Chapter 289: The Protagonist’s Empire Is Falling

"Stronger."

Rose studied him.

"And you’re happy about that?"

"Very."

Lin Yue frowned.

"Why?"

Shen Tian walked toward the windows.

His hands entered his pockets.

For weeks...

He had allowed Lu Chen to rebuild.

Allowed the protagonist halo to work.

Allowed opportunities to accumulate.

Allowed Fate to recover.

He could have interfered earlier.

Could have chipped away at him.

Ten thousand here.

Five thousand there.

Another ten.

But...

Why?

Why harvest seedlings?

When you could wait for the fruit?

Shen Tian looked toward Xu Ning.

"Find everything."

[Everything?]

"His contracts."

"Accounts."

"Personnel."

"Supply routes."

"Allies."

"Enemies."

"Safe houses."

"Opportunities."

"Future Fate routes."

Xu Ning’s eyes widened.

[Host...]

His green eyes became cold.

"All of it."

Rose stared.

There was something different about him.

Not playful.

Not arrogant.

Not teasing.

This was the Shen Tian Lu Chen saw.

The villain.

Rose slowly approached.

"What are you planning?"

Shen Tian turned.

The moment he looked at her...

His expression softened.

"I’m ending it."

Silence.

Rose stopped.

She understood.

Not immediately everything.

But enough.

Her expression became complicated.

"You’re going after him."

"Yes."

"Overseas?"

"Yes."

Rose stared.

Then...

"I want to come."

Shen Tian answered instantly.

"No."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me?"

He sighed.

"Bad wording."

"Very."

Shen Tian stepped closer.

"This isn’t an operation."

Rose crossed her arms.

"I know."

"It’s personal."

"I know."

"Lu Chen is going to be there."

"I know."

Shen Tian stared.

Rose stared back.

Then...

Her expression softened.

"I need to see it."

That stopped him.

Rose continued.

"Whatever happens."

"I spent years beside him."

"I need..."

She hesitated.

"...closure."

Shen Tian looked at her for several seconds.

Then...

"Okay."

Rose’s shoulders relaxed.

"Thank you."

Lin Yue stood.

"I’m coming too."

Rose looked toward her.

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

Lin Yue crossed her arms.

"Don’t."

"Don’t what?"

"Give me the doctor excuse."

Shen Tian smiled.

"I wasn’t."

"You were."

"Maybe."

Lin Yue stepped closer.

"I have history with Black Wolf too."

Her expression became quieter.

"And with Lu Chen."

Silence.

"I need closure too."

Shen Tian nodded.

"Okay."

Gu Qingya immediately stood.

Shen Tian looked at her.

"No."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Why did they get yes?"

"They have combat experience."

Gu Qingya froze.

Then...

She slowly sat back down.

"...Fair."

Shen Tian smiled.

Her eyes narrowed.

"But..."

He walked toward her.

Stopped beside her chair.

Then...

Gently placed a hand on her head.

Gu Qingya froze.

Her entire face began turning pink.

"Keep Qinghe secure."

She stared upward.

Shen Tian’s fingers gently moved through her hair once.

"I’ll come back."

Her heartbeat jumped.

Then...

She nodded.

"...You better."

Tang Meilin watched.

Then...

Raised her hand.

Shen Tian looked toward her.

"What?"

"Do I get one?"

Silence.

Tang Meilin realized.

Her face became crimson.

"I MEANT..."

Rose burst out laughing.

Lin Yue covered her mouth.

Gu Qingya stared at Tang Meilin.

Tang covered her face.

"I hate myself."

Shen Tian walked toward her.

Tang Meilin peeked between her fingers.

Then...

He patted her head.

She froze.

Completely.

"Happy?"

Her face became red.

"...Yes."

Shen Tian laughed.

. . .

Forty-eight hours later.

Middle East.

Black Wolf headquarters.

Lu Chen walked through the command center.

Screens showed active operations.

Three contracts were running simultaneously.

Everything worked.

Everything belonged to him.

Finally.

Then...

One screen went black.

Lu Chen stopped.

Another.

Black.

Another.

Black.

"What happened?"

A technician frowned.

"Network issue."

Then...

Every screen shut off.

Silence.

Emergency lighting activated.

Lu Chen’s expression changed.

"Viper."

No response.

He looked around.

"Viper?"

Nothing.

His phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

One message.

Good morning.

Lu Chen froze.

He knew.

His face slowly changed.

"No."

Another message.

Sleep well?

Lu Chen’s hand tightened around the phone.

Lu Chen: Shen Tian.

Immediate reply.

Shen Tian: Correct.

Lu Chen’s Qi exploded.

"WHERE IS HE?!"

Everyone jumped.

Then...

The command center doors opened.

A mercenary ran inside.

"Boss!"

"What?!"

"Accounts!"

Lu Chen froze.

"What about them?"

"Frozen!"

Another mercenary entered.

"Three contracts were terminated!"

Another.

"Convoy clients canceled!"

Another.

"Two weapons suppliers pulled out!"

Lu Chen stared.

Then...

His phone vibrated.

Shen Tian: Rough morning?

CRACK!

Lu Chen crushed the phone.

"SHEN TIAN!"

. . .

Thirty kilometers away...

Shen Tian sat inside a luxury hotel suite.

Rose stood near the window.

Lin Yue sat beside him.

Xu Ning floated above the table.

Multiple panels surrounded her.

[Black Wolf operating accounts frozen.]

[Four shell companies identified.]

[Two were already under international investigation.]

[Anonymous evidence delivered.]

Shen Tian smiled.

"Next."

[Three major clients terminated contracts after Shen International

offered better security terms.]

"Next."

[Primary weapons supplier purchased.]

Rose slowly looked toward him.

"You bought their supplier?"

"Yes."

"Yesterday?"

"Yes."

"How much did that cost?"

Shen Tian looked toward her.

"You don’t want to know."

Rose stared.

Then...

A tiny smile appeared.

"This is evil."

"Efficient."

Lin Yue looked at the screen.

"You’re dismantling everything."

"Yes."

"Without fighting him."

"For now."

Xu Ning’s eyes suddenly widened.

[Ding!]

Black Wolf Financial Foundation destabilized.

Fate stolen: 31,000

Lu Chen Fate Value: 420,000

Shen Tian leaned back.

"Again."

Xu Ning smiled.

[Host...]

He looked toward her.

[You’re enjoying this.]

"Very much."

. . .

By noon...

Two more contracts disappeared.

By evening...

Seven senior mercenaries resigned.

The next morning...

An international investigation opened into several Black Wolf operations

connected to Viper.

Black Wolf wasn’t directly charged.

But clients panicked.

Money slowed.

Then...

Shen International Security announced a major expansion into the Middle

East.

Better salaries.

Better insurance.

Legal contracts.

Family support.

Extraction guarantees.

Retirement benefits.

Black Wolf personnel started leaving.

Lu Chen stood in the compound courtyard.

Watching.

One mercenary carried his bag toward the gate. ℯℯ𝑙.

"Stop."

The man froze.

Lu Chen stared.

"Where are you going?"

The mercenary hesitated.

"Shen International."

Lu Chen’s face darkened.

"Why?"

The man stared.

Then...

"Because my daughter needs surgery."

Silence.

"They cover dependents."

Lu Chen’s anger faltered.

The mercenary continued.

"I’m sorry, War Wolf."

Then...

He left.

Another followed.

Then another.

Then five.

Then twelve.

Lu Chen stood there.

Watching his empire walk away.

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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

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