The moment Rehman Nawwar took the phone from Miles Sterling, the device vibrated in his hand, the screen lighting up in the dim room like a silent signal of something far bigger unfolding beyond those walls.

The name on the display reflected clearly.

"Big Boss."

Rehman raised a brow, reading it aloud slowly, almost tasting the words.

"Big Boss... looks like there is still someone you listen to."

A grin spread across his face, sharp and dangerous.

"I will pick it up. You speak."

Miles did not react outwardly.

But his eyes... were not still.

They shifted ever so slightly.

Calculating.

Measuring the distance.

The angle.

The detonator in Rehman’s hand.

Every second mattered.

Rehman answered the call.

Miles spoke first, calm and controlled.

"Hello... Mr. President."

For the first time, Rehman’s expression changed.

Not fear.

But surprise.

His eyes widened slightly, then narrowed again as a slow grin returned, deeper this time.

On the other end, Maxwell stood inside the war room, his voice steady but urgent.

"Miles, we need your help. It is critical."

Miles responded without hesitation.

"I am at your service, Mr. President."

Maxwell continued, his tone tightening.

"Al Qiyan has deployed seventeen active CL20 bombs across Star Harbor."

Miles’ voice did not waver.

"I know, Mr. President. It is the work of Rehman Nawwar, son of Raiid."

His gaze shifted toward Rehman as he spoke.

Rehman’s smile widened.

Maxwell paused for a brief second.

"You know this already... then what is the situation on ground... we have very little time."

Rehman stepped closer to the phone, his voice cutting into the conversation like a blade.

"Yes... very little time."

A faint chuckle followed.

"So do not waste it, Mr. President."

The entire war room in Citadel froze at the unfamiliar voice.

Maxwell’s expression sharpened instantly.

"Who is this?"

Rehman laughed, a low echo that carried arrogance and certainty.

"My name is Rehman Al Nawwar."

He tilted his head slightly, watching Miles.

"And Miles Sterling will not be able to help you anymore. He is under my gunpoint now."

A pause.

"Do not waste your time. No one can save Star Harbor... except you."

His thumb hovered near the detonator.

"All the best."

The call ended.

...

Inside the war room at Citadel, silence crashed over everyone.

Dozens of screens flickered with live feeds.

Timers.

Maps.

Blinking points.

And one truth.

Time was slipping.

"Captured...?"

One of the generals spoke in disbelief.

"That is not possible..."

Another voice followed, tense.

"If he cannot act... then who will..."

Then suddenly, General Wraithbourne stepped forward, his voice sharp and focused.

"No... he is already acting."

All eyes turned toward him.

"Replay the call."

An agent quickly brought up the audio.

"There was a pattern... small tap sounds in the background."

The room went silent again.

The agent leaned closer, isolating the noise.

Listening carefully.

Then his eyes widened.

"It is Morse code."

Wraithbourne stepped closer.

"Decode it."

Seconds passed.

But in a room like this, seconds felt like minutes.

"It is... a number."

Maxwell leaned forward.

"What number?"

The agent replied instantly.

"A phone number."

"Sterling Private Security Services, Star Harbor."

"Call it."

The order came without hesitation.

...

In Star Harbor, inside the operation room, phones began to ring.

Charles picked it up immediately.

"Mr. President."

Maxwell’s voice came through.

"You already knew we would call."

A pause.

"Is he alright? The army is mobilizing."

Charles looked toward the central screen, where the live feed from Miles’ body cam flickered.

"He is holding his ground."

His voice was firm.

"He is doing everything he can to prevent Rehman from triggering the explosives manually."

He gestured to the system.

"There is a hidden body cam transmitting real time visuals of Rehman. We are sending you an uplink now."

Maxwell exhaled slowly.

"What about the bombs?"

Charles did not hesitate.

"We have successfully relocated ten vans toward the coastline. The remaining are in progress. We also have a few agents analyzing the mechanism, we are trying to disarm them if possible "

The war room erupted into murmurs.

Maxwell’s eyes widened slightly.

"What...?"

He turned toward the screens showing city feeds.

"But they are still visible in the city."

Charles gave a slight nod.

"My apologies, Mr. President. We manipulated the live feeds."

A brief pause.

"It is the same feed Rehman is watching."

The weight of that statement settled across the room.

"We did not have the luxury of time to inform you. Approvals would have delayed us."

His tone grew heavier.

"Our boss could not risk the lives of his people."

Maxwell closed his eyes briefly, then nodded.

"He is an Honorary General. He has the authority to act."

He looked around the room.

"So the city is safe right?"

Before Charles could respond, Monica stepped forward and took the line.

"Safe... is not the word I would use."

Her voice carried both control and concern.

"We managed to move most of them. But this is Al Qiyan. They never leave loose ends unintentionally."

Maxwell frowned slightly.

"Then this operation... it feels imperfect."

Monica’s eyes remained fixed on the screen where Miles stood face to face with Rehman.

"Exactly."

A pause.

"It feels like something bigger is still in play."

Her voice softened, but the tension remained.

"And until he comes back safely... we cannot say the threat is over."

