The warehouse stood silent after the screens went dark.
Cold sea wind moved through the broken windows, carrying the smell of salt and rust.
Marco looked around the empty building again.
"Sir… this was staged perfectly."
Ares Valentino didn't answer.
His eyes were still fixed on the last screen where the woman's photo had appeared.
Leon Voss had chosen his move carefully.
Not business.
Not money.
Something personal.
Something that could shake even Ares.
Marco spoke again, quieter this time.
"Leon wants you distracted."
Ares finally turned away from the screen.
"Yes."
Marco frowned.
"And you're walking right into it."
Ares walked slowly toward the exit of the warehouse.
"That's exactly what Leon expects."
Outside, the harbor lights reflected across the dark water.
The black SUVs waited near the entrance.
One of the guards approached carefully.
"Sir, the area is clear."
Ares nodded once.
Then he suddenly stopped walking.
Something didn't feel right.
His instincts were sharp.
Years of building an empire had taught him one rule—
Danger rarely comes from the outside.
It comes from inside.
Ares turned slowly.
His eyes moved across the guards.
Five men.
All loyal.
All trusted.
Or at least… they were supposed to be.
Marco noticed his expression.
"What is it?"
Ares' voice was calm.
"Leon knew exactly where we would come."
Marco shrugged.
"He hacked the system."
"No."
Ares shook his head slowly.
"The signal we tracked… was too clean."
Marco's brows tightened.
"What are you saying?"
Ares looked back toward the warehouse.
Leon's message replayed in his mind.
Every word.
Every detail.
Every second.
And then he understood.
Leon hadn't just sent a message.
He had tested something.
Ares' voice became colder.
"There's someone feeding him information."
Marco stared at him.
"A spy?"
Ares didn't answer.
He walked toward the SUVs again.
The guards opened the door for him.
But before he entered—
Ares suddenly turned.
His sharp gaze landed directly on one of the guards.
A young man standing near the back vehicle.
The guard froze.
Ares stepped closer.
"What's your name?"
"Daniel, sir."
His voice was steady.
But his eyes moved slightly.
Too slightly.
Marco noticed it.
Ares studied him carefully.
"How long have you been working here?"
"Eight months."
"And before that?"
"Private security company."
Ares' eyes narrowed.
"Which one?"
Daniel hesitated for half a second.
That was enough.
Ares grabbed the guard's collar and slammed him against the SUV.
The other guards immediately raised their weapons.
Marco stepped forward.
"Sir—"
But Ares didn't look away from Daniel.
His voice dropped to a deadly whisper.
"Leon didn't find us."
"You led us here."
Daniel's breathing became faster.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about."
Ares leaned closer.
"You made one mistake."
Daniel's eyes flickered.
Ares continued quietly.
"You looked at the warehouse door before anyone else."
Marco blinked.
He replayed the moment in his mind.
Ares was right.
Daniel had looked at the door before they even entered.
Like he already knew.
Daniel's voice cracked slightly.
"You're wrong."
Ares smiled faintly.
"No."
Suddenly—
Daniel moved.
Fast.
He pulled a hidden knife from his sleeve and slashed toward Ares.
But Ares was faster.
He twisted Daniel's arm and slammed him hard onto the ground.
The knife clattered across the pavement.
Guards rushed forward and pinned him down.
Marco stared in disbelief.
"Son of a—"
Daniel laughed.
Not nervous.
Not scared.
Almost proud.
"You're too late."
Ares crouched down beside him.
"For what?"
Daniel's smile widened.
"You think Leon came back just for revenge?"
His eyes glowed with excitement.
"This isn't revenge."
"It's preparation."
Ares' voice was dangerously calm.
"For what?"
Daniel looked straight at him.
"For the collapse of your empire."
Marco grabbed the man's jacket angrily.
"How many of you are there?"
Daniel chuckled.
"That's the fun part."
He leaned closer toward Ares.
"There are more."
Ares' expression didn't change.
But inside—
Something shifted.
Leon had planned this for years.
Not just attacks.
Infiltration.
Daniel whispered one last sentence.
"You should check your inner circle."
Marco frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel smiled again.
Then suddenly—
He bit down hard on something hidden in his mouth.
A second later—
His body went still.
Marco stepped back.
"Poison…"
The guards looked shocked.
Ares slowly stood up.
His eyes were darker now.
Colder.
Daniel had just confirmed something dangerous.
Leon wasn't attacking randomly.
He had people inside the empire.
Watching.
Waiting.
And maybe…
Even closer than Ares realized.
Marco spoke quietly.
"Sir… if there's one spy…"
Ares finished the sentence.
"There are more."
The harbor wind blew stronger now.
Ares looked toward the dark horizon.
Leon's voice echoed again in his memory.
"Tick tock."
The countdown was still running.
And now Ares understood the real danger.
This war wasn't happening outside.
It was already inside his empire.