CHAPTER TWENTY ONE The news exploded overnight. By morning, every major outlet was running the story. “Governor Grayson Under Federal Investigation for Healthcare Fraud.” “Metropolitan Hospital Group Accused of Medicare Kickback Scheme Worth Millions.” “Grayson Family Empire Crumbling as Investigators Seize Records.” Declan sat in his office at Sterling Medical headquarters, watching the news coverage on multiple screens. Ms. Sonia stood beside his desk, tablet in hand. “The Grandmaster released fifteen years of evidence,” she said. “Financial records. Email chains. Recorded phone calls. Everything the federal prosecutors need to build a case.” “Why now?” Declan asked. “Because the Graysons tried to publicly destroy you at the gala. They staged that disruption. They tried to make you look like a fraud in front of the entire industry.” She smiled slightly. “The Grandmaster does not appreciate people attacking his grandson.” Declan’s phone had been ringing nonst

CHAPTER TWENTY Three. Asher and Ashton stood outside the massive iron gates, staring up at the palace. “Bro,” Asher whispered. “What the actual hell?” The address Declan had sent them led to an estate that looked like it belonged to royalty in Literary terms. There were Guard towers, Stone walls that stretched for miles. Security cameras everywhere. Ashton checked his phone again to be sure while muttering to himself, “This has to be wrong. There is no way Declan is here.” Suddenly, A speaker crackled to life beside the gate. “Names?” It asked. Both twins were startled and confused for a minute. “Uh, Asher Williams. And Ashton Williams. We are here to see Declan Hawthorne?” Said Ashton. There was silence for a very long time. “Yeah this is the address he sent us but I don’t think this is the house, maybe we should just go back.” Just then, the gates began to open. Slowly. Smoothly. Like something out of a movie. A black car waited on the other side. A dr

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE Twenty four hours after the courthouse attack, every news channel in the country was covering the same story. “BREAKING: Governor Marcus Grayson and Son Stefan Both Denied Bail. Judge Cites Flight Risk and Danger to Witnesses.” Declan watched from the secure facility as Stefan was led back to his cell. No expensive suit this time. He was wearing orange jumpsuit. Hands cuffed. His hair was messy. His eyes were blood red from crying. The reporter’s voice echoed through the room. “In a shocking development, the judge ruled that both Graysons will remain in custody pending trial. This comes after yesterday’s attempted assassination of key witness Declan Hawthorne outside the courthouse.” Ms. Sonia stood beside Declan. “The Grandmaster made three phone calls. That is all it took. Three calls and the entire justice system turned against them.” “Who did he call?” “People you do not need to know about yet. People who owed him favors. Big favors.”

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN “Physical strength is useful. But in the modern world, financial power is deadlier than any weapon. The Council controls billions. Trillions. They can destroy entire countries with a single transaction.” He pulled up a screen. “This is your current financial position. Sterling Medical is worth thirty five million. You have personal assets worth approximately two hundred million. That sounds impressive.” He clicked to another screen. “This is the Council’s financial position. Conservative estimates put their combined wealth at fifteen trillion dollars. That is trillion. With a T.” Declan stared at the number. “How do you fight that?” “You do not fight it head on. You find weaknesses. Exploit them. Turn their size against them.” He pulled up another screen. “The Council controls seven major banks. These banks process ninety percent of international transactions. If you control the banks, you control the money. If you control the money, y

CHAPTER TWENTY NiNE The air inside the car felt heavy. Declan sat in the back seat beside Ms. Sonia as the city lights rushed past outside the tinted windows. His mind was still stuck on the phone call, from the voice, the warning, even the seven days. Seven days until the Council decided his fate. No matter how much training he had done, no matter how powerful he was becoming, that phone call had shaken him in a way nothing else had. They finally reached the palace. The gates opened slowly. The guards bowed as the car passed. Inside, the palace was quiet. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that made you feel like something bad was about to happen. The car stopped and Ms. Sonia turned to him. “The Grandmaster is already waiting.” Declan nodded and stepped out. They walked through long halls lit by soft golden lights with their footsteps being the only sound. Ms. Sonia knocked once they reached the study. “Enter.” They went in. The Grandmaster stood near t