The evening air carried the crisp, salty tang of the sea, mixed with the faint hum of high-grade spiritual engines echoing from the water.As Alistair pulled into the VIP parking sector adjacent to the private docks, he was met with an extravagant display of wealth.Dozens of custom-built luxury vehicles, armored escorts, and private retinues were already parked along the pier.Groups of prominent figures—corrupt tycoons, underground faction leaders, and influential magnates from Davenport and neighboring provinces—stood in scattered circles, smoking fine cigars and chatting casually while waiting for the cruise liner to arrive.Alistair stepped out of his car, adjusting the lapels of his tailored black coat.His sudden arrival immediately drew subtle, cautious glances from the gathered crowd.In a circle where every powerful family and high-society figure knew each other's faces, Alistair was a complete enigma—a dark, impossibly composed stranger whose very presence radiated a quiet,

"Shut your mouth, Paul," Arthur growled softly, his voice barely a rasp above the crashing waves against the concrete pylons. He didn't look at his son, his gaze locked onto "Zero’s" broad back. "Look around you. Do you think anyone here thinks we won that exchange?"Paul glided his eyes over the surrounding crowd.The onlookers—tycoons, warlords, and syndicate representatives—were whispering behind their hands, subtle, knowing smirks gracing their faces.The Pendletons had arrived with an armada of military-grade armor, flattened a luxury vehicle, blustered like tyrant kings... and ended up cutting a hefty check to an orphanage at the quiet direction of an unknown stranger.The humiliation was masterfully subtle, but absolute."He didn't flinch," Arthur murmured, his wrinkled fingers tightening around the head of his polished obsidian cane. "Not when the jeeps surrounded his car. Not when you bellowed in his face. Not even when I projected my aura to gauge his meridians. The man’s br

"Hold it right there!" Jack barked, stepping sideways to block Alistair once again. "You think you can just brush me off like I'm trash? You just insulted me, Zero. A nobody like you doesn't get to turn his back on a Robinson. Apologize right now, or you won't be walking out of this hall on two feet!"Murmurs spread through the crowd."Jack’s pushing it... but he has his father's backing.""That 'Zero' guy is too calm. He's either a monster or an idiot."Alistair stopped once more, his golden eyes cold and lifeless as he looked at the scion. "I won't say it a second time. Step aside.""You arrogant bastard!" Jack snapped, completely losing his temper.He reached out, his hand darting forward to grab Alistair’s silk sleeve, intending to yank him down into a submission hold.Alistair didn't dodge.The second Jack's fingers clamped onto his sleeve, the air around them seemed to drop ten degrees."Let go of the sleeve," Alistair warned, his voice dropping to a quiet, dangerous whisper tha

As Mister Robinson sat, Alistair excused himself before returning with a bottle of non alcoholic wine and two glasses.He sat across from Mister Robinson and poured into his guest's glass before doing so for himself. “Thank you.” Mister Robinson intoned before proceeding to take a sip.“So tell me, why are you here?” Alistair inquired as he took a sip as well. Mister Robinson replied. “You see, Mister Zero, in the underworld, it is important for a person to have allies. As it is said, one man cannot be an island. To prosper, it is right to have supporters which you can support as well.”“Speak clearly, Mister Robinson, what do you want?”“I want to make an alliance with you, Mister Zero.”“Why?”“Because even a fool would be able to see that you are a great man. Forgive me for being blunt but if you were not a great man, I wouldn't make such a request.”“Is that so?”“Indeed. Our world is a dog eat dog world. Only the strong survive and as much as I try not to make things hard for w

"More or less?" Mariam let out a low, melodic laugh, taking a slow sip before setting the glass onto the polished obsidian bar.Her dark, luminous eyes locked onto Alistair’s golden gaze with a sharp, calculating intensity. "Most men who stand in this room are either trembling or calculating how much money it would take to buy my favor. But you... you stand there as if you're merely visiting a quiet teahouse."Alistair didn't move an inch from the threshold, his posture relaxed, his dark coat hanging neatly from his shoulders. "I prefer to know who I am speaking with before deciding how to act.""A wise policy, Alistair Reid," she said smoothly, her voice dropping into an intimate, knowing tone.Alistair’s expression didn't change, though his golden eyes narrowed slightly. "So the alias 'Zero' didn't hold up for long.""It never had a chance," the Mistress replied, leaning her elbows against the bar as her waist-length locks shifted softly over her bare shoulders. "The shadow council