The Billionaire Heir's Revenge

Chapter 22: The Man Behind the Mask

The Archive Chamber fell silent.

Every eye was fixed on the Black Phoenix Leader.

The man stood calmly among dozens of armed operatives.

His expression was relaxed.

Almost amused.

As though he were hosting a family reunion rather than confronting the people who had spent years trying to stop him.

Ethan's fists tightened.

His mind replayed the words over and over.

"I killed your grandfather."

The confession was so casual.

So effortless.

As though taking a life meant nothing.

Ethan stepped forward.

His eyes burned with fury.

"Why?"

The Black Phoenix Leader smiled.

"Because he was weak."

Boom.

The room instantly grew colder.

Even the operatives behind him seemed uncomfortable.

The Leader slowly walked forward.

"Your grandfather wanted to bury Project Phoenix."

"He wanted to destroy everything we had built."

His smile widened.

"I couldn't allow that."

Victor's face darkened.

"You murdered him for power."

The Leader laughed.

"Power?"

His eyes became sharp.

"No, Victor."

"I killed him for the future."

Adrian could no longer contain himself.

"You destroyed our family!"

The Leader calmly looked at him.

"And yet here you stand."

Adrian's fists trembled.

The urge to attack was overwhelming.

But he resisted.

Because something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

The Leader wasn't worried.

Not even slightly.

It was as though he had already won.

Ethan glanced toward Sebastian.

The old steward's expression was grim.

Almost hopeless.

"You know him."

Sebastian slowly nodded.

"Unfortunately."

The room fell silent.

Then Sebastian revealed the truth.

"His real name is Marcus Voss."

Boom.

The name struck like lightning.

Victor's eyes widened.

Ava gasped.

Even Isabella looked shocked.

Only Ethan and Adrian were unfamiliar with it.

Marcus smiled.

"Interesting."

"You still remember."

Sebastian laughed bitterly.

"How could I forget?"

Twenty-five years ago...

Marcus Voss had been one of the founding members of Project Phoenix.

A genius.

A visionary.

And a monster.

While others sought scientific advancement, Marcus sought something else.

Control.

Absolute control.

When the Phoenix Gene was discovered, Marcus became obsessed.

He believed humanity could be reshaped.

Improved.

Evolved.

At any cost.

Thousands opposed him.

Including Ethan's grandfather.

Including Victor.

Including Sebastian.

That conflict eventually gave birth to Black Phoenix.

And Marcus became its leader.

Back in the present.

Marcus slowly clapped.

"Very good, Sebastian."

He looked genuinely impressed.

Then his expression hardened.

"Unfortunately, history is written by winners."

The operatives raised their weapons.

The situation instantly became dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Suddenly—

A loud alarm echoed throughout the laboratory.

Everyone froze.

Marcus frowned.

That wasn't part of the plan.

Sebastian checked a nearby monitor.

His eyes widened.

"Impossible."

Ethan turned.

"What is it?"

Sebastian pointed toward the screen.

Dozens of red dots were rapidly approaching the mountain.

Not Black Phoenix.

Something else.

Something bigger.

Victor's face instantly lost all color.

"No..."

Marcus looked annoyed.

For the first time since arriving—

He seemed genuinely concerned.

The chamber doors suddenly opened.

A wounded Black Phoenix operative stumbled inside.

Blood covered his uniform.

He fell to one knee.

"Leader!"

Marcus narrowed his eyes.

"What happened?"

The operative swallowed.

Fear filled his face.

"The Sovereign Council..."

The room froze.

Even Marcus stiffened.

"They're here."

Boom.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Ethan looked around.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Yet every person who recognized the name looked terrified.

Even Marcus Voss.

Especially Marcus Voss.

Ethan frowned.

"What is the Sovereign Council?"

Victor slowly lowered his head.

His voice barely above a whisper.

"The people who created Project Phoenix."

The room froze.

Marcus clenched his fists.

For the first time—

The all-powerful leader of Black Phoenix looked nervous.

Very nervous.

The mountain suddenly shook.

A powerful explosion echoed outside.

Then another.

And another.

The entire facility trembled violently.

The giant screens activated automatically.

A live feed appeared.

Everyone stared.

At the entrance of the mountain stood seven figures.

Three men.

Four women.

Each dressed in black.

Each radiating overwhelming confidence.

Behind them lay dozens of defeated Black Phoenix operatives.

The battle had barely begun.

And yet Marcus's forces were already collapsing.

The lead figure stepped forward.

An elderly man carrying a silver cane.

His eyes were calm.

Cold.

Ancient.

The man looked directly into a nearby camera.

Then spoke.

His voice echoed throughout the facility.

"Marcus."

The Black Phoenix Leader remained silent.

The old man smiled.

A terrifying smile.

"The game is over."

The transmission ended.

The room became silent once more.

Then Victor whispered words that made Ethan's heart skip a beat.

"That's Chairman Orion."

Ethan frowned.

"Who is he?"

Victor looked directly at him.

Then answered:

"The man who knows why you were born."

And for the first time since learning he was Subject Zero, Ethan realized that even Project Phoenix might only be part of a much larger secret.

A secret that had remained hidden for generations.

A secret powerful enough to terrify Marcus Voss himself.

To Be Continued...