Chapter 414

Chapter 414

“Yes. And hiring them requires enormous funds. Extremely large.” Erick exhaled. “The problem is, we can’t trace the money flow. It’s too clean-completely untraceable once it breaks off at several points p>

Cale closed his eyes. In his mind, the pieces began to align-not into an answer, but into something far darker. ” You said this was big,” he said quietly. “Now tell me how big p>

“This isn’t a series of isolated attacks, sir,” Erick replied firmly. “This is a deliberate chain of events. The Miller family. Callister Group. The people around them. All targeted, one by one p>

Cale opened his eyes. His gaze was cold. “And Eli p>

“There was an approach,” Erick said. “Not to harm her.” He paused. “To turn her into a variable-something that would draw sympathy at a critical point p>

“A shield,” Cale murmured. “But whose sympathy are they trying to win p>

“Your family’s, Mr. Cale p>

Cale took a long breath. Slowly, he lowered the phone-but didn’t end the call. From across the room, Daven, who had been watching him in silence, knew-something far bigger had just surfaced.

“Erick,” Cale said at last, his voice calm yet unmistakably threatening, “not a single piece of this leaves your circle. Tighten it p>

“I’ve already done that, sir p>

“Good.” Cale turned to Daven. “Stay in your lane. I’ll handle the rest p>

He ended the call. The room fell silent again-but it was a false calm, like the air just before a storm breaks.

“The cemetery,” Daven said quietly. “Did something happen?” His voice held restrained anger. “And even though I couldn’t hear clearly, I caught Erick mentioning my mother’s accident. Then… your family’s housekeeper, Nora. Is this really a deliberate chain of events p>

Cale didn’t answer right away. He turned-and found Daven standing not far from him, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

“What happened?” Daven demanded.

Cale walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. He leaned back, exhaling heavily.

“Cale,” Daven’s voice dropped, pressing. “I don’t like it when you go quiet p>

“I don’t want you reacting impulsively,” Cale replied.

“So it is serious,” Daven concluded.

“More than that,” Cale said at last. “It’s planned p>

Daven stepped closer. “Explain p>

Cale held his gaze for a few seconds, then let out a short breath. “Kate’s accident wasn’t just an accident. Nora’s death-something that should’ve had nothing to do with any of this-was dragged in by circumstance. And what happened at the cemetery today-the drone-was deliberate p>

Daven froze. “What? A drone?” He shook his head in disbelief. “Tell me everything, Cale. If this happened at the

1/4

Chapter 414

+25 Bonus

cemetery, then my wife and your mother were there, weren’t they p>

Cale exhaled again, long and heavy. He couldn’t hide this from Daven any longer. Reluctantly, he relayed everything Erick had just told him—along with what his father’s assistant had uncovered while monitoring and investigating the incidents that had occurred so closely together.

“It’s all connected,” Cale continued, his words quick but controlled. “The method is the same. The people on the ground differ, but the system is identical. There’s one party at the top of all of this p>

“Including JiangShe?” Daven’s voice hardened.

Silence fell for a moment as Cale looked at him-his expression shifting, as if something had just clicked.

“They’re targeting my family,” Daven said, clenching his fist. “First my mother, then my wife… it’s not impossible they’ll come after my children next, Cale p>

“And that’s exactly why you cannot move right now,” Cale cut in sharply.

Daven turned on him, his eyes blazing. “Selena is in the middle of all this, isn’t she? I’m sure she’s connected somehow. She has to be p>

“There are indications,” Cale admitted. “But she’s not necessarily the mastermind p>

“I don’t care,” Daven stepped forward. “She’s been around every one of these incidents. She shows up at the exact right time, every time p>

“Exactly,” Cale said, standing. “People like Selena are usually bait. Or pawns. The real mastermind wouldn’t put themselves that close to the center of the chaos p>

Daven let out a short, humorless laugh. “So I’m supposed to just sit still p>

“No,” Cale replied immediately. “You and I—we need to be smart p>

Daven turned away, fighting to rein in his anger. “My mother died because of this,” he said quietly. “Nora too. And now they nearly hurt my wife and your mother, Cale. Are you really going to do nothing p>

“I know,” Cale replied more gently. “And that’s exactly why we can’t strike the wrong target. Do you really think, after what I did to Oscar, that I plan to sit still p>

Daven knew that was impossible. “So what’s your plan p>

“We let them think their plan worked,” Cale said. “Let them feel safe p>

“And if they strike again p>

“That’s why we move now,” Cale said, pulling out his phone. “But not with emotion. With data.” He met Daven’s gaze squarely. “You can bring in Arsen, and I’ll have my people tracking as well p>

Daven nodded without hesitation. “Arsen,” he called out.

Arsen, who had been waiting outside, stepped in immediately. “Yes, sir p>

“You heard part of this, didn’t you?” Daven said. “I want everything clarified-now. You can get the data from Erick. Whoever is funding this, you tell us p>

Arsen nodded firmly. “Understood, Mr. Daven. I’ll start immediately p>

“Use every channel,” Daven added. “Legal-and otherwise p>

2/4

Chapter 414

“Understood p>

+25 Bonus

Cale added, “Focus on the money trail. If this is as big as we suspect, there has to be a leak somewhere. Someone like Bret Frederick doesn’t act alone. And Selena wouldn’t move without instructions p>

The name made Daven scoff. “Harold’s distant cousin, sitting as a commissioner at Callister Group. Trying to crown himself king without a throne p>

“And someone with every reason to want Callister to fall,” Cale replied.

Daven paced back and forth. “If this really is one network… then we’ve been standing in the middle of a war without even realizing it p>

“Not without realizing,” Cale corrected. “Without information and proof p>

Daven stopped and looked at his friend. “And now p>

“Now,” Cale said coldly, “we strike back. But one step smarter than they are p>

Daven gave a slow nod. His anger hadn’t faded-but it was now wrapped in resolve. “If they think I’ll stay quiet because this is business,” he said low, “they’re dead wrong p>

Cale curved a thin smile-not a friendly one, but the smile of war.

“Good,” he said. “Because this is no longer just business.” He held Daven’s gaze. “This is war p>

日

Comments

凹

Support

Share

3/4

Mark