Chapter 236: Leader or People??

Flashback- A Few Years Ago

Yemen

The helicopter blades roared loudly as the aircraft descended toward a barren stretch of wilderness far away from any town, road, or watching eyes.

Dust and sand spiralled into the air as the landing skids touched the ground.

The door slid open.

A young man jumped out first.

Ghost.

At that time he was still very young, but the cold discipline in his movements already carried the weight of someone who had seen far more than his age should allow.

He turned and extended his hand upward.

A woman stepped out carefully, holding his arm for balance.

She was young and strikingly beautiful, her dark hair partially covered by a scarf to shield against the desert wind.

Her name was Saba Al-Hadi.

She was not an ordinary woman.

Saba was the daughter of a beloved local leader from a small Yemeni town. Her father had been respected by his people for years. Unlike most politicians, he had not entered politics for wealth or power.

He had already been a successful businessman.

But he chose to step into politics because he wanted to improve the lives of the people in his town.

That was the reason people loved him.

And it was also the reason he died.

Officially, he had been assassinated by unknown attackers.

But the truth was something darker.

A corrupt regional politician had ordered his murder.

The man feared that Saba’s father would defeat him in the next election and end his control over the region.

At the time of the assassination, Saba had been studying political science abroad.

After her father’s death, she suddenly became a target.

Even outside her own country.

That was why the mission had been assigned.

Escort Saba safely back to her hometown.

The one chosen for the job was Ghost.

The helicopter pilot leaned out from the cockpit.

“Good luck, Ghost.”

“We will meet at the extraction point.”

Ghost simply raised his thumb in acknowledgment.

The helicopter lifted back into the sky moments later.

The sound of the blades slowly faded into the empty desert.

Saba looked around at the endless wilderness.

“Didn’t we land a little too far?”

She glanced toward the distant mountains.

“Are we going to walk all the way to the town?”

Ghost did not answer.

Instead he walked a few steps toward a cluster of fallen leaves and branches scattered across the ground.

He crouched down.

Then calmly pushed them aside.

Beneath the camouflage was the roof of a vehicle.

A hidden car.

Ghost opened the sunroof and dropped inside.

A moment later the engine started.

The car rolled out of the camouflage and stopped directly in front of her.

Saba stared at him in surprise.

She opened the passenger door and sat down.

“How did you even do that?”

“Who planted this car here?”

Ghost kept his eyes on the road.

“Graveyard has resources anywhere we need.”

Saba leaned back in her seat.

“Your country has power.”

“And resources.”

She looked out the window.

“In my country we only have what the corrupt leaders leave behind.”

The car slowly exited the wilderness and joined a narrow desert road.

The sun was already setting.

Ghost glanced briefly at the sky.

“It’s evening.”

“We cannot waste time.”

He tightened his grip on the wheel.

“I apologize.”

“We will not stop to rest or sleep.”

Saba looked at him carefully.

He was younger than her.

Much younger.

Yet his expression looked completely emotionless.

“It’s alright.”

She smiled softly.

“You keep driving.”

“I will keep talking to keep you company.”

Ghost shook his head slightly.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“You can sleep if you want.”

Saba laughed quietly.

“I will try.”

For a few minutes silence filled the car.

The road stretched endlessly through the desert.

Then she spoke again.

“Can I ask you something?”

Ghost nodded once.

“Okay.”

Saba turned toward him.

“You are young.”

“What do you think about politics?”

“Do you believe choosing a good leader actually matters?”

Ghost remained silent for a moment.

Then he spoke.

“Do you really want my opinion?”

“I am younger than you think.”

Saba smiled.

“You are mature enough.”

“Otherwise they would not send you to escort me.”

Ghost’s voice remained calm.

“There are two kinds of leaders.”

“The first kind only thinks about himself.”

“They become rich by exploiting others.”

“And spend their entire time planning how to win the next election.”

“They do not make decisions based on development.”

“They use race, religion, gender and division.”

“They do not see people as humans.”

“Only as stepping stones.”

Saba listened quietly.

Ghost continued.

“The second kind of leader understands those tactics.”

“He takes leadership and works hard.”

“He gives people dreams.”

“And tries to fulfill them.”

“He thinks about giving his people a better future.”

Ghost briefly glanced toward her.

“Like your father.”

Saba lowered her eyes slightly.

Ghost continued calmly.

“But those leaders usually do not live long.”

The car moved steadily through the desert night.

“Leaders change.”

“Good leaders can become corrupt.”

“And corrupt leaders can become worse.”

He paused briefly.

“But there is one thing that never changes.”

Saba looked at him.

“What is it?”

Ghost answered quietly.

“The selfish instinct of people.”

“People want to survive today.”

“Not tomorrow.”

“Not the future.”

“Today.”

“If you tell them there will be a pandemic…”

“They will hoard resources for themselves.”

“If you say resources are limited…”

“They will take as much as they can.”

“They are easy to divide.”

“They are vulnerable.”

“They are selfish.”

“Give them money today…”

“And they will change their leader tomorrow.”

Ghost’s voice remained cold.

“A leader who speaks about the future but cannot deal with people’s instinct to survive today…”

“…will never truly lead.”

Silence filled the car again.

Saba slowly nodded.

“You are right.”

She looked at him thoughtfully.

“I never thought I would learn something like this from a young boy.”

Ghost said nothing.

After a while he spoke again.

“Can I ask you something, Miss Saba?”

“Of course.”

Ghost kept driving.

“I thought about this all night before accepting the mission.”

“If you go back…”

“…isn’t that like walking into a lion’s den?”

Saba smiled.

“My father was a good man.”

“Since childhood I watched people struggle.”

“He had money.”

“But he still chose politics.”

“For the people.”

“He taught me everything.”

She looked toward the desert horizon.

