Chapter: Chapter 46: The Commander?The table was dead silent.Every pair of eyes was locked on Jaxon, but Jaxon’s eyes were fixed squarely on Alexander. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on — Alexander was keeping a low profile, hiding who he truly was. But Jaxon’s mind burned with one question: At what cost?Was his reason truly worth sitting there and swallowing insults from people not even worthy to shine his boots, let alone breathe the same air?Seraphina noticed Jaxon’s gaze and followed it. The moment her eyes landed on Alexander, something clicked in her head — faster than in anyone else at the table.And then it hit her like lightning.Alexander… was the Commander?It made no sense. And yet… it explained everything and nothing all at once. Her thoughts tangled. How could her quiet, seemingly unremarkable husband be that man? The man whose name echoed through military history?She remembered whispers, rumors — of a man called the Green Knight, the undefeated strategist of the Eastern Front, t
Last Updated: 2025-08-11
Chapter: Chapter 45 – Dinner with WolvesThe Lockwoods were ushered into the Intercontinental Royale with all the reverence of crowned monarchs. The hotel staff bowed, bellboys whisked away their luggage, and the concierge personally escorted them to the penthouse floor. Champagne was poured the instant they stepped into their suites; silk curtains billowed in the soft breeze of the ocean-view balconies.It was luxury the Lockwoods thought they deserved… and now they reveled in it.Later that evening, Lady Lockwood summoned everyone for a family dinner in the grand, chandelier-lit restaurant of the hotel. The table was long, polished to a mirror shine, laden with silverware and enough gourmet dishes to feed an army.Alexander sat quietly at the far end, as though the whole spectacle were none of his concern. Beside him, Seraphina sipped her wine in silence.The conversation started politely enough. But soon… the fangs came out.“Seraphina,” one of the Lockwood elders began between chews of roasted lamb, “why have you refused
Last Updated: 2025-08-09
Chapter: Chapter 44 – The Silent King’s MoveAlexander stood alone in the parking lot, hands tucked in his pockets, as the Lockwoods stormed off — pride bruised, anger simmering.This wasn’t his problem.He didn’t owe them anything.Walk away, he told himself.But then… he smirked. “I’ll join you in a second,” he’d told Seraphina earlier. “Just need to make a quick call.”Once the coast was clear, he pulled out his phone and dialed a secure number.The line clicked. “Hello, Master Caspian,” came the warm, measured voice of Geoffrey — his butler, his shadow, the one man in the world Alexander trusted without question. “Geoffrey,” Alexander said calmly. “How much would I need to buy to become the majority shareholder of the Intercontinental Royal? And I mean immediately. Two minutes, max.”There was a pause.Then Geoffrey’s voice shifted gears — into that smooth, surgical rhythm of high finance.“Based on current valuation,” Geoffrey began, “the Intercontinental Royal is owned by a conglomerate of luxury investors. The Fisher F
Last Updated: 2025-08-07
Chapter: Chapter 43 – The Intercontinental Royal Incident“Jaxon, what’s wrong?” Natasha rushed to her fiancé, panic flickering across her face.“I think he dropped something,” Alexander answered calmly, almost casually — before Jaxon could speak for himself.Natasha blinked, confusion written all over her. The same expression mirrored on every Lockwood face. Their minds scrambled for answers, trying to process what they had just witnessed.“Yeah… I dropped something,” Jaxon stammered, his voice uneven. “Thought I… thought I dropped something.” His eyes, however, never left Alexander’s.Alexander’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk — a silent thank you that only Jaxon would understand.A collective gasp of relief rippled through the group. The explanation, flimsy though it was, was infinitely more believable than the truth. No one pressed further. Not yet.Lady Lockwood cleared her throat sharply, eager to sever the awkward silence strangling the air.“Alright,” she said briskly. “Why don’t we get going? We’ve arranged for your stay at
Last Updated: 2025-08-05
Chapter: Chapter 42 – The Return of the CreedSeven months had passed since the Maverick Contract saga. The Lockwood estate, though as grand and orderly as ever, buzzed with restless anticipation. A new storm loomed on the horizon, whispered in hushed conversations and stolen glances — Natasha Lockwood was coming home. And she wasn’t alone.“Seraphina,” Lady Lockwood’s voice cut through the quiet like a blade. Her tone was calm, but laced with the authority of a matriarch who commanded obedience. “Get ready. You’ll be coming with us — as an elder of the Lockwood family — to welcome your sister and her fiancé at the airport.”Seraphina froze where she stood. Her face betrayed what her lips dared not utter.Lady Lockwood’s gaze sharpened. “What? Do you have a problem?”Seraphina swallowed her words. The last thing she wanted, barely weeks after becoming the youngest elder in Lockwood history, was to say something that would drag her back to the rank of a nobody. But deep inside, resentment churned like molten fire.“No… not really,
