Lin’s shock slowly twisted into sothing darker.
His lips curled, and despite the situation slipping out of his control, a crooked smile ford on his face.
"So... if you are Edward’s son... then you are definitely behind Kyle’s disappearance."
His eyes sharpened, almost gleaming.
"You are dead now. The Mordecais will never leave you alone."
Miles looked at him for a mont, then exhaled softly, as if disappointed.
"What a fool you are."
He leaned slightly forward, his gaze steady and cold.
"Just because soone has money does not an they have authority."
His voice hardened.
"You are a Chief of Police. Not a servant who licks the boots of the Mordecai family."
Lin let out a dry laugh, shaking his head.
"Does it even matter? You do not have real authority. And very soon... you will not have that money either."
Miles closed his eyes briefly, as if the conversation had already gone on longer than it deserved.
"Enough."
He pressed a button on his desk.
The door opened instantly.
Three figures entered.
Captain Lucas.
Two uniford officers behind him.
Lin turned sharply, his expression changing imdiately.
"You?"
His voice rose.
"I told you to stay away from this case."
Lucas walked forward calmly.
"I am here on official orders, Chief."
Lin’s eyes narrowed.
"You follow my commands. And I did not give you any order."
Lucas stopped a few steps away, his posture straight.
"The order ca from a General."
Lin scoffed.
"General? Which General?"
His voice turned mocking.
"General Wilfred Wraithebourne has been gone for years. There is no General in Star Harbor."
Lucas’s expression did not change.
"You are sitting right in front of one, Chief."
Silence fell.
Lin slowly stood up.
"What...?"
Before he could process further, Lucas and the two officers stepped forward and gave a crisp salute.
"General."
Miles stood up from his chair.
"At ease."
The room felt different now.
Heavier.
Lin’s mind struggled to keep up.
"What is happening here...?"
His voice cracked slightly.
"Why are you... a General...?"
Miles walked around the desk, each step calm and deliberate, until he stood directly in front of Lin.
A faint smile appeared.
"Chief Lin."
His tone was calm, but carried authority that left no room for doubt.
"From this mont onwards... you are stripped of your police status."
He turned his head slightly.
"Arrest him, Captain."
Lucas did not hesitate.
"With pleasure, sir."
Lin reacted instantly.
His hand moved to his waist, pulling out his gun and pointing it at the officers.
"Step back."
His voice turned sharp, desperate.
"Or I will shoot."
The tension in the room spiked.
But Miles did not move back.
He stepped forward.
"Are you trying to be clever?"
Before Lin could react, Miles closed the distance in a single swift motion.
Lin’s eyes widened.
Miles was suddenly right in front of him.
Centiters away.
Lin did not even get the chance to adjust his aim.
Miles struck his shoulder with precision.
A sharp impact.
The gun slipped from Lin’s hand and hit the floor.
In the next second, the two officers moved in, grabbing Lin’s arms and restraining him firmly.
Lucas stepped forward and locked the cuffs around his wrists.
Lin struggled.
"You cannot do this to ."
His voice rose in anger.
"You do not have any proof against ."
Miles turned slightly, looking at him with calm indifference.
"Proof?"
He let out a quiet breath.
"Our entire conversation has been recorded. Audio and video."
He paused for a mont.
"And everything you have done... has already been investigated by my private firm."
His eyes locked onto Lin.
"At the request of your own captain."
Lin froze.
"What...?"
His voice trembled.
"How can you do this to ... I am your senior."
Lucas tightened his grip slightly.
"Senior?"
His tone carried open disdain.
"You are nothing but a servant of the Mordecai family."
Lin’s composure finally broke.
His face twisted with rage.
"Miles Sterling... you will not live long."
He struggled harder.
"I will tell Jax Mordecai everything. He will co for you."
Miles looked at him, completely unfazed.
"You are not going back to Vespera, Lin."
Lin stopped struggling for a mont.
"What...?"
Miles turned slightly toward Lucas.
"Take him to Star Harbor prison."
His voice was firm.
"I will issue a non bailable case against him."
A brief pause.
"Delay the paperwork."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"And keep him here... until I finish dealing with the Mordecais."
Lucas nodded without hesitation.
"Roger that, General."
He turned to the officers.
"Take him away."
The officers began dragging Lin toward the door.
Lin resisted, his voice echoing through the office.
"You cannot do this... you cannot..."
But no one listened.
The door opened.
And he was taken out.
Straight toward the elevator.
Leaving behind a silence that felt heavier than before.
Lucas stood straight, the weight that had been sitting on his shoulders for years finally lifting. His grip on duty had always been firm, but today, it felt different. Cleaner.
"Thank you so much, General. He deserved this. He exploited his position for Mordecai."
Miles gave a slight nod, his expression calm.
"And thank you for bringing this to beforehand."
Lucas allowed himself a small breath of relief.
"I have heard so much about you. I still cannot believe I am standing here, talking to you in person."
Miles’s lips curved faintly.
"I am retired from that world."
Lucas shook his head slightly, respect evident in his eyes.
"Even then, sir... I respect your decision. And I welco you to the life you deserve."
Miles looked at him for a brief mont.
"Thank you, Captain. Keep doing your work the way you have been doing it."
Lucas straightened again.
"I will, sir."
Miles added, his tone shifting slightly.
"And drop the factory case. That was handled by Graveyard. I will take care of whatever remains."
Lucas blinked, surprised.
"Graveyard... really?"
A realization crossed his face.
"I did not know it was a military operation."
He nodded firmly.
"Understood. I will leave it."
Miles gave a small nod of approval.
"And Captain... your promotion letter should be waiting on your desk."
Lucas froze for a second.
"Promotion...?"
His voice carried disbelief.
Then it settled into sothing stronger.
"Thank you, sir."
He saluted again, this ti with deeper resolve.
"I will carry this responsibility with pride and honor. I will not disappoint my city."
Miles t his gaze.
"I believe you."
Lucas held the salute for a mont longer before turning and walking out of the office, his steps firm, his purpose renewed.
The door closed behind him.
A brief silence followed.
Then June stepped in, a faint smile on her face.
"That was quite a show, boss."
Miles leaned back slightly and let out a small laugh.
"That was fun."
He shook his head lightly.
"Lucas is still an innocent man. He actually believes the factory fire was a military operation."
June folded her arms, amused.
"Sotis it is better to let people believe what keeps things stable."
Miles nodded.
"Let it be."
His gaze shifted, turning sharper.
"Now... we move forward."
A pause.
"It is Rowan Mordecai’s turn."
June’s smile deepened.
...
The day slipped away, unnoticed.
By the ti Miles left the building, the sun had already sunk below the horizon, leaving behind a city glowing with artificial lights. The streets of Star Harbor ca alive in their own way, the movent, the reflections, the distant hum of life continuing without pause.
Miles drove through it all, his hands steady on the wheel.
He stopped at a red light.
The glow of the signal reflected faintly on the windshield.
And just like that...
The mory returned.
The sa road.
The sa mont.
Flashback...
The girl stood in front of him, her brows slightly drawn together, her eyes searching his face.
"Are you listening?"
Young Ghost blinked once, grounding himself.
"Yes."
His voice was calm again.
"She is alright. She is just in shock."
He glanced briefly toward the woman in the car, confirming her state once more.
Then his eyes returned to the girl.
He wanted to say sothing.
Anything.
But the words never ca.
His mission.
His identity.
His life.
None of it allowed space for sothing as simple as conversation.
Before the mont could stretch any further, the sound of police sirens filled the street, growing louder as vehicles approached.
Ghost’s expression shifted instantly.
The hesitation disappeared.
Without another word, without even a final glance, he turned and walked away.
By the ti the police arrived...
He was already gone.
...
The next day.
Sa ti.
Sa street.
Ghost returned.
He walked along the pavent, his steps slower this ti, his eyes searching more than scanning.
Across the road, a small coffee shop caught his attention.
Warm lights glowed from inside, contrasting with the cold outside. The glass walls offered a clear view of the street, like a quiet observation point.
He stepped inside.
The warmth wrapped around him imdiately.
He ordered a black coffee and took a seat near the window.
The cup rested in his hands.
His gaze stayed outside.
Waiting.
Watching.
Then...
She appeared.
The sa girl.
Walking with her friends, laughing lightly, her expression bright and carefree, as if nothing in the world could disturb her peace.
Ghost’s fingers tightened slightly around the cup.
His heartbeat rose again.
Unfamiliar.
Uncontrolled.
A small voice broke his focus.
"What, big brother... are you interested in her?"
Ghost turned his head.
Standing behind him was the sa boy from yesterday.
The one he had pulled away from the road.
The boy looked at him curiously, a teasing grin on his face.
Ghost stared at him for a mont.
Then spoke calmly.
"You are the sa one... who almost got into an accident yesterday."
To be continued.....
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