sjar Chapter 332: The Beginning of the End!!
Chapter 332: The Beginning of the End!!
Shanghai
The aircraft landed smoothly.
A few minutes later, a black luxury sedan left the airport and merged into the traffic.
Xin sat in the rear seat.
His eyes quietly observed the city through the tinted windows.
Four years.
It had been four years since he had last set foot here.
The familiar skyline looked different now.
New towers had appeared.
Old buildings had disappeared.
Even the roads seemed busier than before.
"This place has changed a lot."
His voice was calm.
The driver nodded respectfully.
"Yes, Mr. Xin."
"There has been a lot of development in recent years."
Xin continued looking outside.
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who rented the building that used to be our headquarters?"
The driver immediately answered.
"Initially it was going to be rented to several domestic companies."
"But the entire property was eventually acquired by an international company."
Xin finally looked away from the window.
"Hmm?"
"Which company?"
The driver hesitated for a moment.
Then spoke.
"Reaper Group."
A faint surprise appeared on Xin’s face.
"Reaper?"
The name was not unfamiliar.
In recent years it had become impossible to ignore.
The company had expanded aggressively across multiple industries.
Its growth was almost abnormal.
"They made huge profits after entering the market."
"I once considered investing."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"But neither do they accept outside investments..."
"Nor are they publicly listed."
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.
"I wonder which powerful family is behind them."
For a moment he looked toward the distant skyscrapers.
Then his attention shifted elsewhere.
"Anyway."
"Let’s go meet Ghost first."
The driver’s grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.
His hand trembled almost imperceptibly.
"We are already near the location, Mr. Xin."
"Just as you instructed, the observation point has been prepared."
Xin nodded.
"Good."
The driver continued.
"This could be a trap."
"Right now the target is not inside the apartment."
"So we decided to wait until nightfall."
"He should eventually return."
Xin smiled.
A patient smile.
The smile of a hunter who believed his prey had already stepped into the cage.
"Good."
"We wait."
Outside the car.
Shanghai continued its busy day completely unaware of the storm quietly approaching.
...
Earlier
Ancient Warrior Order Base
The operations room was unusually quiet.
Several warriors and analysts worked around the large displays.
Darius stood beside the communication console.
The call continued connecting.
A few seconds later.
Someone finally picked up.
"Hello?"
A young woman’s voice echoed through the speaker.
Miles immediately recognized it.
Years had passed.
But some voices never changed.
"Wang Yi?"
A brief silence followed.
Then came a cautious reply.
"Who am I speaking with?"
Miles smiled faintly.
"You once said you would invite me there in the future."
"Did you forget already?"
Another silence.
Longer this time.
Then suddenly.
A voice filled with disbelief.
"Troubled Kid?"
"Are you Troubled Kid?"
Several people in the room exchanged confused looks.
Only Miles smiled.
"Now I regret never telling you my name."
"You are still calling me Troubled Kid?"
A soft laugh came from the other side.
A laugh carrying years of memories.
"I thought I would never hear your voice again."
For a brief moment.
Neither of them spoke.
As if both had returned to that peaceful art school in Shanghai.
Back when life had been simpler.
Back before everything fell apart.
Miles finally broke the silence.
"My name is Miles."
Another short pause.
Then Wang Yi spoke softly.
"Miles."
"A good name."
A faint smile appeared on her face even though no one could see it.
Then her voice became serious.
"I know why you called."
The warmth slowly disappeared.
Only guilt remained.
"I am sorry."
"Because of me, all of this is happening."
Her voice became quieter.
"I never knew that bastard would come back."
The sadness was obvious.
The self blame.
The worry.
The guilt she had been carrying for years.
Miles listened silently.
Then asked the question that mattered most.
"You are safe, right?"
"Is there any chance they know about the village?"
"No."
Her answer came immediately.
"I have been living here for the last four years."
"They will never know I am here."
Miles frowned.
"Four years?"
"But someone at your house said...."
Wang Yi interrupted gently.
"They were instructed to say that."
"The people at home informed me about the calls."
"And about the person who came to the residence."
She paused.
Then continued.
"But Miss Meiling warned me."
"She told me there was danger."
