Chapter 453: Locked Out!!

Somewhere in Citadel.

Ella stood near the window with her phone still in her hand.

She had tried the same numbers repeatedly.

Different routes.

Different secure channels.

Backup relays.

Nothing.

Every attempt ended the same way.

No response.

No signal.

No confirmation.

Finally, she turned.

“I tried everything, Boss.”

Vivienne sat quietly behind her desk.

Ella continued,

“I couldn’t connect to any of them.”

“Not through the primary channel.”

“Not through the backup.”

“Nothing.”

Vivienne’s fingers slowly stopped moving over the armrest.

Ella looked toward her.

“They definitely lost communication too.”

Vivienne remained silent for several seconds.

Her eyes moved toward the dark screen on the desk.

Then she said,

“Then there are only a few possibilities.”

Ella waited.

“Either…”

“It’s genuinely a technical problem.”

Vivienne’s expression hardened.

“Or we lost them.”

Ella didn’t respond.

Vivienne slowly leaned back.

Her eyes had already begun turning red.

Not from tears.

From anger.

“And if we really lost them…”

She looked toward Ella.

“…then I don’t have much time.”

Ella swallowed.

Vivienne continued,

“Eventually…”

“Someone will speak.”

Her voice became quieter.

“Someone will say my name.”

Ella immediately stepped forward.

“For precaution…”

“I’ll cut every connection we still have with that corps.”

Vivienne looked at her.

Ella continued,

“Accounts.”

“Communication.”

“Suppliers.”

“People.”

“Everything.”

Vivienne smiled.

Not warmly.

“Do you really think that changes anything?”

Ella stopped.

Vivienne stood slowly.

“If this reaches the authorities…”

“An investigation begins.”

She walked toward the window.

“And if the investigation begins…”

“Someone will eventually look at the pattern.”

Ella listened carefully.

Vivienne continued,

“The dead soldiers.”

“The promotions.”

“The disappearances.”

“The false records.”

“The money.”

“The facilities.”

“The people who shouldn’t exist…”

“…but somehow do.”

Her fingers curled slightly.

“And if Maxwell gets involved…”

Ella’s expression changed.

Vivienne turned.

“That becomes a problem.”

Ella nodded.

“The President would push it.”

“Exactly.”

Vivienne smiled faintly.

“Once he smells something this big…”

“He won’t leave it alone.”

She looked back toward the city outside.

For a moment…

Silence.

Then her smile slowly returned.

“Looks like I have no choice.”

Ella stared.

Vivienne continued,

“I thought I’d let him play President for a little longer.”

Ella’s eyes widened.

“But…”

Vivienne looked toward her.

“…looks like it’s time.”

Ella remained completely still.

Then asked quietly,

“You mean…?”

Vivienne’s smile widened.

“Tell Bjorn.”

Ella didn’t move.

Vivienne continued,

“We’re doing it before schedule.”

Ella’s face changed.

“Before schedule?”

“Yes.”

Vivienne returned toward the desk.

“As for this problem…”

She picked up one of the files.

“There won’t be much of a problem if there is no proof.”

Ella frowned slightly.

Vivienne continued,

“Who exactly will listen to people who don’t even exist?”

Her eyes sharpened.

“They are dead on paper.”

Ella remained silent.

Vivienne placed the file back down.

“By the time anyone reaches the truth…”

Her lips curved.

“…it’ll already be checkmate.”

The grin on Vivienne’s face sent a chill through Ella’s body.

For the first time…

Ella didn’t know whether the colder thing in the room was the night outside…

Or the woman standing in front of her.

…

Earlier.

Star Harbor Convention Center.

Escort Lounge.

NULL sat at the corner table.

His laptop remained open in front of him.

He wasn’t touching the apple slices anymore.

The progress bar on his screen had almost reached the end.

96%

NULL leaned closer.

“Come on.”

97%

He glanced toward his phone.

The security feed was still open.

The masked man was moving closer to this section of the Convention Center.

NULL smiled.

98%

“Almost done.”

He zoomed in on the feed.

The masked man turned into another corridor.

NULL’s smile widened.

“He’s coming this way?”

He looked almost amused by his own luck.

“Seriously?”

He leaned back.

“All the luck in the world is on my side today.”

His eyes immediately moved toward a janitor working on the opposite side of the lounge.

The man was pushing a cleaning cart.

NULL gave him a small signal.

Nothing obvious.

Just enough.

The janitor glanced toward him.

Then pulled out his phone.

Ready.

NULL’s plan had become almost too simple.

The upload would finish.

When Miles comes , he will create a chance.

The janitor would take the picture.

NULL would have what Ghost asked for.

And his other job would be done at the same time.

