Chapter 167: A Silent Lockdown

Chris kept his gaze on Volkov, his expression unreadable. Beneath the surface, calculations ran through his mind like clockwork.

Without turning his head, he leaned slightly toward Ethan, his voice a whisper only his closest confidant could hear.

"Lock down the White House. Don't make it loud."

Ethan didn't hesitate. He gave a slight nod, his hand casually tapping his phone screen twice—an encrypted signal to Blackwood operatives embedded within the security detail.

Within seconds, silent measures were set in motion. All external exits were secured. No one was leaving without clearance. Communications were subtly rerouted through a private Blackwood-controlled channel. The usual surveillance feeds remained online for appearances, but behind the scenes, Chris's own intelligence unit took over monitoring.

No alarms. No sirens. Just control.

Volkov had walked into Chris's domain. And now, he wasn't leaving until Chris was done with him.

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The Negotiation Begins

Volkov adjusted his cufflinks, his posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp. He wasn't a fool—he could sense the shift in atmosphere.

"You don't waste time, do you?" he said smoothly.

Chris smirked. "Neither do you. So let's not pretend this is a casual diplomatic visit."

Volkov exhaled, leaning forward. "The situation at the border cannot continue. You know this."

Chris held his gaze. "Then pull back your forces."

A pause. The Russian President tilted his head. "And what do I get in return?"

Chris rested his hands on the table. "You get to keep what's yours. But if you step beyond that line, I'll take everything from you."

Mikhailov, the Russian strategist, spoke up for the first time. "You assume we fear escalation, Mr. Blackwood. But Russia does not bow to ultimatums."

Chris's smirk didn't fade. "You mistake this for an ultimatum. It's a fact."

The room was silent for a moment. Then Volkov let out a low chuckle. "Interesting."

Ethan's phone buzzed once—an encrypted update. The lockdown was fully in place. No one in. No one out.

Chris saw the subtle confirmation in Ethan's posture and leaned back slightly. "So, Volkov, tell me… what are you really here for?"

The Russian President interlocked his fingers. "To see if you're as dangerous as they say."

Chris's smirk widened just a fraction. "And what do you think?"

Volkov exhaled, the faintest ghost of amusement in his expression. "I think… this is going to be an interesting night."