Chapter 411: The tables has turned!!!
[a/n : Quick correction from Chapters 408 - 409: I accidentally wrote London in a few places where it should have been New York. Horizon Biotech’s headquarters involved in the current operation is in New York.
The Chapters have been corrected now. Sorry for the confusion to everyone who read them before the fix! Thanks for reading and always supporting me!!]
The television anchor sat beneath a large red banner.
BREAKING NEWS
Behind her, live footage showed one of the most recognizable research towers in Manhattan surrounded by emergency vehicles.
Smoke still lingered between nearby buildings.
Police barriers blocked several streets.
Fire crews remained deployed around the structure.
The once polished Horizon Biotech logo had been blackened by fire.
The anchor looked toward the camera.
"We begin today with major breaking news from New York."
The footage changed.
A recording taken shortly after midnight appeared.
A sudden flash.
Then...
An explosion.
Smoke .
The anchor continued.
"Shortly after midnight yesterday, a major explosion occurred inside Horizon Biotech’s New York headquarters."
"Large amounts of smoke quickly spread through the surrounding district, leading to immediate concerns regarding possible chemical or biological contamination."
Another clip showed emergency vehicles arriving.
Men in protective equipment moved through the street.
"The city’s rapid response teams immediately sealed the surrounding area."
"Several nearby public and private offices were evacuated."
"For a short period, residents were advised to remain indoors."
The screen changed again.
Officials wearing protective suits examined portable instruments.
"However, according to Biohazard Detection Teams..."
The anchor paused.
"...no harmful toxins, biological contaminants, or dangerous chemical agents were found inside the smoke."
A graphic appeared.
NO BIOLOGICAL THREAT DETECTED
"The announcement has significantly eased public concerns."
"Employees from nearby buildings have already been allowed to return after safety inspections."
The footage changed again.
Investigators stood beside a damaged underground service entrance.
"According to preliminary investigators..."
"The incident appears to have originated from a gas pipeline leak beneath the Horizon Biotech facility."
The anchor continued.
"Experts currently believe that several gas detection sensors installed beneath the building had not been properly maintained for years."
A photograph of an old industrial sensor appeared.
"Investigators say the poor condition of these systems may have prevented early detection of the leak."
The anchor’s expression became more serious.
"Several safety experts are already calling the situation a major case of corporate negligence."
A recorded interview appeared.
A city safety consultant spoke in front of reporters.
"If these systems had been maintained correctly, the leak should have been detected long before the gas concentration reached dangerous levels."
He pointed toward the damaged building behind him.
"This could have happened during the day."
"Thousands of people work in and around this area."
"We were extremely fortunate."
The news returned to the anchor.
"According to current information, only a small number of night staff were officially registered inside the building during the incident."
"All were local New York residents."
Footage showed several exhausted employees speaking to reporters.
One woman said,
"Everything happened so suddenly."
"We smelled something strange."
"Then alarms started."
"We didn’t even take our bags."
"We just used the emergency stairs and ran."
Another employee nodded.
"There was no time to think."
"We just moved."
The anchor continued.
"All registered night staff were successfully evacuated through emergency exits."
"No civilian fatalities have been reported."
Then the screen changed.
The scale of the damage became clearer.
Several floors had been completely destroyed.
Windows shattered.
Internal laboratories burned.
Servers.
Equipment.
Research material.
Everything inside had been consumed.
"While the human cost appears limited..."
"The financial damage may be enormous."
"Several industry analysts estimate that research equipment, data infrastructure, experimental materials, and proprietary technology worth billions of dollars may have been destroyed."
A stock chart appeared.
Horizon Biotech shares had begun falling.
"There has currently been no official statement from Horizon Biotech’s primary headquarters in Norway."
"Repeated requests for comment have received no response."
Then the anchor’s expression changed slightly.
"However..."
"One response from a senior scientist working for a competing research corporation has already gone viral."
The scientist’s social media post appeared on screen.
The anchor almost smiled while reading the summary.
"The scientist sarcastically stated that Horizon Biotech should not be worried about losing its research..."
"...because, according to him, Horizon never conducted much original research in the first place."
The post continued.
"He accused Horizon Biotech of building much of its reputation by acquiring independent researchers, purchasing patents, and absorbing smaller laboratories after their work showed commercial potential."
The anchor looked toward the camera.
"This has long been a controversial topic within the scientific community."
"Critics have repeatedly accused Horizon Biotech of using its immense financial resources to purchase promising research rather than developing discoveries entirely through its own internal programs."
The screen changed again.
This time...
The Republic of Haven appeared.
Government vehicles.
Sealed buildings.
Police barricades outside Horizon facilities.
"There are also unconfirmed reports emerging from the Republic of Haven."
