The noon sun rested gently over Star Harbor, casting a warm glow across the quiet streets. A soft breeze moved through the neighborhood, carrying with it the distant sound of waves and the faint hum of city life.

Miles stood in front of Olivia’s house, his expression calm yet focused. He raised his hand and pressed the doorbell once, the sound echoing lightly inside.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Olivia stood there, her posture relaxed, as if she had been expecting him.

“Come in.”

Miles gave a slight nod and stepped inside, his eyes naturally scanning the surroundings. The house felt calm, lived in, yet there was a certain quiet tension in the air that had not been there before.

Olivia closed the door behind him.

“He is in the room on the right.”

Miles turned slightly toward the hallway.

“Do you mind if I see him?”

Olivia shook her head.

“Go ahead.”

Miles walked slowly toward the room, his steps steady. As he reached the door, he paused for a brief moment before knocking lightly. Without waiting too long, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was softly lit.

Lucian Winslow lay on a reclined bed, his body still recovering. His head was bandaged, faint traces of dried blood visible beneath the fresh dressing. His arm rested at his side, minor wounds patched carefully. The machines beside him emitted a quiet rhythm, steady and reassuring.

Edna sat beside him on a chair, her posture composed but her eyes carrying relief.

Miles looked at Lucian carefully, observing him in silence for a moment.

“I never imagined the first meeting with the Grandmaster would be like this.”

Lucian’s lips curved into a faint smile despite his condition.

“Believe me, this is not how I imagined things either.”

Edna looked at Miles, her expression softening.

“Thank you so much for the help, son. Thank you.”

Miles shook his head gently.

“Do not mention it, Grandma Edna. You have done far more for me and my family than this.”

Lucian studied him for a moment, a certain pride visible in his gaze.

“You have grown into a fine man.”

His voice carried weight despite its weakness.

“Timothy would be proud of you… if he wakes up.”

Miles allowed a small smile to appear.

“I hope he does.”

A thought crossed his mind, and his expression shifted slightly.

“I have a question.”

Lucian gave a faint nod.

“Go on.”

Miles looked directly at him.

“Did Basil know that my grandfather is alive?”

Lucian shook his head slowly.

“No.”

His voice was calm.

“It was a secret kept within the family. No one outside knew about Timothy’s condition or where he was.”

Miles exhaled quietly.

“Alright.”

He stepped slightly closer, his tone turning more serious.

“The burning factory in Vespera is all over the news today.”

A faint edge of cold satisfaction flickered through his eyes.

“I wish I could have seen their reaction.”

Lucian’s expression hardened slightly.

“Rowan is not much of a concern.”

He paused.

“But his son… Jax… is the real problem.”

Miles listened carefully.

“He was dealing with Kyle Sterling before.”

Lucian’s gaze darkened as he continued.

“I received some intel from inside. I did not get full details, but I heard it was some kind of drug.”

His voice lowered.

“A mind altering drug.”

He clenched his fingers slightly.

“The person who gave me that information was found dead not long after.”

Miles’ eyes sharpened instantly.

“If what I am thinking is correct…”

His tone grew colder.

“Then this is not good.”

He straightened.

“And we need to get him.”

Lucian and Edna exchanged a glance.

“You know about this?”

Lucian asked.

Miles nodded slowly.

“Kyle Sterling was the most dangerous man I have ever dealt with.”

His voice remained steady, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.

“If he shared that formula with Jax…”

A brief silence followed.

“We are not talking about a small threat.”

He looked at both of them.

“We are talking about billions of lives.”

The words settled heavily in the room.

Edna’s hand tightened slightly over the armrest of her chair.

Lucian’s expression grew serious.

“What do you think we should do?”

Miles stepped back slightly, his decision already made.

“You have done enough.”

His tone softened just a little.

“Rest for now.”

Then it hardened again.

“I will take care of it.”

He turned toward the door.

“I will take my leave now.”

Before stepping out, he looked back once.

“I hope you all come to my home for dinner sometime before you return to your estate.”

Edna smiled faintly.

“Thank you, Miles. Take care.”

Miles gave a small nod and walked out of the room.

In the living room, Olivia stood near the door. She opened it as he approached.

Their eyes met briefly.

She did not ask anything.

She did not need to.

Miles stepped outside, and Olivia closed the door behind him.

The moment he reached the path, his expression changed.

The calm was gone.

Replaced by something far colder.

He pulled out his phone and dialed immediately.

The call connected.

“Boss?”

Monica’s voice came through.

Miles did not waste time.

“Looks like we need to use the Towers again.”

Monica went silent for a second.

“But… we destroyed the drugs completely.”

Miles’s gaze hardened as he looked ahead.

