The next morning arrived with a quiet tension over the Valentino estate.
Not the calm kind.
The kind that meant something was coming.
Ares stood in the strategy room, the large glass wall overlooking the lake behind him. The room's digital screens displayed information pulled from dozens of sources across Europe.
Marco leaned against the table, sipping black coffee.
"Leon's gone silent," he said.
Ares didn't respond immediately.
Silence from Leon Voss was never a good sign.
"He's planning something," Ares finally said.
Marco nodded.
"He always is."
Across the room, Luca worked through security reports.
"So far, no new breaches in the estate systems," Luca said.
"That doesn't mean we're safe," Marco replied.
Ares walked toward the main screen.
"Leon doesn't repeat mistakes."
Marco sighed.
"Meaning the impersonation trick was just phase one."
"Exactly."
At that moment—
Elara entered the room.
She looked calm as always, but Ares noticed the small tension in her shoulders.
"Morning," she said.
Marco nodded.
"Good timing. We were just discussing our favorite psychopath."
Elara walked beside Ares and glanced at the screens.
"Leon?"
"Yes."
She studied the information carefully.
"What do we know?"
Ares answered.
"He's building something."
"What kind of something?"
Ares looked at her.
"Something big enough to risk exposure."
Marco crossed his arms.
"That man doesn't move unless there's a payoff."
Elara leaned against the table.
"Then we need to find the payoff."
Before anyone could respond—
Luca suddenly froze at his workstation.
"Sir."
Ares looked over.
"What is it?"
Luca's voice was tense.
"I just intercepted a message."
Marco frowned.
"From Leon?"
"No."
"Then who?"
Luca turned the screen toward them.
"From one of our internal contacts."
Ares stepped closer.
The message was short.
Only one line.
TARGET CONFIRMED. OPERATION TONIGHT.
Marco's jaw tightened.
"That's not good."
Elara looked at the timestamp.
"Where did it come from?"
Luca typed quickly.
"Encrypted relay server."
Ares' voice dropped.
"Trace the destination."
Luca ran another scan.
Then his expression changed.
"Oh… no."
Marco immediately noticed.
"What?"
Luca slowly looked up.
"The target location…"
He hesitated.
Ares' eyes hardened.
"Say it."
Luca swallowed.
"The charity gala tonight."
Elara's eyes widened slightly.
"That's impossible."
Marco looked confused.
"What gala?"
Elara answered quietly.
"The international economic summit fundraiser."
Marco's stomach dropped.
"That's the one you're attending tonight."
Elara nodded.
"It's a public event. Hundreds of diplomats and investors."
Marco cursed under his breath.
"Leon's planning an attack there."
Ares' mind started moving instantly.
A crowded public event.
High-profile targets.
Limited security control.
Leon had chosen the perfect stage.
"Cancel your appearance," Ares said immediately.
Elara shook her head.
"I can't."
Marco stared at her.
"You absolutely can."
"If I cancel now, it will raise questions," she replied.
Marco pointed at the screen.
"Questions are better than bullets."
Elara looked at Ares.
"What do you think?"
Ares didn't answer right away.
Instead, he studied the intercepted message again.
Something about it bothered him.
"Marco," he said quietly.
"Yes?"
"What if the gala isn't the real target?"
Marco frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Ares turned toward Luca.
"When was this message sent?"
"Three minutes ago."
"And it wasn't encrypted well."
Luca blinked.
"…You're right."
Marco caught on.
"Leon wanted us to intercept it."
Elara nodded slowly.
"So the gala is a distraction."
Ares' expression darkened.
"Yes."
Marco looked around the room.
"Then what's the real target?"
At that exact moment—
Ares' phone vibrated.
He looked down at the screen.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
"Valentino."
A calm voice replied.
"Good morning, Ares."
Marco and Elara instantly recognized it.
Leon Voss.
Ares' voice became ice.
"What do you want?"
Leon sounded amused.
"I'm impressed."
"With what?"
"You discovered the impersonation trick faster than expected."
Ares didn't react.
"Get to the point."
Leon chuckled softly.
"You're preparing for the gala tonight, aren't you?"
Ares stayed silent.
Leon continued.
"You should."
Marco gestured silently.
He's confirming the trap.
Leon spoke again.
"You'll have all your security there."
Ares finally said something.
"Yes."
Leon's tone turned darker.
"Good."
Ares' eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Leon answered calmly.
"Because while you're protecting Elara…"
A pause.
Then—
"I'll be visiting someone else."
Ares' heart dropped.
"Who."
Leon whispered the answer.
And for the first time in a long time—
Ares Valentino felt something close to fear.
Because Leon had just named the one person Ares could never afford to lose.
His mother.
The line went dead.
The room fell silent.
Marco slowly exhaled.
"That son of a—"
Elara looked at Ares.
"What did he say?"
Ares' voice was lower than anyone had ever heard it.
"He's going after my mother."
Marco immediately grabbed his jacket.
"Then we move now."
But Ares didn't move yet.
Because something about Leon's call felt wrong.
Too easy.
Too direct.
Which meant—
There was still another move hidden somewhere.
And Ares Valentino had exactly one chance to figure it out before the night began.