"Multiple Horizon Biotech research facilities across Haven were reportedly sealed by authorities approximately one day before the New York incident."
The footage showed embassy vehicles entering a government complex in Citadel.
"Officials from the Norwegian Embassy were also seen entering the President’s Office in Citadel."
"The Haven government has not yet publicly confirmed whether these events are connected."
Then...
The anchor suddenly touched her earpiece.
Her posture straightened.
"We have another development."
A new banner immediately appeared.
HOMELAND SECURITY TAKES CONTROL
The anchor read quickly.
"The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will take direct oversight of the Horizon Biotech investigation."
Another statement appeared on screen.
"Homeland Security has issued an immediate notice ordering Horizon Biotech to suspend all active operations on United States soil until comprehensive safety inspections are completed."
The anchor continued.
"According to the notice..."
"All Horizon laboratories, storage facilities, research offices, and associated sites operating within the United States must undergo inspection before reopening."
"The Department says the measure is necessary to ensure that no further threat is posed to the general public."
Another graphic appeared.
HORIZON BIOTECH OPERATIONS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED ACROSS US
The anchor continued.
"Public reaction has been intense."
Social media posts appeared rapidly.
Thousands.
Then millions.
One hashtag climbed to the top.
#HorizonBiotechGoBack
"It is already one of the most discussed topics globally."
"Investors have begun demanding answers."
"Research partners are reconsidering contracts."
"And several governments are reportedly reviewing their own relationships with the company."
The Horizon logo appeared again.
But this time...
Behind smoke.
The anchor finished.
"Things are not looking good for the world’s largest biotechnology corporation."
"We will continue bringing you updates regarding the New York incident..."
"The investigation..."
"International reactions..."
"And what Horizon Biotech’s investors have to say as this crisis spreads around the world."
...
Beijing.
Hotel Suite.
Miles sat comfortably on the couch.
The television played quietly in front of him.
A cup of coffee rested on the table.
His expression was calm.
Almost suspiciously calm.
And beneath that calm...
There was unmistakable satisfaction.
Horizon Biotech’s stock graph fell again.
Miles leaned back.
"Beautiful."
Two arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind.
Miles smiled.
Chloe rested her chin near his shoulder.
"You woke up early."
Miles looked sideways.
"Good morning."
Chloe looked toward the television.
Then toward his face.
"I put your coffee on the table."
Miles pointed.
"It’s still warm."
Chloe didn’t move.
Instead...
Her arms tightened around him.
"I’m sure you’re involved in this."
Miles turned his head.
"Me?"
Chloe immediately narrowed her eyes.
"Don’t make that innocent face."
Miles looked genuinely confused.
"What face?"
"That one."
She moved around the couch and sat beside him.
Chloe looked toward the television again.
New York.
Haven.
Homeland Security.
Horizon Biotech.
Then back toward her husband.
"Doing something on this scale..."
She shook her head.
"...is amazing."
Miles picked up his coffee.
Chloe leaned closer.
"Tell me, Mr. Husband."
Miles looked at her.
"Yes?"
"Are you secretly a prince of this world?"
Miles almost choked on his coffee.
Chloe laughed.
Miles wiped his lips.
"You know the Sterling family has royal ancestry, right?"
Chloe stopped.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
"Grandpa Tim mentioned it."
She suddenly sat straighter.
"So..."
Miles immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
Chloe pointed toward herself.
"Am I a queen?"
Miles slowly grinned.
"Who knows?"
Chloe looked satisfied.
"Your Majesty..."
Miles shook his head.
She continued dramatically,
"If you ask me..."
"This is very entertaining."
Miles looked toward her.
"What is?"
"You."
She pointed toward the television.
"You change things around the world while sitting inside a hotel suite."
Miles stared.
Chloe sighed.
"I wish we had popcorn."
Miles laughed.
"What’s entertaining about this?"
Chloe picked up her coffee.
"It inspires me."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"A character."
"A superhero."
Miles looked concerned.
Chloe’s eyes lit up.
"For a game."
Miles sighed.
"A game?"
"Really?"
Chloe nodded enthusiastically.
"Someone who looks normal."
"Then secretly controls everything."
"Business."
"Politics."
"Mercenaries."
Miles immediately interrupted.
"That sounds less like a superhero and more like a villain."
Chloe took another sip.
"Depends on the costume."
Miles stared at her.
She smiled innocently.
Then finally noticed something else.
Chloe looked at Miles from head to toe.
He was already dressed.
Hair done.
Watch on.
Shoes nearby.
She slowly looked toward the clock.
Six in the morning.
"Why are you completely ready?"
Miles smiled.
Chloe looked toward her coffee.
Then back at him.
"Don’t tell me you brewed this too."
Miles shook his head.
"Nah."
He pointed downstairs.
"Coffee is from the cafe."
"I asked them to bring it."
Chloe took another sip.
"Hmm."
She nodded approvingly.
"This is good."
Miles stood.
"Drink it."
Chloe looked up.
"And get ready."
"For what?"
Miles adjusted his sleeve.
"There’s a popular breakfast place nearby."
Chloe’s interest immediately appeared.
"Food?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Miles continued,
"And after that..."
"We’re going to the Forbidden City."
Chloe blinked.
"A forbidden city?"
Miles laughed.
"It’s an old place."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Why is it forbidden?"
"You’ll find out."
He smiled.
"Morning pictures there should be beautiful."
That immediately worked.
Chloe put her coffee down.
"Pictures?"
Miles nodded.
"Yes."
She stood instantly.
"Give me fifteen minutes."
Miles laughed.
Chloe rushed toward the bedroom.
"I’m taking a quick shower."
Then shouted from inside,
"And I need to wear something good."
Miles shook his head.
"Okay."
The door closed.
Miles looked toward it.
Then smiled to himself.
"I didn’t know photos could make her this excited."
He looked toward the television.
Then toward his phone.
A strange thought crossed his mind.
"This is probably the first time..."
He smiled.
"...I’m actually excited to take pictures too."
His phone appeared in his hand.
Miles dialed Charles.
The call connected quickly.
"Good morning, Boss."
Miles walked toward the window.
"Good morning, Charles."
Beijing stretched beneath the hotel.
Morning had only begun touching the city.
Miles looked toward the television.
"I saw the news."
Charles chuckled.
"It was expected."
Miles smiled.
Charles continued,
"Graveyard mercenaries handled the operation exactly as planned."
"They’re experts."
"Nobody will ever know what actually happened inside Horizon’s New York headquarters last night."
Miles’ expression became more serious.
"Where are the WEB operatives?"
He looked toward the news.
"They’re saying only a few staff members were inside."
Charles immediately answered.
"Officially."
Miles waited.
Charles continued,
"There were one hundred eighty three armed WEB personnel inside."
Miles remained silent.
"Seventeen died during the operation."
Charles’ voice stayed professional.
"The remaining one hundred sixty six were captured."
Miles slowly nodded.
"Where are they?"
"Spread across multiple Graveyard safehouses throughout the United States."
Miles looked toward the city.
Charles continued,
"We moved them overnight."
"No single location holds all of them."
"No obvious transport routes."
"No normal detention facilities."
"So even if WEB has compromised people inside law enforcement..."
"They won’t find them."
Miles nodded.
"And later?"
Charles answered,
"When we finish removing WEB assets from the US authorities..."
"Every captured operative will be transferred into official custody."
Miles smiled faintly.
"Good."
Charles continued,
"There’s more."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"The UN Secretary General has been safely extracted."
Miles’ expression immediately brightened.
"Finally."
"Yes."
Charles sounded pleased.
"He’s safe."
"And soon..."
"He’s going to make a surprise appearance on camera."
Miles smiled.
"That will destroy Horizon."
"Completely."
Charles agreed.
"The moment the Secretary General appears alive and starts talking..."
"The entire narrative changes."
"The New York Headquarters will no longer look like a corporate accident."
Miles nodded.
Charles continued,
"And Horizon Biotech’s reputation will collapse internationally."
Miles looked toward the television.
The trending hashtag appeared again.
He smiled.
"It’s already starting."
Charles continued,
"WEB is moving too."
Miles became attentive.
"What kind of movement?"
"Global recall."
Charles looked at another report.
"They’re calling operatives back to Norway."
Miles’ smile slowly returned.
"They’re moving fast."
Charles continued,
"Homeland Security’s suspension order accelerated things."
"WEB now believes the Horizon network outside Norway is becoming unsafe."
Miles smirked.
"I was waiting to hear that."
Charles laughed faintly.
Miles continued,
"Make sure someone properly explains the situation to the Secretary General."
Charles nodded.
"Already arranged."
Then he added,
"General Wilfred says President Maxwell will speak to him personally."
Miles’ expression relaxed further.
"Even better."
He looked toward the television.
"The UN has always been hostile toward private mercenary organizations."
Charles knew exactly what Miles meant.
"Especially like the Graveyard."
"Yes."
Miles continued,
"If the Secretary General learns the truth through the President..."
"It’ll make the conversation easier."
Charles agreed.
"Things are moving exactly the way our strategists predicted."
Miles listened.
"Schmidt has also started reducing WEB’s weapon supplies through his connections."
"Not only direct sales."
"Several brokers and intermediaries are refusing them too."
Miles smiled.
"So their weapons are drying up."
"Yes."
Charles continued,
"At the moment..."
"WEB can barely respond."
