Nick Carter Stories No. 151 Playbook 3 · The House of the Serpent

Nick Carter Stories No. 151

Playbook 3 · The House of the Serpent

Adapted by Kateule Sydney from the Original work by Nicholas Carter · Public domain (1915)

The House of the Serpent — a fortress of shadows and secrets

CONTENTS · Playbook 3

• 1. The Interrogation
• 2. The Secret Passage
• 3. The Serpent's Chamber
• 4. The Manuscript Found
• 5. The Confrontation
• 6. The Escape

Chapter 1 · The Interrogation

The morning after Lian's capture, Nick Carter sat in his private office, studying the woman who had tried to kill him. She was seated in a chair across from his desk, her hands cuffed behind her back, her face a mask of defiance.

"You will not break me, Mr. Carter," she said, her voice cold and steady. "I am loyal to the Serpent. I will never betray him."

Nick leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. "I am not trying to break you, Lian. I am trying to save you. The Serpent will not come for you. He will abandon you, as he abandons all his followers when they are no longer useful."

A flicker of doubt crossed Lian's face, but she quickly suppressed it. "You do not know the Serpent. He is powerful. He will free me."

"He will not," Nick said firmly. "I have seen his methods before. He uses people, then discards them. You are a tool to him, nothing more. If you help me, I can protect you. I can give you a new life, a life free from fear and violence."

Lian was silent for a long moment, her eyes searching Nick's face for any sign of deception. She found none.

"What do you want to know?" she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Everything," Nick replied. "Where is the Serpent? Where is the manuscript? How can I find the House of the Serpent?"

Lian took a deep breath, and then she began to speak. She told Nick about the secret location of the House of the Serpent, hidden in the heart of Chinatown behind a false façade. She told him about the underground passages that connected the building to the rest of the district, and the traps that had been set to catch intruders. She told him about the Serpent's private chamber, where he kept his most valuable possessions—including Anderton's manuscript.

"The manuscript is in a safe in the Serpent's chamber," she said. "The safe is protected by a combination lock, and only the Serpent knows the combination. But there is a way to open it without the combination."

"How?" Nick asked, leaning forward.

"The Serpent wears a ring," Lian replied. "A jade ring with a serpent carved into it. The ring contains a key that can open the safe. If you can get the ring, you can get the manuscript."

Nick nodded, his mind already working on a plan. "Where is the Serpent now?"

"I do not know," Lian admitted. "He does not tell me where he goes. But I know that he will be at the House of the Serpent tonight. He has a meeting with his most trusted lieutenants."

Nick rose from his chair, a determined look on his face. "Then that is where I will be tonight."

"You will not survive," Lian said, her voice filled with a mixture of fear and admiration. "The House of the Serpent is a fortress. You will be killed before you even reach the Serpent's chamber."

"I have faced worse odds," Nick replied calmly. "And I have always survived."

"The greatest weapon in a detective's arsenal is not a gun or a knife, but the ability to turn an enemy into an ally. Lian was my enemy, but she became my tool. And through her, I would find the Serpent." — Nick Carter's private journal

Chapter 2 · The Secret Passage

That evening, Nick Carter and Chick Carter made their way through the dark, winding streets of Chinatown. They had studied the map that Lian had drawn for them, memorizing the location of the House of the Serpent and the secret passages that led to it.

"The entrance is through a laundry shop," Nick said, his voice low and urgent. "The shop is a front for the Yellow Tong. Behind the counter, there is a false wall that leads to a tunnel. The tunnel will take us to the basement of the House of the Serpent."

Chick nodded, his eyes scanning the street for any sign of danger. "And from there?"

"From there, we make our way to the Serpent's chamber. Lian said it's on the third floor, at the end of a long corridor. There will be guards, but we'll have to deal with them quietly."

They reached the laundry shop, a small, unassuming building that looked like any other in the district. Nick pushed open the door and entered, Chick close behind him.

The shop was empty, the counter unattended. Nick moved behind the counter and examined the wall. He found a small indentation in the plaster, barely visible in the dim light. He pressed it, and the wall swung open, revealing a dark passageway.

They entered the passage, their footsteps echoing in the silence. The tunnel was narrow, barely wide enough for two men to walk side by side. The walls were damp, and the air was thick with the smell of earth and decay.

They walked for what seemed like an eternity, their senses alert for any sign of danger. Then they reached a door at the end of the tunnel, made of heavy iron and secured with a large lock.

Nick produced a set of lock picks from his pocket and set to work. It took him several minutes, but at last, the lock clicked open. He pushed the door open and stepped into the basement of the House of the Serpent.

The basement was dark and silent, filled with crates and barrels. Nick moved through the shadows, his eyes searching for a staircase that would lead to the upper floors.

He found a narrow staircase at the far end of the basement and began to climb, Chick close behind him. They reached the ground floor and peered out into the corridor beyond. The corridor was empty, but they could hear voices coming from a room nearby.

"We must be careful," Nick whispered. "The Serpent's men are everywhere. One wrong move, and we're dead."

