Chapter 207: Grandmaster!!!

The next day arrived without mercy.

Silverline City, Basil’s farmhouse stood quiet under the pale morning light, the kind that made even familiar land feel uncertain.

A man rushed into the courtyard, breath uneven, eyes wide with panic.

“Where is Linn?” he shouted.

From beside the weapons rack, Linn stepped out calmly, wiping his hands on a cloth. “What is it? You act like the world is ending just because the master is out of town.”

“It is about the master,” the man said, voice shaking.

Linn’s eyes sharpened. “What about him?”

“His car left from Star Harbor airport. On the way, the vehicle met with an accident. But when the driver came to his senses, there was no one inside the car. No master. Nobody. Nothing. The driver is terrified.”

For the first time, Linn’s expression cracked. Panic flickered across his face, raw and real.

Then, slowly, something settled in his eyes. Understanding.

He exhaled. “Do not worry.”

The man blinked. “What?”

“He is safe,” Linn said firmly. “Miles Sterling has him.”

The man froze. “What are you saying?”

“Go back to your work,” Linn replied coldly. “Tell everyone not to panic. Inform them that the master is safe.”

“But how can you be sure?”

Linn turned back toward the rack of shotguns, resuming his cleaning as if nothing had happened. “Because if Miles Sterling wanted him dead, we would already be lighting funeral pyres.”

The man swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”

As footsteps faded, Linn murmured to himself, “Well played, Miles.”

Star Harbor- Sterling Security Base.

Interrogation Room.

The black cloth was pulled from Basil Jefferson’s head.

Harsh white light flooded his vision. He blinked repeatedly, eyes burning, breath uneven.

When his sight adjusted, he saw him.

Miles Sterling sat across the table, posture relaxed, hands resting calmly, eyes steady and mercilessly clear. A young man. Younger than Basil’s own son. Yet the weight in his presence was suffocating.

“Miles Sterling,” Basil said softly. “Quite a welcome.”

“How was your journey to Star Harbor?” Miles asked, tone polite, almost casual.

Basil smiled faintly. “Eventful.”

“What? You do not like it?” Miles replied. “I thought you enjoyed taking guests like this.”

Basil sighed. “I understand your frustration. About Citadel. Believe me, I only wanted Chester. My men took his son by mistake. That is why I returned him to you.”

“Returned?” Miles repeated quietly.

His eyes darkened.

“You returned me a half dead man,” Miles continued. “Do you know what it feels like to wait your entire life to find who killed your father? To finally capture him And then someone takes him away and returns him to you as a mentally broken shell”

Basil frowned. “What do you mean?”

“So you do not know,” Miles said. “Like your son said, you would protect me at all costs. I do not think you are doing a very good job.”

Miles leaned back slightly.

“The man you returned is in a mental asylum now. He is not treatable. Not anymore. Weeks ago, he was a threat to the entire world. Now he is protected behind hospital walls. What do you think I should do? Kill him? Will that change anything?”

Basil’s voice lowered. “I did not know it would end like this. I am sorry.”

“Yes,” Miles said calmly. “Apologies. Just like your son after trying to kill me.”

“He will not do it again,” Basil said quickly.

“I do not want to talk about that now,” Miles replied. “What matters is that you answer my questions.”

Basil nodded. “I will tell you the truth.”

“The WEB,” Miles said. “Do you have control over it?”

“No,” Basil answered. “We only have an asset inside. Infiltrated long ago. The princess.”

Miles’ eyes narrowed. “That is why Thea was helping me. Helping you, to be exact.”

“Yes.”

“The man who ordered the attack on the Graveyard base,” Miles said slowly. “Is he alive?”

Basil shook his head. “The old commander killed him already.”

Miles closed his eyes.

For a brief moment, the weight he had carried for decades loosened. One regret. One unanswered question. Finally buried.

He opened his eyes again.

“Were you the one who made the deal with the old commander about my safety?”

Basil hesitated. “No. I do not know that man. The grandmaster sent him personally. He said it was better that you stayed hidden from the world. He wanted you to return only when you were strong enough to protect yourself and the people you love.”

Miles leaned back slowly, breath heavy.

“This grandmaster,” he said quietly. “Is he my grandfather?”

Silence filled the room.

…..

Few days passed quietly on the surface, yet beneath that calm the preparations for the hunt were almost complete.

From London came Elias. From Germany, Hilda. Artem will come from Russia. Basil from Silverline. A tribal envoy from Africa. The silent monk from Hong Kong. A Sheikh from Dubai. Along with them came smaller factions, remnants and shadows of the once scattered treasure hunters. They trained survival experts, recruited ex cons, gathered weapons and equipment, studied terrain and maps. In just a few days, all of them would set foot in Haven.

None of them understood one simple truth.

The man waiting for them was not the Miles Sterling they believed they knew.

It was the Ghost.

And this journey was not a hunt.

It was a one way trip.

Pearl Villa, morning.

