Flashback… four years ago.

Winter had wrapped the city of Paris in a quiet, pale embrace. The streets carried a soft chill, the kind that crept into the bones but still felt alive with movement. People walked briskly along the sidewalks, coats wrapped tight, breath visible in the cold air. The afternoon sky was dull yet peaceful, casting a muted light over the historic streets.

From the corner of a narrow lane, a young man stepped out.

A hoodie covered his head, shadowing most of his face. A heavy backpack rested on his shoulder, its weight barely affecting his steady posture. His steps were calm, controlled, almost silent despite the bustling surroundings.

Ghost.

Even here, far from battlefields and missions, his instincts never rested. His eyes moved constantly, scanning everything, the people, the vehicles, the patterns, the exits. Every detail was noted, processed, stored.

For him, the world was never just a place. It was always a field of possibilities and threat

As he turned slightly, his gaze caught movement ahead.

Two small boys in school uniforms were arguing loudly, their voices sharp and careless. They pushed each other without paying attention to their surroundings, drifting from the safety of the sidewalk onto the road.

Ghost’s eyes narrowed instantly.

From the far end of the street, a car was approaching at high speed

The boys did not see it.

The world around him slowed.

Ghost moved.

He ran forward in a flash, his body reacting before thought could even form. He reached the first boy and pulled him back with force, dragging him away from the road.

But the second boy stumbled.

He fell.

For a fraction of a second, Ghost’s hand reached out, but the timing was off.

The car was already too close.

Before impact could happen, another figure rushed in from the side.

A girl.

She moved without hesitation, grabbing the fallen boy and pulling him away just as the car rushed past, its speed brushing against the fabric of the boy’s clothes. The driver lost control for a moment, the car swerving dangerously before the brakes screeched loudly, stopping just inches before crashing into a streetlight.

The street erupted into chaos.

People shouted.

The boys froze in fear.

Ghost turned instantly and ran toward the car, pulling the door open.

Inside, a woman sat gripping the steering wheel tightly, her face pale, her breath uneven.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded, still shaken.

“I am fine… these kids almost gave me a heart attack.”

Ghost gave a brief nod, confirming she was unharmed.

Then a voice came from behind him.

“Is she alright?”

It was calm.

Clear.

Different.

Ghost turned.

And in that moment, everything inside him stilled.

She stood there, holding the boy she had just saved, her expression filled with concern. She was a high school girl, her uniform neat despite the chaos that had just unfolded. Her long hair fell naturally over her shoulders, slightly swaying in the cold breeze. Her eyes were bright, clear like glass reflecting sunlight, filled with both innocence and courage. Her face carried a natural beauty that did not demand attention yet captured it effortlessly. There was warmth in her presence, something gentle yet unshakable.

Ghost stared.

For the first time in years, his mind did not calculate.

It did not analyze.

It did not search for threats.

It simply… stopped.

His heartbeat changed.

It was no longer steady and controlled.

It was faster.

Unfamiliar.

He had seen countless faces in his life. Faces filled with fear, anger, hatred, desperation. He had walked through blood and silence, through chaos and destruction. But this…

This was different.

There was no fear in her eyes.

No darkness.

Only light.

A spark.

Something he did not understand.

The assassin who had only known survival and death felt something awaken quietly inside him.

Something human.

Something fragile.

“Hello… excuse me, are you alright?”

Her voice reached him again.

He did not respond.

“Hello?”

Her brows furrowed slightly as she waved her hand in front of him.

The world resumed.

…

“Boss… are you okay?”

The voice pulled him back.

Miles blinked.

The memory faded as reality returned.

He stood on the balcony of his room in Star Harbor, the night stretching endlessly before him, the city lights glowing below like distant stars.

“I am okay.”

His voice was calm, but something still lingered in his eyes.

Monica stood beside him, watching carefully.

“You should sleep, boss. Do not think about it too much.”

Miles nodded slightly.

“You are right.”

Monica gave a small smile.

“Sleep, okay. Good night.”

She turned and walked away, leaving the room quietly.

Miles remained for a moment longer, his gaze lifting toward the night sky. The wind brushed lightly against him, carrying a silence that felt heavier than before.

Then he turned and walked back inside.

Downstairs, Monica descended the stairs slowly.

Elena stood waiting.

Her eyes were already searching for answers.

“What is it, dear? I know something happened at the dining table. Can you tell me what upset him?”

Monica hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded.

“Aunt… you are his mother. I will not hide this from you.”

Elena’s expression softened, but concern deepened in her eyes.

“Come. Let us sit somewhere else.”

They walked together toward a quieter part of the house, away from the open spaces and lingering sounds, where the truth could finally be spoken.

…

The morning sun reflected sharply off the glass towers of Cinder Square, turning the entire district into a field of light and steel. Inside Sterling Enterprises, the atmosphere was calm, controlled, and efficient, every movement carrying purpose.

Miles sat behind his desk, reviewing a set of reports, his expression composed as always.

The door opened softly.

June stepped in, her posture straight, her voice steady.