“Even after his death…”

“I want to continue his dream.”

Her voice remained steady.

“I know a woman will not be easily accepted as a leader there.”

“But times change.”

“People change.”

She looked back at Ghost.

“What you said is true.”

“People think about today.”

“But I want to change that.”

“Just like my father did.”

Her eyes hardened slightly.

“Do you know why my father was killed?”

“Because he taught people to think about tomorrow.”

“About future generations.”

She leaned back calmly.

“So I will go.”

“I don’t know how long I will live.”

“But I will try to give people a spark.”

“They must create the fire themselves.”

The car continued driving through the silent desert night.

The next day Ghost successfully delivered Saba to her hometown.

The mission was completed.

He returned to the base in his own country.

But one week later…

A news report appeared.

A bombing had occurred in that same town.

And among the dead…

Was Saba Al-Hadi.

Present

The glass walls of Sterling Enterprises Headquarters at Cinder Square reflected the bright afternoon sunlight of Star Harbor.

Inside Miles’ private office, two figures sat across from each other.

Miles leaned back in his chair, while Silvey Sterling sat at the table flipping through a thick investigation file.

Silvey’s fingers paused on a page.

She looked around the room for a moment.

“This place brings back memories.”

Miles looked at her.

“What kind of memories?”

Silvey gave a small smile.

“The last time I came here I was with Layla.”

Her voice softened slightly.

“That was quite a day.”

Miles sighed quietly.

“Sorry if this reminds you of that.”

Silvey shook her head.

“Everything is fine between me and her now.”

She flipped another page in the file.

Photographs of four men stared back from the report.

Geoffrey Barrington.

Dominic Cross.

Silas Blackwood.

Bennett Hayes.

Silvey frowned.

“Why do politicians have to be corrupt everywhere?”

Miles gave a faint smirk.

“Money and power.”

He rested his chin lightly on his hand.

“Those two things are worse addictions than alcohol.”

Silvey leaned back in her chair thoughtfully.

“Sometimes I think our country was happier when it was under the monarchy of our ancestors.”

Miles shook his head.

“That never works, Princess.”

Silvey raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“You don’t think you would enjoy it?”

“The great Miles Sterling the Fourth.”

“King of the country.”

Miles suddenly burst into laughter.

“What was that?”

Silvey laughed with him.

But Miles’ expression slowly changed.

He looked out toward the skyline of Star Harbor.

“There are good politicians too.”

Silvey looked at him curiously.

“Some even risk their lives for their people.”

Miles’ eyes softened slightly.

A memory passed through his mind.

A young woman sitting beside him in a car driving through a desert road.

Saba.

He smiled faintly.

Silvey noticed the change.

“That sounded like a story.”

She leaned forward slightly.

“Can I ask you something?”

Miles looked back at her.

“What?”

Silvey folded her hands on the table.

“Where were you all these years?”

Miles was quiet for a moment.

Then he spoke calmly.

“You know I was kidnapped, right?”

Silvey nodded.

“Yes.”

Miles leaned back in his chair.

“I was saved.”

“You could say…”

“I was raised in an army camp.”

Silvey blinked.

“So you were a soldier?”

Miles nodded.

“I’m retired now.”

Silvey stared at him with curiosity.

Before she could ask more questions, the office door opened.

Monica walked in.

“She has arrived.”

Miles turned his chair slightly.

“At Olivia’s house?”

Monica nodded.

“Yes.”

Miles stood up slowly.

“Then we wait for her call.”

He grabbed his jacket.

“I don’t want to go uninvited today.”

Silvey looked confused.

“Who is Olivia?”

Miles walked toward the door.

“That’s something I need to deal with.”

He glanced back at her.

“I’m going home.”

“You can come if you want.”

“Or enjoy Star Harbor.”

“Take April or June with you.”

Silvey immediately smiled.

“Shopping sounds better.”

Miles chuckled.

“Alright.”

A few minutes later his car left Cinder Square.

Driving toward Pearl Villa.

Today he would finally get answers.

—

Flashback

Yemen

One Year After Saba’s Death

The mansion stood in silence under the cover of night.

Tall stone walls surrounded the property.

Armed guards patrolled the gates.

But none of them noticed the shadow that moved along the outer wall.

Ghost.

Dressed in dark tactical gear.

His movements were silent.

Precise.

He scaled the wall effortlessly and dropped onto the inner garden.

From there he climbed up to the second floor balcony.

The glass door slid open quietly.

Ghost stepped inside the bedroom.

The room was luxurious.

Golden lamps.

Expensive carpets.

Silk curtains.

And on the large bed in the center of the room…

A man slept peacefully.

The same corrupt leader who had ordered the assassination of Saba’s father.

The same man responsible for the bombing that killed her.

Ghost walked forward calmly.

Then he flipped the switch.

The lights came on.

Ghost spoke quietly.

“I wonder how you can sleep so peacefully.”

The man stirred in confusion.

Ghost grabbed a flower vase from the table.

And threw it onto the floor.

The vase shattered loudly.

The man woke up in panic.

“What the hell”

His eyes widened.

A masked man stood in the room.

Armed.

Silent.

The man tried to stand.

Ghost raised his pistol instantly.

“I wouldn’t do that.”

The man froze.

“Who are you?”

“You’re making a mistake!”

“My people won’t let you leave this place alive!”

Ghost slowly walked toward the window.

“Your people?”

He looked back at him calmly.

“People never belong to anyone.”

Then his voice turned colder.

“And do you know what else influences people?”

He pulled several grenades from his belt.

“Death.”

The man’s face turned pale.

Ghost tossed the grenades into the room.

Then he jumped out through the window.

The man screamed in panic.

He ran toward the door.

It was locked.

He rushed back toward the window.

Too late.

The grenades detonated.

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