All Chapters of Sovereign of the Seven Armies: Chapter 21
- Chapter 30
75 chapters
The Financial Artery
"Your small city money is worthless in this capital."Felix Vance leaned back in his plush leather chair. He sneered at the couple standing in his office."You think you can walk into the Provincial Reserve Bank and make demands?" Felix asked.Ryker Zhao did not move a muscle. Chloe stood close to his side.They had driven north through the night. The Provincial Capital was a sprawling fortress of glass and corruption. The Maeda Syndicate controlled every single street in the massive city.Ryker’s sister was trapped somewhere in this concrete nightmare. The thought made Chloe sick to her stomach."I am not asking for a withdrawal," Ryker stated. "I am demanding the human collateral ledgers."Felix laughed a harsh barking laugh."You southern peasants are arrogant," Felix mocked them. "You broke a few local street gangs. Now you think you can challenge the provincial lords."Felix tapped his manicured fingernails against his expensive mahogany desk."Your family ran the southern logist
The Blockade
"Keep the cameras rolling on me."Brecken Maeda smiled widely and held up a crystal flute of expensive champagne."We are raising millions for the provincial orphanages today," Brecken lied smoothly to the press pool.He stood on the top deck of his colossal superyacht. The vessel was the crown jewel of the Maeda Syndicate fleet. Dozens of sleek sailboats raced across the sparkling blue water of the Provincial Bay.The charity regatta was a massive spectacle designed to secure his upcoming political election. Brecken wore a pristine white tailored suit. He looked like a generous aristocratic savior to the public.He was actually the largest human trafficker on the entire eastern seaboard."Cut the feed for a moment," his campaign manager whispered.The news crews lowered their heavy broadcast cameras. The red recording lights blinked off.Brecken dropped his fake smile immediately. His handsome face hardened into a mask of cruel arrogance."How much money have we laundered through the
The Humiliation
"We are the untouchable gods of the eastern seaboard."The lead Grandmaster shouted the boast over the roaring ocean wind. He cracked his thick knuckles and glared at the tall soldier."My martial arts lineage spans four centuries," the champion declared loudly. "We govern the underground fighting rings for the Maeda family. We decide who lives and who dies in this province."Ryker Zhao did not shift his stance. He stood on the dark steel deck of his warship."Your lineage ends today," Ryker stated.Millions of citizens watched the live broadcast from the charity regatta. The news helicopters circled overhead. The people expected the arrogant billionaire on the warship to die a brutal death.They had lived in terror of the Maeda enforcers for decades. Nobody dared to challenge the syndicate champions."Tear his head off," Brecken Maeda screamed through his yacht microphone.The lead Grandmaster lunged forward. He threw a devastating right hook aimed directly at Ryker. The strike carri
The Elysium Ring
"Confess right now."Ryker Zhao dragged the broken syndicate heir across the polished teak deck by his expensive white collar.Brecken Maeda thrashed and kicked his legs wildly. His pristine suit was ruined with dirt and his own terrified sweat."Let me go," Brecken shrieked. "My family will execute you for this."Ryker ignored the empty threat. He hauled Brecken through the shattered mahogany doors of the yacht VIP lounge.The luxurious casino room was completely trashed. Overturned poker tables and shattered crystal glasses littered the floor.Ryker threw the billionaire hard against the solid oak bar. Brecken collapsed into a pathetic heap.He cradled his right hand against his chest. His breathing was ragged and panicked."You do not understand how this province works," Brecken gasped. "You cannot just walk in here and take my property.""She is my sister," Ryker stated coldly. "She is not property."Ryker stepped forward and grabbed Brecken by his left wrist. He slammed the heir'
The Embargo
"Sit down before you fall down."Chloe pushed Ryker gently backward until he sat on the edge of the plush velvet sofa.The heavy reinforced doors of the Dragon's Roost penthouse were triple locked. Vanguard operatives secured every single floor of the high rise building.The violent adrenaline of the superyacht raid was finally fading.Ryker leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He looked down at his bruised hands. The knuckles on his right hand were split and bleeding from shattering the Grandmaster's ribs.He was the supreme military commander of the world. He had just brought a provincial billionaire to his knees on live television.Right now he just felt like a terrible older brother.Chloe walked out of the master bathroom holding a warm damp towel. She knelt on the thick wool rug directly in front of him.She gently took his massive bruised hand in both of hers. She began to carefully wipe the dried blood from his knuckles."You did not have to watch that," Ryker sa