"So we kept a low profile."
"My father came here two weeks ago."
Miles immediately caught another name.
"Meiling?"
"Is she safe?"
The atmosphere in the room became heavier.
Wang Yi’s voice lowered.
"No."
"Miss Meiling was taken by him."
Everyone listening became serious.
Miles’ eyes narrowed.
Wang Yi continued.
"Her last message was sent to me."
"She warned me."
"She said I can only trust you."
"No one else."
For a moment.
The room fell completely silent.
Miles slowly clenched his fist.
Even after all these years.
Meiling was still protecting her students.
Still putting others before herself.
"Do you know anything about her whereabouts?"
"I don’t."
"I only know she was invited to a charity auction in Chongqing."
A memory surfaced.
"She even asked me whether I wanted to display my artwork there."
Miles looked toward Darius.
Both of them immediately understood the implication.
"Chongqing."
His voice became colder.
"Then she is most likely there."
Wang Yi became worried.
"Miles..."
"You are not planning to..."
"We will find her."
His answer was immediate.
Firm.
Absolute.
"Do not worry."
"Stay where you are."
"Do not leave the village until everything settles."
There was silence again.
Then Wang Yi spoke quietly.
"I know you are strong."
"But still..."
"Take care."
"If anything happens to you..."
"I will blame myself for the rest of my life."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"If it wasn’t for my stupidity back then..."
Miles immediately stopped her.
"Say no more."
His voice softened.
"I owe you more than you realize."
Back then.
When everyone saw him as a troubled kit who cannot be treated.
She had simply helped him like a normal person.
A confused student.
A friend.
Someone worth helping.
Miles looked out through the large window of the operations room.
The sea glittered beneath the afternoon sun.
"Do not worry."
His eyes slowly hardened.
The warmth disappeared.
Only determination remained.
"It is finally time."
"Xin receives the punishment he deserves."
On the other side of the call.
Wang Yi quietly closed her eyes.
"Take care, Miles."
A faint smile appeared on Miles’ face.
"You too, Wang Yi."
The call ended.
And the operations room became silent once again.
Graveyard Base, Haven
A cold river flowed through the dense forest.
The water moved calmly.
As if it knew nothing about the suffering taking place above it.
In the middle of the river.
A man hung suspended between two massive trees.
His arms were stretched outward.
Ropes tightly secured his wrists and ankles to the trees on opposite sides.
The tension forced his body into an agonizing position.
His eyes were bloodshot.
His lips were dry.
Dark circles hung beneath his eyes.
It was obvious he had not slept.
Not for a long time.
Several senior Graveyard operatives stood beneath him.
Their expressions were colder than the river itself.
One operative looked up at the hanging man.
"The Commander is back."
His voice carried no sympathy.
"The only reason you are still breathing is because he ordered us not to hurt you."
The operative stepped forward.
His eyes filled with disgust.
"Do you really think we were going easy on you?"
Another operative laughed coldly.
"It is rare for anyone tied up by Graveyard to remain without blood on them."
A third operative spat on the ground.
"You should have stayed in your own country."
"The moment you joined Graveyard..."
"You became a traitor to your homeland."
His voice hardened.
"And once a traitor..."
"Always a traitor."
The hanging man lowered his head.
His body trembled.
Footsteps approached.
Everyone immediately straightened.
Commander Ray walked toward the riverbank.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The senior operatives bowed.
"Commander."
Ray acknowledged them with a nod.
His eyes never left the prisoner.
"I asked you to keep him unharmed."
One of the operatives lowered his head.
"Sorry, Commander."
"We kept him as unharmed as possible."
His jaw tightened.
"But our blood boiled the moment we learned he betrayed us."
The others silently agreed.
Ray understood.
He truly did.
Every person standing here had lost friends.
Brothers.
Sisters.
People they had fought beside for years.
People who would never return.
Ray slowly stepped closer.
"I understand."
The prisoner looked down.
Hope appeared in his eyes.
Just for a second.
Then Ray pulled out his handgun.
The metallic sound echoed through the forest.
The prisoner’s eyes widened.
Before he could react.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed across the river.
A horrifying scream followed.
One severed finger fell into the water below.
