It’s Halloween morning and the local café is jam-packed.

We see Hall, the intern, standing in line, waiting to order his coffee. While waiting, he scans the café.

A soccer mom with two muddy pre-teens, a spattering of older men sitting alone reading the newspaper, Larry Lender at a table with Senator Lynn Warwick, and a third individual with a notepad and pen, scribbling furiously, a hung-over frat bro struggling to stay upright -

Hold Up…

Putting his sunglasses on (a sophisticated disguise that would surely fool even the most observant passerbyers’ effort to identify him).

Hall (thinking): "What's Larry doing with Lynn Warwick?”

He quickly texts Ryan Strongarm and Jay Pollard to let them know.

https://opensea.io/assets/0x4FDE1bb75D135552Dc7F98F05f8F853a0789E9FE/20

Larry, Lynn, and the journalist talk quietly.

Journalist: "This can go to print tomorrow if I get the green light.."

Larry: "Are you sure about the numbers, Senator?"

Senator (smirking): "Numbers can be... interpreted, print it.”

https://opensea.io/assets/0x4FDE1bb75D135552Dc7F98F05f8F853a0789E9FE/21

Hall happens upon, a vast pumpkin patch.

It’s daytime but overcast. Children are picking pumpkins. An old farmer stands watching them.

Farmer: "See, each pumpkin has its own value, just like people. Some look perfect outside but are hollow inside. While others, seemingly flawed, are robust and full."

https://opensea.io/assets/0x4FDE1bb75D135552Dc7F98F05f8F853a0789E9FE/22

Back at Base Headquarters, Jay and Ryan discuss Hall’s café encounter with a third person, a notable crypto investor, and spokesperson, Nate Carver.

Ryan: “Jay, Hall, I’ve asked Mr. Carver to help us unpack what you saw yesterday. Nate, what do you think they're up to?”

Jay (chuckling): "Maybe they're discussing Halloween plans.”

Nate: “While peddling false narratives to the public in hopes of strengthening one’s political standing certainly carries tones of an Orwellian horror story, the date is likely just coincidental. Based on the description of the journalist your Intern gave it sounds like Mr. Lender and Senator Warwick were with Benny Buyline, who, maybe not so coincidentally, penned a piece titled “Terrorists Raised $100 Million Using Base Labs Tech“ in the Wall Street Chronicle just an hour ago.”

Ryan: “What! How can those numbers be accurate?!”

Nate: “They’re not. Hall, I’d love to have you on my Podcast to talk about your encounter at the coffee shop and what you heard.”

Hall: “I don’t know if I should be…I mean, I’m just an intern.

Jay: “We’ll help you prep, Hall. You can do this.”

https://opensea.io/assets/0x4FDE1bb75D135552Dc7F98F05f8F853a0789E9FE/23

Inside Senator Lynn Warwick’s rather lavish office. Larry and Lynn are discussing strategies, and thank the journalist as he is preparing to leave.

Suddenly, both Larry and Lynn’s phones ring simultaneously.

Lynn and Larry: “Who the hell is Hall Hoffman?”

https://opensea.io/assets/0x4FDE1bb75D135552Dc7F98F05f8F853a0789E9FE/24

A discreet underground parking garage. The ambiance is dimly lit and eerie.

A mysterious figure, dressed in a long trench coat, waits beside a sleek black car. Hall, now visibly paranoid, approaches cautiously.

Hall (whispering): "Are you following me?"

Mysterious Figure: "Quiet! You're drawing more attention than you think. You're on a dangerous path, Hall. Warwick and Lender aren't the only players in this game."

Back at Hall's apartment, a modest space, littered with research papers, newspaper clippings, and photos pinned to a wall, forming a complex web of connections. The dim light from street lamps outside casts long shadows in the room. Hall, in his pajamas, tosses and turns in bed, plagued by nightmares and the weight of the information he's uncovered.

Suddenly, a soft ping emanates from his laptop on a nearby table. An encrypted message pops up: "Trust no one but trust yourself. - A friend."

Hall, sitting upright now, squints at the screen, trying to make sense of the message. He takes a deep breath, running his fingers through his tousled hair and simply thinks to himself… “wtf.”

https://opensea.io/assets/0x4FDE1bb75D135552Dc7F98F05f8F853a0789E9FE/26

Lynn Warwick's elegant office, with tall bookshelves, vintage furniture, and a massive wooden desk.

Lynn is seated at her desk, phone pressed against her ear, her face showing a mix of confidence and concealed anxiety.

Lynn, whispering: "Everything is under control. Hall might be snooping, but we've got contingencies."

Voice on the phone: "He's more dangerous than you think, Lynn. His connections run deep."

Lynn, defiantly: "BASE is not my concern, nor should it be yours. We have the upper hand. Just stick to the plan."

Voice on the phone: "You better be right, or we'll both pay the price."

Lynn, taking a deep breath: "Trust me. Everything will unfold as it should."

The call ends, and Lynn looks out of her window, thinking of how much she’s given up to get to this point in her career and how this last hurdle is all she needs to secure an eventual cabinet position, if not, a real shot at the Oval Office.

https://opensea.io/assets/0x4FDE1bb75D135552Dc7F98F05f8F853a0789E9FE/27

The cozy downtown coffee shop from before. It's busier now, with the hustle and bustle of the morning rush.

Hall sits at a corner table, nervously tapping a spoon against his coffee cup. The door chimes and in walk Ryan, Jay, and Nate. They approach Hall's table and take seats.

Nate, with a half-smile: "Seems you've been causing quite a stir, Hall."

Hall, somewhat defensively: "I'm just chasing the truth, Nate."

Jay, leaning in: "The truth is complex.”

Ryan, interjecting: "We're here to help. It's time for us to work together."

Hall looks from face to face, realizing he's no longer alone in his quest.

Hall: “Let’s work together to make sure the crypto narrative is written by crypto natives and not shadowy super career politicians.”

https://opensea.io/assets/0x4FDE1bb75D135552Dc7F98F05f8F853a0789E9FE/28

To collect the individual panels from this comic click here.

To be notified when the next comic is published click the button below.