Gabriel spent the next three days learning about shell companies, offshore accounts and legal documents that made his head hurt.By the end of each day, he wanted to set something on fire just to feel like himself again, but Alfred insisted that understanding the financial empire was just as important as learning to control the Phoenix Heart.Xavier made everything worse by asking questions every five minutes and making jokes that nobody laughed at.He constantly kept calling Gabriel by that stupid nickname that made his eye twitch.On the fourth morning, Alfred declared that the financial education was complete for now and it was time to move on to physical training.Gabriel felt relief flood through him because sitting in a room staring at screens was slowly driving him insane."The Phoenix Heart gives you power," Alfred said over breakfast. "But power means nothing if you don't have the strength and health to use it properly. Your body is the vessel and if the vessel is weak, then

Gabriel hit the mat for the fifteenth time that morning, and his whole body ached. His pride was somewhere underneath the training equipment, buried and forgotten.Xavier stood over him looking barely winded while Gabriel could hardly breathe."Getting better," He said, offering his hand again. "You lasted almost thirty seconds that time."Gabriel took the hand because his legs were shaking too much to get up on his own and Xavier pulled him to his feet like he weighed nothing."I hate you." He gasped, unable to get his words out properly."Everyone says that at first," Xavier said cheerfully. "Give it a few more weeks and you'll only hate me a little bit."The worst part was that Xavier had been right about everything. He had spent the last two weeks getting his butt kicked every single day and learning just how much he didn't know about real fighting.Xavier was fast and precise and could read Gabriel's moves before he even made them. No matter what Gabriel tried, he ended up on the

Gabriel spent more hours watching, documenting, and learning every corner of Hale Tower, and the pattern became clear after enough observation.Every monday and wednesday night, men in suits would arrive at specific apartments and leave with briefcases that looked heavy and full.The building manager would always be conveniently absent during these visits.The name that kept coming up was Kroger. Gabriel heard it whispered in hallways and mentioned in hushed conversations between tenants who looked nervous when they said it.Margaret had warned him to stay away from that man because he was dangerous in ways that went beyond just muscle.Gabriel finally saw Kroger on a Wednesday morning when a notice appeared on every floor saying there would be a mandatory tenant meeting in the lobby at six pm.Failure to attend would result in immediate eviction and Gabriel knew this was his chance to see the man running Siegel's operation up close.He texted Alfred about the meeting and Alfred's res

The woman's eyes were cold when she looked at Gabriel. They moved faraway from Kroger’s office and it was clear that she had something to say to him.Her mouth was pressed into a thin line like she had tasted something bitter and he could feel the hostility radiating off her in waves."So you're one of Kroger's people," She sneered. Her voice had an edge to it that could cut glass. "I should have known. You look exactly like the type he would hire."Gabriel blinked because he had no idea what this woman was talking about and why she seemed to hate him already."I don't work for Kroger." He stated, his eyes narrowing instantly."Right," The woman said, disbelief evident in her voice as she crossed her arms. "That's why you were in his office, having a private meeting and looking very cozy with the man who terrorizes half this building.""It wasn't cozy," Gabriel’s eyes narrowed even more. "He threatened to throw me in the river.""Good," She spat, glaring daggers at him. "Maybe he'll f

Gabriel woke up to sirens, and his first thought was that Kroger had found him, but then, he began hearing shouting and people running in the hallways.He got up, looked out the window, and saw police cars surrounding Hale Tower with their lights flashing red and blue against the morning sky.His phone rang, and he instantly grabbed it after seeing Alfred's name."It's happening," Alfred said before he could speak. "I filed the ownership claim an hour ago and sent all the evidence to the authorities. They're moving in now."Gabriel watched through the window as police officers poured into the building. His heart was pounding because this was really happening. After weeks of planning, they were finally taking the first step."What about Siegel?" Gabriel asked."His name is being kept out of it for now," Alfred said. "The media is reporting that Kroger and his associates were running an illegal operation, but Siegel's lawyers are already claiming he had no knowledge of what was happeni