Chapter 3 - The Bernese Oberland
The Jyn family compound in the Bernese Oberland was less of a house and more of an ancient stone fortress modernized with modern glass, steel, and military-grade defense systems. Nestled deep within a valley surrounded by towering, snow-capped Alpine peaks, it was accessible only by a private helicopter pad or a single, heavily guarded mountain road.
When the helicopter touched down on the pad at dawn, the air was crisp, cold, and pure.
Nia stepped out, holding Leo close in a heavy down jacket. Thor trotted out beside them, his thick fur bristling against the mountain wind. He took a deep breath of the Alpine air, his tail giving a satisfied, heavy thud against the helicopter runner.
"Welcome to the Oberland," Jyn said, standing beside her as guards in unmarked grey uniforms secured the perimeter.
"It's breathtaking," Nia admitted, staring up at the sheer granite cliffs towering above the estate. "It looks... impenetrable."
"It has to be," Jyn replied. "This valley has belonged to my family since 1884. It was designed to withstand sieges."
They were greeted at the grand oak doors of the main house by an older gentleman in a pristine suit—Grandfather Lin, Jyn's senior advisor and the keeper of the family contracts. Lin had sharp, intelligent eyes framed by silver hair, and his presence carried an air of ancient authority.
Lin bowed deeply to Jyn, but when his eyes landed on Leo, his stern expression softened instantly into one of profound reverence.
"The young master," Lin murmured, stepping forward. He looked at Nia with deep respect. "Miss Santos. It is an honor to finally welcome you to the ancestral seat. We have waited a long time for an heir."
"He's just Leo," Nia said defensively, tightening her grip on her son. "He's sixteen months old. He likes mashed bananas and drawing with crayons. He's not a chess piece in a mob war."
Lin smiled gently, not offended by her tone. "In our world, Miss Santos, an heir is never just a child. He is the future. And that makes him the most valuable treasure in the world."
Thor let out a soft bark, stepping between Lin and Nia. He dropped the yellow squeaky duck right onto Lin’s polished leather shoe.
Lin looked down at the duck, then at Thor, a rare, genuine chuckle escaping his lips. "Ah, Thor has chosen his charge. If the great hound protects the boy, then no force on earth will break through these walls."
They were shown to their quarters—a magnificent suite overlooking the valley, complete with a nursery, a private balcony, and state-of-the-art security monitors discreetly integrated into the wooden wall paneling.
That afternoon, while Leo napped under the watchful eye of Thor—who slept on the rug beside the crib like a dark stone gargoyle—Jyn called Nia down to his study.
The room was lined with thousands of leather-bound books, floor-to-ceiling glass windows facing the mountains, and a massive mahogany desk covered in maps, digital monitors, and legal documents.
"Sit, please," Jyn said.
Nia sat in a high-backed leather chair across from him. "Tell me what happens now, Jyn. We're in Switzerland. Are we just going to hide here forever?"
"No," Jyn said, setting down a thick parchment document bound with red ribbon and sealed with black wax. "We are going to force the Chong family to surrender."
"How?"
Jyn pointed to the parchment. "This is the Grand Charter of 1922. It is the foundational agreement between the six major trade families of Asia and Europe. Under Article 7, if a family patriarch produces a legitimate male heir, all active blood feuds and territorial disputes must be brought before the Council of Elders for arbitration within thirty days."
Nia frowned. "Arbitration? You mean like a court trial?"
"A underworld court," Jyn clarified. "The Council consists of five neutral patriarchs from old families in London, Tokyo, Marseilles, New York, and Rio. Once I present Leo to the Council as my blood heir, the Chongs will be legally barred from attacking us. If they attempt to harm Leo or you after the declaration, the other five families are contractually obligated to combine their forces and erase the Chong syndicate from existence."
Nia’s mouth went dry. "So... we have to take Leo to this Council?"
"Yes," Jyn said. "In two weeks, the Council will convene in Venice. I must present Leo, along with a certified DNA ledger, to the Elders."
"And what will the Chongs do in the meantime?"
"They know about Venice," Jyn’s face hardened. "They know that once we reach that table, they lose everything. Which means the next fourteen days are the only window they have left to destroy us. They will try everything to prevent us from reaching Italy."
Before Nia could process the weight of his words, the red emergency phone on Jyn’s desk began to ring—a sharp, shrill sound that sliced through the room.
May you like
Jyn picked it up instantly. "Speak."
Elena’s panicked voice echoed through the speaker. "Boss! We have a breach at the lower gate! Armored transport trucks just rammed the outer perimeter! It’s Chong's mercenary unit—they didn't wait for Venice!"