“I am afraid it is being redeveloped.”

A breath.

“Kyle might have shared the formula with Jax.”

On the other end, Monica’s tone shifted instantly.

“Damn…”

Then steady.

“Say no more, boss.”

“I will keep the towers ready.”

Miles ended the call.

The wind moved lightly around him, but his presence felt heavier than before.

Something far more dangerous than before had returned.

And this time…

He was ready for it.

…..

In Vespera, the mansion stood tall under the harsh afternoon light, its grand halls quiet yet heavy with unease. Inside the private lounge, Rowan Mordecai sat alone, his attention fixed on the television in front of him.

The news continued to play.

Reports about the burned factory.

Speculations.

Authorities searching for answers.

Rowan’s grip on the armrest tightened.

“This good for nothing son cannot even handle small matters.”

His voice carried frustration, laced with something deeper.

“I do not even know where my grandson Kyle has gone.”

His eyes remained glued to the screen.

Then suddenly…

The television flickered.

A brief distortion cut through the broadcast.

The news vanished.

Rowan leaned forward slightly.

“What is going on…”

The screen changed.

A different video appeared.

Grainy.

Unstable.

And in the middle of it…

Kyle.

Wearing a hospital gown.

His hair unkempt.

His eyes wide, unstable, filled with fear.

Rowan’s breath caught

“Kyle…?”

He leaned closer.

“Kyle!”

The video continued.

A nurse approached Kyle, holding something in her hand, trying to calm him.

But Kyle suddenly lashed out.

“They are going to kill us!”

His voice cracked with terror.

“They are going to kill us!”

He struggled, his body trembling.

“It is the end of the Sterlings…”

Rowan froze.

The words echoed in his mind.

His grandson…

Broken.

Mad.

The image shook him in a way nothing else had.

Before he could react further, the screen flickered again.

The video disappeared.

The news returned.

As if nothing had happened.

Rowan stood up abruptly.

“No… no… no…”

He grabbed the remote, pressing buttons rapidly.

“Kyle…!”

The screen did not change.

Nothing responded.

His breathing grew heavier.

“How… how did that…”

He looked around the room, confusion mixing with anger.

He had no idea how that video had appeared.

No explanation.

No control.

Only that brief moment…

And it was enough to disturb him deeply.

From the shadows of an adjacent room, a figure watched silently.

Unnoticed.

Still.

Then turned away.

Walking out without a sound.

A phone was pulled out.

A number dialed.

…

In Star Harbor, Miles stood by the window.

His phone rang.

He picked it up immediately.

“Did you do it?”

A voice replied from the other side.

“Yes sir. He is completely shaken.”

Miles let out a quiet laugh.

“Good.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime sir.”

The call ended.

Miles lowered the phone slowly, a faint smirk forming.

“It is just the beginning, Mordecai.”

…

Inside the Mordecai Operations Office, Jax stood near his desk, reviewing documents on Sterling’s weapons and arms division. His eyes moved quickly across the data, analyzing patterns, looking for weaknesses.

His phone rang.

He picked it up without hesitation.

“What?”

The voice on the other end belonged to a house help from the mansion.

“Sir… he is behaving strangely.”

Jax frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

“He is saying he saw Mr. Kyle on television.”

Jax’s eyes narrowed.

“And then it vanished.”

Jax straightened.

“What was he watching?”

“It was a news channel.”

The house help continued.

“I checked the broadcast. There was nothing unusual.”

A brief pause.

“I checked the television as well. There is no record of any such video.”

Jax’s expression darkened.

“Damn it…”

He rubbed his temple slightly.

“Is he drinking again in the middle of the day?”

“I do not think so, sir.”

Jax exhaled sharply.

“Keep watching him.”

His tone turned colder.

“And inform me if anything else happens.”

“Alright, sir.”

The call ended.

On the other side, the house help slowly lowered the phone.

A smirk appeared on his face.

In his hand, a small flash drive gleamed faintly.

He slipped it into his pocket.

…

Back in the office, Jax placed his phone on the desk, his fingers tapping lightly against the surface as his mind processed everything.

Something was wrong.

Things were slipping.

Uncontrolled.

He turned his attention back to the reports.

But before he could continue, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a man ste

pped inside, his expression tense.

“Boss… there is an issue.”

Jax’s patience was already thin.

“Now what?”

The man swallowed.

“Police have captured the security guard from the abandoned factory.”

Jax froze.

The man continued.

“He was not among the bodies in the fire.”

A brief silence filled the room.

“He was trying to escape the city.”

Jax stood up slowly.

The veins on his forehead began to rise, his expression twisting with controlled rage.

Everything was starting to fall apart.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep