Chapter 143: Moving In

The warm breeze from the terrace rustled the curtains of the balcony.

For a quiet moment, time stood still. Amber’s lips were soft and warm against Evren’s, answering his touch with breathless affection.

Evren tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.

Amber let out a soft, trembling sigh against his mouth, parting her lips. Evren leaned in deeper, his tongue gently sliding past her lips to taste her warmth.

A quiet shudder ran through Amber’s body. She leaned into the kiss, her tongue meeting his in a slow, sweet dance that sent sparks straight down her spine.

Her hands moved into his dark hair, her fingers gripping tightly as she pulled him closer, kissing him back with all the love and longing she had held inside for weeks.

The warmth between them grew heated and intoxicating. Evren caressed the curve of her waist, savoring the soft, sweet press of her lips and the stroke of her tongue until both of them were breathless.

When they finally broke apart, a thin, silvery thread parted between their lips.

Amber rested her forehead against his chest, her cheeks burning bright red and her breath coming in quick, ragged gasps.

A happy, radiant smile curved her lips.

"So," Amber murmured, looking up at him through her dark eyelashes. "Are we really doing this?"

"We are," Evren smiled, gently squeezing her waist before letting her step back. "Let’s make it official."

Amber smoothed down her coat, the sparkle in her dark-brown eyes showing her excitement. She looped her arm through Evren’s, and together they walked back toward the terrace landing.

Senior Conservator Gregory Cole was waiting by the walkway, holding his leather portfolio. Hearing their footsteps, he turned with a polite bow.

"Chairman Evren, Lady Amber," Gregory greeted them. "How did you find the master wing?"

"It exceeds our expectations," Evren said calmly. "We’ll take the sky-palace. Prepare the transfer deed."

Gregory’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. "Splendid! The court escrow price is fixed at four hundred and fifty-eight million dollars cash. Shall we arrange bank collateral or installment schedules?"

"No installments," Evren replied evenly. "We close in cash right now."

Evren reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his matte-black card.

He held it out toward the registrar.

Gregory stared at the sleek black card. His hands shook as he pulled a gold-trimmed banking terminal from his satchel.

"Direct cash transfer... four hundred and fifty-eight million dollars USD," Gregory whispered, his fingers trembling as he punched in the escrow code.

He slid the card through the scanner.

Beep.

The terminal blinked once, and a chime sounded.

[TRANSACTION APPROVED: $458,000,000.00 USD]

[ISSUING ENTITY: APEX SOVEREIGN CONGLOMERATE]

[AUTHORIZATION: UNRESTRICTED LEVEL-ZERO CLEARANCE]

Gregory stared at the green readout, his jaw dropping.

Four hundred and fifty-eight million dollars in liquid cash. No loans. No mortgages. It had cleared the Imperial Central Bank in three seconds.

In Evren’s pocket, his phone vibrated with a private banking notification:

[APEX SECURE BANKING ALERT]

[DEBIT: -$458,000,000.00 USD]

[REMAINING LIQUID BALANCE: $16,351,647,542.50 USD]

"The... the funds have cleared," Gregory stammered, wiping sweat from his brow.

He bowed deeply, handing the black card back with both hands.

"The Imperial Meridian Tower complex is officially yours, Chairman Evren," Gregory said with profound respect. "The court seal has recognized your ownership. All master biometric keys will be activated immediately, and the deed processed before the end of today."

"Thank you, Conservator Cole," Evren said, pocketing his card.

Gregory bowed repeatedly as he backed toward the express lift, eager to file the historic deed with the High Court.

Once the lift doors closed, Amber turned to Evren with a stunned laugh.

"Four hundred and fifty-eight million dollars," she shook her head, leaning against his arm. "Just like that, you bought an entire landmark. You really don’t hesitate, do you?"

"Why hesitate when it’s for our home and headquarters?" Evren smiled, tapping his phone. "Let’s bring everyone in."

Within ninety minutes, the move began.

Three heavy armored transport trucks bearing the Iron-Thistle crest rolled into the underground motor pool beneath Meridian Tower.

Guild Master Walter stepped out of the lead transport with a vigilant look on his weathered face. Behind him, forty-nine veteran hunters moved in disciplined formation to secure the elevator foyer.

Evren rode the express lift down to meet them.

