Marcus Trent's long strides stopped exactly half a meter in front of Alexander Hale. The host of the fundraising event puffed out his chest, trying to use his posture to intimidate the foreign man who dared to disturb his wife's peace."You must be Mr. Alexander Hale. I heard from some colleagues downstairs that you are looking for new investment fields in this city," said Marcus with a loud and arrogant voice, deliberately drawing the attention of several VIP guests around him. "Welcome to our little event, Mr. Hale. Hopefully, our offerings are worth your long journey from London."Alexander did not reply with sweet words. His brown eyes stared straight through Marcus's pupils. He locked the man's gaze with a sharpness that made Marcus's arrogant smile falter slightly.Marcus realized that the man in the midnight blue suit could not be easily intimidated. He changed his tactics to the fake friendliness typical of a corporate politician. Marcus extended h

"Move three million Euros right now, Gideon. Put all those funds into short-selling Vanguard Equities stock at the market opening tomorrow morning."Alexander Hale spoke with an absolute tone. He pushed the door of his luxurious penthouse until it closed tightly. His hand roughly pulled off his black silk tie and threw it onto the leather sofa."Mr. Hale, please reconsider. That three million Euros is the rest of your liquid capital." Gideon Locke's voice sounded choked from the phone speaker on the glass table. "If Marcus Trent's stock price doesn't plummet, or worse, actually rises, the exchange system will execute a forced liquidation. You will lose all that money in a matter of minutes.""Just follow my orders, Gideon," answered Alexander coldly.He took off his midnight blue suit. The cheap rose perfume scent belonging to Elena still lingered faintly on his shirt collar. Alexander felt his stomach churn with disgust. He took off the shirt and

"Morning headlines. A highly fatal technical incident struck the southern port of London last night. Vanguard Equities' medical raw material cargo, worth tens of millions of Euros, is reported completely destroyed due to a failure in the ship's cooling system."The news anchor's voice from the high-resolution flat-screen television echoed inside Alexander Hale's luxurious penthouse. The morning sunlight pierced through the panoramic glass windows, illuminating the room, which felt warm and comfortable. This atmosphere contrasted sharply with the bone-chilling seawater a few hours ago when he swam dodging bullets.Alexander sat leaning back on his black leather sofa. He wore a dark cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Beneath the glass table, his severely injured right thigh had been wrapped with tight, neat medical bandages. The stinging pain from the saltwater and engine oil last night still throbbed constantly in his flesh, but he ignored the mo

"How much money is left in our reserve account now, Gideon?"Alexander Hale's voice broke the silence of his luxurious penthouse. His gaze did not leave the laptop screen displaying the blood-red forced liquidation warning."One point five million Euros, Mr. Hale." Gideon Locke's voice sounded very heavy and full of regret from the other end of the phone. "That is all I managed to save before the exchange system blocked automatic withdrawal access. Our main capital of three million Euros has truly evaporated without a trace.""How could that company's stock skyrocket after their main cargo was destroyed and rotting at the port?" demanded Alexander. The veins in his neck bulged sharply. "Explain this dirty market logic to me, Gideon."A long sigh was heard from the broker. "Marcus Trent just held a sudden press conference ten minutes ago, Sir. He announced an incredibly fantastic double insurance claim.""Double insurance," repeated Alexander with an ice-cold tone."Correct, Sir. The

"Get away from my door or I will smash this bottle right on your head. I know which bastard paid you to come to this dumpster."The hoarse and raspy voice sounded muffled from behind the rotten wooden door. Alexander Hale stood silently in the hallway of the rundown apartment in the East District. The heavy rain pouring down on the city of London that night dripped from the collar of his midnight blue bespoke suit. Rainwater mixed with the cold sweat on his forehead. The screwdriver stab wound on his right thigh throbbed incredibly painfully, forcing the man to lean heavily on his mahogany walking stick.The former Shadow Emperor ignored the cheap threat from inside the room. He lifted the tip of his cane, then knocked on the wooden door three times with a very slow and calculated rhythm."I said go away, you bastard."The apartment door was pulled open very roughly. The pungent smell of cheap alcohol, dried vomit, and despair immediately slapped Alexander's face.A middle-aged man st