Zoza arrived at a café after receiving intel on Seraphina’s whereabouts. The café was located in the Asperia District, a gathering place for socialites, influencers, and familiar faces who thrived on curated images. Its interior was elegant and expensive, filled with hanging plants, Italian rattan chairs, and soft jazz music flowing from hidden speakers. It was the perfect place to wrap lies in aesthetic beauty. Seraphina sat in the corner, accompanied by a cup of latte she only touched for photo purposes. Across from her were two stylishly dressed women, giggling flirtatiously as they listened to her story. "...and you know? He didn’t even show up when his mother was sick. Five months, and that house was empty. I was the one who stayed by her side,” said Seraphina sweetly, though her words dripped with poison. “Now the media's picking it up. Such a shame. Reputations fall so easily.” She smirked and took a slow, arrogant sip of her latte. That was when a deep voice cut thro

Seraphina was still sitting on the floor, her head bowed in raw despair. Her hair was messy, and her tears soaked the designer dress that now looked like nothing more than a worthless piece of luxury fabric. She didn’t look up as they walked away. James paused for a moment at the doorway, then glanced back at Darrus one last time. “I hope you understand something, Darrus. This wasn’t because Max was too strong. It’s because we were too stupid to play with fire… and forgot who lit the match in the first place.” There was no reply. None was needed. James and Dominic left the old villa in silence, leaving Seraphina sobbing on the floor, and Darrus staring into nothingness. And the night swallowed them all. A few hours after James and Dominic had left the grand house, the night grew even darker. Rain began to fall gently, wetting the cracked stone terrace. The outdoor lights flickered dimly, as if reluctant to shine in the cold air. Seraphina was still on the floor of the

The main meeting room of the Morow State Government Building was crowded and full of authority that afternoon. Crystal chandeliers reflected light onto the long oak table facing the main stage. Media cameras were on, capturing important moments during the annual performance meeting agenda. The new Governor of Morow State, Gossa Soupa, stood at the podium, wearing a dark blue suit with a gold pin on the collar. His voice was deep and full of pressure, reflecting the authority he had carried since being inaugurated three months ago. "...and with this," Gossa said as he turned his gaze toward the front row, "I give the highest award to someone who has worked quietly all this time. Without him, Morow State would have collapsed years ago." All eyes followed his gaze to a man in a simple black suit, sitting upright without expression. Maxilian Knight. Gossa stepped down from the stage. The officials were silent. The governor walked straight to Max and handed him a hexagonal award

Max rose from his chair, turned his body, and looked at Zoza calmly. "She will go through a one month trial period," he said, his voice low but filled with authority. "If by the end of that time Lodder Corp is not cleansed of all illegal traces, and not ranked among the top five companies in Morow State, then she will be replaced." Zoza frowned. He could hardly believe what he had just heard. "One month? Boss, I’m sorry, but... that’s impossible." His voice was respectful, but full of concern. "Lodder Corp is currently ranked ninth. Jumping to the top five? In such a short time? And... she’s a woman. The underworld has never been kind to anyone, especially not to a new leader," Zoza continued. Max simply stared at Zoza. His eyes were sharp and calm, like a deep, bottomless lake. "Even James needed three years just to keep Lodder Corp in the top ten. And that was with money laundering, shadow networks, and dozens of fake project schemes," Zoza added. "If we go completely

Max, showing no reaction at all to the chaos in the room, stood tall in front of the director’s desk and said calmly, “I came here to ask for one thing. Teach twenty of my men martial arts.” Frans stopped mid-yawn. His left eye opened fully, and his eyebrow arched high. He stared at Max for a few seconds before letting out a short laugh. “Finally! You finally give me a job I actually like.” He stood up and stretched, his joints cracking audibly. As he walked toward a mini-fridge and grabbed an energy drink can, Frans began speaking to Max without looking at him. “You know, bro, I’ve trained everyone from spoiled rich kids to elite unit soldiers. But none of them… are your people.” He chugged half the can in one go, then turned to look at Max. “You better tell them who I am. Otherwise, they’ll run away before the second training session.” Frans was a Level 1 Martial Arts Grandmaster officially recognized by the Morow State Martial Arts Federation. His certification was validated