Chapter 349: Present , Future and Past!!
The rest of the day passed peacefully.
Calum quickly blended into the warm atmosphere of Pearl Villa.
Hope and Asher happily surrounded him after receiving the presents he had brought from London. The twins could barely sit still as they eagerly unwrapped every package, filling the living room with laughter.
Lunch became another lively family gathering. Daniel and Calum exchanged stories from the past while Elena made sure no one’s plate stayed empty for long. Even Timothy, resting peacefully in his room, seemed to bring a quiet sense of completeness to the home.
By the afternoon, Daniel invited Calum to the nearby golf course.
"It has been a while since I had someone to compete with," Daniel said with a smile.
Calum laughed.
"I should warn you. I am not very good."
"That’s perfect."
"If you defeat me, my pride will suffer."
Their laughter slowly disappeared outside the villa as they headed toward the course.
...
Meanwhile, Miles drove toward the Soul Tower.
Instead of going to the executive office of Sterling Enterprises, he entered the secured headquarters of the Reaper Group.
One of Monica’s most trusted subordinates was already waiting for him.
The man bowed respectfully.
"Boss."
Miles nodded.
"Lead the way."
The employee silently guided him through several restricted corridors and elevators before stopping in front of a heavy security door.
Fingerprint scanners, reinforced steel walls, and surveillance cameras covered every corner.
The door unlocked with a quiet mechanical click.
Beyond it stretched an enormous storage facility.
Long rows of industrial shelves filled the spacious hall. Documents were sealed inside waterproof containers. Professional cameras, communication devices, broadcasting equipment, drones, archived hard drives, and countless pieces of specialized equipment were arranged with military precision.
The deeper they walked, the quieter the room became.
Eventually they reached the farthest corner.
A small reinforced room stood alone behind another security door.
A metal plate was fixed beside it.
Boss’ Belongings
The employee stopped and handed him a key.
"Boss, here is the key."
"You can take your time."
"I’ll wait outside."
"If you need anything, just call me."
Miles accepted the key.
"Thanks."
The employee quietly stepped away.
Miles unlocked the door.
The room slowly opened.
A cool stream of conditioned air greeted him.
The room had obviously been sealed for years.
There was no visible dust.
Every cabinet, rack, and storage shelf was perfectly organized.
Miles looked around before smiling helplessly.
"Did I really have this many things?"
One side contained a large wardrobe.
Curious, he opened it.
Inside hung dozens of jackets, hoodies, tactical coats, gloves, hats, and masks.
Every outfit had been cleaned and carefully preserved.
They were all clothes Ghost had once worn during different operations.
Miles looked at them silently.
"I honestly feel these are dangerous things to keep."
"I just hope my weapons aren’t stored here too."
Beside the wardrobe rested several transparent plastic containers.
Each box carried a year written neatly on the label.
Miles crouched beside them.
"Everything is labeled."
He picked up one container before placing it back.
"On the phone she acted like these things might still be somewhere in storage."
"So dramatic."
"I probably used some of these only once."
He looked across the room.
"It feels like every piece here is proof that Ghost once existed."
He sighed softly.
"Maybe..."
"I should burn everything one day."
After a brief silence, he smiled.
"No."
"I should discuss it with Monica first."
His eyes continued moving across the shelves.
"These were all after I met Monica."
"The thing I need should be older."
He followed the labels until another section appeared.
The writing immediately caught his attention.
Before Meeting Boss
Miles rubbed his forehead.
"This girl..."
"I really don’t think these are things worth collecting."
"But..."
"I suppose it makes finding old memories much easier."
He opened several boxes one after another.
Old notebooks.
Disposable phones.
Mission records.
Expired passports.
Broken watches.
Then finally...
His hand stopped.
A small wooden box rested quietly inside one container.
Miles smiled.
"Here it is."
"This saved me a lot of searching."
He carefully opened it.
Inside rested a simple white mask.
It covered only the upper half of the face.
He slowly picked it up.
For a brief moment...
Ghost returned.
Miles placed it against his face.
Then he laughed.
"It’s too small."
"I really have grown up."
"I guess I need a new one."
Inside the same wooden box rested another item.
An old envelope.
Miles gently unfolded it.
"I never imagined..."
"I would need this again."
Inside lay an invitation preserved surprisingly well despite its age.
Eleven years old.
The paper had slightly yellowed, yet the elegant handwriting remained perfectly clear.
