Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby
Chapter 97: The Server of Darknet

Chapter 97: The Server of Darknet

The top three floors of Imperial Haven resembled a hotel, complete with a diverse range of rooms. From the outside, one might easily mistake the building for a luxury inn. But a closer inspection revealed the disturbing truth... this was no ordinary hotel. Its guests were not tourists or businessmen, but hardened criminals and gangsters, gathered under one roof in the name of anonymity and survival.

As the shadow team listened to the hushed conversations floating out from the rooms and lounges, they pieced together the true nature of the facility. Imperial Haven was the stronghold of a killer-for-hire syndicate operating under the same name... a safe haven for mercenaries, assassins, and fugitives from across the globe.

The organization’s leader was none other than Major General Tatiana Lebedeva, a former Russian military commander with a reputation for brilliance on the battlefield and ruthlessness off it. Her name sent a shiver through the ranks of both the criminal underworld and government intelligence networks. Now, it seemed, she commanded a different kind of army... one that killed not for country, but for coin.

The shadow guards also learned of the facility’s five subterranean levels.

On Level One, members could either accept missions or issue them. The variety was staggering... from providing discreet protection to assassination contracts, to thefts of priceless artefacts and even the acquisition of rare medical supplies. There were whispers that, occasionally, even government officials had visited the facility to issue covert missions under the radar.

Level Two served as a reward and transaction center. Members received their payment here, in either cash or the organization’s internal credit system... a digital ledger accepted only within Imperial Haven and used for services, luxuries, or storage. There was also a vault, available to anyone who could afford the rent. No questions were asked. This "no-questions" policy gave Imperial Haven a reputation for discretion and reliability. Wealthy clients often stored sensitive items here, well away from prying government eyes.

The lower three floors were strictly off-limits to most. Access required special authorization, and only high-ranking individuals or those summoned by Tatiana herself had the privilege of stepping into those levels. The shadow guards confirmed from overheard conversations that Tatiana resided on the fifth underground floor, which doubled as her command center. A few lucky operatives had seen her there... but none of them were present now.

After thoroughly investigating the first two underground levels and confirming the layout matched what they’d learned from above, the shadow guards moved deeper into the facility.

As they descended to Level Three, an inexplicable chill enveloped them. It wasn’t merely the drop in temperature. The very air was heavy... charged with tension. A suffocating silence blanketed the floor, broken only by the faint mechanical hums and the blinking lights of massive machines.

Rows upon rows of towering black server cabinets stood like silent sentinels, glowing with tiny lights... red, green, blue... blinking like a digital heartbeat in the shadows. Thick coils of cable snaked along the floor and ceiling, some bundled neatly, others chaotic like a nest of serpents. The entire space buzzed with power, secrecy, and something unspoken... something dangerous.

To the untrained eye, it was a technological labyrinth. A digital sanctuary.

Level Four was colder still, and the atmosphere darker in more ways than one. The fluorescent lighting cast an eerie bluish glow across the polished floor. The scent of metal, ozone, and something sterile... like a hospital... filled the air. Machines whirred and clicked rapidly, like thousands of angry wasps encased in steel.

Massive server towers lined the room, blinking faster than any human heartbeat. It felt like they had entered the nerve center of the organization... the true brain of Imperial Haven. A few screens flashed cascading lines of green code; others remained blank, like the shut eyes of sleeping sentinels.

In front of a particularly large screen, a man sat hunched over, fast asleep with his chin resting on his interlaced hands. Despite the urge to investigate further, the shadow guards didn’t disturb him. They slipped past silently, eyes always scanning for hidden threats.

Then, they found something unexpected. Level Five was... luxurious.

It was the last thing they had anticipated. Instead of servers and steel, they were greeted by a lavish living space. Soft carpets lined the floor. The walls were elegantly panelled. A large living room with plush couches and a fireplace opened into a fully stocked kitchen. There was a modern gym, a stylish office, an impressive library, and multiple bathrooms and bedrooms. Whoever lived here did so in opulence.

Through a large glass window in the kitchen, they spotted a woman cooking something quietly despite the late hour. She appeared to be in her mid-forties. Only the side of her face was visible, and something about her posture radiated calm confidence.

Sebastian cautiously approached to get a better look.

Just as he neared the doorway, the woman suddenly froze, her head turning slightly towards the door. Sensing her heightened perception, Sebastian cursed under his breath and instantly melted into the shadows, retreating without making a sound.

The guards regrouped silently.

Just as they were preparing to leave, Raphael noticed something peculiar. A massive painting of snow-capped mountains hung on the wall beside the library. When he touched it, the canvas shifted slightly. He tilted it further, and behind it, a hidden steel door with an electronic panel was revealed.

It didn’t stop them. The door opened into a vast underground parking space. More than twenty luxury vehicles... BMWs, Lamborghinis, Audis, Rolls-Royces were parked in organized rows. Their polished exteriors gleamed under the soft, white light. The entire floor was pristine, like a private collection rather than an active garage.

At the far end, they found an underground exit ramp... a tunnel gradually sloping upward. They followed it, cautiously and in complete silence. After about ten minutes, they encountered another security door. This one had a surveillance camera pointed toward the ramp.

Sebastian immediately contacted the U.S. team they had coordinated with. Within moments, the team confirmed the system was automatic... the door only opened for registered vehicles recognized by a digital scanner installed in the camera.

After a few tense minutes, the U.S. team successfully hacked the system remotely. The door slid open with a hiss of cold air.

They stepped into another underground parking space, though this one felt different. They could sense the natural ground above them, and with it... something else. A supernatural presence... subtle but unmistakable... hovered in the space above their heads, like a shadow waiting to awaken.

They did not linger.

Identifying the villa that stood above as a potential source of danger, they retreated without hesitation. No glances back. No hesitation.

Once outside the boundary of the villa, they regrouped in a dense patch of woods, confirming they were nearly half a mile away from Imperial Haven. After contacting Isadora, they rendezvoused at the agreed location and vanished into the night.

***

Meanwhile, Eleanor had slept soundly the night before... perhaps it was the vodka, or maybe the exhaustion of travel and adjusting to the new time zone in Russia. Either way, she hadn’t stirred once.

She awoke late the next morning, unbothered.

After a refreshing shower, she called for room service, requesting breakfast be brought to her suite. When her meal was done, she lounged for a bit before calling her shadow guards for a debriefing.

As Sebastian delivered the report, her mood changed. The mention of a possible vampire involved in the syndicate darkened her expression. She tapped a finger against her temple, deep in thought, but pushed the matter aside for the moment.

"I will take Raphael with me today," she said calmly. "He will drive. Choose two others to accompany me. But keep in mind... tonight, we go back to Imperial Haven. I want you all at full capacity."

Sebastian nodded. "Isadora will accompany you. She was on guard duty last night and still has her strength. I’ll be in the car, but I need to sleep if I’m to be at full strength tonight."

"Understood," Eleanor said, standing and walking toward the window. "Then rest at the hotel. No need to go with me. I’ll visit the first factory and return for lunch. After that, Raphael and Isadora can rest, and you’ll take their place for the other visit."

Sebastian bowed slightly. "Yes, ma’am. That would be best."

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