~Some wars begin with bullets.
Others begin with a single message.
Tonight—
Volkov officially declared war.
---
Morning came quietly over the Valentino estate.
But the calm didn't last long.
Ares stood in the strategy room with Luca and Marcus.
Security reports covered the screens.
Financial markets.
Company shares.
Private networks.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Luca frowned.
"I don't like this silence."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"Volkov never stays quiet."
Elara entered the room slowly.
She looked calmer than before.
But inside—
Her mind was still processing the truth.
Volkov's blood.
Her father's sacrifice.
Her new reality.
Ares noticed her immediately.
"You should rest."
She shook her head.
"We don't have time for that."
Before Ares could answer—
Every phone in the room vibrated at the same time.
Luca grabbed his.
Marcus checked his tablet.
Ares looked at the large screen.
And froze.
A single message had appeared across every network connected to the Valentino empire.
Employees.
Partners.
Investors.
Even media outlets.
All received the same announcement.
Marcus read it first.
Then swore under his breath.
"What?"
Marcus turned the screen toward them.
The message was simple.
Cold.
Direct.
PUBLIC STATEMENT
From Damien Volkov.
Elara felt her chest tighten.
Ares's eyes darkened.
"Read it."
Marcus began reading aloud.
"Effective immediately…"
"Volkov International has acquired controlling shares in three major companies connected to the Valentino Group."
Luca's eyes widened.
"That's impossible."
Marcus kept reading.
"Due to financial restructuring…"
"Those companies are now transferring ownership."
The final line appeared.
And it hit like a bomb.
TO THE VALENTINO EMPIRE.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
Silence filled the room.
Luca slammed his fist on the table.
"He just attacked our entire financial network!"
Ares remained perfectly calm.
"Not entire."
"What do you mean?"
"He's testing us."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"A warning strike."
Elara stepped closer to the screen.
"He wants attention."
Ares looked at her.
"Yes."
"And he's going to get it."
Luca turned to Ares.
"What's the move?"
Ares didn't answer immediately.
Instead he picked up his phone.
And typed one message.
Then he placed the phone on the table.
Seconds later—
Every financial network in Europe received a new announcement.
Marcus blinked.
"What did you just do?"
Ares answered calmly.
"I bought Volkov's shipping company."
Luca stared at him.
"You what?!"
"That company moves half of his international supply chain."
Marcus looked stunned.
"You just cut his transport line."
Ares nodded once.
"Exactly."
The war had officially begun.
Elara watched him carefully.
"You planned that already."
"Yes."
"You were waiting for him to move first."
Ares looked at her.
"I was waiting for confirmation."
"Confirmation of what?"
"That he was ready to lose."
At that exact moment—
A new message appeared on the main screen.
Another video.
Another broadcast.
Volkov again.
He looked amused.
"Impressive, Valentino."
His eyes moved slowly toward Elara.
"I see you're helping him now."
Ares stepped forward.
"You wanted a war."
Volkov smiled wider.
"Yes."
"And now you have one."
The video cut.
The room stayed silent.
Because everyone understood what had just happened.
This was no longer a shadow game.
It was open conflict.
Two empires.
Two leaders.
One war.
Ares turned toward Elara.
"This is going to get worse."
She didn't look afraid.
"I know."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Are you sure you want to stand in the middle of it?"
Elara stepped beside him.
Not behind.
Beside.
"I chose this side."
Ares watched her for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Good."
Because the next move—
Would change everything.
---
~Volkov attacked the Valentino empire.
Ares struck back immediately.
The war has begun.
But the next move won't target money…
It will target Elara.