Chapter 351: Regrets!!
The phone resting on Miles’ desk suddenly vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Kenan
Miles leaned back in his chair.
"It’s time for the deal."
June, who was organizing documents nearby, looked over curiously.
Miles pressed the answer button before connecting the call to the office speakers.
The call connected almost instantly.
Kenan spoke first.
"The Krause family is on the line."
"They want to speak with you."
Miles smiled.
"Put me through."
A brief moment of silence followed before another voice joined the call.
An elderly voice.
Calm.
Refined.
Filled with decades of experience.
"Hello..."
Miles answered politely.
"Hello, Mr. Krause."
There was a brief pause.
Then the old man spoke again.
"I must admit..."
"There is still a little doubt in my heart."
"How do I know you are truly Light?"
Miles smiled helplessly.
"Mr. Krause..."
"You’ve broken my heart."
"Back then I took the first bullet of my life for you."
"Doesn’t that earn me at least a little trust?"
Across the room, June slowly raised her head.
A bullet?
For the head of the Krause family?
The old man laughed softly.
"Well..."
"It has been eleven years."
"You’ve grown into an adult."
"I have never seen your real face."
"So forgive an old man for being cautious."
Miles nodded even though the other side could not see him.
"That’s a fair point."
"But..."
"Haven’t you realized something already?"
The old man chuckled.
"Light."
"The Genius Strategist."
"You disappeared for eleven years."
"You never attended another conclave."
"I’m quite certain..."
"You were never interested in the invitation itself."
"You only wanted this conversation."
"You made me call you."
His laughter carried obvious admiration.
"So tell me..."
"What does Light need from the Krause family?"
Miles could not help smiling.
"You really are as sharp as ever, Mr. Krause."
"I thought perhaps age had slowed you down."
"But listening to you..."
"It feels like you’re growing younger instead."
The old man laughed again.
Miles continued.
"Since you’ve already seen through my intentions..."
"How about making one more guess?"
"Why exactly did I want this call?"
The old man’s fingers gently tapped the armrest of his chair.
"There is only one reason."
"There is something..."
"Only I can do for you."
Miles smiled.
"Then tell me what will it take to make a deal."
"A very big deal."
Silence filled the line for several seconds.
Finally, the old man spoke.
"A deal..."
"If you’re asking what it would take..."
"I already owe you my life."
June quietly looked toward Miles.
She had never heard this story before.
The old man’s voice became softer.
"Back then..."
"I never imagined a child would protect me."
"It was completely unexpected."
"I still remember everything."
"The bullet struck your shoulder."
"You didn’t even cry."
"There wasn’t the slightest trace of pain in your eyes."
"Only calm."
"At that moment..."
"I realized you weren’t merely a brilliant strategist."
"You were destined for something far greater."
"You ignored your own injury."
"And instead..."
"You picked up a knife."
"You walked forward."
"And drove it straight into the shooter’s throat."
The room became completely silent.
Even June unconsciously stopped breathing.
The old man continued.
"And that man..."
"Was no ordinary assassin."
"He was one of the most influential figures in the underworld."
"Yet you never hesitated."
Miles smiled faintly.
"Mr. Krause..."
"Did you miss me or something?"
"You still remember every tiny detail."
The old man laughed warmly.
"Forget?"
"How could I?"
"I have never witnessed such terrifying killing intent inside a child."
"I often wondered..."
"What kind of life must you have lived..."
"To become that strong at such a young age."
Miles looked out through the office window.
"I had my reasons."
The old man sighed.
"After that conclave..."
"I searched everywhere."
"I even questioned your adopted family."
"They all told me the same thing."
"That you had disappeared."
"Some believed you had died."
"But..."
"I refused to believe it."
"Someone like you doesn’t die so easily."
His voice carried genuine emotion.
"If you ask me honestly..."
"I never wished for you to return to this dangerous world."
"And yet..."
"I secretly hoped I would meet you again someday."
"So every single year..."
"I reserved your seat."
"I prepared an invitation."
"Perhaps the invitation meant nothing to you."
"But to me..."
"This conversation..."
"Is something I have waited eleven years for."
For the first time, surprise appeared on Miles’ face.
"I never realized I was that important to you, Mr. Krause."
The old man let out a helpless laugh.
"People believe I am an evil old man."
"Perhaps they aren’t entirely wrong."
"My family has spent centuries dealing with every kind of person imaginable."
"Heroes."
"Villains."
"Mercenaries."
"Kings."
"Criminals."
"In the end..."
"It has always been business."
Miles smiled gently.
"One drop of poison..."
"Can kill every fish inside an aquarium."
"And that single drop..."
"Is enough to make the whole water poisonous."
"So yes..."
"It still makes you evil."
For a brief moment...
Silence followed.
Then the old man burst into heartfelt laughter.
"I suppose..."
"You’re absolutely right."
His voice gradually softened.
"You have no idea how happy I am today, child."
"So..."
"Tell this old man."
"What can the Krause family do for you?"
Miles leaned back in his chair.
His fingers lightly tapped the desk before he spoke.
"I’ll get straight to the point, Mr. Krause."
"I heard that Antoni Kawasaki’s treasure map has resurfaced."
"I want to know who is bringing that map to the conclave."
On the other end of the call, the old man remained silent for several seconds.
"So..."
"You heard about it."
His voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"I always thought you were the kind of person who had no interest in treasure."
Miles smiled faintly.
"The treasure itself is insignificant to me."
"I want the person carrying the map."
"And I want to know why the Krause family is backing him."
The old man immediately corrected him.
"Backing?"
"Why would we back anyone?"
"That would violate our family’s principles."
"The conclave is simply a marketplace."
"People bring valuable items."
"Others compete to acquire them."
"That is all."
