The night after Leon Voss disappeared, the Valentino estate was no longer calm.
Security teams moved everywhere.
New guards.
New scanners.
Every camera in the mansion had been replaced within hours.
Ares Valentino stood in the control room, staring at the large digital timer on the screen.
71:42:18
The countdown had already begun.
Leon's words echoed in his mind.
"You have 72 hours."
Ares slowly crossed his arms.
Leon wasn't the type to make empty threats.
If he said someone Ares cared about was in danger…
Then the game had already started.
Behind him, Marco entered the room.
Marco had worked with Ares for years. Loyal. Sharp. And one of the few people who could speak freely around him.
"We checked every entry point," Marco said.
"No breach. No hidden trackers. Nothing."
Ares didn't look away from the screen.
"That's because Leon doesn't leave traces."
Marco frowned.
"So what's the plan?"
Ares finally turned around.
"We find him before the timer ends."
Marco exhaled.
"That's easier said than done. Leon disappeared for six years. No records. No sightings."
Ares walked toward the massive digital map of the city displayed on the wall.
"People like Leon never truly disappear," he said calmly.
"They hide."
Marco looked at the map.
Hundreds of small lights appeared across the city.
Safe houses.
Warehouses.
Private ports.
Underground casinos.
Every place connected to Ares' empire.
"You think he's somewhere inside the city?" Marco asked.
Ares' eyes were cold.
"No."
Marco blinked.
"Then where?"
Ares zoomed out on the map.
The city shrank.
The region appeared.
Then the entire country.
Leon Voss had never played small games.
And if he was back…
Then this war was bigger than one city.
"Leon is building something," Ares said quietly.
Marco crossed his arms.
"And you think he started years ago."
"Yes."
Marco stared at the screen.
"Then we're not looking for one man."
"We're looking for an army."
For a moment the room went silent.
Then suddenly—
One of the monitors flickered.
Marco turned.
"Did we just get a signal?"
The technician sitting nearby nodded nervously.
"Yes sir… someone is trying to access our system again."
Ares' expression didn't change.
"Track it."
The technician typed rapidly.
The signal bounced through multiple encrypted servers.
Three countries.
Five satellites.
Seven masked routes.
But finally—
A location appeared.
Marco leaned closer to the screen.
"Dockyard district?"
Ares' eyes narrowed.
The dockyards were one of the most dangerous areas in the city.
Smuggling.
Black markets.
Illegal weapons.
The perfect place for someone like Leon to hide.
Marco grabbed his jacket.
"I'll send a team."
Ares stopped him.
"No."
Marco looked confused.
"We go ourselves."
Twenty minutes later.
Black SUVs moved through the dark streets of the dockyard district.
The area was almost empty.
Old warehouses stood like giant shadows along the harbor.
Ships rocked slowly in the water.
Ares stepped out of the car.
The cold sea wind hit his face.
Marco whispered, "The signal came from warehouse 17."
Ares looked toward the large metal building ahead.
All the lights inside were off.
Too quiet.
Ares walked forward.
The guards followed.
When they reached the door—
Ares pushed it open.
The warehouse lights suddenly turned on.
Bright.
Blinding.
Dozens of screens on the walls activated at once.
Every screen showed the same thing.
Leon Voss.
Sitting comfortably in a chair.
He smiled slowly.
"Hello again, Ares."
Marco cursed under his breath.
"It's a recording."
Leon's image leaned forward slightly.
"I knew you would come here."
Ares said nothing.
Leon's eyes looked straight into the camera.
"You see, this isn't a trap."
"It's a reminder."
The screens suddenly changed.
New images appeared.
Photos.
Security footage.
Locations.
Different people.
Marco stared in shock.
"Sir…"
Ares' jaw tightened.
Every screen showed someone connected to him.
Business partners.
Old allies.
People who once worked for him.
Leon's voice continued.
"You built an empire by destroying others."
"But every empire has weak points."
The screens changed again.
This time only one image remained.
A woman.
Walking alone through a quiet street.
Ares froze.
For the first time that night…
His calm expression cracked.
Marco whispered, "Sir… that's—"
"I know."
Leon's voice returned.
"Tick tock, Ares."
"You have 48 hours now."
The video ended.
All the screens went black.
The warehouse fell silent again.
Marco slowly turned toward Ares.
"What do we do?"
Ares' eyes had turned completely cold.
The calm billionaire was gone.
Only the predator remained.
"Now," he said quietly,
"we stop playing defense."
Marco swallowed.
"And Leon?"
Ares looked toward the dark harbor outside.
A dangerous smile appeared on his face.
"Leon wanted a war."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"So I'll give him one."