Chapter 419: Declaring the war!!!

The video appeared without warning.

No announcement from the United Nations.

No scheduled press conference.

No statement from any government.

For several minutes, the official channels remained silent.

Then the livestream began.

And within seconds...

The entire world started watching.

A man sat before a simple background.

His face looked exhausted.

There were signs of sleepless nights beneath his eyes, but his posture remained straight.

People recognized him immediately.

Adrian Moretti.

Secretary General of the United Nations.

A man who, according to official records, had supposedly been traveling and working normally over the past several days.

Adrian looked directly into the camera.

"Hello..."

He paused for a moment.

"Citizens of the world."

"My name is Adrian Moretti."

"As many of you know me by my designation, I am the Secretary General of the United Nations."

His expression hardened.

"And I was missing."

The words immediately caused confusion across every live chat and newsroom following the broadcast.

Adrian continued.

"I was taken from my home."

"Taken away from my office."

"I was abducted."

He paused.

"And somehow..."

"The world never knew."

News channels began interrupting their regular programming.

Phones buzzed.

Government offices began receiving emergency calls.

Adrian continued calmly.

"Some people inside the system manipulated everything."

"My records."

"My location."

"My movements."

"Even my basic human rights."

His fingers tightened slightly on the desk.

"All so the world could overlook what had happened."

He leaned closer.

"Think about that."

"A person disappears."

"Maybe they are murdered."

"Maybe they are silenced."

"Maybe someone replaces them."

"And everyone simply continues living as though nothing happened."

His voice became quieter.

"If this can happen to someone holding my position..."

"What happens to an ordinary person?"

The world listened.

"For governments, unfortunately, people can sometimes become numbers."

"Percentages."

"Ratios."

"Statistics in reports."

Adrian paused again.

"I was lucky."

"I returned."

His expression turned cold.

"Because if I had not..."

"Tomorrow, the United Nations itself could have become someone else’s puppet."

The statement spread across social media within seconds.

Adrian continued.

"Imagine governments becoming puppets."

"Cities controlled from the shadows."

"Laws ignored whenever convenient."

"Officials purchased."

"Countries influenced by people who were never elected and never given authority by their citizens."

He took a breath.

"And mercenary organizations manipulating governments."

His eyes remained fixed on the camera.

"During my years serving in the United Nations, we have confronted many private armed groups."

"Some surrendered."

"Some were dismantled."

"Some were forced to change."

He paused.

"The word mercenary may sound exciting in stories."

"Especially to children."

"Perhaps even heroic."

His expression hardened.

"But killers for hire?"

"Espionage?"

"Creating riots?"

"Destroying stability for money?"

"Does that still sound heroic?"

Far away in Beijing...

Miles lay comfortably across the hotel couch.

His phone rested in one hand.

Chloe was nearby, sorting some of the things they had bought during their trip.

Miles quietly watched the livestream.

His expression was almost amused.

Adrian continued.

"One such organization abducted me."

Miles raised an eyebrow.

On the screen, Adrian spoke again.

"Many of you will remember the explosion near the United Nations Headquarters in New York several days ago."

Footage of the incident appeared beside him.

"Important documents disappeared during that incident."

"Documents connected to international humanitarian operations."

"I believed I was helping recover them."

His expression became bitter.

"Instead..."

"I walked directly into a trap."

Across the hotel room, Chloe glanced toward Miles.

He simply lifted one finger, silently asking her to listen.

Adrian continued.

"People will naturally ask a question."

"How can the world’s largest international organization have such a severe security failure?"

He paused.

"What if I told you..."

"There are nineteen individuals inside the United Nations Headquarters who were working for the organization responsible for my abduction?"

Newsrooms around the world erupted.

Adrian didn’t stop.

"Perhaps some will ask why they were hired without proper background checks."

He shook his head.

"Some of them have worked within the system for decades."

His next words landed even harder.

"And it isn’t limited to the United Nations."

"Government departments."

"Security agencies."

"Research organizations."

"Private corporations."

"Administrative offices."

"Different countries."

"Different continents."

"People who either willingly served them..."

"...or sold themselves for money."

Adrian looked directly into the camera.

"It sounds unbelievable."

"I wish it was."

He paused.

"The organization calls itself..."

"The WEB."

Across the world, that name began appearing on screens.

THE WEB

Adrian continued.

"Publicly, WEB presents itself as a very small non-governmental organization based in Oslo, Norway."

"An organization that most people would never consider important."

His voice sharpened.

"So naturally, the next question is..."

"How does something so small become capable of infiltrating institutions across the world?"

He let the silence answer first.