"They’re concentrating most of their political resources on keeping Horizon Biotech alive."
Miles nodded.
"They know their people vanished from New York."
"They should also know by now that the US government wasn’t behind the attack."
Charles became quiet.
Miles continued,
"Their spies inside American agencies will confirm it."
"So they’ll understand someone else attacked the headquarters."
"And they’ll do anything to find their men."
He paused.
"Especially the Secretary General."
Charles answered confidently,
"They won’t find him."
"Good."
Then Charles’ tone changed.
"We also received an update from Aerin and Ren."
Miles immediately became attentive.
"What happened?"
"Bjorn gave them new instructions."
Charles almost sounded amused.
"He ordered Princess Thea to personally oversee the New York situation."
Miles laughed.
"So they’re going back?"
"Already on the way."
Charles continued,
"They didn’t even spend two full hours in Norway."
Miles shook his head.
"Poor Ren."
Charles laughed.
"And because Aerin and Ren are now inside the response team..."
His tone became more serious.
"...WEB will never find its captured people."
"Or the Secretary General."
Miles looked impressed.
"Perfect."
He walked slowly through the suite.
"We still need to make the President of the United States aware."
Charles agreed.
"But we need to do it without alerting their compromised people."
There was a pause.
Then Charles suddenly said,
"Guess what?"
Miles stopped.
"What?"
"Next week..."
Charles smiled through his voice.
"...there’s the Big Eight Summit."
Miles’ eyes narrowed.
"The eight superpowers?"
"Yes."
"They’re all coming to Citadel."
Miles became silent.
Then slowly...
A smile appeared.
"I like where this is going."
Charles laughed.
"I thought you would."
Miles walked back toward the window.
Charles continued,
"And now..."
"Because of Miss Thea’s information..."
"And the documents Graveyard recovered from the New York Headquarters last night..."
His voice became confident.
"...we finally have a list."
Miles’ expression sharpened.
"How complete?"
"Very."
Charles continued,
"Government officials."
"Agency personnel."
"Security officers."
"Political intermediaries."
"People inside regulatory bodies."
"WEB contacts."
"Assets."
"Facilitators."
Miles stared at the city below.
For several seconds...
He didn’t speak.
Then he smiled.
"The WEB is done for."
Charles remained quiet.
Miles continued,
"Good work."
"Everyone."
He looked toward the television again.
"And thank Commander Ray for me."
"I will."
Miles continued,
"Send the complete list to General Wilfred."
Charles nodded.
"And?"
"Tell him to pass everything to the Agency."
Miles smiled.
"The Agency loves detailed reports."
Charles chuckled.
"They do."
"They can verify identities."
"Cross check financial trails."
"Communications."
"Travel."
"Everything."
Miles finally leaned back against the window.
"Good."
His shoulders seemed lighter.
"Now..."
"I can actually enjoy my vacation for a few days without worrying."
Charles laughed.
"Enjoy it, Boss."
"We won’t disturb you."
Miles smiled.
"Take care."
"I’m taking care."
Miles glanced toward the street below.
Then added,
"And..."
"I’ve noticed our agents around."
Charles became quiet for a moment.
Miles smiled.
"Don’t worry so much."
Charles answered calmly,
"Those teams aren’t there because I’m worried."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"They’re there because you’re you."
Miles sighed.
Charles continued,
"I sent you the local contact."
"If you need a driver..."
"Medical support..."
"Security..."
"Anything..."
"Just call."
Miles smiled.
"Thanks, Charles."
"Enjoy Beijing, Boss."
The call ended.
Miles lowered his phone.
He exhaled slowly.
Haven was secure.
The New York headquarters was gone.
The Secretary General was safe.
WEB’s weapons were being restricted.
Aerin and Ren remained inside.
And soon...
The Big Eight would gather in Citadel.
For the first time in days...
Miles truly felt like he could step away for a little while.
Then...
Someone cleared her throat behind him.
Miles turned.
And froze.
Chloe stood near the bedroom entrance.
Her hair was neatly arranged.
A beautiful dress flowed naturally around her figure, elegant without being excessive.
Morning light from the window touched one side of her face.
Miles simply stared.
Chloe waited.
Then raised an eyebrow.
"Miles?"
No answer.
She looked down at herself.
"What?"
Miles still didn’t speak.
Chloe smiled.
"Is something wrong?"
Miles slowly shook his head.
"No."
His eyes remained on her.
Chloe picked up her handbag.
"Then let’s go."
Miles finally smiled.
Chloe walked toward him.
"I’m hungry."
Miles extended his hand.
"Let’s go."
She placed her hand in his.
And just like that...
For the next few hours...
The fall of one of the world’s largest corporations could wait.
Miles Sterling had breakfast plans with his wife.