The Mansion Breach
"Sign the transfer deeds or I will have you locked in a federal penitentiary by noon."Governor Kade Lau threw a thick stack of legal documents onto the antique glass table.Chloe Lin did not flinch. She sat straight in the plush velvet chair.Dozens of armed state police officers surrounded her in the grand parlour. They held automatic rifles across their chests.The Governor's residence was a sprawling fortress of white marble. It sat high in the capital mountains overlooking the city.Kade Lau wore a tailored silk suit. He looked like a refined statesman to the public. He was in fact the largest slaver in the province."Your little logistics embargo is starving my private estates," Lau stated. His tone carried a cold edge."The Elysium Ring is running out of supplies," Chloe replied. "The luxury food is rotting on the docks. Your mercenaries are out of medical kits."Lau slammed his fist onto the glass table. The sharp impact rattled his expensive porcelain teacup."You are disrupt
The Lotus Poison
"You just signed your own death warrant."Governor Kade Lau lay crumpled on the ruined marble floor of his grand foyer. He clutched his bruised throat and stared up at the tall soldier."You assaulted a supreme political leader," Lau screamed. Spit flew from his mouth. "You committed high treason against the federal government. You are a dead man."Ryker Zhao stood perfectly still. The shattered pieces of the transfer deeds rested near his heavy combat boots."The federal government does not protect human traffickers," Ryker stated coldly.He reached into his tactical vest and pulled out a thick heavy dossier. It was bound in dark leather and stamped with the Vanguard seal.Ryker tossed the heavy file onto the marble floor. It landed right next to the Governor's trembling hands."Those are the financial ledgers from the provincial reserve," Ryker told him. "And the shipping manifests from the Maeda syndicate."Lau looked at the leather folder. The color completely drained from his fac
The Blood Auction
"They are checking the biometric locks now."Chloe whispered the warning as she adjusted the collar of her flawless black silk gown.She stood next to Ryker in the subterranean access tunnel of the capital mountains. The air was cold and smelled faintly of expensive cigars and damp stone.The Elysium Ring was completely hidden from the outside world. It was a massive cavernous fortress built deep into the bedrock.A line of fifty provincial aristocrats and corrupt billionaires stood in front of them. They waited to enter the annual Blood Auction."Keep your head down," Ryker instructed softly.He wore a tailored midnight blue tuxedo that cost more than most people made in a decade. He looked exactly like the brutal aristocratic predators surrounding them.Two massive elite mercenaries stood in front of the titanium blast doors. They wore full tactical combat gear and held heavy assault rifles.Governor Kade Lau was bound and gagged in the back of the Vanguard transport parked miles aw
The Hologram
"Do not let this southern peasant humiliate our province."Patriarch Vance stood up from his plush velvet balcony seat. He pointed a heavy gold cane down at Ryker Zhao.The initial shock of the fifty million dollar sword purchase faded quickly. The provincial elite rallied their bruised egos. They were billionaires who ruled the mountain territories. They refused to lose face to a stranger in a blue tuxedo.Lord Kal stepped up beside Vance. Kal controlled the vast coastal shipping syndicates. He glared down at the amphitheater floor with raw aristocratic disgust."Lord Aris is a weak fool," Lord Kal declared loudly to the crowd. "He folded because he lacks true generational wealth. We will not be intimidated by flashy new money."Ryker stood on the red velvet carpet. He did not look up at the shouting men. He kept his eyes locked on the terrified auctioneer standing on the stage.Chloe stood close to Ryker. She felt the hostile gaze of hundreds of wealthy predators bearing down on the
The Dragon Awakens
"Five hundred million dollars for the girl."A repulsive obese man in a shiny silver suit shouted the bid from the VIP lounge. He leaned heavily over the velvet railing.He was a notorious syndicate boss from the northern industrial sector. He stared at the holographic image of Skye with hungry sadistic eyes."She looks like she has plenty of fight left in her," the boss laughed loudly. "I will break her spirit myself."The wealthy provincial elite chuckled in agreement. They loved watching the powerful crush the weak. It validated their own corrupt existence.Chloe felt a violent surge of nausea and pure rage. She wanted to scream at the vile man. She wanted to tear his eyes out.Ryker did not raise his numbered paddle. He did not speak a single word.He reached out and gently pushed Chloe behind the protective line of Vanguard operatives."Stay behind the shield wall," Ryker instructed softly. His voice was completely devoid of its usual warmth. It was the cold dead sound of absolut