Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 90

Chapter Ninth: The Person They Want is NULLWRAITH.

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“Jessica, look… I know this might seem strange–no, weird–but I have to leave right now.”

Cassienne’s voice trembled despite her effort to stay calm. Fear had settled deep in her chest the moment she realised what she had done. One careless mistake from her is about to expose her to the world. All the years of secrecy unraveling in seconds.

She stepped closer to Jessica, her eyes pleading.

“You can’t tell anyone about this. Please. I’ve tried so hard, so hard, to keep this a secret for so long. Promise me you won’t reveal my identity to anyone.”

Jessica stared at her, stunned. Her lips parted, her mind still struggling to process the impossible truth standing right in front of her.

Cassienne Rhodes. The quiet, reserved, almost invisible ex–sister–in–law, is NULLWRAITH? The living legend, the ghost of the e–sport world.

Jessica let out a breathless laugh, running a hand through her hair. “You do realise how insane this sounds, right?” she said, though there was awe in her voice rather than mockery.

She had been a professional e–sport player for years. She had chased NULLWRAITH’s shadow, studied her playstyle, rewatched every match, every clip, every impossible maneuver of NULLWRAITH. Her company had spent ridiculous amounts of money trying to identify the player. She herself had prayed, actually prayed, to meet NULLWRAITH one day.

And now? The person the entire e–sport world worshipped had been sitting at her family dinner table all along.

“You owe me an explanation,” Jessica said finally, her tone serious now. “A huge one, and you’d better leave immediately.”

She glanced at the monitor, then back at Cassienne, her voice lowering. “The e–sport observers already know my location. If they trace this any further, they’ll be here any moment.”

Cassienne swallowed hard. “Thank you, Jessica. I swear, I owe you one.”

She grabbed her bag in a rush, her movements were instant and urgent, and she headed for the door.

Jessica watched her leave, her eyes glued to the doorway long after it shut.

If she hadn’t seen it herself, if anyone else had told her, she would have laughed in their face.

Cassienne? NULLWRAITH? Impossible. And yet, it is undeniable.

Her role model, her inspiration and her benchmark was her sister–in–law?

“Unbelievable,” Jessica whispered.

Then reality crashed down on her immediately, realising something important.

This secret wouldn’t stay buried, not now. Not after that login. Not when the world had already begun connecting dots.

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Chapter Ninth: The Person They Want is NULLWRAITH.

Especially not when they knew Madox knew NULLWRAITH.

“Shit,” she muttered.

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Elsewhere in the city, in a sleek office humming with servers and glowing monitors, the e–sport observers were celebrating.

Laughter filled the room. Screens flashed, as messages poured in.

Years. Years of chasing a ghost, and now, they finally had a lead.

“Alright, everyone, listen up,” one of the senior analysts announced, standing in front of the room. NULLWRAITH logged into a live game from Madox’s registered location.”

Cheers erupted immediately.

“This confirms one thing,” another added excitedly. “Madox knows who NULLWRAITH is.”

Applause thundered through the office.

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If they were the first to unmask NULLWRAITH, it would be monumental. Careers would be made overnight. Sponsorships, fame, money and influence. It was a win–win situation for them.

“This is bigger than a leak,” someone said. “This is history.”

The LAN organisers had tried everything to lure NULLWRAITH into appearing publicly. They have tried invitations, incentives and contracts. But nothing worked. She stayed online, untouchable, and unreachable.

But now? Now they had leverage.

“All we need is to get Madox to talk,” the team lead continued. “If she refuses, we wait. Her company will move eventually. And trust me, we’re not the only ones who’ve noticed this.”

Smiles spread across their faces. The hunt was on.

At exactly 5:00 a.m., black vehicles pulled up outside the Tremont mansion.

The silence of the early morning was shattered.

“Open the gate! We need to speak with Madox!”

Security guards rushed forward, visibly confused by the sudden crowd forming outside the estate.

“Please leave immediately,” one guard said firmly. “No one by that name resides here.”

“We’re referring to Jessica Tremont,” the lead observer replied. “She lives here.”

The guard stiffened. Behind them, camera lights flickered on, and live streams started. Phones were raised.

Within minutes, black vans arrived. The streamers, gossip channels, and independent media houses have all arrived. They didn’t approach the gate, because they didn’t need to. They only need to stream from a distance.

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Their viewer counts skyrocketed the minute they reached. Millions of their viewers tuned in. Speculation exploded across social media.

NULLWRAITH and Madox. Tremont.

Thirty minutes later, sports journalists arrived, notebooks and microphones ready in their hands. They had followed NULLWRAITH’s mystery for years. Now it wasn’t just a mystery. It was a scandal.

Inside the Tremont mansion, Joseph stood rigid in the security room, staring at the massive surveillance screen. His jaw tightened.

He watched media vans outside his estate, the numbers of cameras, the crowd, all at his gate at that early hour. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded.

Abigail’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh my God… what has Jessica done?”

“She’s not capable of any scandal,” Sheila said immediately, her voice firm. “I know my daughter well enough.” Joseph didn’t respond. His face was unreadable. “Call Jessica,” he ordered.

They were all still in their pajamas, dragged from sleep into chaos. Joseph hated scandals. He hated the media, he hated noise.

He knew one thing, this had to be controlled fast. Arresting them would only make things worse. He paced, hands on his waist, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

Then, suddenly, the door opened, and Jessica walked in. She looked pale, but composed, with Nora close behind her.

Joseph turned sharply and pointed at the screen. “Start talking.” It wasn’t a request. It was a command.

Jessica inhaled deeply. She had known this moment would come. She had hoped, naively, that it wouldn’t involve the entire family. And now, things are already getting out of hand.

She thought of Cassienne. She thought of the promise she had made to her. And then she understood something important. This was already bigger than a promise she made.

“It’s not me,” Jessica said quietly.

Joseph’s eyes narrowed, daring her to lie to him.

“It’s not me they’re looking for. I swear it, uncle.” She defended.

“You are Madox, damnit.” Joseph barked.

“Yes, the person they want is NULLWRAITH, they know that I know who she is.” Jessica explained.

But when she saw how unconvinced everyone looked. She had no choice than to open up.

“Cassienne,” Jessica continued, her voice steady despite the storm around her, “Cassienne is who they’re

Chapter Ninth. The Person They Want is NULL WRAITH

looking for.”

Silence followed her words immediately, and the room froze.

Abigail’s breath caught. Sheila’s eyes widened in shock. Even Nora gasped.

Joseph’s face hardened like stone “What?” he asked slowly.

“Cassienne,” Jessica repeated. Hesitating. But said it anyway. “Cassienne is NULLWRAITH.”

Gasps rippled through the room.

D

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