"I'm right behind you," Chick replied, his voice steady. "Whatever happens, I've got your back."

They moved down the corridor, staying close to the walls, their footsteps silent on the wooden floor. They reached the staircase that led to the upper floors and began to climb.

On the second floor, they heard footsteps approaching. Nick pressed himself against the wall, his heart pounding. A guard passed by, his back turned. Nick moved silently, his hand covering the man's mouth, and with a swift, practiced motion, he rendered him unconscious.

"One down," he murmured. "We need to keep moving."

They reached the third floor and made their way to the end of the corridor, where a large, ornate door stood. This was the Serpent's chamber.

✦ SPECIAL FEATURE: The Serpent's Fortress

The House of the Serpent was a maze of corridors, secret passages, and hidden rooms. It was designed to confuse and trap intruders, and its walls were lined with traps and alarms. To enter the Serpent's chamber was to enter the heart of the beast itself—a place where danger lurked around every corner.

Chapter 3 · The Serpent's Chamber

Nick pushed open the door to the Serpent's chamber and entered. The room was large and lavishly furnished, decorated with Chinese tapestries, silk screens, and jade ornaments. In the center of the room stood a large desk, covered with papers and documents. Behind the desk, in a high-backed chair, sat a figure in shadow.

"Welcome, Mr. Carter," the figure said, his voice smooth and calm. "I have been expecting you."

Nick's hand instinctively went to his gun. "You are the Serpent."

The figure rose from the chair and stepped into the light. He was a tall man, dressed in a robe of deep crimson silk. His face was hidden behind a mask of jade, carved in the shape of a serpent.

"I am the Serpent," he confirmed. "And you, Mr. Carter, are a fool. You have walked into my lair, and you will not leave alive."

Nick's gun was in his hand, aimed at the Serpent's heart. "I am not here to fight you," he said. "I am here to take what you have stolen—Anderton's manuscript."

The Serpent laughed, a cold, humorless sound. "The manuscript is mine. It will never leave this room. And you, Mr. Carter, will die here, just as Anderton died."

Nick knew that he was in danger, but he was not afraid. He had faced worse threats, and he had always triumphed. He kept his gun trained on the Serpent, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger.

"Lian told me everything," Nick said. "She told me about your plans, your operations, your secrets. She told me about the safe and the key that opens it."

The Serpent's eyes narrowed behind the jade mask. "Lian betrayed me. She will pay for that."

"She has already paid," Nick replied. "She is in custody, and she will testify against you. The Yellow Tong is finished."

The Serpent moved swiftly, his hand reaching for a hidden panel in the desk. Nick fired, the bullet striking the Serpent's arm. The man cried out, stumbling backward.

Chick rushed into the room, his gun drawn. "Nick! Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Nick replied, his eyes fixed on the Serpent. "Get the manuscript. It's in the safe."

Chick moved to the safe, his hands working quickly. But the safe was locked, and neither he nor Nick knew the combination.

"The ring," Nick said, remembering Lian's words. "The Serpent's ring."

He approached the Serpent, his gun still trained on the wounded man. "Give me the ring," he ordered. "It's over."

The Serpent glared at him, his eyes filled with fury. Then, with a swift movement, he reached into his robe and produced a small vial. He threw it to the ground, and the room filled with thick, white smoke.

"He's escaping!" Chick shouted, coughing in the smoke.

"I can't see anything," Nick replied, his eyes stinging. "We need to find him before he gets away."

They stumbled through the smoke, their hands reaching out for the Serpent. But when the smoke cleared, the Serpent was gone. He had disappeared through a hidden passage in the wall, leaving Nick and Chick alone in the chamber.

Chapter 4 · The Manuscript Found

Nick cursed under his breath. The Serpent had escaped, and he had taken the ring with him. But Nick was not a man to give up. He examined the safe, studying its design. It was a sophisticated model, with a combination lock that would require hundreds of thousands of attempts to crack.

But Nick had other methods. He produced a small stethoscope from his pocket and placed it against the safe. He began to turn the dial, listening for the clicks that would reveal the combination.

It took him nearly fifteen minutes, but at last, he heard the faint click that signaled the safe was open. He pulled the door open and reached inside.

He found the manuscript, bound in leather and filled with Anderton's neat handwriting. He also found a bundle of letters, written in Chinese, and a collection of photographs showing the Serpent and his followers in various locations.

"We have it," Nick said, his voice filled with triumph. "We have everything we need to destroy the Yellow Tong."

Chick nodded, his face breaking into a grin. "Let's get out of here before the Serpent's men find us."

They gathered the documents and made their way back through the secret passage, emerging into the night air of Chinatown. They had escaped, but they knew that the Serpent was still at large.

Nick examined the photographs and letters, his mind racing with possibilities. The photographs showed the Serpent in the company of several prominent figures—businessmen, politicians, and even a few members of the police force. The letters, written in Chinese, detailed the Yellow Tong's operations across the country.

