Chapter 12: The Black Phoenix

The study fell into complete silence.

Sebastian stared at the black card in his hand.

Only six words were written across it.

"The real game begins."

Arthur's face instantly turned pale.

"Black Phoenix..." he whispered.

Sabrina noticed the fear in his eyes.

"Grandpa, you know them?"

Arthur slowly sat down.

"I prayed you would never hear that name."

"Who are they?" Sebastian asked.

"An underground organization."

"For decades they have manipulated wealthy families, corporations, and even governments."

"The Lynn family was only one of their puppets."

Sebastian exchanged a serious glance with Sabrina.

Everything they had fought until now had only been the beginning.

"Why would they target us?" Sabrina asked.

Arthur closed his eyes.

"Because your father discovered their greatest secret."

"And he paid with his life."

Before anyone could ask another question, Sebastian's assistant rushed into the room.

"Mr. Ford!"

"Our headquarters have been hacked."

"All confidential files are being deleted."

Sebastian stood immediately.

"Get the cybersecurity team online."

"Already done."

"They're trying to stop the attack, but whoever is behind it is extremely skilled."

Half an hour later, Ford Group headquarters became a battlefield.

Computer screens flashed red warning messages.

Employees ran from one department to another.

"Server Three is down!"

"We've lost access to financial records!"

"Someone's inside our system!"

Sebastian entered the control room.

"Status report."

"The attack originated from overseas."

"We can't trace the source."

"Restore the backup servers."

"They're already corrupted."

Sebastian clenched his fists.

"This wasn't random."

"Someone planned this for months."

Meanwhile, Sabrina remained beside Arthur at the mansion.

She noticed him quietly holding his chest.

"Grandpa, are you alright?"

"Just tired."

"You're lying."

"You've been hiding your illness from everyone."

Arthur smiled weakly.

"An old man can only hide it for so long."

"Promise me something."

"Anything."

"If anything happens to me... don't leave Sebastian alone."

"He has spent his entire life pushing people away."

"He's finally beginning to trust someone."

Sabrina lowered her head.

"I'll protect him... if he'll let me."

Late that evening, Sebastian returned home exhausted.

The cyberattack had finally been stopped.

But several confidential company projects had disappeared.

"We're dealing with professionals," he admitted.

"This organization has unlimited resources."

As everyone gathered in the living room, the mansion suddenly lost power.

Every light went out.

Darkness swallowed the house.

"Stay where you are!" Sebastian ordered.

The emergency generators failed to activate.

A chilling voice echoed through the mansion's speakers.

"Good evening... Ford family."

"Who are you?" Sebastian demanded.

The mysterious voice laughed softly.

"A friend."

"Or perhaps... your greatest nightmare."

"You should've stopped investigating the Lynn family."

"Now you've attracted our attention."

Sebastian calmly pulled out his pistol.

"Show yourself."

"Not tonight."

"Tonight is simply... a warning."

The voice continued.

"Sebastian Ford..."

"Sabrina Scott..."

"Only one of you will survive this game."

The speakers suddenly went silent.

A few seconds later, electricity returned.

Everyone looked around.

Nothing appeared disturbed.

Except...

A single black feather rested on the center table.

Arthur immediately recognized it.

"Black Phoenix," he whispered.

"They've entered the mansion."

Sebastian quickly ordered security to search every room.

After twenty minutes, the chief guard returned.

"No intruders found."

"Impossible," Sebastian replied.

"Someone left this feather."

"There's something else," the guard added nervously.

"Chairman's personal safe has been opened."

Arthur's expression changed.

"The diary..."

"It's gone."

Sabrina's heart skipped a beat.

"Grandpa... the notebook from the bank?"

"Yes."

"The only complete record of everything... has been stolen."

Just then, Sebastian's phone vibrated.

A new message appeared from an unknown number.

Attached was a photograph.

It showed the stolen diary lying on a wooden table.

Below it was another message:

"If you want the truth... come alone tomorrow night."

"Bring Sabrina."

"No police."

"Or the diary burns... along with everyone you love."