Chapter 409: Mother Spider!!!!
Miles kept his eyes on the New York map for several seconds.
Several markers were still glowing around Horizon Biotech's New York headquarters.
Every one of them represented Graveyard operatives already hiding.
Waiting.
Miles slowly leaned toward the microphone.
"Ray."
Commander Ray looked toward him through the screen.
"Keep the operatives on standby."
Ray raised an eyebrow slightly.
Miles continued,
"We're not doing anything in broad daylight."
He pointed toward the map.
"New York is awake."
"Too many civilians."
"Too many cameras."
"Too many people around."
His voice remained calm.
"We wait until the city sleeps as we planned."
Ray nodded.
Miles continued,
"If something changes during the day because of what happened in Haven..."
He paused.
"...we improvise."
"But the headquarters has to go."
Ray smiled faintly.
"Don't worry."
He leaned back.
"Leave the rest to me."
His expression became colder.
"This strike alone will destroy a significant part of their decades old planning."
Thea looked toward the screen.
Ray continued,
"According to the information Thea provided..."
"We know the entrances."
"The escape routes."
"The security rotations."
"The locations of the communications rooms."
"The weapon storage."
"The underground sections."
His eyes sharpened.
"No one inside the New York headquarters will survive tonight."
The room fell slightly quieter.
Thea's expression changed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
She knew exactly what that headquarters represented.
Years of hidden operations.
Orders.
People.
Networks.
A place she had entered and almost trapped while pretending to belong there.
Miles slowly nodded.
"I'll leave it to you then."
Ray gave a small smile.
"You should."
Miles shifted toward Wilfred's screen.
"General."
Wilfred looked over.
"We need complete lockdown on everything that happened tonight."
Wilfred nodded immediately.
"Already being handled."
Olivia looked between them.
Wilfred continued,
"No information leaves Haven."
"No names."
"No locations."
"No operational details."
He adjusted his glasses.
"Military Police have been deployed to the homes of several suspects."
Olivia's expression changed.
"Their families too?"
Wilfred looked toward her.
"Only for temporary detention."
He continued,
"This is espionage."
"Until we confirm how much the families knew, who communicated with whom, and whether anyone assisted knowingly, we cannot take chances."
Miles nodded.
Wilfred added,
"Eventually..."
"This operation will probably appear in the headlines."
"One day."
"Maybe two."
"But by then..."
His expression became confident.
"...the important information will already be sealed."
"The public will hear arrests."
"National security investigation."
"Foreign interference."
"Nothing more."
He glanced toward Thea.
"And with the evidence Miss Thea provided..."
He shook his head.
"There is no realistic way most of these people are walking out of prison for the rest of their lives."
Thea remained silent.
Lucian slowly sighed.
"Well done."
Everyone looked toward his screen.
The old man appeared tired.
But relieved.
"It's only the beginning."
He looked toward the map.
"But sooner or later..."
"We'll end this."
Miles nodded.
"Next..."
His eyes moved toward Norway.
"...we destroy their hierarchy."
Wilfred immediately looked toward him.
"That's yours to handle."
Miles smiled.
Wilfred pointed a finger toward the camera.
"Just make sure you don't do anything stupid."
Miles looked offended.
"Why does everyone keep telling me that?"
Ray laughed.
Wilfred sighed.
"Because we know you."
Miles shook his head.
"Okay, okay."
He looked at the time.
"Let's call it a day."
Everyone remained silent.
Then Miles added,
"I need to get back before my wife wakes up."
Ray laughed immediately.
"Go."
His voice softened.
"And sleep."
"Leave this to us."
Wilfred nodded.
"Good luck tonight, Ray."
"I want to see breaking news tomorrow."
Lucian smiled faintly.
"Good luck."
Ray leaned forward.
"Thanks."
Then his expression turned completely serious.
"But Graveyard doesn't rely on luck."
Miles smiled.
That sounded exactly like him.
He looked toward Monica and Charles.
"You two get some rest."
Monica gave him a look.
"Boss."
"Yes?"
"You're on vacation."
Miles waited.
She continued,
"Leave everything to us now."
"Enjoy your time."
Charles nodded.
"Good night, Boss."
Miles smiled.
"Good night."
One by one...
The screens began going dark.
Wilfred disconnected.
Charles.
Monica.
Lucian.
Eventually only a few operational feeds remained active.
Miles stretched.
Then yawned.
Olivia looked toward him.
"Tired?"
Miles rubbed his eyes.
"Double duty."
Clarissa laughed.
"Both duties are important."
Miles looked toward her.
"Exactly."
Thea stood.
"Let's go back."
...
The four left the underground war room.
The hidden residence became quiet again behind them.
Outside...
The night air felt cold.
The estate looked peaceful.
Almost unreal after what they had just witnessed on the screens.
They walked beneath the trees.