"Chairman!" Walter saluted firmly. "The route was clear. Dr. Orson and his medic team brought Lady Calista in the armored ambulance. She’s resting in the transport cot."

"Good work, Walter," Evren nodded. "Your men are garrisoned on the lower levels. Take the second and third floors... the tactical armory, command room, and perimeter suites are completely yours to secure the building."

Ten minutes later, the Iron-Thistle hunters stepped out onto their new lower garrison level.

Their jaws dropped.

Before them stretched twenty luxury suites, a titanium armory, a holographic briefing room, and a private dining hall.

Walter walked through the armory, tracing the weapon racks in disbelief.

"Chairman..." Walter rubbed his neck in awe. "This isn’t a barracks. This is a five-star fortress! We’ve spent twenty years sleeping in damp tents!"

Behind him, veteran hunters grinned, dropping gear bags onto plush leather chairs.

"You and your men stood by us in Room 104," Evren told Walter plainly. "You earned this. Lock down the motor pool, lobbies, and all ground access. Nobody enters the lifts without my authorization."

"You have my word, Chairman!" Walter barked with pride. "Not even a fly gets past the ground floor!"

Leaving Walter to secure the lower garrison, Evren returned to the lift.

Together with Dr. Orson and two nurses, they brought Calista up to the crown Sky-Palace.

Zephyra stood waiting in the corridor, nodding respectfully. "Perimeter clear, Master."

They guided Calista’s cot into the sunlit eastern master suite. Warm light washed over high ceilings and cream carpets, with glass doors opening toward the steaming thermal pool.

Dr. Orson and the nurses settled Calista onto the king-sized bed, tucking a cashmere blanket over her shoulders.

The doctor checked her cervical monitor. "Her vitals are completely stable, Chairman. The ambient mana in this tower is remarkably pure."

"Thank you, Doctor. Take the suite across the hall and rest," Evren said.

Dr. Orson bowed and stepped out with the nurses, quietly closing the doors.

Calista lay back against the pillows, her silver eyes wide as she looked around the sunlit room. Her gaze drifted from the crystal chandelier to the flowers and distant mountains.

Her fingers twitched against the blanket, curling softly into the fabric.

"Evren..." Calista whispered in a trembling voice.

Evren walked over and sat on the edge of the mattress, gently covering her hand with his own. "How does it feel?" he asked softly.

"It’s... it’s too beautiful," Calista said, her lip quivering as tears welled in her silver eyes. "For two whole years, the only thing I saw was the grey steel of Sub-Level Eight. The alarms. The cold glass of that extraction tube."

A tear spilled down her pale cheek.

"Director Vance called me a broken battery," she choked out. "He said nobody remembered my name, that I’d die down there."

Evren raised his hand, using his thumb to gently wipe the tear from her cheek.

"Gavin Vance is finished," Evren said in a calm, steady voice. "You are not an asset, Calista. And you are not alone anymore. This is your home now. As long as you are under this roof, nobody will ever touch you again."

Amber walked over to the other side of the bed, sitting down beside Calista. She took Calista’s other hand, squeezing her fingers with warm affection.

"He means it, Calista," Amber smiled gently. "We’ve all been through hell. But from today on, we heal together."

Calista pressed her trembling fingers against Evren’s palm with all her strength. A radiant, tearful smile broke across her pale face.

"Thank you..." Calista whispered from the bottom of her heart. "Thank you for saving my life."

Amber leaned over and brushed a silver lock of hair from Calista’s brow. "Rest now. You’re safe."

Calista nodded weakly, closing her eyes as exhaustion caught up with her. Wrapped in the warm cashmere blanket, she drifted to sleep.

Evren and Amber quietly stepped out onto the grand terrace.

The setting sun painted the western sky in violet and burning gold. Zephyra joined them at the balustrade, gazing eighty stories down at the metropolis below.

"The wardens of House Vance won’t dare approach this tower," Zephyra murmured softly. "Walter’s hunters have sealed the ground levels, and the defensive barrier here is impenetrable."

"Good," Evren said, looking out over the glowing skyline of the Capital.

Amber leaned against Evren’s shoulder, sliding her fingers into his. "We finally have a fortress, Evren," she whispered with contentment in her voice. "A real home in the Capital."

Evren squeezed her hand, feeling the warmth of her touch as the evening lights flickered on across the empire.