The backyard pool shimmered under the sunlight, water reflecting the clear blue sky. It was a rare holiday, and the villa felt alive with laughter and warmth. Tables were being set under the open shade, the smell of fresh food drifting through the air.

At the center of the lawn, Miles and Dion stood barefoot on the grass, wooden swords in their hands.

They circled each other slowly.

Miles moved first, light on his feet, the wooden blade cutting through the air with precision. Dion blocked, the sound of wood striking wood echoing softly. Dion countered with a heavy swing, putting his weight into it, but Miles twisted his wrist, stepped inside the arc, and tapped Dion’s shoulder before pulling back.

Hope jumped up and down near the pool. “Big bro hit him again”

Asher cupped his hands around his mouth. “Dion uncle you are losing”

Dion grinned, sweat already forming on his brow. “You are getting rusty Miles, and I am not your uncle Asher”

“Really” Miles replied, eyes sharp. “Try again. You might surprise me”

“Let us see,” Dion said, tightening his grip. “I will win again this time”

They clashed again. Dion pressed forward with strength, forcing Miles back two steps. Miles smiled faintly, then shifted his stance. In a blur, he ducked under Dion’s swing, spun behind him, and rested the wooden sword gently against Dion’s neck.

Dion froze.

He exhaled slowly. “Alright. You are right. I am getting rusty. You won. I cannot take it anymore. I am tired”

Miles laughed softly and stepped back. “Hehe. Alright”

Nearby, Elena watched with curiosity. “Were they always like that?”

Flora adjusted the plates she was helping Daniel set on the outdoor table and smiled. “I am used to it, aunt Elena. They are best brothers and rivals at the same time. Yet Miles always has the upper hand. Dion is actually proud of that”

Daniel shook his head with a chuckle. “I wish I had a friend like that”

Elena glanced at him . “What?, you want to learn sword fighting now? Why do you not just stick with your golf for now”

“As you say dear,” Daniel replied, smiling obediently.

Flora smiled, warmth filling her chest as she watched the family.

Just then, a familiar voice chimed in.

“Good morning”

Hope’s eyes lit up. She stood up straight. “Big sister Olivia, welcome”

Miles turned instinctively.

Olivia stepped into the garden, sunlight catching in her hair. She knelt slightly and ruffled Hope’s hair. “Good morning Hope”

Elena looked pleasantly surprised. “You are here I thought you were not coming”

Olivia smiled softly. “Good morning Mrs. Kellar. I changed my mind”

“Good thing you did,” Daniel said warmly.

Hope tugged at Olivia’s sleeve. “Big sister Olivia, meet sister in law Flora. She is the wife of big brother Dion”

Flora wiped her hands and stepped forward. “Hello Olivia”

“Hello,” Olivia replied with a gentle smile.

She looked toward the lawn. “So what is this fight about”

“They are just working out,” Asher said seriously. “Big bro is a martial arts expert. He likes training like this”

Hope immediately corrected him. “Sword is not martial art dummy”

“I know,” Asher replied defensively.

Miles wiped his face with a towel handed by the staff and took a long drink of water. He finally turned fully toward Olivia. “Good morning Olivia”

“Good morning,” she replied, eyes lingering for a moment. “You have some unique hobbies”

“I find it entertaining,” Miles said lightly.

Dion coughed loudly.

Miles smirked. “Meet my friend Dion. He is my best friend and brother”

“Hello Mr. Dion,” Olivia said politely.

“Good morning Miss Olivia,” Dion replied, still catching his breath.

Miles’s phone buzzed softly in his palm. He glanced at the screen, his expression shifting just enough for Dion to notice.

“You guys talk,” Miles said calmly. “Let me take this call.”

Olivia tilted her head, a playful smile on her lips. “Still working on a holiday?”

“It’s important,” Miles replied.

Olivia chuckled lightly. “Then take the call.”

Miles stepped aside, moving closer to the edge of the garden where the sounds of laughter softened into the hum of wind through leaves.

“Yes?” he answered.

“Boss,” Monica’s voice came through, steady but focused. “I am not able to find any grandmaster who matches the connections we suspected. Whoever he is, he is not popular, not even in the circles that usually leave traces. Is there anything else you know that could help me narrow him down”

Miles looked ahead, eyes unfocused, as if staring through the garden and far beyond it. “Basil said he is not my grandfather. But he also said he never actually saw him. They only ever communicated by phone.”

“That makes sense,” Monica replied. “The contact number is a dead end. Burned completely. But I am tapping Basil’s phone now. If the grandmaster reaches out, we will know instantly.”

“Good,” Miles said quietly. “Basil also mentioned something else. He said the grandmaster wants to meet me. But only after the treasure hunter matter ends.”

There was a brief pause on the line.

“Everything is going according to the plan,” Monica said at last. “We just have to wait for their arrival.”

Miles’s gaze hardened, the calm in his eyes carrying something far deeper beneath it. “Great. Let them come to Haven. Once and for all.”

The call ended.

Miles slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned toward the garden.

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