For several minutes no one spoke.
Then Miles glanced toward Thea.
"You okay?"
Thea blinked.
"Hmm?"
Miles looked toward her.
"You got quiet."
Thea sighed.
"Ah."
She looked ahead.
"I'm fine."
Then paused.
"It's just..."
Miles waited.
"Until yesterday..."
Her voice became strange.
"...I was doing things for the WEB."
Olivia looked toward her.
Thea continued,
"Taking orders."
"Protecting their operations."
"Helping them."
Her expression became conflicted.
"And now..."
"I'm helping you destroy them."
She smiled faintly.
"It feels strange."
Miles shook his head.
"You were always on our side."
Thea looked toward him.
"Grandmaster never gave up on you."
Miles continued,
"And you never stopped protecting Ivy."
"So don't look at it like you've suddenly switched sides."
He smiled.
"You were trapped."
"That's different."
Olivia moved closer to Thea.
"Exactly."
She gently touched her arm.
"You're home now."
Thea looked at her.
Olivia smiled.
"From now on..."
"Your life becomes normal."
She paused.
"Let's go to Star Harbor soon."
Thea's expression softened.
"Okay."
Clarissa looked toward Miles.
Then suddenly said,
"You've changed."
Miles frowned.
"Me?"
Clarissa nodded.
"Yes."
Miles looked suspicious.
"What changed?"
Clarissa thought for a moment.
"You're not like that kid anymore."
Miles sighed.
"What kid?"
"The stubborn little one."
Miles stared.
Clarissa continued,
"The one who acted like he had to carry everything alone."
She smiled faintly.
"You sound different now."
Miles looked ahead.
Clarissa added,
"Soon you'll get older too."
Miles immediately turned.
"What?"
Clarissa blinked.
Miles pointed toward her.
"Are you cursing me?"
Clarissa stared.
"What?"
Miles continued,
"Why are you talking like I'm about to become an old man?"
Clarissa almost laughed.
"Like I'm going to stay young forever?"
Miles looked at her face.
Then smiled mischievously.
"You need sleep."
Clarissa frowned.
"Why?"
"Or you'll get bags under your eyes."
She immediately glared.
"Miles."
He laughed.
Clarissa stepped closer.
"Wanna spar before you leave in the morning?"
Miles stopped.
Then smiled.
"You bet."
Olivia sighed.
She grabbed Clarissa's arm.
"Let's go."
Clarissa resisted slightly.
"What?"
"Sleep."
"But..."
"No."
Olivia pulled her away.
Miles laughed.
Thea watched them.
Then chuckled.
Miles looked toward her.
"What?"
Thea raised an eyebrow.
"There was something between you two, right?"
Miles immediately looked away.
"I wish you didn't ask."
Thea smiled.
"That means yes."
Miles sighed.
"Even when she grows old..."
He looked toward Clarissa walking away with Olivia.
"...she'll always be a stubborn little girl."
Thea laughed.
"Alright."
"I won't ask."
Miles smiled.
Then after a moment...
He added,
"She is the strongest woman I've ever met."
Thea looked toward him.
"I believe that."
Miles nodded.
"Good night, Thea."
Her smile became softer.
"Good night, Miles."
...
Miles entered the guest room quietly.
Very quietly.
He closed the door slowly.
His footsteps barely made a sound.
He didn't turn on the lights.
Everything remained dark.
He took one step.
Then another.
And stopped.
Chloe was standing near the bed.
Arms folded.
Miles froze.
She stared at him.
He blinked.
"You're awake?"
Chloe sighed.
Miles immediately looked guilty.
She walked toward him.
"Miles."
"Yes?"
"You're going to exhaust yourself."
He remained silent.
Chloe continued,
"Why don't you ever worry about your health?"
Miles lowered his head slightly.
"I'm sorry."
Chloe's expression softened.
She stepped closer.
Then rested her head against his chest.
Miles looked down at her.
"I know..."
Her voice became quiet.
"...it must have been important."
Miles slowly wrapped his arms around her.
Chloe continued,
"But..."
"I opened my eyes."
"And you weren't there."
Her grip around him tightened.
"I looked around."
"Bathroom."
"Living area."
"Balcony."
"Nothing."
Miles' expression changed.
Chloe pressed herself closer.
"Don't leave me alone like that again."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"At least tell me."
Miles gently patted her back.
"I promise."
Chloe remained against him.
Miles lowered his head.
"Let's sleep now."
He gently guided her toward the bed.
Chloe lay down.
But this time...
She didn't let go of his hand.
Miles looked at their joined fingers.
Then smiled.
He lay beside her.
Chloe moved closer.
Her head settled against his chest.
Her arm wrapped around him.
Miles adjusted the blanket.
Within minutes...
Her breathing became steady again.
But even in sleep...
