Harry’s pulse quickened as he held the phone to his ear, listening to the line connect. After a short pause, a firm, businesslike voice came through, carrying an authority that made Harry sit up straight.“Robert Adams’ private unit. State your purpose.”Harry swallowed, cleared his throat, and forced himself to sound confident. “My name is Harry Gibson,” he began. “I want to enroll in the Robert Adams private mercenary academy. I’m ready to go through the full process, whatever it takes.”There was silence on the line for a few moments and Harry could almost imagine the unseen figure on the other end assessing him, weighing his voice, and deciding if he was worth the time. Then finally, the man replied.“You’ll need to come in person for vetting. Bring identification, and prepare yourself mentally. Nothing about this process is casual, and nothing is free. Understood?”“Yes,” Harry said quickly. “I understand.”The caller proceeded to give him precise details: the address, the ti

Harry’s chest burned with humiliation every time his mind replayed the scene at the event. Robert Adams had stolen the spotlight so easily, crushing his fragile reputation in front of Elaine with nothing more than a merciless smirk.To those who witnessed it, Harry was just another desperado overreaching his place.It gnawed at him like a wound that wouldn’t heal. His hunger for recognition had always been insatiable, but now it was desperate. He needed to redeem himself, and the quickest way to do that was by grasping at something Robert himself valued. And right now, nothing mattered more to Robert than the elusive figure of Antonio. Harry saw opportunity in that. If he could be the one to track Antonio down or if he could hand Robert the information that no one else had, then his reputation would skyrocket. And then, there was the money. Harry’s lips twitched at the thought. Robert Adams wasn’t just rich—he was wealthy on a scale that made others look like beggars. The re

Without hesitation, one of the men lunged at Antonio, aiming straight for his throat. With a twist born of instinct and deadly training, Antonio pivoted, letting the blade whistle harmlessly past his shoulder. His fist shot forward, connecting with the man’s jaw.A sharp crack echoed, and the attacker went down hard.But the others pressed in.Two men rushed him from opposite sides, their daggers raised high to strike down at his head. Antonio ducked low, rolled across the ground, and came up right beneath one of them. With a lightning-fast movement, he wrenched the dagger from the startled man’s grip and drove the hilt into his stomach. The man folded with a grunt, collapsing onto the ground.Now armed, Antonio’s eyes gleamed coldly.The remaining attackers hesitated, but only for a heartbeat. Then they rushed towards Antonio like a storm of flashing blades. However, Antonio moved like a predator among prey. His stolen dagger clashed against theirs as sparks flied with each s

Cynthia’s hands trembled as she clutched the phone. The words she had just heard struck her like a thunderbolt: Antonio had been attacked by wild animals during his trip to get the herb.Her breathing grew shallow.Tears rolled down her cheeks as terrifying images of Antonio’s body torn apart flashed her mind.The thought alone almost crippled her. Hours later, Antonio arrived in Gelrith City and was carried swiftly into one of its best hospitals. Cynthia wasted no time. The moment she heard where he was, she rushed over with frantic urgency.When she entered his hospital room, her breath caught in her throat. Antonio lay on the bed wrapped in bandages and his skin bore claw marks and bruises that spoke of the violence he had endured. Seeing him like that nearly broke her.“Antonio…” Her voice faltered as she came to his side, tears pooling in her eyes. She reached out, gently brushing his hand. “Look at you. What were you thinking?”Antonio gave her a faint smile, though hi

“He’s not leaving. This is where he’ll sit,” Florence declared firmly with her gaze locking on the usher.Florence was among the event’s honored dignitaries so who was the usher to challenge her word?Turning to Antonio, she added, “I want you here.”Antonio remained seated, enduring the sharp stares and the low whispers rippling through the hall.He could almost hear the unspoken questions in every glance, but he remained unbothered.The conference began with pomp. The Master of Ceremonies, dressed in a black tuxedo, took to the stage and introduced the first speaker.“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I present one of the most distinguished professors of medicine in the entire city. Please welcome Professor Gerald Matthews!”The audience erupted into applause as a tall, silver-haired man made his way to the podium. His speech was polished. He spoke of cutting-edge treatments, groundbreaking technologies, and bold new horizons in medicine. His words flowed like ho