“The police also recovered a phone from one of the assassins,” Ethan continued. “It contained Simon’s route, his vehicle description and instructions to leave no witnesses. The payment came through a shell company connected to businesses that previously handled expenses for Grey Shield.”Victor returned to his desk.“Is Damien’s name attached to the account?”“No. Commissioner Pierce believes Damien could still claim that someone inside Grey Shield acted without his knowledge.”Victor reached for his phone. His anger remained controlled, but Ethan recognised the intention behind the movement.“Give me Damien’s current location,” Victor ordered. “I will have military intelligence bring him here before he has time to prepare another lie.”“You cannot move against him yet,” Ethan warned.Victor’s hand stopped above the phone.“That man sent killers who were prepared to murder my son. Do not tell me what I cannot do.”Victor had not raised his voice, but the atmosphere inside the study ch

“The Red Butcher?” Victor asked. The title left his mouth more slowly than Ethan expected.“Yes,” Ethan replied. “The formation matched restricted footage from the Continental War. The soldiers in that recording served directly beneath his command.”Victor recovered from his surprise and returned to his chair. “A formation does not prove that Simon belonged to that unit. Military tactics spread between divisions, especially after a war.”“That formation was never included in ordinary training,” Ethan argued. “Even the assassins appeared surprised when Simon understood it.”“Former soldiers share restricted information,” Victor replied. “One of them may have taught Simon that technique.”Ethan watched his father carefully. Victor’s explanation sounded reasonable, but it did not explain the sudden change in his expression when the Red Butcher was mentioned.“There was something else,” Ethan said. “Simon used a technique against one of the attackers that I had seen before.”Victor placed

The Ashbourne estate had never been placed under such strict security.The Arranguare security officers controlled every entrance to the property. Guests surrendered their phones, smartwatches and other communication devices before entering the Ashbourne main hall. Each person also signed a confidentiality agreement forbidding them from revealing anything discussed during the banquet.The gathering was closed to the public. Even the household workers had been reduced to a small group approved by the Arranguare group.Inside the hall, Victor stood among twenty selected Ashbourne advisers and influential Ashbourne family members. Clara, Ethan and Eleanor remained near him, while Roland moved between the guests as though the banquet had been organised in his honour.Damien arrived with four Sinclair representatives.Victor’s expression hardened when he saw him, but he did not order the guards to remove him or deal with him. The investigation into the assassination attempt remained secret

Eleanor’s friends looked away, unwilling to challenge a serving major who had just personally confirmed Simon’s importance.Clara led Simon towards the dignified seats near the Ashbourne family. Victor watched him pass, still unable to connect the quiet man before him with everything Ethan had described.Simon sat beside Clara.Across the hall, Damien Sinclair studied him with concealed hatred. The failure of the assassination had already placed several plans in danger, yet Simon had entered the Ashbourne estate as though nothing had happened.Damien could not understand what had happened on the old industrial road. Eight former soldiers had been sent to kill Simon, and several of them had carried firearms. Yet Simon was sitting inside the Ashbourne hall without any visible injury, while none of the assassins had reported back.Had Simon defeated them? Had the police interrupted the operation? More importantly, were the men dead, hiding or already in custody?Ethan’s defence of Simon

Control of Arranguare did not explain the restricted military seal or the combat techniques from the Continental War. Instead, the revelation made those mysteries more dangerous.If Simon had hidden an entire corporate empire, what else had he removed from his history?Beside him, Clara remained silent.She remembered every opportunity Simon had possessed to impress her. He could have arrived at the estate in an expensive convoy or introduced himself through his wealth. He could have ended every insult by mentioning that he controlled the Arranguare group.He had done none of those things.Simon had allowed her to know the man who cared for Pa Gallagher, protected her family and stood beside her without asking for anything in return.Even when she invited him to the banquet and explained how important the Arranguare chairman was, he had listened without mocking her ignorance.“You are really the chairman?” Clara asked quietly.Simon turned towards her. “Yes.”“Why did you never tell m