Miles’ smile slowly faded.
"I figured as much."
"You don’t actually know what is happening inside your own family."
A brief silence followed.
"So..."
"I should assume you’re also unaware that your family is backing Miller Corporation."
The old man’s breathing noticeably paused.
"...Did you just say..."
"Miller Corporation?"
Another long silence filled the call.
Then...
A quiet sigh escaped from the old man.
"I know who is responsible."
Miles gently shook his head.
"It seems I praised you too soon."
"I said you were becoming younger."
"But something this important is happening beneath your own roof..."
"And you don’t even know."
The old man laughed bitterly.
"It seems..."
"My rebellious granddaughter has offended you."
"I apologize on her behalf."
"She has no idea what she is playing with."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"Your granddaughter?"
"Yes."
The old man’s voice became softer.
"She lost both of her parents when she was still very young."
"I buried myself in work."
"I convinced myself everything I did was for the family’s future."
"But I failed to give her enough time."
"I never imagined she would become this rebellious."
Miles quietly listened.
"It sounds like you already have enough burdens."
The old man slowly replied,
"Rest assured, Light."
"Miller Corporation was banned from attending the conclave years ago."
"And beginning this moment..."
"They will receive no support from any member of the Krause family."
"As for the treasure map..."
"Someone will indeed bring it to the conclave."
"But according to our family’s rules..."
"I cannot reveal that person’s identity."
"Not until the conclave has ended."
Miles smiled calmly.
"I don’t think you understand, Mr. Krause."
"Even if you refuse to tell me..."
"I have countless ways of finding the answer myself."
"I know you’ll protect that person during the conclave."
His voice became noticeably colder.
"But are you certain..."
"That person..."
"Will even reach the conclave?"
The old man sighed once more.
"I know those words sound disappointing."
"Especially when I still owe you so much."
"But rules exist for everyone."
"I cannot break them."
Miles looked toward the rain outside his office window.
"I don’t know whether you’ve noticed it or not..."
"But the Krause family’s influence has already begun to decline."
"Eleven years ago..."
"One of your own guests attempted to assassinate you."
"If I hadn’t been there..."
"The Krause family might have started collapsing that very day."
"For the last eleven years..."
"The conclave has continued for one simple reason."
"You survived."
He paused.
"But what happens when time itself eventually takes your life?"
"Will your family rules protect your descendants?"
"No."
"They cannot stop decline."
The old man’s voice carried neither anger nor denial.
Instead...
There was acceptance.
"I don’t take your words as an insult."
"They come from someone whose judgment I respect."
"So I believe them."
He slowly continued.
"Perhaps..."
"This is simply the law of every forest."
"A family rules for generations."
"They become powerful."
"Then arrogant."
"And eventually..."
"They become the architects of their own destruction."
"We have watched countless empires disappear that way."
"It saddens me."
"But I have already accepted it."
"The matter involving Miller Corporation is indeed our mistake."
"And we will correct it."
"I promise."
He smiled faintly.
"I still owe you my life."
"But while I remain head of this family..."
"I will follow our rules until my final day."
Miles chuckled.
"I expected nothing less."
"Then prepare yourself, Mr. Krause."
"Light will attend this year’s conclave."
He smiled.
"But..."
"That treasure map..."
"Will never appear inside your conclave."
A soft laugh echoed from Germany.
"What happens outside the conclave..."
"Is no longer my business."
"But as its host..."
"I’ll gladly welcome you."
His voice became quieter.
"Considering my age..."
"I have a feeling..."
"This may become the final conclave the Krause family ever hosts."
Miles slowly nodded.
"Then..."
"I’ll make sure I attend."
The old man smiled warmly.
"Keep in touch, young man."
"I’d like to introduce you to my granddaughter someday."
"Perhaps..."
"She’ll need trustworthy friends if she’s going to survive what lies ahead."
"You’ll receive your invitation through Kenan."
"And ask him for my personal contact."
"I’d prefer speaking directly with you in the future."
Miles remained silent for a moment before asking,
"Do you have any regrets?"
The old man’s answer came almost immediately.
"My children."
"I couldn’t protect them."
"They left this world before I did."
A deep sadness filled his voice.
"So if you have any family Light..."
"Protect them."
"At all costs."
Miles smiled softly.
"It was good speaking with you, Mr. Krause."
"We’ll meet again in Germany."
The old man let out a relieved breath.
"I’ll be waiting."
"Take care, Light."
The line from Germany quietly disconnected.
Only Kenan remained connected.
Several seconds passed.
Finally...
Miles spoke.
"You still there, Kenan?"
Kenan laughed helplessly.
"I don’t even know what to say."
"Did you really just threaten the head of the Krause family?"
Miles smiled.
"Did you forget who I am?"
Kenan laughed even louder.
"Well..."
"If it’s Ghost of Graveyard..."
"Then honestly..."
"I’m not surprised anymore."
"I’ll see you in Germany."
The call ended.
Silence returned to the office.
Miles slowly stood before walking toward the floor to ceiling window overlooking Star Harbor.
Dark clouds continued gathering above the city.
Behind him, June quietly broke the silence.
"I think..."
"He seemed like a good man."
Miles smiled without turning around.
"Do you?"
"I think..."
"Age simply made him less evil but that doesn’t wash away the blood."
He remained looking outside.
"Tell me something, June."
"If I had never retired."
"If I had never found my family again."
"If I had continued living only as Ghost..."
"Do you think..."
"I would have grown old..."
"And died alone like him?"
June looked at his back for several seconds before answering with complete certainty.
"It doesn’t matter anymore, Boss."
"You found your happiness."
"And I think..."
"You shouldn’t leave yourself with regrets."
A peaceful smile slowly appeared on Miles’ face.
"You’re right."