Every screen in the room glowed with the same image.
Sebastian Virelli.
Calm.
Elegant.
Dangerous.
He stood inside what looked like a command center aboard one of the ships at the harbor. Behind him, several armed men worked around glowing monitors and communication systems.
But Sebastian's attention was focused entirely on the camera.
On them.
On the De Luca empire.
Adrian slowly stepped closer to the screen and squinted.
"…I don't like his face."
Luca crossed his arms.
"You don't like anyone's face."
"That's because everyone keeps trying to kill us."
Sebastian's voice echoed through the speakers again.
"I see the entire family is present."
His gaze moved slowly across the camera as if he could see them through it.
"Alessandro De Luca."
"Luca De Luca."
"Adrian."
He paused briefly.
"And Elena Rossi."
The room went silent.
Valentina frowned.
"How does he know all of us already?"
Alessandro's voice was calm.
"Because he's been watching."
The Enemy Introduces Himself
Sebastian folded his hands behind his back.
"Allow me to explain something."
"No," Adrian muttered.
"Let's not."
Sebastian ignored him.
"For decades, your city has been… unstable."
"Small wars."
"Petty criminals."
"Families killing each other for scraps."
His tone was almost bored.
"But then something interesting happened."
His eyes sharpened.
"You."
He looked directly at Alessandro.
"You destroyed the council."
"You killed Viktor Orlov."
"You unified the entire underworld in six months."
Adrian slowly nodded.
"Okay I hate to admit it but that is impressive."
Sebastian smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"It is."
Then his smile disappeared.
"Which is exactly why we are taking it."
Alessandro Responds
Alessandro stepped closer to the screen.
The room felt colder immediately.
"You came with ships and soldiers."
His voice was quiet.
"But you're still standing outside my city."
Sebastian tilted his head slightly.
"For now."
Alessandro's eyes darkened.
"You think you can walk in and take what belongs to me."
Sebastian answered calmly.
"Yes."
Adrian whispered to Luca,
"I respect the confidence."
Luca muttered,
"I don't."
The Real Target
Sebastian's gaze shifted slowly toward Elena.
"That empire you built…"
"…was only step one."
Elena's chest tightened slightly.
"What are you talking about?"
Sebastian's smile returned.
"The Crown Syndicate doesn't want the city."
Adrian frowned.
"Then why are you here?"
Sebastian answered simply.
"We're here for her."
Every eye in the room turned toward Elena.
Alessandro's expression instantly turned deadly.
Sebastian continued calmly.
"Elena Rossi."
"The last surviving bloodline."
Elena's voice was steady.
"Bloodline of what?"
Sebastian leaned slightly closer to the camera.
"The founders."
The word hit the room like thunder.
Luca's Reaction
Luca looked confused.
"What founders?"
Sebastian's voice lowered.
"The people who created the Syndicate."
Adrian blinked.
"Wait…"
"You're saying she's related to the people running your creepy secret club?"
Sebastian nodded.
"Yes."
Elena felt her stomach drop.
"That's impossible."
Sebastian's smile grew wider.
"Is it?"
He tapped something off-screen.
A new image appeared on their monitors.
Old documents.
Ancient records.
Family trees.
Elena stepped closer.
Her eyes widened.
Her mother's name.
Her grandfather's name.
And above them—
A symbol.
The same serpent and crown.
The Hidden Truth
Sebastian spoke quietly.
"Your family helped build the Crown Syndicate centuries ago."
"They were the ones who created its rules."
"They were its first leaders."
Elena shook her head slowly.
"My parents were normal people."
"No," Sebastian said softly.
"They were hiding."
Adrian rubbed his face again.
"Every week this family gets more complicated."
Alessandro's Warning
Alessandro stepped in front of Elena.
Blocking the screen.
"You came here for her."
"Yes."
"Then you should leave."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"Or?"
Alessandro's voice became ice.
"Or I will burn every ship you brought."
Adrian whispered,
"Wow that sounded cool."
Sebastian laughed softly.
"You misunderstand something, Alessandro."
"What?"
Sebastian's eyes turned cold.
"You don't get to decide what happens next."
The First Attack
At that exact moment—
The building shook violently.
An explosion thundered outside the mansion.
Adrian jumped.
"Okay that's new!"
Valentina rushed toward the security screens.
The front gate cameras showed flames and smoke rising from the entrance.
Several armored vehicles crashing through the gates.
Luca grabbed his gun.
"They're attacking already."
Sebastian's voice echoed through the speakers one last time.
"I warned you."
He looked directly at Elena.
"You belong to the Syndicate."
"And we've come to bring you home."
The screen went black.
War Begins
Sirens began screaming across the estate.
Soldiers ran through the halls.
Gunfire echoed outside the mansion.
Adrian cocked his rifle.
"Well…"
"Round two."
Luca checked his weapon.
"This one's going to be worse."
Alessandro turned toward Elena.
"Stay inside."
She shook her head immediately.
"No."
"Elena—"
"I'm not hiding again."
Her eyes burned with determination.
"They started this war because of me."
She picked up a gun from the table.
"So I'm finishing it with you."
Alessandro stared at her for a moment.
Then he nodded once.
"Good."
Outside—
Another explosion tore through the night.
And the war for the empire had officially begun.