Two assignments.

One day.

One escape from Star Harbor.

Perfect.

Almost too perfect.

NULL looked back at his laptop.

99%

He smiled.

The system displayed a final estimate.

ET: 00:10

“Ten seconds.”

NULL tapped one finger against the table.

His eyes remained glued to the screen.

He didn’t notice the first escort leave.

Then another.

Then three people near the coffee station quietly walked away.

One Foundation volunteer stepped out.

A staff member followed.

Two escorts who had been sitting near the windows stood up and left together.

Another person collected a bag and disappeared through the side door.

NULL noticed none of it.

00:07

He leaned closer.

00:03

He whispered,

“Come on.”

00:02

The last escort near the entrance stood and left.

00:01

NULL smiled.

“Done.”

100%

For a fraction of a second…

The screen remained normal.

Then everything changed.

The upload window disappeared.

The server panel vanished.

A red screen replaced it.

One message appeared at the center.

YOU HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT

NULL stopped breathing.

His smile disappeared.

“What?”

He stared.

Then immediately started typing.

A new login window opened.

He entered the credentials.

INCORRECT CREDENTIALS

NULL’s eyes widened.

“No.”

Again.

Different access point.

Different token.

Different route.

ACCESS DENIED

NULL leaned closer.

“No, no, no…”

His fingers moved faster.

A second route.

Nothing.

His entire expression had changed.

The confidence from a few seconds ago was gone.

“How…”

He tried again.

“How did this happen?”

Click.

NULL froze.

He slowly turned toward the sound.

The janitor had his phone raised.

A picture had just been taken.

Of NULL.

His face.

His shocked expression.

The laptop in front of him.

Everything.

NULL stared.

“What are you doing?”

Before the janitor answered…

A voice came from behind him.

“Nice click.”

NULL stopped.

The voice continued,

“That expression is valuable.”

NULL slowly turned.

The masked man stood several steps behind him.

The same masked man he’d been tracking.

NULL looked around.

Only now did he notice.

The lounge was empty.

No one.

Only him.

NULL immediately stood.

His hand reached toward the laptop.

He closed the lid.

Then started pulling it toward himself.

Miles calmly watched him.

“Going somewhere?”

NULL stopped.

The man took another step.

“Professor Vaughn?”

NULL’s fingers tightened around the laptop.

Then the voice became slightly amused.

“Or should I say…”

“NULL?”

His entire body froze.

For the first time in a very long time…

His mind went completely blank.

Then everything hit at once.

Who knew that name?

Who had traced him?

How long had they known?

All of it happened so quickly that NULL couldn’t settle on a single thought.

He had failed jobs before.

Everyone had.

But this was different.

This wasn’t a failed attempt.

He had been caught while doing it.

Caught inside the system physically.

Miles looked toward him.

“Can’t speak?”

NULL opened his mouth.

Nothing came.

Miles smiled beneath the mask.

“I arranged so much free food.”

His eyes moved toward the untouched plate.

“You should’ve eaten more.”

“For energy.”

NULL stepped backward.

Miles stepped forward.

NULL moved again.

Then his back touched the edge of the table.

No more room.

He looked toward the janitor.

The man had lowered the phone.

And was smiling.

NULL’s expression changed.

Even the person he’d brought inside…

Wasn’t on his side.

He looked back toward the masked man.

“What…”

He swallowed.

“What are you talking about?”

His voice almost cracked.

“What’s NULL?”

Miles said nothing.

NULL quickly continued,

“I’m Dylan Vaughn.”

“Professor Dylan Vaughn.”

“University of Citadel.”

“Official student escort.”

Miles sighed.

Then shook his head.

“You know what your weakness is?”

NULL froze.

The man continued,

“You’re too scared.”

NULL stared.

Miles took one more step.

“Is this really how you’re planning to join Graveyard?”

NULL’s eyes almost came out of their sockets.

His face lost whatever color remained.

“You…”

The words barely came out.

“You are not Miles Sterling?”

Miles tilted his head.

Then smiled.

“So Dylan Vaughn is supposed to know Miles Sterling?”

NULL realized the mistake immediately.

Too late.

Miles continued,

“That poor guy is in prison because of you.”

NULL’s mouth went dry.

The masked man lifted one hand.

Slowly…

He removed the mask.

NULL stared.

A face appeared.

A familiar face.

Too familiar.

Not because the public knew it.

The public didn’t.

But NULL did.

He had seen that face years ago under very different circumstances.

A person who can make people in the underworld disappear from entire cities.

NULL’s breathing became fast.

The only word that escaped him was almost a whisper.

“Ghost…”

Miles smiled.