Nick knew that he had the evidence he needed, but he also knew that the Serpent would not give up easily. He would stop at nothing to reclaim his lost treasures.

"The truth is a weapon, but it is also a shield. With Anderton's manuscript, I had the power to protect myself and to destroy my enemies. But I had to be careful. The Serpent was still out there, and he would do anything to get his hands on the evidence." — Nick Carter's private journal

Chapter 5 · The Confrontation

The Serpent did not wait long to strike. The very next night, Nick was attacked in his office by a group of masked assassins. They came through the window, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.

Nick was ready for them. He had anticipated an attack, and he had prepared accordingly. He reached for the gun in his desk drawer and fired, striking one of the assassins in the shoulder. The man fell back, his scream echoing through the room.

The others hesitated, and in that moment, Nick lunged forward. He grabbed one of the assassins and used him as a shield, blocking the blows of the others. He fought with a fury that surprised even himself, his fists and feet moving with a speed that was almost supernatural.

When the fight was over, four assassins lay on the floor, unconscious or dead. Nick stood over them, his chest heaving, his eyes blazing with determination.

He knew that the Serpent would try again. He would not rest until he had reclaimed the manuscript and silenced Nick forever. But Nick was not afraid. He had faced worse enemies, and he had always triumphed.

He gathered the bodies and turned them over to the authorities, along with the evidence he had gathered from the House of the Serpent. The police were skeptical at first, but when they saw the photographs and the letters, they began to believe.

The Serpent was finally exposed. His network of corruption and violence was revealed, and his influence was shattered. But the man himself remained at large, a shadow lurking in the darkness.

"You cannot hide forever," Nick said, as he stared at the photographs of the Serpent. "I will find you, and I will bring you to justice."

Nick knew that the battle was not over. The Serpent was still out there, and he would do anything to reclaim his lost treasure. But Nick also knew that he had the strength and the determination to see the fight through to the end.

✦ SPECIAL FEATURE: The Serpent's Escape

The Serpent was a master of escape. He had built his network of tunnels and passages to ensure that he could always slip away from danger. Even with his empire crumbling around him, he managed to elude capture. But Nick Carter was patient. He knew that the Serpent's luck would eventually run out.

Chapter 6 · The Escape

Nick Carter knew that he had to find the Serpent before he could regroup and rebuild his empire. He set up a team of detectives to track the Serpent's movements, and he used the evidence from the manuscript to identify the Serpent's allies and informants.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The Serpent seemed to have vanished into thin air. But Nick was patient. He had learned that the most important quality in a detective was not speed, but persistence.

Then, one evening, he received a tip from an informant in Chinatown. The Serpent had been seen boarding a ship bound for China, intending to escape the country and rebuild his operations abroad.

Nick moved quickly. He gathered a team of detectives and raced to the docks. The ship was already leaving the harbor, its engines churning as it pulled away from the dock.

But Nick was not defeated. He commandeered a small boat and gave chase, his eyes fixed on the ship ahead. The boat cut through the water, its engine roaring as it closed the gap between them.

Nick leaped from the boat onto the deck of the ship, his gun drawn. He moved through the ship, searching for the Serpent, his heart pounding with anticipation.

He found him in the captain's cabin, a small, cramped room filled with maps and navigational charts. The Serpent was standing by the window, his back turned.

"It's over," Nick said, his voice cold and steady. "Turn around, Serpent. You're under arrest."

The Serpent turned slowly, his face hidden behind a mask of jade. "You are a persistent man, Mr. Carter. I will give you that."

"I have the evidence," Nick replied. "I have your photographs, your letters, your plans. The Yellow Tong is finished. There is nowhere left for you to run."

The Serpent laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "You are mistaken, Mr. Carter. The Yellow Tong is eternal. It will survive, even without me. And I will survive, even without my empire."

He lunged forward, a knife in his hand. Nick fired, the bullet striking the Serpent in the chest. The man staggered, then fell to the floor, his mask clattering away.

Nick knelt beside him and pulled the mask away. He saw a face he had seen many times before—a face that he had never suspected of being the Serpent.

"It was you," Nick said, his voice filled with shock. "All along, it was you."

The Serpent smiled, a faint, dying smile. "I told you, Mr. Carter. The Yellow Tong is eternal. You cannot destroy it."

And then he was gone.

Epilogue: The Legacy of the Yellow Tong

Nick Carter stood over the body of the Serpent, his heart filled with a mixture of triumph and sorrow. He had finally caught the mastermind behind the Yellow Tong, the man who had ordered the murder of Andrew Anderton and so many others. But he knew that the organization would not die with its leader. It would survive, in some form, in the shadows, waiting to strike again.

But for now, it was over. The Serpent was dead, and the crossed needles would no longer claim any more victims. Anderton's manuscript would be published, exposing the Yellow Tong's crimes to the world. And Nick Carter would continue his fight against crime, as he had always done.

The mystery of the crossed needles was solved. But the war against the Yellow Tong would continue.

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Adapted from the Original work by Nicholas Carter

Public domain (1915) · This adaptation follows the playbook series format