Ryan sat alone in the silence of his highly protected study room, bathed in the dim light of his monitors. The shadows around him seemed to pulse with the weight of his thoughts, as if the darkness itself was alive, mirroring the storm brewing inside him. He had built this empire with precision and care, a web of control that stretched into every corner of the world, but always from the shadows. His power was immense, but his strength lay in his secrecy. No one truly knew the full extent of what he was capable of—and that was exactly how he wanted it.
But now, Helena's words echoed in his mind. Iris' haunted eyes flashed in his memory.
"Is this the life she deserves?"
He had tried to convince himself that keeping Iris hidden, safe, was the best he could do for her. He had told himself that she was alive because of him, that as long as she stayed under his protection, she would survive. But something in Helena's desperate plea had stirred something deep inside him—something he had buried long ago.
Am I just keeping her alive, or am I keeping her trapped?
He stood up from his chair, his hands pressing against the desk as he stared down at the sleek surface, his mind turning over the possibilities. Iris was like a younger sister to him, someone he had sworn to protect. And yet, he knew her—knew the fire burning inside her that longed for freedom, for revenge. She hadn't said it out loud, but he had seen it in her eyes, the same way he had seen it in himself all those years ago.
The question wasn't whether he could take down the Black Phoenix Syndicate. He could. The question was whether he was willing to risk everything he had built to do it.
Ryan's jaw clenched. He had made sacrifices before, but this… this was different. If he made this move, if he revealed the full extent of his power, there would be no going back. The world would know who he truly was. And the shadows he had controlled for so long might turn against him.
But for Iris? For Helena?
Ryan's decision was made in an instant.
He pressed a hidden button beneath his desk, activating a secure channel. "Bring Helena and Iris to my study," he commanded the voice on the other end. "Now."
Helena and Iris entered the study together, both of them glancing around with curiosity and unease. They had been in Ryan's compound for days, but this was the first time either of them had been inside his private study. The room was unlike the rest of the cold, industrial spaces they had seen so far. It was dimly lit, filled with shelves of old books, maps, and screens that flickered with encrypted data. The room had a sense of power about it—like stepping into the lair of someone who controlled more than they could ever understand.
Ryan stood by the large window at the far end of the room, his back to them as he gazed out into the darkness beyond the glass. His posture was tense, but there was an undeniable air of command about him, as if the room itself bent to his will.
He turned slowly, his cold, calculating eyes meeting theirs, and gestured for them to sit. Helena and Iris exchanged a glance before moving toward the plush chairs positioned near the center of the room. The tension in the air was palpable.
"I wanted to ask you something," Ryan began, his voice low but commanding. His gaze settled on Iris, who shifted nervously in her seat.
Iris frowned, unsure of what to expect. "What is it?"
Ryan studied her for a moment, his eyes searching hers as if trying to peer into her very soul. His question came out of nowhere, blunt and direct. "Do you want to be free, Iris?"
Iris blinked, stunned by the suddenness of his question. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. She hadn't expected this—hadn't expected Ryan to even consider the possibility of her leaving. She had convinced herself long ago that this was her life now, that survival was all that mattered.
"No," she replied immediately, her voice firmer than she had intended. "I'm fine. I'm safe here. I don't need anything else."
But Ryan didn't look convinced. He stared at her, his eyes sharp and calculating, reading her like a book. And in that moment, he saw it—beneath the surface of her words, behind the walls she had built up over years of fear and survival. He saw the truth.
Iris did want to be free.
More than that, she wanted revenge. Revenge against the people who had destroyed her family, who had taken everything from her. She wanted to face the Black Phoenix Syndicate, not run from them. She wanted to end it—once and for all.
"You're lying," Ryan said softly, his voice devoid of accusation, but filled with certainty. "You want to be free. You want to take revenge on them."
Iris froze, her heart racing. She wanted to deny it, to tell him that he was wrong, that she was perfectly fine staying in the shadows under his protection. But she couldn't. Ryan had seen through her, seen the truth she hadn't even admitted to herself.
Her eyes flicked to the floor, unable to meet his gaze.
"I…" Iris started, but her voice faltered. After a long pause, she whispered, "Yes."
Helena watched the exchange in silence, her heart swelling with both relief and fear. She had known Iris wanted more than this life of hiding, but seeing her admit it—to Ryan, of all people—made it feel real. Tangible. Helena glanced at her brother, her stomach twisting in anticipation.
Ryan remained still for a few moments, his expression unreadable as he processed Iris' confession. Then, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
"I'll take care of it," he said, his voice calm, but filled with the weight of a king's decree.
Both Helena and Iris blinked in shock, their heads snapping toward him.
"What?" Helena asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
Ryan's lips curled into a small, confident smile—the kind of smile that sent chills down anyone's spine. "I said I'll take care of it."
Helena's heart raced as the realization hit her. Ryan was agreeing to take down the Black Phoenix Syndicate. He was going to do it—for Iris, for all of them.
Iris, however, wasn't as quick to celebrate. Her eyes filled with tension as the implications of what Ryan had just promised began to sink in. She had wanted this for so long—freedom, revenge—but now that it was within reach, she realized what it would cost.
She stared at Ryan, her voice trembling with fear. "But… Ryan… my lord… if you go after them, it will reveal your power. The world will know what you're capable of."
Ryan's expression didn't falter. He took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with cold determination as he looked down at Iris. "You don't need to worry about that."
Iris' eyes widened in disbelief. "But—"
Ryan raised a hand, silencing her. His gaze softened for a brief moment, and the kingly smile that spread across his lips was both reassuring and terrifying at the same time. It was the smile of a man who had already calculated every move, every outcome, and had come to a decision that no one could argue against.
"I've been hiding in the shadows for too long," Ryan said softly, his voice filled with a quiet strength. "If the world needs to see my power, then so be it. Let them see."
Helena and Iris exchanged a glance, both of them feeling the magnitude of his words, the weight of the decision he had just made. Ryan had always been careful, always cautious about revealing too much. But now, he was ready to step into the light. To show the world who he truly was.
Iris felt a mix of emotions swirl in her chest—relief, fear, hope, and a deep, overwhelming gratitude. But even as she processed everything, she couldn't shake the sense of dread that had settled in the pit of her stomach. This wasn't just about her anymore. If Ryan went through with this, it would change everything. For all of them.
Ryan turned away from them, his back facing the window as he gazed out into the dark horizon. "For now, both of you rest. I'll handle the rest."
His tone left no room for argument, and the finality in his words made it clear that the decision had been made. The Black Phoenix Syndicate would fall. And when it did, the world would know the true power of the man they called The Lord.
Helena and Iris exchanged one last glance, a mix of excitement and fear flashing in their eyes. They had asked for this, they had pushed Ryan to make this decision, but now that it was happening, they couldn't help but feel the enormity of what was to come.
Ryan's smile lingered, a kingly smile that promised victory—but at what cost?
End of Chapter 29