The current immediately carried it away.
Blood spread across the river surface.
The prisoner’s body shook violently.
His scream sounded almost inhuman.
As if his soul itself was being torn apart.
The senior operatives watched silently.
No one felt pity.
Not after what had happened.
Ray lowered the gun.
His face remained expressionless.
"Fifty seven operatives."
His voice was calm.
Deadly calm.
"You caused the deaths of fifty seven members of our family."
Several operatives clenched their fists.
Some lowered their heads.
Others looked away.
The number still hurt.
Ray slowly stepped closer.
"I wonder..."
His eyes locked onto the prisoner’s.
"How much pain they felt before they died."
The prisoner trembled.
Sweat mixed with tears.
Ray continued.
"I can make your suffering stop."
"I can give you an easy death."
Several operatives looked toward their Commander.
They knew what that meant.
The opportunity was being offered.
One chance.
Only one.
Ray pointed the gun upward.
Straight at the prisoner’s face.
"Tell me where Meiling is."
The river continued flowing beneath them.
The forest remained silent.
Only the prisoner’s heavy breathing could be heard.
...
Ancient Warrior Order Base
The operations center remained active.
Large screens displayed maps.
Communication channels.
Movement reports.
Every piece of information flowed through the room.
Miles stood silently in front of the main console.
His arms folded.
His expression calm.
But those who knew him understood.
This was not calmness.
This was the focus.
The dangerous kind.
Darius stood beside him.
Every piece on the board had already been placed.
The game had begun.
Far away in Shanghai.
Ren Kurogami and his team were moving according to plan.
The trap had already been prepared.
And Ren was ready to step directly into it.
Or at least.
That was what the enemy believed.
Reina Frostveil was waiting in the trap.
The Snow Clan warrior had joined the operation without hesitation.
Two Supreme Martial Artists.
Waiting.
Watching.
Ready.
Meanwhile.
In Huanglingcun Village.
Aerin Windrider quietly protected Wang Yi.
The Sylph Clan warrior had blended perfectly into the peaceful countryside.
No one would suspect the presence.
No one would reach Wang Yi without crossing the Warrior first.
And far away in Chongqing.
Marina Vexley had already landed.
The Kraken Clan’s warrior was now moving through the city.
Searching.
Hunting.
Looking for any trace of Meiling.
Miles studied the map.
Five warriors.
Five monsters.
Placed carefully across the battlefield.
Like chess pieces.
Waiting for the exact moment to move.
The truth was simple.
For a man like Xin.
This level of force was excessive.
Completely excessive.
But Miles did not care.
This was no longer about defeating an enemy.
This was about ending a Chapter of his life.
Once and for all.
His gaze moved across the screens.
Across the reports.
Across the names.
Ghost.
The name had followed him for seventeen years.
Seventeen years of missions.
Seventeen years of bloodshed.
Seventeen years of enemies.
Some had died.
Some had disappeared.
And some.
Like Xin.
Had crawled back from hell itself.
Miles slowly closed his eyes.
Behind every enemy stood a risk.
A risk to Graveyard.
A risk to his family.
A risk to Chloe.
To Elena.
To Daniel.
To Hope and Asher.
To every person he cared about.
And he was tired of it.
Truly tired.
This time.
He would end it.
Every loose end.
Every threat.
Every ghost from his past.
He would erase them all.
Not because he enjoyed violence.
Not because he wanted revenge.
But because he wanted peace.
Real peace.
For his family.
For himself.
And for the future he wanted with Chloe.
The future he had never allowed himself to dream about before.
Miles opened his eyes again.
The determination inside them became clearer.
Colder.
Sharper.
This war would not last long.
Because Ghost had finally decided something.
When it ended.
No enemy from the past would remain standing.
And perhaps.
For the first time since he was taken as a child.
He would finally be allowed to retire.
Not as Ghost.
Not as a mercenary.
Not as a weapon.
But simply as Miles Sterling.
A son.
A brother.
A friend.
And a man who could finally live peacefully without spilling another drop of blood.
The screens continued glowing in front of him.
The pieces were already moving.
And somewhere far away.
Xin still believed he was the hunter.
Unaware.
That he had already become the prey.