Last Updated: 2025-08-03
Chapter: Chapter 41: Elder by force “I must have heard wrong,” Lady Charlotte Lockwood said, leaning forward, eyes narrowing. “No, Grandmother,” Seraphina replied steadily. “You heard me right. I’ll accept the position as project head for the Maverick contract… on one condition.” She paused. “I want to be made an elder of the Lockwood family.” Silence fell. Lady Lockwood froze. She had expected Seraphina to demand something bold, outrageous even—but this… this was beyond anything she could have imagined. It wasn’t audacious. It was unthinkable. “You must be out of your mind. That’s insane,” she finally managed to stutter. In all her long years, no one had ever dared request something so absurd. Seraphina said nothing. Her eyes flicked toward Alexander, searching for silent reassurance. Her heart pounded wildly, her nerves frayed like exposed wire. What the hell am I doing? she asked herself. She didn’t know why she was trusting him—she had no reason to. Except for the fact that Alexander Chase, her enigmatic hu
Last Updated: 2025-07-07
Chapter: Chapter 226: The Hunter and the HuntedBack to the present.Johnny stood outside the facility, his wrist still locked to Darren Zemo's — and on the rooftop of the nearby building, standing completely still, was the one person he had hoped he wouldn't have to face.The masked sniper. Hawkeye.Darren looked between them, a nervous smile appearing. "Well... this is awkward."Johnny glanced at him. "You said you avoided all the cameras.""Of course I did.""Then explain why we're suddenly being shot at."Darren gave a small shrug. "Didn't you see me avoid them? Every visible camera was avoided."Johnny stared at him. Then he sighed. "You're unbelievable."Darren's smile widened slightly, because he knew Johnny didn't have the whole story. When they'd moved through that dark corridor, Darren hadn't ignored the cameras out of carelessness — he'd led Johnny through the darkness deliberately, knowing what was hidden inside it. Night-vision cameras. Cameras that didn't need light. Cameras that saw everything. He had led Johnny str
Last Updated: 2026-08-30
Chapter: Chapter 225: HawkeyeMia smiled. A slow, dangerous smile that made his stomach flip.She shifted her weight, and he felt the heat of her body settle against him—Beep.A crackle of static from his earpiece.He tried to ignore it. Not now. Not now. Not now."Hawkeye, are you there?"The voice broke through the haze, and he felt reality crashing back down around him. His muscles tensed. His focus fractured.He tried to push through it, to stay in the moment, but the voice came again, sharper this time."We have a Code Black. I repeat, we have a Code Black. The host has been captured. Mr. Darren Zemo is in trouble."His Boss.He sat up so fast Mia almost fell off. His hands moved to his earpiece, pressing it firmly against his ear. "Talk to me. What happened?""Surveillance caught it on night-vision. Darren led someone through the dark corridor."He straightened. It was him. It had to him. Only he could pull of something like this.Mia's fingers found his shoulder, soft and coaxing. "Hey." Her voice was hone
Last Updated: 2026-08-28
Chapter: Chapter 224: The DistractionA few minutes earlier, the masked man was in bed with Mia.And she was in control.It had started like a game. A dangerous one.She'd heard them talking outside her door earlier. She'd caught fragments of a conversation she wasn't supposed to hear. *"Take care of the guy. Quietly. No witnesses."Her room door had been cracked open just enough. Just enough to see the masked man walking past. Just enough to know he was the biggest threat to Johnny's plan.She'd pulled him into her room when he walked past, her fingers curling around his wrist, her lips brushing against his ear with a whisper that sent shivers down his spine.She was been willing to sleep with a stranger if it meant saving Johnny.The thought made her stomach churn.What does that say about me?The sniper on the other hand, had spent his entire life controlling every situation he entered — stronger, faster, better trained than almost anyone around him. Yet here he was, standing in front of a woman who seemed completely u
Last Updated: 2026-08-28
Chapter: Chapter 223: CuffsThe elevator doors slid shut, sealing them in. Johnny pressed the muzzle of his gun against the back of Darren's skull. Cold steel against panicked flesh."Wait! Wait, please don't shoot! Please don't shoot!" Darren's voice cracked, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat dripped down his forehead, catching the dim elevator light."Where is Margaret?" Johnny's voice was flat. No emotion. That scared Darren more than yelling would have.The moment he heard the name, Darren understood. This wasn't about the auction anymore — this man had broken into the Black Circle, fought through security, threatened a billionaire, and escaped from captivity because of one woman. Completely insane."The girl..." He forced a laugh that came out weak. "You mean the crown jewel?""Where is she?"Darren swallowed. Even now, even after everything, this man wasn't asking about money or revenge. Just the girl."If I tell you, you're just going to shoot me right after—""Or I can just blow your brains out an