Her fingers never loosened.
...
Norway.
The atmosphere inside Bjorn's mansion was anything but peaceful.
A man stood several feet from the desk.
His face had gone pale.
Bjorn stared at him.
"What do you mean..."
His voice became dangerously quiet.
"...we lost contact?"
The man swallowed.
"All communications from our bases and safehouses in Haven are gone."
Bjorn's expression hardened.
"All of them?"
"Yes."
"What about encrypted channels?"
"Dead."
"Satellite relay?"
"No response."
"Safe numbers?"
"Nothing."
Bjorn slammed his palm against the desk.
"You people are good for nothing."
The man stepped back.
Bjorn continued,
"Contact our political connections."
"Ministers."
"Advisers."
"Agency people."
"Anyone."
The man nodded quickly.
"We did."
Bjorn stared.
"And?"
"They aren't answering."
Bjorn's eyes narrowed.
"It's past midnight in Haven."
The man added quickly,
"We tried everyone."
Bjorn leaned forward.
"Everyone?"
"Yes."
The man swallowed again.
"Initially..."
"We couldn't reach anyone."
"What does that mean?"
"It looked like..."
He hesitated.
"...a network outage."
Bjorn slowly stood.
"For how long?"
"Not very long."
The man continued,
"But now..."
"The calls are ringing."
Bjorn stared.
"But no one is answering."
Silence.
Bjorn's fingers curled.
"What about cameras?"
The man shook his head.
"Completely shut down."
"No feeds."
"No remote access."
"No eyes."
Bjorn closed his eyes.
Then suddenly turned away.
"Damn."
His breathing became heavier.
"Damn."
He struck the side of the desk.
"We just fixed Monaco."
His voice rose.
"And now Haven."
The operative remained silent.
Bjorn paced.
One step.
Another.
The man hesitated.
"Should we ask the Princess to go to Haven?"
Bjorn immediately turned.
"No."
The answer came so quickly the man froze.
Bjorn's expression became colder.
"Absolutely not."
He walked closer.
"Fortunately..."
"She is already on her flight to Norway."
The man nodded.
Bjorn continued,
"We cannot let her find out that we've lost Haven."
The operative looked confused.
"Why?"
Bjorn stared at him.
"Because I said so."
The man lowered his head immediately.
"Understood."
Bjorn continued,
"Make sure she never hears about it."
"No messages."
"No operational discussion."
"No reports where she can see them."
"Understood."
Bjorn looked toward another terminal.
"Call Frank."
The operative blinked.
"Frank?"
"The man inside the President's Secret Service."
The operative immediately moved toward the phone.
"Yes."
He dialed.
The room became silent.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
The man looked toward Bjorn.
"It's ringing."
Bjorn's eyes narrowed.
"Speaker."
The operative pressed the button.
Another ring.
Then another.
Finally...
The call connected.
Bjorn immediately leaned toward the phone.
"Frank."
Silence.
"Where the hell are you?"
No answer.
"What is going on in Haven?"
Then...
A calm voice came through.
"Oh..."
"We just had pest control."
The room froze.
Bjorn's face slowly changed.
The voice continued.
"It killed all the spiders inside our home."
The atmosphere instantly became cold.
The operative looked toward Bjorn.
Bjorn's hand tightened into a fist.
His voice dropped.
"Who are you?"
A soft chuckle came from the other side.
"So..."
"You're the mother spider..."
The voice sounded almost amused.
"...laying eggs on private property?"
Bjorn's jaw tightened.
The voice continued,
"Aren't you tired?"
Bjorn's eyes narrowed.
"You..."
A pause.
The voice suddenly became colder.
"Keep your voice down."
Bjorn stopped.
"You see..."
"My eyes are on you."
Silence.
Then the voice spoke one final time.
"I suggest you back down now."
A pause.
"Or..."
The tone sharpened.
"...I'll burn the spiderweb itself."
Click.
The call ended.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Bjorn stared at the phone.
Then suddenly grabbed it.
And threw it against the floor.
Crash.
The device shattered.
The operative instinctively stepped backward.
Bjorn's breathing became heavy.
"Haven."
He clenched his teeth.
"Haven."
Another step.
"Haven!"
His voice echoed through the room.
"It's always Haven."
The man remained silent.
Bjorn turned sharply.
"First..."
"That businessman ruined our plans years ago."
He pointed toward nothing.
"And now this."
His eyes burned with rage.
"Who the hell was that?"
The operative had no answer.
Bjorn looked toward the window.
The night outside Norway remained quiet.
Far too quiet.
Then he turned.
"Contact the Norwegian Embassy in Citadel."
The operative immediately nodded.
"I need to know what happened."
Bjorn's voice became cold.
"By the time the sun rises in Haven..."
He looked directly at the man.
"...I want answers."
The operative bowed.
"Understood."