Chapter 389: The Queen!!
The atmosphere in the lawn had completely changed.
Only a short while ago, the villa had been filled with laughter, wedding gifts, and family conversations.
Now four men sat beneath the quiet night sky discussing a threat that could affect entire nations.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Timothy finally broke the silence.
His voice was calm but firm.
"I think we should not keep secrets from each other anymore."
Everyone looked at him.
The old man slowly leaned back in his chair.
"At this point, more information will help us form a better plan."
Gordon nodded immediately.
"I agree with Brother."
His eyes moved toward Lucian.
"We are long past the point of handling things alone."
Miles remained silent.
Lucian looked tired.
For the first time, he looked every bit his age.
Miles finally spoke.
"I know this is your fight, Grandmaster."
Lucian looked at him.
"But the problem is no longer a personal problem."
Miles’ expression hardened.
"It affects every country."
He paused.
"Every government."
Then his gaze became even colder.
"And every citizen."
Lucian lowered his head.
The words seemed to weigh heavily on him.
After a long silence, he sighed.
A deep exhausted sigh.
"I thought I could solve my mistake myself."
Nobody interrupted.
"I waited for decades."
His voice sounded bitter.
"Decades."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
But it was not a happy smile.
"I kept preparing."
His eyes moved toward the villa.
Toward the warm lights shining through the windows.
"Maybe I became too attached to this side of life."
Miles listened quietly.
Lucian continued.
"A peaceful home."
"A family."
"A wife."
"A daughter."
"A granddaughter."
His voice trembled slightly.
"And that little girl."
Everyone knew who he meant.
"Thea."
The old man closed his eyes.
"I put her in danger."
The words came out painfully.
"I used her."
"No."
Timothy immediately interrupted.
"You protected her."
Lucian shook his head.
"I told myself that."
His hands tightened.
"But in the end, I still planted her inside the enemy."
His voice became heavy.
"I sacrificed her childhood."
The silence returned.
Then Lucian slowly began telling everything.
Years of secrets.
Years of planning.
Years of mistakes.
He spoke about the past.
About the Web.
About a brilliant orphan he once raised as his own son.
Bjorn.
A child he trusted.
A child he loved.
A child who eventually betrayed him.
Lucian revealed how Bjorn had turned against him.
How the organization had slowly changed into something darker.
Something dangerous.
Something far beyond its original purpose.
He explained how he survived the assassination attempt.
How he disappeared.
How he spent decades preparing for revenge.
And finally, he revealed the truth about Thea.
How he had placed her inside the Web.
How he exchanged her freedom in return for the safety of her younger sister Ivy.
How every step had been carefully planned.
And how every step had slowly become more dangerous.
Miles listened without interruption.
Even Gordon remained silent.
Timothy occasionally added information.
His own history with the Web stretched back years.
Certain encounters.
Certain names.
Certain incidents that only he remembered.
Piece by piece, the puzzle became clearer.
At least for everyone except Miles.
Because the more he listened...
The more he realized how incomplete their understanding actually was.
Finally Lucian finished.
The lawn became silent once again.
Miles slowly exhaled.
Then he looked directly at Lucian.
"Grandmaster."
Lucian raised his head.
"If I told you that you are only fifty percent correct about the Web’s goal..."
The old man froze.
"What?"
Gordon frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Miles leaned forward.
"They are not simply trying to create a powerful organization."
Everyone listened carefully.
"They are aiming for something much bigger."
Timothy’s expression darkened.
Miles continued.
"They want control."
"What kind of control?"
"The system itself."
The words landed heavily.
Miles looked at each of them.
"Their goal is not to influence governments."
"It is to become the government."
Nobody spoke.
Miles continued.
"They want to control regulatory bodies."
"Financial institutions."
"International organizations."
"Military decision making."
"They want to rewrite the rules."
Lucian stared at him.
His eyes widened.
"What?"
Miles nodded.
"They want to amend the system in their own favor."
The old man’s face lost color.
Timothy slowly sat straighter.
"Tell us everything."
Miles nodded.
Then he explained.
He spoke about Charles’ investigation.
About the information gathered over the past month.
About suspicious transactions.
Compromised officials.
Hidden networks.
Missing funds.
Secret communications.
Then he revealed the most important piece.
The letter.
The confidential message from the President.
The information that had been secretly delivered through Nicholas.
As Miles explained its contents, the expressions around him gradually changed.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Concern.
And finally realization.
Then he described the events from earlier that day.
The explosion near the United Nations Headquarters.
The armored truck.
The heist.
The container transported into Horizon Biotech.
The appearance of Thea.
Every detail.
Every clue.
Every suspicion.
When he finally finished speaking, nobody spoke for a long time.
Gordon broke the silence first.
"How?"
His voice sounded genuinely confused.
"I thought I was inside enough to know their real plans."
Miles shook his head.
"That is the problem."
"Bjorn never revealed everything to Thea."
Lucian’s eyes narrowed.
Miles continued.
"In other words..."
He paused.
"He never truly trusted her."
The realization struck everyone.
Gordon slowly clenched his fists.
Lucian sighed heavily.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"He is not repeating the same mistake I made."
Everyone looked at him.
The old man laughed bitterly.
"Backstabbed by your own adopted child."
The words carried years of pain.
Timothy shook his head.
"I still can’t believe they have people inside the most secure facilities in the world."
Gordon nodded slowly.
"The Government of Norway is already compromised."
The statement felt terrifying.
"If what you’re saying is true..."
He looked at Miles.
"Then the Web is already governing a country."
Nobody argued.
Because nobody could.
Miles nodded.
"Exactly."
His gaze hardened.
"This is a threat to every government."
"Every nation."
"Every intelligence agency."
He looked toward Lucian.
"That is why the President is afraid."
Lucian remained silent.
Miles continued.
"He doesn’t know who to trust."
The wind blew softly across the lawn.
Then Timothy finally asked the most important question.
"What are you planning, Miles?"
Miles didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes moved toward the ocean in the distance.
Then he spoke.
"Money."
The others looked confused.
Miles continued.
"Every organization survives because of money."
A slow understanding appeared on Timothy’s face.
Miles nodded.
"We cut off the funding."
Lucian immediately understood.
"Horizon Biotech."
Miles looked at him.
"It has to disappear."
The words were cold.
Final.
"Horizon Biotech must shut down forever."
Lucian frowned.
"But how?"
His concern immediately returned.
"What about Thea?"
Miles remained calm.
"My man is already inside the New York Headquarters."
Lucian blinked.
"The one you mentioned?"
"Ren."
Miles nodded.
"We will get information soon."
Lucian slowly thought about it.
Then he stood.
"I should return to my city."
Everyone looked at him.
"I can operate better from there."
Miles immediately shook his head.
"No."
Lucian frowned.
"What?"
"I suggest you come here."
The old man looked surprised.
Miles continued.
"Bring your people here."
Gordon looked curious.
Miles explained.
"I have a secure facility in the north."
Timothy was slightly curious.
"A complete operational base."
"Elite personnel."
"Surrounded by the ocean."
"Almost impossible to infiltrate."
Timothy looked at Lucian.
"Listen to him."
Lucian remained silent.
Timothy continued.
"Staying together will help us move faster."
Gordon nodded.
"I agree."
Lucian thought for several moments.
Finally he sighed.
"Alright."
A faint smile appeared on Miles’ face.
"Good."
Lucian rubbed his forehead.
"Then I need to make some calls."
Miles immediately became serious again.
"One more thing."
Lucian looked up.
"If Thea is compromised..."
The old man’s expression changed.
"...then you are not safe either."
The warning was clear.
Miles continued.
"Increase security around your estate."
Lucian nodded.
"Alert your daughter."
Another nod.
"Alert your son in law."
Some secrets were too dangerous now.
The game had changed.
Lucian slowly nodded.
"I understand."
Before anyone could continue, another voice interrupted them.
"What discussion is keeping everyone awake this late?"
Everyone turned.
Daniel was standing near the doorway.
Behind him stood Maya.
The nurse looked exhausted.
And slightly annoyed.
Especially when her eyes landed on Timothy.
"Senior Sterling."
Timothy immediately looked away like a child caught doing something wrong.
Maya crossed her arms.
"You were supposed to rest half an hour ago."
Gordon laughed.
"Looks like Brother is in trouble."
Timothy sighed.
"She is scarier than the doctors."
Maya smiled.
"I heard that."
The tension finally eased.
Daniel shook his head.
"Father, you should rest now."
He looked at Timothy.
"Nurse Maya has been searching everywhere for you."
Timothy raised both hands.
"I surrender."
Gordon stood up.
"Come on, Brother."
Timothy nodded.
"Alright."
Lucian also rose from his chair.
The serious discussion had finally ended.
At least for tonight.
Miles looked around at the people gathered before him.
A storm was approaching.
But for now
They still had tonight.
Daniel smiled.
"Let’s go inside."
Miles nodded.
"Sorry, Father."
He glanced toward the dark ocean.
"We lost track of time."
Daniel laughed.
"Clearly."
Miles smiled faintly.
.....
Miles quietly entered his room.
The lights were still on.
For a moment, he thought Chloe might have already gone to sleep.
But when he looked toward the bed, he found her sitting comfortably against the headboard.
The beautiful jade hairpin was still resting in her hair.
A hand mirror sat in her hands as she carefully examined it from different angles.
Miles smiled.
"Couldn’t sleep?"
Chloe looked up immediately.
"I was waiting for you."
Miles walked closer.
"For me?"
Chloe nodded.
"You put this hairpin on."
She pointed at her hair.
"You take it off."
Miles laughed softly.
"Why?"
"Because."
Chloe pouted slightly.
"I felt it would upset you if I removed it myself."
Miles shook his head.
"Girl."
He sat beside her.
"Why would I get upset over that?"
Chloe shrugged.
"I don’t know."
Miles smiled helplessly.
Then he gently reached toward her hair.
Carefully, he removed the hairpin.
The moment it came free, her neatly arranged hair loosened and cascaded over her shoulders.
The soft strands scattered naturally around her face.
Chloe blinked.
"No poetry?"
Miles laughed.
"I am not a real poet."
"You told one earlier."
"I just made up some random lines."
Chloe narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"So I am not a princess then?"
Miles looked at her for a second.
Then smiled.
"You are a queen."
A faint blush appeared on Chloe’s cheeks.
Satisfied, she accepted the answer.
Miles stood up.
"Get changed."
He stretched his shoulders.
"Let’s sleep."
Chloe nodded.
"Okay."
Then she pointed at him.
"You too."
Miles grinned.
"Change together?"
"Not happening."
Miles sighed dramatically.
"What a cruel wife."
Chloe threw a pillow at him.
"Go."
A short while later, Chloe returned after changing.
The room was quiet.
She looked toward the bed.
Then stopped.
Miles was already asleep.
One arm rested across his chest.
His breathing was calm and steady.
Chloe stared at him.
Then laughed softly.
"Not fair."
She sat beside him.
"I guess you really are tired."
Carefully, she adjusted his pillow.
Then gently moved a few strands of hair away from his forehead.
The room became dark as she turned off the lights.
Before settling beside him, she whispered softly.
"Good night, husband."
Within minutes, she fell asleep too.
...
The next morning arrived peacefully.
Most of the family believed Lucian had returned to his estate.
Only a handful of people knew the truth.
Miles had quietly arranged transportation.
Instead of returning home, Lucian had been sent to the secure island facility where the Ancient Warrior Order was currently stationed.
Inside Pearl Villa, life continued as usual.
Dr. Reyes had arrived early to examine Timothy.
The entire family gathered nearby while the doctor completed his checks.
After several tests, Reyes smiled.
"He is doing great."
Elena visibly relaxed.
"Really?"
Reyes nodded.
"The recovery is progressing much faster than expected."
Timothy looked pleased with himself.
"I told everyone I was strong."
Reyes chuckled.
"Looks like bringing him home was the correct decision."
Elena smiled warmly.
"Thank you so much, Doctor."
She looked toward Reyes and the medical team.
"We truly appreciate everything you have done."
Reyes shook his head.
"It is my duty."
Then he looked at Timothy.
"Now comes the important part."
Timothy immediately became suspicious.
"What part?"
"The rehabilitation."
Timothy sighed.
Reyes smiled.
"We will begin physical therapy."
He looked at Miles.
"If everything continues like this, he should be walking again soon."
Miles nodded.
"Let’s do it."
Timothy looked defeated.
At that moment, Miles’ phone vibrated.
His expression immediately became serious.
He checked the screen.
Charles.
Miles stepped aside and answered.
"Charles?"
The voice on the other side responded immediately.
"Boss."
Miles could hear urgency in his tone.
"What happened?"
There was a brief pause.
Then Charles spoke.
"We received a message from Ren."
Miles’ eyes narrowed instantly.
The atmosphere around him changed.
"What did he find?"
To be continued..