Outside the warehouse, the cold sea wind blew across the harbor.
Inside Warehouse 17, the air was heavy with tension.
Two powerful men stood facing each other.
On one side was Aryan Malhotra.
On the other stood the man feared across continents — Viktor Dragovich.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them blinked.
Finally Viktor broke the silence.
"You're younger than I expected."
Aryan replied calmly,
"And you're uglier than I imagined."
For a second the warehouse became completely silent.
Then Viktor laughed.
A slow, dangerous laugh.
"I like you already, Mr. Malhotra."
Aryan didn't smile.
"Let's skip the compliments."
"You wanted the chip."
Viktor nodded.
"Yes."
"Give it to me… and this war ends tonight."
Aryan tilted his head slightly.
"You came all the way to my city for a piece of metal?"
Viktor's smile faded.
"That 'piece of metal' contains everything."
"Every secret of my empire."
"Every weapon route."
"Every politician on my payroll."
Aryan said coldly,
"Exactly why you're not getting it."
Viktor slowly started walking around him.
Like a predator circling its prey.
"You're brave."
"But bravery can turn into stupidity very quickly."
Aryan didn't move.
"And threats can turn into funerals."
Viktor stopped walking.
For the first time, his eyes turned slightly darker.
"You think you're the hunter here?"
Aryan replied quietly,
"I know I am."
Viktor sighed dramatically.
"That's unfortunate."
He raised his hand slightly.
Outside the warehouse—
Suddenly dozens of armed men appeared from the shadows.
Snipers on rooftops.
Gunmen behind containers.
Black vans blocking every exit.
Inside the parked car, Anaya Sen saw everything.
Her heart skipped.
"We're surrounded…"
Inside the warehouse Viktor smiled again.
"You walked into my trap."
Aryan looked around calmly.
"You're right."
Viktor looked pleased.
"I always am."
But then Aryan did something unexpected.
He started laughing.
Viktor frowned.
"What's funny?"
Aryan looked directly into his eyes.
"You really think I came here unprepared?"
Before Viktor could react—
Suddenly the harbor lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the entire dock.
Then—
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the far end of the harbor.
Another one followed.
BOOM!
Viktor's men shouted in confusion.
"What's happening?!"
Aryan's voice cut through the chaos.
"My turn."
Suddenly dozens of black armored vehicles appeared from the dark streets.
Aryan's private army.
Helicopters circled above the harbor.
Powerful floodlights turned on.
Viktor's men were now the ones surrounded.
Viktor slowly looked around.
Then he smiled again.
But this time his smile was colder.
"Interesting…"
He looked back at Aryan.
"So the cobra has teeth."
Aryan replied quietly,
"And the dragon is finally in my cage."
For a moment the two men stared at each other again.
The war between them had officially begun.
But neither of them noticed something else.
Hidden inside the car—
Anaya's phone suddenly vibrated.
A message appeared on the screen.
Unknown number.
She opened it.
Her blood instantly ran cold.
The message contained only one sentence.
"Look behind you."
Slowly…
Anaya turned her head.
And her scream echoed across the harbor.
Because someone was already sitting in the back seat of the car.
Watching her.
Smiling.