He quietly read the words.
For
Light
The Genius Strategist
Because of your remarkable achievements within the underworld despite your young age...
The Krause Family hereby invites you to attend the Annual Underground Secret Exchange Conclave as a permanent member.
We believe age has no meaning within this conclave.
Only value matters.
Those who possess value within the underworld possess value to us.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Miles stared at the invitation for several seconds.
Then he took out his phone.
He photographed both the old mask and the invitation before sending them to Kenan.
The message contained only two words.
Proof attached.
Afterward he carefully returned both items to the wooden box.
Nothing else was disturbed.
He restored every container exactly as he had found it before locking the room once again.
Outside, the employee was still patiently waiting.
"You found what you needed, Boss?"
Miles nodded.
"Yes."
"Tell me something."
"How accessible is this place?"
The man smiled.
"In the official blueprints..."
"This floor doesn’t exist."
"You probably noticed the elevator."
"I pressed a hidden button combination."
"The public system cannot even detect this level."
"Most of the things here are damaged archives or retired equipment."
"But there are also many items that must never disappear."
"Your belongings are one of them."
Miles nodded thoughtfully.
"So..."
"How many people know this floor exists?"
"Miss Monica."
"Myself."
"And four others who work directly under Miss Monica."
"No one else."
Miles gave a satisfied nod.
"Understood."
"Thank you."
The employee smiled.
"Anything for you, Boss."
Miles suddenly remembered something.
"One more question."
The man waited.
"Do you know anyone who designs masks?"
The employee blinked before smiling proudly.
"Boss..."
"You asked exactly the right person."
"I specialize in material and costume design."
"I also designed several of your operational suits."
Miles looked genuinely surprised.
"You designed them?"
"I always thought they were purchased."
The man laughed.
"Of course not."
"We never buy mission equipment."
"It creates unnecessary loose ends."
"I was hired specifically to design custom gear."
Miles looked at him with new appreciation.
"So what do you work on now?"
"I design costumes for our contracted actors, singers, and performers."
Miles blinked.
"You must be quite famous."
The man scratched his head modestly.
"You could say my designs appear in the news from time to time."
Miles laughed.
"I never realized a legendary designer was working under me."
The man grinned.
"Please don’t call me legendary."
"It makes me feel like I’m already dead."
Miles laughed even harder as the two walked back toward the elevator.
People often rediscover the toys they cherished during childhood after growing older.
Miles was different.
When he looked back at his childhood, the things waiting for him were not toys at all.
They were masks.
Mission suits.
Old invitations.
Disposable phones.
Fake identities.
Everything that belonged to Ghost.
After leaving the old white mask with the man, so a larger version could be made, Miles wandered through the Soul Tower without any particular destination.
He quietly visited several departments of the Reaper Group, greeting employees who respectfully bowed as he passed.
Soon afterward he crossed over to Tulip Corporation.
Alice and Kate personally welcomed him before enthusiastically showing him around the office.
Development teams were busy testing new game builds.
Artists painted character concepts.
Programmers stared at lines of code while discussing bugs.
Designers argued over user interfaces.
The entire studio was alive with energy.
Alice proudly explained each department while Kate occasionally added her own humorous comments.
Miles listened carefully.
He was never someone who interfered with every small decision.
Instead, he preferred understanding what his people were building.
Seeing everyone working with smiles somehow made him feel satisfied.
After encouraging the staff and promising to test the next playable build himself, he quietly left the Soul Tower.
...
The evening at Pearl Villa was peaceful.
Calum and Daniel finally returned from the golf course.
Neither of them looked like businessmen.
Instead, they laughed like two old friends who had simply reunited after many years.
They discussed golf swings, funny mistakes, and old stories while Elena quietly listened beside them with a warm smile.
Seeing the two men getting along so naturally filled her heart with joy.
Dinner passed amid comfortable conversations.
Hope and Asher excitedly told Calum about school while everyone listened with amusement.
When the meal ended, silence slowly settled over the villa.
...
Inside his room, Miles sat comfortably against the headboard.
His phone rested in his hands.
A smile unconsciously appeared on his face as he read Chloe’s messages.
Sometimes they were simple.
Sometimes playful.
Sometimes she simply reminded him to eat on time.
Yet every message somehow warmed his heart.
These...
Perhaps these were truly the happiest days of his life.
He had found his mother again.
His grandfather.
