In a private lobby of Nexus City's most exclusive five-star hotel, Geraldine, two men faced each other across a polished ebony table.One was a young aristocrat radiating superiority. Jonas Derby, heir to the Derby family, carried the unmistakable stamp of old money and hidden power.After the Harrington Group's decline, the Derby clan surged to the forefront of the Tremendous Five. However, their legitimate trade empire served only as a front. The Derby family's primary source of income was the underworld.Seated opposite him was a middle-aged predator whose mere presence would make the strongest of hearts tremble. He was Black Bill, the undisputed Underground Kingpin and the Sabbath Starks' most favored enforcer.Scars crisscrossed Bill's thick neck and knuckles. His eyes carried the perpetual message that any weakness would be met with merciless, agonizing death."What did you just say?" Jonas Derby gasped, breaking his aristocratic composure. His eyes widened in disbelief. "The mi

Leonard stepped through the grand doors of the hilltop villa, the weight of the day still heavy on his shoulders. The Mermaid's Tears were a hard-won prize that promised his next leap in his cultivation. He made his way directly to the master bedroom, where the soft glow of a laptop screen illuminated the space near the fireplace. Valery sat on a couch, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she coordinated the operations of the Eclipse Consortium and the Gambino family. The moment the door creaked open, her head snapped up. Her eyes brightened with unmistakable relief and delight. "Young Master!" She rose swiftly and crossed the room in a few eager strides, scanning him from head to toe with her medical eye, checking for injuries. "Did you obtain the Mermaid's Tears?" Valery asked, her voice laced with anticipation. Leonard reached into his pocket and produced the luminous vial. "Here it is." Valery accepted it with both hands, cradling the container as though it were someth

WHOOSH!Just as despair threatened to swallow her whole, Leonard appeared at her side in a blur.His hands pressed firmly against her exposed skin, releasing a powerful surge of qi that swept through her body like a cleansing storm.The insects disintegrated instantly, turning to harmless dust that scattered away.Valery turned to him, her eyes shining with grateful tears even as she stood almost naked. "Thank you, sir!" she cried. "I am sorry I proved useless to you.""Hmm," Leonard replied calmly. "This is dark magic. Stand back and let me handle it."He pulled off his shirt and tossed it to her. "Cover yourself."Still trembling, Valery caught the garment and wrapped it around her body. Leonard turned his full attention upward, his expression sharpening. The threat had not ended.Sable's cold voice rang out again. "Well, well. You managed to save that girl for now. I admit that it is rare. You possess some skill.""Unfortunately, before me, you are still nothing. You saved your bod

In the bustling heart of New York, the colossal Stark Tower was the tallest and most majestic skyscraper, dwarfing all other buildings.On the highest floor, the elevator doors of the executive conference hall slid open. A young man stepped in, flanked by two rows of suited executives and armed security personnel wearing embroidered SS emblems.He lowered himself into the high-backed executive chair at the head of the long conference table. A holographic interface materialized instantly, projecting real-time data on Nexus City's power structures.The young man was none other than Leylin Stark, the Crown Prince of the Sabbath Starks. He was second only in power to the Overlord.A figure dressed in a crisp black suit and tie knelt before him—the Chaplain, who served as the human resources director.A heavy silence cloaked the room."Why have you come today? I haven't summoned you in months." Leylin's voice cut through the air, cold enough to frost the edges of the nearby monitors.The C

Leonard paid no attention whatsoever to Felicity and Victor. He was hungry, and getting a proper meal was a priority for him rather than listening to the toxic couple.The young man drew out his phone and composed a brief message to Valery, requesting the direct line for the restaurant's general manager."Texting your wealthy patroness again?" Victor sneered, his voice dripping with derision. "I knew you couldn't function without her pulling the strings. A useless parasite you are! Too bad she can't bail you out this time. What a joke!"Victor's chest swelled with satisfaction. He had waited for this moment, convinced that Leonard's reliance on Valery would finally backfire. The thought of watching the younger man's confidence crumble when the doorman ejected him was almost intoxicating.Leonard's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile, yet he offered no reply.Victor's expression darkened. "What's so amusing, you worthless—"Before he could finish, Leonard's device chimed softly. He