“Boss, Chief Lin is here.”

Miles did not look up immediately. His fingers tapped lightly against the desk once before he closed the file in front of him.

“Came so early… looks like the Mordecais have become restless.”

He leaned back slightly.

“Is he alone?”

June nodded.

“Yes, but few officers are spotted nearby”

Miles’s lips curved faintly.

“Let him in.”

June stepped aside, and within moments, Chief Lin entered the office.

He carried himself with authority, his uniform crisp, his gaze sharp and observant. His eyes scanned the room briefly before settling on Miles.

Miles stood up calmly.

“Chief Lin. I am Miles Sterling, Chairman of Sterling Enterprises.”

Lin paused for a second, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Miles’s young appearance.

“You are quite young for that designation, do you not think?”

Miles met his gaze without hesitation.

“Designations are earned, Chief Lin. And everything I have here… I built with my own hands.”

A faint smile appeared on Lin’s face.

“You are an interesting person, Mr. Sterling.”

Miles gestured toward the chair.

“Please, have a seat. Tell me what brings the Chief of Vespera here personally.”

Lin sat down slowly, placing one leg over the other.

“Well, Mr. Sterling… it is about the fire incident in Vespera.”

Miles tilted his head slightly.

“The one making headlines?”

“Yes.”

Lin leaned forward just a little.

“Our department has flagged your company as one of the suspects. You are, after all, their biggest competition.”

Miles let out a quiet breath, almost amused.

“That is quite a claim, Chief.”

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto Lin’s.

“Was it not an abandoned factory? Why would I go that far just to burn it down?”

Then his expression shifted subtly, a sharper edge appearing.

“Unless… there was something important inside that factory. Something that made the Mordecais… nervous.”

Lin’s smile deepened, but there was tension beneath it now.

Without a word, he pulled out a document and placed it on the table.

“Here is the warrant.”

He tapped it lightly.

“I am here to conduct a search. My officers are already stationed below.”

Miles glanced at the paper, then looked back at Lin with a faint smile.

“A warrant?”

He picked it up casually, his eyes scanning it once.

“If you had this from the beginning, Chief Lin… why not simply walk in and start your search?”

Lin leaned back.

“I wanted to see the man behind this company with my own eyes.”

Miles chuckled softly.

He turned the document slightly, his gaze resting on a specific detail.

“Issued by Judge Andre…”

He looked up again, his tone light.

“Do you know a fun fact, Chief Lin?”

Lin’s expression stiffened slightly.

Miles continued.

“Judge Andre has been hospitalized for the past few weeks due to a serious heart condition.”

He tilted the paper.

“So you are telling me… he signed this warrant?”

He tapped the date.

“Yesterday.”

A brief silence filled the room.

Miles’s smile widened just a little.

“Is that not… interesting?”

Lin’s eyes flickered for a moment, but he quickly regained composure.

“What exactly are you trying to imply, Mr. Sterling?”

Miles placed the paper down gently.

“You know the law, Chief.”

His voice turned colder.

“Forging a judge’s signature… is a serious crime.”

Lin’s tone sharpened.

“Who said it is forged? Are you trying to obstruct an investigation?”

Miles did not answer immediately.

Instead, he reached into his drawer and pulled out a stack of documents, placing them neatly on the table.

“This warrant is not valid.”

He slid another paper forward.

“And neither are these.”

Lin’s eyes dropped to the documents.

Miles continued, his voice calm but cutting.

“Kidnapping case.”

Another paper.

“Money laundering.”

Another.

“Drug trafficking.”

He leaned back slightly.

“Multiple warrants. Different cases.”

His gaze locked onto Lin.

“All issued… by you.”

Lin’s jaw tightened.

Miles’s voice carried a quiet weight now.

“And the interesting part… every single one of these cases is connected to the Mordecai family.”

He let out a soft laugh.

“The great Chief of Vespera PD… serving them so faithfully.”

Lin slammed his hand lightly on the armrest.

“Watch your words. You are speaking nonsense.”

His eyes sharpened.

“And how did you even get access to these documents? This is classified information. That alone is enough for me to arrest you.”

Miles tilted his head slightly, amused.

“Arrest me?”

He leaned forward, his eyes darkening.

“Do you know my father’s name, Chief Lin?”

Lin smirked, dismissive.

“Whoever your father is… he is not coming to save you.”

For a brief moment, something changed in Miles’s expression.

A flicker of something deeper.

“I wish he could.”

His voice lowered.

“Edward Sterling.”

The name hit the room like a sudden storm.

Lin froze.

His face drained of color.

“Ed… Edward Sterling…”

His voice trembled slightly.

“You… you are his son?”

His eyes widened in disbelief.

“That is not possible. His son died… years ago…”

Miles leaned back slowly, a faint smile forming again.

“Unfortunately…”

His eyes turned cold.

“You will not be able to share this discovery with anyone.”

The air in the room grew heavy.

And for the first time since entering, Chief Lin understood… he had walked into the wrong place.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep