"Who could it be?"A man in a gray suit leaned toward his companion, unable to hide the curiosity in his voice as his eyes remained fixed on the grand stage at the center of the hall."The position has been empty for almost forty years," the woman beside him replied quietly, her fingers tightening around the stem of her glass. "Whoever inherits it tonight will stand above everyone in this room.""I heard the old master personally chose his successor before disappearing.""Some say it's an underground emperor.""Some say it's a political puppet.""And some say," another voice joined in cautiously, "it might be someone none of us expect."Their whispers blended into hundreds of others, spreading across the banquet hall like an invisible storm, because every single person present understood the weight behind that title.The Shadow Tyrant.It was not merely a symbol of authority, but the master of a network that could raise empires and bury them overnight.Jerome stood among them, his pos

"Dad… please calm down."Charlie’s voice was soft and measured, carrying the calmness that seemed almost unnatural inside a hall where the balance of power had just shifted. His hand closed gently around Jerome’s arm as if he were trying to steady him, presenting himself as the reasonable son attempting to prevent a public scene.For the first time that night, Jerome realized he was no longer speaking from authority but from irrelevance, and the distinction hollowed him from within. Everything he had built, every advantage he had flaunted, had been supported by an invisible structure he had just publicly insulted.Unable to accept the collapse of his control, Jerome pulled away from Charlie as his restraint finally shattered.He strode toward Ethan with long and furious steps, pushing past the stunned guests until he stood directly in front of him. His hand shot forward and seized Ethan’s arm in a harsh grip, fingers digging into the fabric of his sleeve as if physical force alone