Getting A System In A Modern World

Chapter 337 Winter's Fall (III)

The sterile silence of the underground facility was oppressive. The Frost family's holding room, designed to strip away any semblance of power or identity, felt like a tomb.

Every surface was pristine, every corner devoid of anything that could be used to manipulate the environment. The very air seemed to hum with restraint, as if the room itself were alive and watching.

Lady Selyna sat stiffly in her chair, her icy composure now a fragile veneer over the roiling frustration inside her. Her wrists, bound tightly to the table by reinforced restraints, ached, but it wasn't the physical discomfort that gnawed at her—it was the complete loss of control.

Kael leaned back in his own chair, his battered face set in a grimace. His icy-blue eyes, usually filled with cocky arrogance, were dull and brooding.

Across from him, Lyra sat in silence, her fingers twitching slightly against the metal table, her expression distant.

For a long time, no one spoke. The weight of their defeat hung heavily in the room, an unspoken reminder of how thoroughly they had been outmatched.

Finally, Kael broke the silence, slamming his fists against the table.

"This is a joke! He thinks he can keep us locked up here like animals? We're Frosts! We don't grovel before anyone!"

The metal restraints around his wrists clinked as he struggled against them, his icy aura flaring instinctively. But just as quickly, it fizzled out, the room's suppression systems neutralizing his powers.

"Stop it, Kael," Selyna snapped, her voice sharp. "You're only wasting energy."

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Kael glared at her, his jaw tightening. "So what? We just sit here and wait for him to decide what to do with us? Is that your plan, Mother?"

Selyna's eyes narrowed. "Do you think I enjoy this any more than you do? If you'd listened to me instead of charging in like a fool, we might not be in this situation!"

Kael recoiled slightly, the accusation cutting deeper than he wanted to admit. He slumped back in his chair, muttering under his breath, "We shouldn't be here at all."

---

Lyra, who had been quiet throughout their exchange, finally looked up. Her voice was calm but carried an edge of frustration. "It doesn't matter who's to blame. We're here now. The question is what we do next."

Kael scoffed. "What can we do, Lyra? In case you haven't noticed, this place is designed to strip us of everything we are. We can't use our powers, we can't escape, and we can't fight back."

Lyra's gaze hardened. "Then we think. Silas may be stronger than us, but he's not infallible. There has to be something he overlooked, some way to turn this situation in our favor."

Selyna watched her daughter carefully, noting the determination in her voice. "You sound like you have an idea."

Lyra hesitated, glancing toward the door as if expecting someone to be listening. "Not yet. But we need to stay calm and observant."

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of the door unlocking. All three of them tensed as Silas walked in, his presence commanding the room. His dark suit was immaculate, his expression unreadable.

He carried a small tablet, which he placed on the table before taking a seat across from them.

"Comfortable?" he asked, his tone almost mocking.

Kael glared at him, his fists clenching. "Go to hell."

Silas smirked. "You're already there, Kael. Welcome."

Selyna leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "What do you want, Silas? If this is some power trip, you've made your point."

Silas ignored her question, tapping on the tablet. A series of holographic projections appeared, displaying maps, documents, and images. They were detailed reports of the Frost family's operations, alliances, and resources.

"You've been busy," Silas said, his voice cold. "Extorting governments, running clandestine experiments, and building weapons meant to 'deal' with people like me. And yet, here you are."

Kael scoffed. "You think this makes you better than us? You're just as much a tyrant as you claim we are."

Silas's expression darkened, his gaze piercing. "The difference, Kael, is that I don't hide behind false justifications. Everything I do is to ensure people like you can never abuse your power again."

Selyna studied Silas carefully, weighing her options. She knew he was meticulous, always ten steps ahead. But there had to be a way to get through to him, to find a crack in his armor.

"What's your endgame, Silas?" she asked finally. "You've already dismantled the Black Hand. You've brought the world's governments to their knees. And now you're targeting us. Why? What are you trying to achieve?"

Silas leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Balance," he said simply. "The world has been out of balance for far too long. People like you, the other families, the Black Hand—you've all tipped the scales in your favor for centuries. That ends now."

"And you think you're the one to fix it?" Selyna pressed. "What gives you the right?"

"No one."

Lyra spoke up, her voice quieter but no less resolute. "And what happens when you're gone? You can't maintain this balance forever. What then?"

Silas regarded her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Then it's up to the world to decide if they've learned from their mistakes. I'm not here to rule—I'm here to reset."

Lyra frowned, her mind racing. There was something about Silas's conviction that unsettled her. He truly believed he was doing the right thing, but at what cost?

Silas stood, his presence once again looming over them. "You'll stay here until I decide what to do with you. In the meantime, if you want to survive, you'd better start considering what you're willing to sacrifice."

He turned to leave but paused at the door, glancing back at Selyna. "And don't bother trying to escape. This facility is as much a prison for your powers as it is for you. You're not getting out."

The door closed with a heavy thud, leaving the Frost family alone once more.

---

As the sound of Silas's footsteps faded, the room fell into silence. Selyna stared at the table, her mind racing with plans and counterplans.

Kael fumed silently, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. And Lyra, her gaze distant, found herself grappling with an unexpected thought: What if Silas was right?

For the first time, the Frost family wasn't just fighting for survival—they were fighting to understand the man who had brought them to their knees.