"Come over tonight, babe… I want you desperately…"Leonard received this message during his evening shift. It was from his girlfriend, Felicity, whom he had been dating for a year."I am finally getting lucky tonight," Leonard said to himself with a grin, changing out of his construction worker clothes.For the past year, Leonard had helped his girlfriend build her supermodel career—filing agency applications and running petty errands. Thanks to him, she finally received a contract from Langford Enterprises last month.The young man's biggest sacrifice was donating his bone marrow when Felicity was in the hospital.Leonard reached her apartment with an affordable bouquet. As soon as he twisted the doorknob and pushed the door, a gaggle of gasps and moans hit his eardrums."Yes! Give it to me! Harder!"Leonard froze, the world narrowing to those erotic noises."Don't slow down! Go faster!" The bouquet dropped from his hand.The voice was unmistakable—it was Felicity!Anger surged in hi

Leonard's eyes opened to golden flashes of sunlight filtering through thick velvet curtains. The young man woke up in a room grander than the finest seven-star hotels in the world.Last night, Valery drove him to this majestic villa overlooking Nexus City. From his grand, futuristic balcony, he could look down on the city like a Roman emperor."It has top-tier security, an underground training facility, and direct access to a private airstrip," Valery had explained. "There's everything you'll ever need."It wasn't a dream. He was, indeed, the heir to the King of the World.Leonard found an English breakfast by his bedside along with a gold-rimmed event card. Tomorrow, he was to assume the role of Chairman of the Eclipse Consortium publicly.A mega-celebration was planned. Major conglomerates, from finance to tech, had sent their RSVPs months ago. Hollywood celebrities, senators, congressmen, and sportspersons would arrive to curry favor with the new Chairman.In the document stack, Le

Leonard frowned. "No longer available? What do you mean? It's right there, and I came here first. What happened to the store's first-come, first-served policy?" The clerk sighed as if Leonard were a headache. "We both know you can't afford to pay for this item that is worth millions. I'd say you can't even afford the wrapping paper. Why do you insist on embarrassing yourself?" Darlene let out a mock gasp, placing a hand on her chest as if she'd just witnessed a great tragedy. "Oh dear, do you see this, Mabel?" Her daughter smirked. "Yeah, Mom. It's so embarrassing and cringe." Darlene sighed dramatically. "It really is. I mean, imagine walking into a high-end store, pretending you can afford something, and actually expecting people to believe it. He has forgotten he is just a construction worker." Teddy was now thoroughly convinced that Leonard was a pretender. He straightened his back, his eyes turning cold. "Sir, please leave, or I'll have no other options but to call for secur

Gasps echoed in the hall. A high-ranking manager of Aureum Vaults had been slapped. Hargrove clutched his stinging cheek, his mind reeling in confusion. "Ma'am—""You had one job," Valery said icily. "And you messed it up by siding with these ugly clowns!"Darlene, who hadn't seen Valery before, bounced forward. "What did you call us? H-How dare you?!"Valery turned to her, looking bored, as if she were a toadstool. "How dare I?" She chuckled. "You hag! I don't dare—I decide. And I've decided that both of you need to shut up."Darlene, further enraged, opened her mouth to protest.At that precise moment, a silver-haired, rotund man stumbled down the executive marble staircase. He was in his late sixties, wearing an Armani suit. He was Mark Aureum, the owner of the Aureum Vaults Emporium.His forehead dripped with sweat, and it appeared as if he was on the verge of having a heart attack.And why wouldn't that happen?Urgent messages had flooded his office a few minutes ago. Valery Fros

In the seclusion of his suite, Leonard processed the Reishi Royale using the knowledge Bodhidharma imparted to him. In fifteen minutes, it had transformed into a magical-looking tea.He sat down cross-legged like in the morning, and sipped the Reishi tea slowly. The elixir coursed through him like a purifying flame. He could actually feel it flushing toxins from his body and opening up his chakras.The Gambino heirloom ring stored a powerful treasure trove available only to the true heir. However, following the path of cultivation, Leonard had to root the energies in himself, gradually nurturing and opening up hidden gates of power and knowledge.By the time dawn broke and his eyes opened, he had completed the initial sequence.He realized he hadn't slept all night, having skipped dinner. But he felt neither fatigue nor hunger.Only power. Strength. Clarity.Leonard felt sharper. Stronger. More alive than ever.He wore a Stuart Hughes suit brought by the head butler, Benedict. It was