His younger brother and sister.
His home.
The family his father and grandfather had once cherished was finally complete again.
And now...
He was about to marry the woman he loved.
Life had finally begun rewarding him.
Yet...
His retirement from the underworld still had a long road ahead.
Across different countries, the Ancient Warrior Order had already begun carrying out the plans he had prepared.
Every potential threat from Ghost’s past was being quietly investigated.
Miles had given only one strict order.
"No unnecessary killing."
"If the government or intelligence agencies can solve it, let them."
"The Ancient Warrior Order should only step in when there is no other choice."
The world beneath the surface was slowly changing.
The underworld would never remain the same.
For centuries, the Five Clan Alliance had hidden behind closed doors, preserving their strength while avoiding worldly affairs.
That era was ending.
The younger generation of supreme martial artists would step into the modern world.
They would gain experience.
Build connections.
Learn politics.
Understand business.
Protect ordinary people.
Strengthen the alliance itself.
When this transformation finished...
The Five Clan Alliance would stand stronger than it ever had before.
Its future would remain secure for generations.
Miles smiled faintly.
Perhaps...
This was also a kind of retirement.
Not abandoning responsibility.
But leaving behind endless bloodshed.
He lowered his head and typed one final message.
Good night. Sleep well.
A few seconds later...
His phone vibrated.
Good night, my fiancé. Dream about me.
Miles could not help smiling.
Just then...
Knock.
Knock.
A gentle knock echoed from outside.
Miles walked over and opened the door.
Monica stood there wearing comfortable pajamas, her hair loosely tied behind her.
He smiled.
"Can’t sleep?"
Monica folded her arms.
"After sleeping almost the entire day?"
"How could I possibly sleep again?"
Miles chuckled.
"That’s exactly why I don’t drink."
"Good for you, Boss."
She walked inside without waiting for permission before sitting comfortably on the sofa.
"So?"
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
Miles nodded.
"I did."
He leaned against the desk.
"Although..."
"Don’t you think keeping all those things in storage is dangerous?"
Monica smiled calmly.
"There is practically no way for anyone to find that floor."
"And judging by today..."
"They were still useful."
"So I think preserving them was the right decision."
Miles sighed helplessly.
"I suppose I can’t really argue with that."
"You shouldn’t."
Monica smiled proudly.
"I’ve always got your back, Boss."
Miles laughed softly.
"I know."
After a brief silence he remembered something.
"By the way..."
"You really have some capable people working under you."
"I never properly met them."
Monica blinked.
"You literally met one today."
"And you’re saying that with a straight face."
Miles looked confused.
"Huh?"
"The designer."
"Happy."
"You even handed him work."
"And you still don’t know his name?"
Miles covered his forehead.
"I..."
"I forgot to ask."
Monica stared at him in disbelief before shaking her head.
"Boss..."
"Sometimes you really surprise me."
Both of them laughed.
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Then Monica looked at him more seriously.
"Tell me."
"What exactly is happening?"
"I don’t like being uninformed."
"It feels like after Charles and the clan warriors appeared..."
"You don’t need me anymore."
Miles immediately laughed.
"I don’t even know if I’d survive without you."
"What are you talking about?"
Monica smiled slightly.
"Then tell me."
"I want to know."
Miles surrendered with a helpless smile.
"Alright."
"Alright."
He sat opposite her.
"Do you remember the annual conclave?"
"The one I attended every year on behalf of Graveyard."
Monica nodded.
"The one in Germany?"
"Of course."
"I remember you started attending when you were fifteen."
Miles smiled.
"Yes."
"That one."
"But..."
"I wasn’t fifteen when I attended it for the first time."
Monica blinked.
"Hmm?"
Miles looked at her calmly.
"I was twelve."
Silence filled the room.
Monica’s eyes slowly widened.
"What?"
"You were only twelve?"
"You were literally a child."
"How could you possibly attend a gathering like that?"
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"So..."
"You mean when I was fifteen I had already become an adult?"
Monica immediately shook her head.
"No."
"But by then..."
"You had already made a name for yourself."
"Besides..."
"Almost nobody knew your real identity."
"When you were twelve..."
"You must have looked like an actual little kid."
Miles smiled mysteriously.
"There is a story behind that."
Monica leaned forward, curiosity filling her eyes.
"Good."
"I wasn’t planning to sleep anyway."
"So..."
"Tell me everything."