Then calmly said,

“Miles Sterling.”

He extended the words almost casually.

“Nice to meet you again, NULL.”

NULL continued staring.

His brain was clearly refusing to accept the information.

Then he looked toward Miles’ face again.

“No way.”

Miles waited.

NULL pointed weakly.

“You…”

“You are actually Miles Sterling?”

Miles smiled.

“Surprised?”

NULL slowly dropped into the chair.

He took a deep breath.

Then another.

His hands were trembling.

Miles looked toward the janitor.

“Water.”

The janitor immediately moved.

“Yes, Boss.”

NULL looked at him.

That only made things worse.

A glass was poured.

Placed in front of him.

NULL grabbed it with both hands.

Drank almost half immediately.

Then wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Miles casually pulled out the chair opposite him.

Then sat.

NULL looked at him again.

And again.

Same face.

Same eyes.

Same calmness.

This was Ghost.

The man who had terrified criminal organizations.

And now…

He was sitting across the table in a convention center.

Like a normal businessman.

Wearing ordinary clothes.

Talking calmly.

Using the name Miles Sterling.

NULL swallowed again.

“I…”

Miles waited.

“I really didn’t know.”

His voice had become unusually sincere.

Miles said nothing.

NULL continued,

“If I knew…”

“If I knew you were Miles Sterling…”

He shook his head quickly.

“I would’ve never accepted this assignment.”

Miles slowly pulled out his phone.

“Let’s see your assignment.”

NULL immediately became quiet.

Miles opened the report Charles had sent.

The cyber team had already analyzed the uploaded files.

Recovered the script.

Reviewed the changes.

Mapped what NULL had attempted to place inside the Convention Center system.

Miles started scrolling.

At first…

His face remained calm.

Then his eyes slowed.

One section.

Another.

Another.

His fingers stopped.

NULL watched him.

Miles kept reading.

His left hand slowly tightened.

His expression changed.

Not dramatically.

But enough.

The warmth disappeared.

His jaw hardened.

His eyes became cold.

NULL noticed everything.

He immediately spoke.

“I didn’t know.”

Miles continued reading.

“I really didn’t know what this would mean.”

Miles’ fist tightened further.

NULL swallowed.

“I’m sorry.”

Miles didn’t answer.

NULL continued,

“I’ll tell you everything.”

“I swear.”

Miles closed his eyes.

For several seconds…

He didn’t move.

Then he slowly relaxed his hand.

Opened his eyes.

And smiled.

That terrified NULL even more.

He immediately lifted his glass again.

Drank the remaining water.

Miles watched him.

“Relax.”

NULL carefully put the glass down.

Miles continued,

“I only want one thing from you.”

NULL nodded quickly.

“A name.”

NULL didn’t hesitate.

“Audrey Winstone.”

Miles stopped.

His expression changed slightly.

“Winstone?”

NULL nodded.

Miles leaned back.

“Don’t tell me…”

He looked directly at him.

“She’s related to Gibson Winstone.”

NULL replied,

“She’s his daughter.”

Miles stared at him.

For the first time…

He looked genuinely surprised.

“Gibson had a daughter?”

NULL nodded.

Miles frowned.

“Why did I never find that?”

“I checked.”

NULL continued,

“He was never married.”

Miles waited.

“But he had a relationship.”

Miles slowly exhaled.

Gibson Winstone.

A name from the beginning.

One of the first people Miles had dealt with after returning to Star Harbor.

The man who had taken control of the old Sterling business from his father through plotting.

One of the men behind Stone Enterprises

And now…

His daughter had appeared.

NULL carefully watched Miles.

He expected anger.

Maybe rage.

Maybe a direct order.

Instead…

Miles simply sat there.

Thinking.

Then he said,

“Well…”

“She’s his daughter.”

NULL waited.

Miles continued,

“She has the right to want revenge.”

NULL blinked.

That wasn’t the response he expected.

Miles looked back toward the report on his phone.

“But this…”

His expression immediately became colder.

“…is unacceptable.”

NULL swallowed.

Miles raised his eyes.

“Consider yourself lucky.”

NULL sat straighter.

“If this had worked for her…”

Miles paused.

Then said calmly,

“You wouldn’t have had a head by now.”

NULL’s face went pale again.

“I…”

He swallowed.

“I’m sorry.”

Miles placed the phone on the table.

“Good.”

NULL looked confused.

Miles leaned back.

“Then we can make this simple.”

NULL waited.

Miles continued,

“From today…”

“You don’t take clients.”

NULL stared.

“That…”

Miles raised one eyebrow.

NULL stopped.

Miles continued,

“From today…”

“You work only for me.”

NULL’s eyes widened.

“What?”