Last Updated: 2026-08-26
Chapter: Chapter 222: The Hunter ReturnsThe room was silent — not peaceful silence, but the kind that came after something terrible had happened. Twelve men had entered expecting to break one person.Eleven of them were now lying unconscious on the floor.Johnny stood in the middle of the room breathing steadily. His shirt was torn, his knuckles bruised, his body carrying small injuries from the fight. But he looked completely fine.The men around him looked like they'd been hit by a truck — one buried halfway under a broken table, another slumped against the wall, two more tangled together on the floor with their weapons scattered beside them.He looked around and sighed. "That was easier than I expected." Not arrogance. Just the truth.These men were trained, dangerous by any normal standard. But the first one had rushed him with a bat and Johnny had simply stepped aside, grabbed his arm, and used his own momentum against him.The second came from behind — Johnny heard the movement without turning, drove an elbow into his
Last Updated: 2026-08-25
Chapter: Chapter 221: Room 202The corridor stretched ahead of them, dim and silent.Darren Zemo walked briskly, his polished shoes clicking against the concrete floor. Behind him, the masked sniper followed, his one good hand resting on his sidearm.From behind them, muffled sounds drifted through the walls.Thuds. Crashes. Grunts.Darren's pace didn't slow."Make sure you do a full security sweep when this is over," he said over his shoulder. "I want to know how he got into the building."The sniper nodded silently.They passed room 195. Room 197. Room 200.The sounds from behind grew louder. A crash. A shout. The unmistakable sound of something heavy hitting the floor.Darren stopped.He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose."Please," he said, his voice tight, "go back there and tell them to stop making noise. I have guests. There's an after-party. I don't want any disturbances."The sniper inclined his head and turned back.He walked past room 202. Room 203. Room 204.The fighting sounds grew closer with eac
Last Updated: 2026-08-24
The Gambling System
In a world where gambling dictates status, power, and survival, Peter Donovan—a seventeen-year-old delivery boy who despises gamblers—has spent his life avoiding risks. But when his ailing mother’s life hangs by a thread, Peter is left with no choice but to enter the high-stakes world he’s always loathed. Desperation forces his hand, and Peter bets everything—only to lose it all.
Beaten, broken, and left for dead in a rain-soaked alley, Peter prepares to fade into the darkness. But as the last of his hope slips away, the impossible happens.
A faint glow pierces through his pain—a semi-transparent interface appearing before his eyes.
[System Initialization... Loading T.I.M.E Protocol]
Welcome, Time Gambler.
Welcome to the Gambling System]
Now Peter can wager minutes, memories, even years of his life—to manipulate fate itself. But every second spent is a second he'll never get back.
To save his mother, to defeat the gamblers who destroyed him, Peter must master the cruelest game of all: time.
One wrong move, and his future disappears. One right one, and he might just rewrite destiny.
Read
Chapter: Chapter 141: His handChapter 141For a second, Johnny did not breathe.The sniper’s body dropped.It happened fast, but not fast enough.He saw it.The man falling backwards, arms loose, boots scraping uselessly against the wall. The broken glass around the window frame caught the sunlight as the body passed through it. And there—still clenched tight in the tactical vest—Johnny’s hand.His hand.They fell together.Fourteen floors.Johnny leaned over the window before he could stop himself.The wind hit his face hard. It smelled like dust, smoke, and something burnt from the fight. Far below, the street looked unreal. Small cars. Tiny people.Then—A distant sound.A heavy, sickening impact.Even from that height, he heard it.A dull crack against concrete.Johnny’s stomach twisted.For a moment, everything went quiet.Then the pain arrived.It did not build slowly.It exploded.“Aaaahhh!”He fell backward into the room, clutching his arm. Or what was left of it.Blood poured from the open stump in violen
Last Updated: 2026-03-01
Chapter: Chapter 146: The FightThe room felt smaller the moment the sniper stepped forward. Wind pushed through the shattered windows behind him, carrying dust and the distant echo of traffic far below. The building creaked from all the damage Johnny had caused getting here. They were alone. No civilians. No witnesses. Just broken walls and unfinished business. The sniper raised the pistol. Johnny moved first. Bang. The muzzle flashed bright orange. Johnny twisted sideways. The first bullet sliced past his ribs. Bang. The second round slammed into his upper arm. Pain burst through him like fire under the skin. He didn’t slow down. He charged. The sniper fired again. Bang. This one hit his shoulder. The impact spun him slightly—but he kept pushing forward, teeth gritted, ignoring the burn as flesh already began stitching itself back together. [Instant Health Restoration Activated] Johnny grabbed a metal stool from beside the wall and hurled it. The sniper shot it mid-air.
