Lust System: Conquering the World Beauties

Chapter 438: Chapter 438 Crashing The Meeting

Two days later

Morning light poured into the penthouse kitchen, pale and calm, the kind of light that made everything look ordinary even when nothing about their lives was normal anymore. Liam stood by the island with a bowl of cereal in his hand, scrolling lazily through his phone. The city outside looked quieter than before. Fewer sirens. Fewer emergency broadcasts. Even the news anchors sounded confused these days. Less death, more tension. Like something was holding its breath.

His phone vibrated suddenly.

He glanced down.

Irina.

The message was short.

Come alone.

Below it was a location pin.

He stared at it for a few seconds, jaw tightening slightly. No greeting. No explanation. Just an order.

He placed the spoon inside the bowl and shifted it aside. The milk swirled quietly as he pushed it away. He turned his head toward the bedroom. The glass door was slightly open and he could see Lana curled up on the bed, still asleep. Her hair was spread across the pillow, her breathing slow and steady. She looked peaceful. Normal.

For a second he considered waking her.

Then he didn’t.

He walked toward the balcony quietly and stepped outside. The cool air hit his face. He slid the glass door shut behind him so it wouldn’t make noise. The city stretched below, high and distant.

He didn’t hesitate.

He stepped over the railing and dropped.

Wind rushed past him instantly, tugging at his clothes. A few floors down he spread his wings wide. The massive wings cut through the air smoothly, catching the current. He tilted his body and glided forward, following the direction of the map on his screen.

The wind felt sharp against his face. The city beneath him was still waking up. Cars moved like tiny insects. People walked unaware. They had no idea what kind of war was brewing above their heads.

Within minutes he reached the location.

It was an industrial part of the city, old warehouses and abandoned buildings. The place smelled like rust and oil. He folded his wings before landing, boots touching the ground without a sound. The wings disappeared behind him like they were never there.

He adjusted his coat and began walking the remaining distance.

Ahead of him, under the shadow of a broken streetlight, stood Irina. Beside her were Mikhail and Sergei. The three of them were deep in conversation, voices low but sharp.

Liam slowed down.

He didn’t announce himself.

He listened.

”We don’t need him,” Sergei said, his voice tight with irritation. His arms were folded across his broad chest, shoulders tense. ”He’s just going to be a dead weight.”

Irina’s head turned slightly. ”Dead weight?”

Sergei scoffed. ”Yes. We’ve handled worse without him.”

Irina’s eyes shifted to Mikhail. ”Even you?”

Mikhail lifted his hands slowly in a calming gesture. He looked more composed than Sergei but there was still hesitation in his voice. ”I’m sorry, Alpha, but Sergei might be right on this one. We can do this alone. No need to inform him. No need to carry him along. The wolves have always been a pack. We survive because we trust each other. Only each other.”

Sergei nodded firmly. ”We don’t bring outsiders into sensitive operations.”

Irina let out a short laugh. Not amused. More like tired.

”Well, guys,” she said calmly, ”sorry to disappoint you, but times are changing. Whether you like it or not. We need all the help we can get.”

She had barely finished speaking when the slow, steady sound of boots against concrete reached them.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

All three turned their heads.

Liam walked toward them like he had heard nothing. His expression was neutral, almost bored. His hands were in his pockets.

Sergei’s jaw tightened.

Mikhail’s eyes flicked between Irina and Liam.

Irina didn’t give Liam space to react.

She stepped toward him immediately. ”We received a crypted message,” she said quickly. ”There’s a meeting going on. Powerful people. Not just vampires. Others. It seems they’re planning something big.”

Liam raised a brow slightly. ”Crypted message.”

He repeated it like he was tasting the words.

Then he looked at her. ”From who?”

Irina rolled her eyes instantly. ”I’m not giving you my source.”

He stared at her.

”It’s legit,” she continued. ”They’ve never lied to me before.”

Sergei snorted under his breath but said nothing.

Liam thought about it for a moment. His eyes drifted toward the warehouse behind them. Dark windows. Quiet. Too quiet.

Finally he nodded once. ”Okay. So what’s the plan?”

Sergei couldn’t hold it in. ”The plan was to handle it without you.”

Liam looked at him slowly. No anger. Just a long look.

”Oh?” he said calmly. ”And how exactly were you going to do that?”

Mikhail stepped in before Sergei could respond. ”We infiltrate. Observe. If it’s small scale, we eliminate. If it’s large, we retreat and report.”

”Retreat?” Liam tilted his head slightly. ”You think vampires are gathering for tea?”

Sergei took a step forward. ”Watch your tone.”

Liam didn’t move.

Irina stepped between them before it escalated. ”Enough.”

Her voice was sharp now.

She looked at Liam. ”The message said the meeting is happening underground. Old subway tunnel. Decommissioned years ago. There’s supposed to be at least five high level figures present. Possibly more.”

”And you want to crash it,” Liam said.

”Yes.”

Mikhail exhaled slowly. ”We want to know what they’re planning. That’s all.”

Sergei muttered, ”For now.”

Liam’s eyes sharpened slightly. ”You don’t crash a meeting like that unless you’re ready for the backfire.”

Irina’s gaze hardened. ”We are already in a war.”

A brief silence settled between them.

The air felt heavy.

Liam looked at each of them carefully. Sergei’s hostility was obvious. Mikhail’s doubt was controlled but real. Irina stood firm.

He rubbed his chin lightly.

”How far is the tunnel entrance?” he asked.

Irina pointed toward the far end of the industrial yard. ”Half a kilometer. Hidden behind an old rail depot.”

”And we’re sure it’s tonight?”

”Yes.”

”And you’re sure it’s not bait?”

Irina paused.

That hesitation was small, but it was there.

Liam caught it.

Sergei saw it too.

Mikhail spoke quietly. ”There’s always a chance it’s bait.”

Liam nodded slowly. ”Good. At least we’re honest.”

He looked back at Irina. ”If this is a trap, it’s not meant for you.”

Irina narrowed her eyes slightly. ”What’s that supposed to mean?”

”It means,” Liam replied calmly, ”if someone wanted to eliminate the Alpha of a powerful pack, they wouldn’t send you a cryptic invitation. They’d send something more personal.”

Sergei clenched his jaw. ”You’re assuming too much.”

Liam glanced at him. ”Am I?”

Irina folded her arms now, studying Liam carefully. ”So what are you suggesting?”

Liam’s expression turned serious.

”We don’t walk in blind,” he said. ”We scout first. Quietly. No heroics. If I sense something off, we pull back.”

Sergei immediately shook his head. ”You don’t give orders here.”

Liam looked at him without blinking. ”I’m not giving orders. I’m suggesting survival.”

Irina held up her hand before Sergei could snap again.

She looked at Liam.

”Fine,” she said slowly. ”We scout.”

Sergei looked like he wanted to argue but held it in.

Liam nodded once.

”Then let’s move.”

The wind picked up slightly around them as they turned toward the direction of the rail depot. The industrial zone was silent, but the silence felt unnatural. Like something was watching.

As they started walking, Sergei fell slightly behind, close to Mikhail.

”You trust him?” Sergei muttered quietly.

Mikhail’s eyes stayed forward. ”I trust results.”

Ahead of them, Irina walked beside Liam.

She didn’t look at him, but her voice dropped low enough that only he could hear.

”If this goes wrong,” she said, ”don’t try to save everyone.”

Liam glanced at her.

She finally looked back at him.

”Save who matters.”

He didn’t answer.

But his eyes shifted briefly in the direction of the penthouse miles away.

Then forward again.

This woman really thinks he would save Mikhail or Sergei if things go wrong... Funny!