"Money."

"Influence."

"Connections."

"And a multinational corporation with access to governments across dozens of countries."

Adrian’s face filled the screen.

"That corporation has been in the news recently."

His next words came slowly.

"Horizon Biotech."

...

On a private island near Star Harbor...

Lucian watched the broadcast on a large screen.

For years, he had waited.

Watched WEB grow from something he once hoped could help people into something completely different.

Something rotten.

Something Bjorn had twisted beyond recognition.

A quiet smile appeared.

"It’s time."

He leaned back.

"My card can finally come out."

...

Commander Ray stood inside a Graveyard operations room.

Several members of the unit watched Adrian’s speech from different screens.

When Adrian criticized mercenaries again...

Ray’s eyebrow twitched.

"Hate mercenaries?"

He folded his arms.

"Who do you think saved you?"

Someone nearby tried very hard not to laugh.

Ray noticed.

"Don’t."

The man immediately looked away.

...

At the Winslow Estate...

Thea slept peacefully.

For once, there was no fear behind the closed door.

No WEB.

No Bjorn.

No hidden message.

No need to wake at every sound.

Ivy slept beside her.

One of her arms was still wrapped around her sister, as though even in sleep she was afraid Thea might disappear again.

The television downstairs carried Adrian Moretti’s voice.

But upstairs...

The sisters slept through the beginning of the end of the organization that had kept them apart.

...

Pearl Villa.

Timothy sat before the television.

His eyes remained on Adrian’s face.

Then...

A smile appeared.

"They did it."

He leaned back slowly.

Years of experience told him the battle wasn’t finished.

But this was no longer a hidden war.

The WEB had just been dragged into the sunlight.

...

Monica stood near one of Pearl Villa’s windows, watching the broadcast on her phone.

She said nothing.

But the satisfaction on her face said enough.

...

Somewhere on the road outside...

Charles drove through the night.

Adrian’s speech played through the car speakers.

When Horizon Biotech’s name was finally spoken...

Charles smiled.

"They’re done for."

...

President’s Office.

Citadel.

General Wilfred stood near the desk while Maxwell watched the livestream.

Adrian’s speech continued.

Wilfred glanced toward the President.

"Nice script."

Maxwell looked at him.

Wilfred added,

"You should sleep now, Mr. President."

Maxwell gave him a tired look.

"Sleep?"

He pointed toward the screen.

"After this?"

Wilfred smiled faintly.

Maxwell looked back at Adrian.

"There will be chaos tomorrow."

"Markets."

"Governments."

"Media."

"People demanding answers."

He slowly leaned back.

"But Horizon Biotech will finally lose the protection it has been hiding behind."

Wilfred nodded.

Maxwell continued,

"The visible WEB is finished."

"Only the spiders still hiding inside the walls remain."

Wilfred’s expression became cold.

"We’ll deal with them too."

Maxwell smiled faintly.

"Good."

...

On the livestream...

Adrian Moretti continued.

"Horizon Biotech."

His eyes hardened.

"As Secretary General of the United Nations..."

"I am declaring war against the network operating through your organization."

The statement instantly became the headline everywhere.

Adrian continued.

"After this broadcast, a list will begin being released."

"Names."

"Documents."

"Evidence."

"Financial records."

"Thousands of individuals across multiple nations."

His voice grew heavier.

"People who present a direct threat to international security."

"No one on that list should assume their position will protect them."

"No title."

"No uniform."

"No company."

"No political office."

He paused.

"The evidence was recovered from Horizon Biotech’s New York Headquarters."

"The same location where I was held captive."

Miles smiled faintly.

Adrian continued.

"I have seen the evidence personally."

"And soon..."

"So will the world."

He took a slow breath.

"I am requesting the leaders of every nation to attend an emergency virtual session."

"No delay."

"No excuses."

"We will identify these people."

"We will investigate them."

"And we will remove this network from our institutions."

His expression softened only slightly.

"One nation has already done it."

Adrian looked directly toward the camera.

"The Republic of Haven."

In Citadel...

Maxwell became still.

"President Maxwell."

Adrian continued.

"Thank you."

"For saving my life."

"For refusing to ignore what was happening."

"And for bringing this threat into the light."

Maxwell quietly exhaled.

Adrian looked toward the camera one final time.

"For too long, people hiding behind institutions have believed they were untouchable."

"They were wrong."

"No one responsible for this will be forgiven."

He paused.

"For world peace..."

"For the people these institutions are supposed to serve..."

"We will finish this."

"Thank you."

The screen went dark.

For several seconds...

The world seemed silent.

Then everything exploded.

News alerts.

Emergency government meetings.

Share markets reacting.

Horizon Biotech offices receiving thousands of calls.

Politicians denying connections.

Officials deleting accounts.

Journalists digging through old records.

And somewhere in Norway...

WEB began collapsing inward.

...

New York.

Aerin sat inside a private room.

To anyone looking at her...

She was Thea.

Every detail was perfect.

The face.

Hair.

Voice.

Posture.

Even the smallest habits.

But beneath the prosthetics...

Her skin was beginning to ache.

Her phone rang.

Aerin looked at the screen.

Then answered.

"Father?"

Bjorn’s voice came from the other side.

"Exactly what we expected."

Aerin’s expression remained calm.

Bjorn continued.

"Stick to the plan we discussed."

"Stay offline."

"No unnecessary communication."

Aerin quietly replied,

"Understood."

"We will meet on that day."

Bjorn’s voice remained firm.

"The WEB will never die."

Aerin said nothing.

Then Bjorn’s tone changed slightly.

"This will be our last call until we meet."

A pause.

"Take care, daughter."

Aerin lowered her eyes.

"Understood, Father."

The call ended.

Silence.

Aerin stared at the phone for several seconds.

Then immediately dropped the act.

She leaned back.

"Finally."

Ren looked toward her from across the room.

Aerin touched the edge of the prosthetic near her face.

"We’re free."

She winced.

"This thing hurts."

Ren laughed.

"What next?"

Aerin stood.

Her expression became serious.

"There’s no way Bjorn doesn’t still have eyes on me."

Ren nodded.

"So?"

"We kill the eyes first."

Aerin looked toward the window.

"Then we vanish."

She turned toward him.

"Leader said Thea and her sister will eventually be in Star Harbor."

"And we’re joining them."

"Protection detail?"

"Yes."

Ren smiled.

"Sounds peaceful."

Aerin looked at him.

"After this?"

"Anything sounds peaceful."

Ren walked toward the window.

Then casually said,

"I’ve already spotted the eyes."

Aerin stopped.

"How many?"

Ren smiled.

"Enough."

Then he looked back at her.

"Wanna bet who gets more?"

Aerin’s lips slowly curved.

"You want to lose money that badly?"

Ren laughed.

"So that’s a yes?"

Aerin smiled.

"You bet."

...

Morning.

Beijing.

Sunlight entered through the hotel windows.

Several suitcases were already packed.

Shopping bags had been organized separately, with many of the gifts they had bought prepared to be shipped directly to Star Harbor.

Chloe stood near the luggage, checking everything for the second time.

Then she turned toward Miles.

"So..."

"Luggage is packed."

Miles looked up.

Chloe smiled.

"Where are we going next?"

Miles walked toward her.

"Tokyo."

Her eyes brightened.

"But before Japan..."

He stopped.

"I thought we could go somewhere else."

Chloe became curious.

"Where?"

Miles looked toward the city outside.

"Somewhere peaceful."

"No towers."

"No city lights."

"No crowds."

"No constant traffic."

He smiled.

"Just mountains, old houses, fresh air..."

"And peace."

Chloe stared at him.

Then her expression slowly changed.

"Oh."

Miles raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I think I know."

"Say it."

Chloe smiled proudly.

"It Hua.. li... n.. Huanglingcun Village."

Miles’ smile widened.

"Where Wang Yi lives, right?"

"Hehe."

Miles nodded.

"You’re right."

Chloe immediately looked excited.

Miles continued,

"I told her once..."

"Someday, I’d bring my wife there."

Chloe became quiet for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Then let’s fulfill the promise."

Miles looked at her.

"You’re really enjoying this trip, aren’t you?"

Chloe nodded immediately.

"Yes."

Then she looked at him.

"Aren’t you?"

Miles smiled.

He stepped closer.

Chloe watched him approach.

Then another step.

Her expression suddenly became nervous.

"Wh..."

Miles stopped directly in front of her.

Chloe looked up.

"What?"

He raised both hands.

Her face immediately became red.

Miles gently touched her cheeks.

Chloe froze.

"Wh... what are you..."

Miles carefully brushed one thumb across her cheek.

"There was something here."

Chloe blinked.

"What?"

Miles turned away.

She immediately followed him with her eyes.

"Hey."

"What was it?"

Miles continued walking.

Then chuckled.

"A red tomato."

Chloe froze.

Her face became even redder.

"Miles!"

He laughed.

Chloe grabbed the nearest pillow from the bed.

"Bully!"

Miles immediately moved away before she could throw it.

And just like that...

Their next destination was decided.