Transmigrated: I Became My Nemesis's Woman novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Phantom has declared war

"Achoo!"

Xander sneezed for the second time that evening, prompting Edward to look at him with concern.

"Are you sure you’re not coming down with a cold?" the old man asked.

Xander shook his head as he adjusted his posture in the chair.

"I’m fine."

Edward raised an unconvinced eyebrow but chose not to press the matter.

"Now," he said, setting his teacup aside, "would you mind telling me what brings you here, my dear grandson? You rarely visit me at this hour unless there’s a family gathering."

He had been enjoying a quiet evening in his study when Butler Ben informed him of Xander’s unexpected arrival. The visit had caught him by surprise, and he couldn’t help but wonder what was important enough to bring Xander over unannounced.

Xander met his grandfather’s gaze and let out a measured sigh.

"What is our family’s connection to Black Veil?"

The question caused Edward’s expression to stiffen almost instantly.

"What about Black Veil?" he asked, his tone noticeably more guarded.

Xander leaned back slightly, carefully observing the older man’s reaction.

"We uncovered information about an intercepted communication that forced Logan to leave the country shortly after my parents’ deaths."

He paused before continuing.

"The message was linked to someone using the codename ’Architect.’ After tracing the lead, we discovered it pointed back to Black Veil."

Silence filled the room.

Edward’s face changed in a way Xander had never seen before.

"So you’re saying..." Edward said slowly, "...you believe Black Veil was involved in what happened to your parents?"

Xander nodded.

"That’s where the evidence is leading."

The next second, Edward slammed his fist against the armrest of his chair.

"Impossible."

He rose to his feet, agitation written across his face.

"He promised me he would stay away from them. He swore he had cut all ties with her."

Xander’s eyes narrowed immediately.

The old man’s words had slipped out too naturally to ignore.

"So you do know them."

Edward froze.

Only then did he realize he had revealed more than he intended.

For years, he had believed everything connected to Black Veil belonged to the past—a Chapter that had been buried and forgotten by everyone involved.

But looking into his grandson’s unwavering eyes, he understood that the past had finally caught up with them.

And this time, it was demanding answers.

Edward took a deep breath and sigh. "Black Veil belongs to your Maternal grandfather. He is the one leading the organization"

Xander’s eyes darkened, his aura turning so oppressive that even Edward felt the sudden shift.

"Why wasn’t I told about this?" Xander asked, his voice low and controlled.

Edward pressed his lips into a thin line before answering. "Susan didn’t want you to know. She never wanted you to learn about the family that tried to kill her simply because she chose your father."

Phantom and Black Veil were sworn enemies, two of the most powerful organizations in the underworld. While Phantom believed in operating within certain principles and legal boundaries whenever possible, Black Veil thrived on brutality and lawlessness.

They were destined to remain bitter rivals. However, fate had other plans.

Everything changed when Lucas saved Susan from the man her father had chosen for her—a ruthless individual who intended to exploit her for his own gain. Amid the chaos and bloodshed, the two fell deeply in love, defying the hatred and rivalry that separated their worlds.

Silence settled over the room.

Xander remained motionless, but the coldness in his expression intensified. He finally understood why his mother had always avoided speaking about her past. Every question he had asked as a child had been brushed aside with a smile or a change of subject.

"So Black Veil wanted her dead because she married my father?" Xander asked.

Edward nodded grimly. "To them, she was a traitor. Susan walked away from her family, their power, and everything they stood for. Her marriage to Lucas was the final insult."

"And they never stopped hunting her."

"No." Edward’s voice was heavy. "They only became more patient."

Xander clenched his fists. Memories that had never made sense before suddenly fit together—the constant relocations, the heavily guarded homes, and the mysterious bodyguards who always seemed to appear whenever danger was near.

"My parents knew this all along," he muttered.

"They did," Edward replied. "Your father built Phantom into what it is today not only to protect innocent people but to protect Susan and the family they created together."

A dangerous smile tugged at the corner of Xander’s lips.

"So the people responsible for tormenting my mother are still alive."

Edward immediately recognized that expression. It was the same one Lucas wore before declaring war.

"Xander," he warned, "don’t act recklessly. There must be misunderstanding. Back Veil is a dangerous organizatio. They’ve been operating in the shadows for decades, and they have allies in places you’d never expect."

Someone was about to pay the price.

Hunter surveyed the rows of weapon components and frowned. "This operation is bigger than we expected."

Derek placed compact charges on key machinery. "Once these go off, they won’t be rebuilding anytime soon."

Veronica hacked into the facility’s internal system and smiled at the screen.

"I’ve erased their blueprints and corrupted the production files. Even if someone survives, they’ll have to start from scratch."

"Perfect," Hunter replied.

A sudden alarm echoed through the building.

"We’ve been spotted!" Derek warned.

Hunter remained calm. "Stick to the plan."

The team split up, drawing the pursuing guards away from one another before regrouping near the command center.

Inside, a middle-aged man in a tailored gray suit frantically stuffed documents into a briefcase.

Hunter kicked the door open.

"The Architect," he said coldly.

The man froze but quickly forced a smile. "You don’t know who you’re dealing with."

"No," Veronica corrected as she stepped inside with her weapon raised. "You don’t know who you’re dealing with."

The Architect reached for a concealed pistol, but Derek was faster. He knocked the weapon from the man’s hand and pinned him against the desk.

"It’s over," Derek said.

Within seconds, Hunter secured the Architect’s wrists with restraints.

"Target captured," Hunter reported through the encrypted channel.

At that exact moment, the demolition charges detonated across the underground factory.

The deafening blasts shook the entire compound as assembly lines collapsed, storage rooms erupted in flames, and stacks of illegal weapons were reduced to twisted metal.

Smoke billowed into the night sky while chaos consumed the hideout.

Hunter glanced once at the burning facility before escorting the Architect toward the extraction point.

As the helicopter lifted off, Veronica looked down at the inferno and smiled.

"Boss wanted them to remember this lesson."

Hunter’s expression remained unreadable.

"They will," he said. "By sunrise, Black Veil will know that Phantom has declared war."