Last Updated: 2026-03-01
Chapter: Chapter 145The final rotation slowed...Click.The tile locked.A pause — stretched too long.Peter leaned in.And then — the number flared into view.NEGATIVE FOUR MULTIPLIER.–4XThe red pulsed across the board like a warning siren, deep and final.Peter stared.Froze.Time stopped.“What the fuck...” he whispered, the words falling out of him like broken glass.The crowd gasped — not just surprised, but horrified. A ripple of stunned silence spread through the arena. Even the anchor didn’t speak — for a moment.Then:“...OH NO.”The Anchor's voice cracked with disbelief. “Peter Donovan has landed a –4X! That’s the highest penalty on the board!”Gasps turned to roars. Shouts. Chaos.It was like someone had thrown a match into dry brush — disbelief ignited into pandemonium. The arena screens zoomed in on Peter’s face, pale and stunned. His chest rose and fell, sharp and uneven.Across from him, Chloe didn’t blink. She didn’t smirk.She simply tilted her head. One degree.As if saying: Now we’re
Last Updated: 2025-06-12
Chapter: Chapter 144: What the fuckChloe didn’t hesitate.Her eyes flicked briefly to the board—just once, just long enough to assess the remaining tiles. 5x unflipped, Six unknowns.But unlike Peter, she didn’t pause to consult a system. She didn’t flinch.She moved.A single, fluid motion: her hand rose, fingers curved like a conductor mid-symphony, then drifted downward and tapped tile 4.The crowd barely had time to react before the hum returned.Click—click—click.The flipping began.Peter leaned in.He watched—not the tile, but her.There was no tremble in her hand. No shift in her gaze. But her breath — there it was. A single, almost imperceptible hitch in her inhale. Not fear. Not panic.Just... calculation failing to resolve.Click—click—click.The rotations slowed.Light glinted off the edges of the spinning tile like silver teeth waiting to bite.Click.It locked.A cold pulse spread through the board.NEGATIVE ONE MULTIPLIER.–1XThe number glowed red. A soft, almost mocking tone accompanied the display. An
Last Updated: 2025-06-11
Chapter: Chapter 143: 4x"System, give me the probability odds of the remaining tiles landing a 4X."---[PROBABILITY VISION ACTIVATED]Calculating...Using Probability Vision for 8 tiles will cost 24 minutes.Would you like to proceed?{YES/NO}---“Yes.”---[TIME BANK: 121 minutes → 97 minutes][Skill Activated: Probability Vision (Level 3)]Calculating...---Tile 1: 30%Tile 3: 17%Tile 4: 11%Tile 5: 18%Tile 7: 12%Tile 8: 25%Tile 9: 9%Tile 10: 22%---Peter’s eyes flicked across the shimmering data overlay on his display, absorbing it all in a heartbeat. Sweat prickled beneath his collar, but he kept his breathing steady.His first flip had landed. But Chloe’s cold 5X had already shifted the entire flow of the match.No more room for safe moves.Still… he couldn’t risk a reckless one.Tile 1. Best odds. Highest probability. No hesitation.Peter extended a single finger toward the board. The surface of Tile 1 pulsed faintly beneath the glass-like sheen, as though sensing the weight of the moment.He
Last Updated: 2025-06-10
Chapter: Chapter 142: First flipThe crowd was still vibrating with energy as the Anchor gave a sweeping bow and stepped back from center stage.A quiet hum pulsed through the vast hall, as though the room itself was holding its breath.On the holo-display, the game board flickered into readiness — the sleek digital grid shimmering faintly in the dim light.10 tiles loaded. Coin flip pending.At their seats, Peter and Chloe faced each other across the elevated table — a sleek black surface bordered with thin neon-blue lines. Their personal displays hovered in front of them, responsive to their slightest touch, transparent but pulsing faintly in rhythm with their heartbeats.Peter tightened his grip on the tablet, knuckles white for a moment before he forced himself to breathe. His pulse thrummed painfully in his neck.Across from him, Chloe sat like stone. One leg crossed over the other, tablet resting lightly on her lap. Not a flicker of tension showed in her face — only cold, clinical focus. A chessmaster waiting f
Last Updated: 2025-06-09
