Richard Vance sat slumped on the luxurious carpet of the penthouse. His frail body trembled violently. His wrinkled face drained of all color. He stared at the towering figure of Xavier before him as if looking at the angel of death."You, you're not dead," Richard muttered, gasping for breath.Xavier stepped forward slowly. The sound of his shoes was soft and rhythmic. He stopped directly in front of Richard."My death was merely an illusion you created for yourselves," Xavier said. His voice was incredibly elegant and cold. "You were too busy celebrating your victory to verify if the corpse at the bottom of the ravine was truly mine."Richard swallowed hard. His panic peaked. He realized one fatal truth tonight."So Umbra Capital belongs to you," Richard roared, mustering the last of his courage. He pointed at Xavier's face. "You robbed Henderson and Maxwell. You killed them.""I am simply taking back what rightfully belongs to my family," Xavier replied calmly. He reached into his

The giant digital screens on the Wall Street trading floor blinked bright red. The stock tickers plummeted at a terrifying speed. The shouts of stockbrokers filled the massive room. A mass panic was unfolding.News of Richard Vance's death spread like wildfire that morning.One of the most senior board members of Aristhos Corp was reported dead suddenly in his hotel room. Wild rumors immediately sprang up. The fall of Henderson Logistics, the death of Maxwell, and now Richard Vance. Three main pillars of Aristhos had been destroyed in succession in less than a week.Investors withdrew their funds blindly. The giant corporation's value took a freefall to its lowest point in the last ten years.By afternoon, a light drizzle soaked the elite Greenwood Cemetery.Hundreds of black umbrellas gathered around Richard Vance's open grave. Wreaths of white roses piled up around the mound of wet earth.Adrian Aristhos stood in the very front row. He held his umbrella with a trembling hand. Cold s

Heavy rain continued to batter New York City without mercy. Lightning flashed, tearing through the night sky. The rumble of thunder drowned out the blaring car horns on the streets below.Inside the luxurious Aristhos Residence, the atmosphere was incredibly cold and tense.Isabella Aristhos stood in front of the large window in her study. Her blood-red silk dress swept the marble floor. She stared at the raindrops hitting the glass with a remarkably hard expression.In her hand, she held a smartphone connected to an encrypted line."You heard my orders, correct?" Isabella hissed into the phone. Her elegant voice had vanished completely. She sounded like a ruthless street thug. "I don't care what your fee is. I want that girl dead tonight."A raspy laugh came from the other end of the line. "Assassinating the daughter of a former Aristhos board member? That is not a cheap job, Mrs. Isabella. Especially when her father was just buried this afternoon.""I will pay triple your usual rate

The heavy door of the luxury apartment swung shut with a sharp, echoing click.Kai stepped inside first, moving ahead of Audrey. He moved with the absolute, terrifying silence of an apex predator. His dark eyes methodically swept across every single corner of the expansive living room. He meticulously checked behind the window curtains, quickly cleared the kitchen hallway, and made absolutely sure there were no dangerous blind spots hiding any potential threats.Audrey stood rigidly near the entrance. Her body was still trembling slightly. She dropped her leather bag onto the glass coffee table with stiff, robotic movements."The area is completely clean," Kai reported in a flat, emotionless tone. He turned around to face Audrey. "You are perfectly safe for the time being."Audrey collapsed heavily onto the plush sofa. She massaged her violently throbbing temples with both hands. Thick droplets of fresh blood from the mercenary leader were still splattered across the hem of her white

The metallic stench of the dog's blood spread quickly, filling the living room. Audrey could not hold it in any longer. She ran to the kitchen sink and vomited the entire contents of her stomach. She gasped for air, accompanied by terrified sobs.Kai stood calmly near the table. He covered the wooden box with its lid once again. His face radiated not a single ounce of pity."You have five minutes, Miss Vance," Kai said, cutting through the sound of Audrey's sobbing. "Pack enough clothes. Leave all your electronic devices behind. Phone, smartwatch, and tablet. They can all be tracked by the assassins."Audrey washed her face with tap water. Her hands shook violently as she grabbed a towel."Wh-where are we going?" Audrey asked in a panic."To a safe house that is not registered in any system," Kai answered absolutely. "This apartment will become your tomb if we stay here. Move now."Kai's firmness forced Audrey to focus. Her survival instinct took over. She ran into her bedroom and gra