Victor Cromwell stood behind his massive oak desk in the Mayor's chamber. The city of Springfield sprawled below like a living organism, pulsing with the construction sounds at Fort Cromwell.He adjusted his tailored suit, a far cry from the rugged attire he once wore as Victor Damone. But today was not about appearances. It was about reclaiming what was his, piece by piece.The doors swung open, and Clive Baron, his head butler and a 4-star in the New World Order, stepped in first. "Sir, your guests have arrived."Clive was one of the first to know the Cromwell identity's truth. In his Napoli suit impeccable as always, he bowed slightly and gestured to the four figures entering behind him.These were Victor's erstwhile Five-Star generals—the elite core of his old team from the NWO days. They didn't know him as Victor Damone, codename Caesar, whose funeral they had attended.To them, he was Victor Cromwell, the upstart Mayor who had risen from obscurity to command Springfield's transf

Valeria hesitated, her face a mask of shock and confusion. The Hand of the King was a latent ability Caesar had unlocked in them years ago. It was a surge of ethereal energy that amplified their strength and speed, drawn from his own essence.But with Victor Damone dead, it should have faded. "Fine. But since our master is gone, this won't work."She closed her eyes, focusing inward. Her right hand began to tremble, and to everyone's shock, including her own, a golden glow enveloped it. Energy crackled like lightning, surging through her veins.Valeria's eyes snapped open, staring at her hand in disbelief. "It... it works? What does this mean? This is unbelievable!"The room hung in tense silence for a few dramatic moments. Then Lance pushed himself up, rubbing his back. "Impossible. I wasn't given this power since I joined the NWO much later. However, the technology is clear. Without Victor Damone, there cannot be a Hand of the King. We mourned him."Maverick stared at Victor, suspic