The war room fell silent again.

Because deep down...

They knew.

There is something wrong.

....

The live feed flickered across the massive screens inside the Citadel war room, the grainy yet steady transmission from Miles’ body cam now the center of the entire nation’s command’s attention.

Every eye was fixed.

Every breath held.

On the screen, Miles Sterling stood facing Rehman Nawwar, the distance between them filled with tension that felt ready to explode at any second.

Miles’ voice broke the silence.

"So... it was never just me you came here for?"

Rehman tilted his head slightly, a faint smile forming as if he had been waiting for that exact question.

"Oh... did that hurt you?"

His tone carried amusement, but beneath it was something darker, something deeply personal.

"Believe me, Ghost... there is a fire inside me that wants to kill you right here, right now."

His eyes sharpened.

"You killed my father."

A brief pause.

"In Al Qiyan, there is no forgiveness. Not for friends... and certainly not for enemies."

He stepped slowly, circling slightly as if savoring the moment.

"You are my greatest enemy."

His voice softened, almost thoughtful.

"But then I found out something interesting..."

His gaze locked onto Miles again.

"You were living a peaceful life."

A faint laugh escaped him. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"And suddenly... the plan I have been building in the shadows for three years... had a new purpose."

His expression darkened.

"My uncle will walk free."

His voice grew heavier.

"The old Al Qiyan will rise again."

"And the so-called freedom fighters... will be reborn."

...

Inside the war room, Maxwell watched with a grim expression.

"This man is insane..."

Beside him, General Wraithbourne remained still, his eyes locked on the screen.

"No... he is not insane."

A pause.

"He is dangerous because he believes everything he is saying."

...

Far away, inside the Atelier, life continued... unaware of how close danger truly was.

Elena looked toward the window, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Did you notice... the security outside suddenly increased?"

Daniel looked up, confused.

"What do you mean?"

Elena crossed her arms slightly.

"There are more guards than usual... something feels off."

Daniel shrugged lightly.

"Monica called earlier. She said it is just a drill."

Elena sighed softly.

"A drill... in this heat?"

Then she smiled faintly.

"At least they are working hard. Let me make them something cool to drink."

...

At the Pearl Villa, the atmosphere was far more peaceful.

Olivia stood with the security team, calmly coordinating.

David approached her.

"Is something wrong?"

Olivia smiled naturally.

"Nothing at all. This is normal for them."

She shook her head slightly.

"I have told Miles many times... this level of security is excessive."

Gordon chuckled softly.

"You work for him too?"

Olivia laughed lightly.

"Yes... and no."

She explained casually.

"I work at the college he owns, I live nearby, and... we are family somehow."

David blinked.

"Family?"

Olivia nodded.

"Our grandmothers were sisters."

Gordon’s eyes lit up.

"Then that makes us relatives as well."

Olivia smiled warmly.

"Yes, Grandpa Gordon."

From the kitchen, a cheerful voice echoed.

"Big sister Olivia, come see... we are making apple pie with Aunt Birdie !"

Hope waved excitedly.

Laughter filled the room.

A peaceful moment.

Unaware.

...

Inside Sterling Enterprises, tension was easing slightly.

June watched the screens while Dion leaned back with relief.

"They moved the van..."

Flora let out a long breath.

"Finally..."

Dion nodded.

"He always delivers."

June smiled faintly.

"I never doubted him."

Dion glanced at another screen.

"The launch is already trending everywhere."

For a brief moment...

It felt like things were under control.

...

But elsewhere...

Inside the city, Jax Mordecai rushed forward in his car, panic written across his face as he tried to reach his son.

He did not see it coming.

Vehicles surrounded him instantly.

Doors opened.

Armed agents stepped out.

Sterling Security.

Within seconds, Jax was pulled out and restrained.

No struggle.

No escape.

...

Back in the Citadel war room, another update came in.

"General... we traced the CL20 transaction."

All eyes turned.

The agent continued.

"Rehman purchased forty kilograms of CL20."

Maxwell’s expression changed instantly.

"What... forty kilograms?"

Wraithbourne stepped forward.

"That amount... is excessive."

He narrowed his eyes.

"What was he planning..."

Before he could finish, Monica’s voice cut in sharply.

"Wait... what did you say?"

The room went silent.

"Forty kilograms... only?"

Maxwell frowned.

"What do you mean by only?"

Monica’s eyes were fixed on her screen.

"There is something wrong Mr. President."

Her voice tightened.

"The vans we analyzed... collectively contain far more than that."

A pause.

"If the total is only forty kilograms... then what we moved..."

Wraithbourne’s expression darkened.

"...was not the real payload."

At that exact moment, Rehman’s voice echoed through the live feed.

"Let me tell you a secret, Ghost..."

He smiled.

"The vans your people are busy moving around the city... do not contain CL20."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

"All forty kilograms..."

He raised a finger slowly.

"...are placed in a single location."

His eyes gleamed.

"Just imagine the damage that will cause."

The shock hit all at once.

Citadel.

Star Harbor.

And even Miles himself.

Because now...

The real bomb had not been found.

And time...

Was still running out.