” Jayden spoke without a voice. He let Marcel read his lips. As Marcel began to gape, Jayden continued, this time with a voice. “They made a mistake by opening up all her systems to me. So, I took a little bit of each budget post and disguised it as an administrative fee. I also only use my cell phone. Very effective. Not detected. That's genius, isn't it? So far, no one is aware.”

“You must be kidding.”

Marcel stood up. “Show me.”

“What?” Jayden was too. “No. If I show him to you, he'll think you're smarter than me. Roban will probably just tell you to kill me.”

Marcel picked up the gun, pointed at Jayden's temple, “If you don't want—”

“You're serious?” sahut Jayden's. “In these conditions, you are unlikely to use my life as an exchange.”

Marcel sighs. He instead tapped the tip of the gun on his chin as if he was thinking of another way. “Ah, I know! How about just give the money directly to my account because I don't believe in your ability.”

“No. I won't steal ICPA money for you.”

“Well, then I'll tell Roban that you turned out to be completely incompetent. I was worried that he would immediately have me throw you out of this plane sooner.”

Jayden received his first warning. Like his fear, Roban would shoot and throw him out of the plane as soon as he got what he wanted. The ICPA should find him immediately.

“Good, good.” Jayden raised both hands. “I will transfer the money to your account with one condition.”

“What else now?”

“You can't see how I do it. It's a company secret. I just need a few seconds anyway. Thirty seconds only.” Jayden noticed how Marcel's reaction was fickle. He seems doubtful. Very doubtful. However, just as Jayden was about to make up the fabric grounds, Marcel had agreed.

“Good. Twenty seconds.”

“I need thirty seconds.”

“No. That's too long. You could have tricked me and instead sent a message to your colleagues. Or..” Marcel paused for a moment. He looked at the various sides of the cabin carefully. “I can't let my colleagues know that I'm taking advantage of you. So, do it quickly!”

Marcel's got his phone. As soon as the phone changed hands with Jayden, Marcel turned away.

A fatal mistake. Jayden can actually do everything in ten seconds. Marcel's phone does not have the same kind of secret encryption that ICPA uses. This got Jayden into action faster. A dozen seconds had passed and Jayden had sent an emergency signal to Alex's computer. The child will get his current flying location following his speed and altitude. Alex will know what he's doing.

Next, Jayden gave a large sum of money to Marcel's account. There are some important notes here. One, Jayden never did everything the way he said. Two, it was not ICPA finance but rather the finance of one of the companies where Mark Hill became the highest shareholder. If not ICPA Sinde found it first, then ICPA Regis probably would have done it first.

The door on the back side is open. Marcel turned away quickly. Breath hunting. He also leaned on a row of chairs. Twenty seconds have not really passed. He knew he had to give Jayden a little extra time. “Lunch is good?” ask her to both colleagues.

“Probable. As usual.” The answer came with a low laugh.

Jayden throws the phone into an empty seat on the side. Marcel pulled out his phone and returned to his position. He smiled widely but did not realize that Jayden was smiling more satisfied.