The real war for the earth had officially begun, but miles away from the intense atmosphere of the municipal auction house, Derek Hartley was busy engineering his own destruction. He stood confidently at the polished granite counter of the Royal Gilded Treasury, sliding the stolen platinum card across the glass.The heavy metal card glittered under the brilliant chandeliers, the engraved "SR" emblem catching the sharp light. "I need to open the presidential vault immediately," Derek demanded, adjusting his expensive collar. "I am borrowing one hundred million dollars against this line of credit."The treasury branch manager picked up the card with gloved hands, his eyes widening slightly as he ran it through the verification terminal. The screen did not display a normal credit score; it flashed a restricted, high-level security signature that belonged exclusively to the Supreme Reaper.The manager’s fingers trembled, but his corporate training kept his expression completely neutral as

"The reserve capital is already moving through the clearing network, master," Dustin’s cold voice replied instantly. "They are completely naked."Lucas cut the transmission, stepping out of the elevator bay and leaving the executive building behind, knowing the net was already closing fast.By 4:00 PM, the grand auditorium of the municipal hall was packed as Derek Hartley hosted a massive, high-profile press conference. Dozens of news cameras were lined up, their bright lights illuminating the stage where Derek stood behind a row of microphones.He was announcing Hartley Enterprises’ aggressive expansion into the historic art sector, a move designed to cement his absolute dominance."The future of this city belongs to modern development, not outdated sentimentality," Derek declared, his voice booming over the sound system. "We intend to completely revitalize the old district by evicting all low-tier, unprofitable shops that fail to match our standard."He raised a heavy laser pointer,

The vipers had officially agreed to tear the city apart, completely blind to the fact that the shadow legend was already waiting for them in the dark.At exactly 2:00 AM, the heavy iron gates of the city shipping port creaked under the weight of a sudden, freezing coastal wind. Derek Hartley led a team of ten rogue private security guards through the auxiliary entrance, his face twisted with a desperate, manic focus."Move quickly, you idiots," Derek hissed, checking the glowing digital ledger on his phone. "The high-value cargo container is parked in Sector Four. We get the raw titanium out, liquidate it through our black-market broker, and we have enough cash to freeze Lucas's legal team by morning."The lead mercenary, a scarred man holding a tactical shotgun, frowned. "Mr. Hartley, this container legally belongs to a subsidiary of Sterling Corp. Taking it without a signed municipal release is a tier-one corporate felony.""I own Sterling Corp’s future!" Derek shrieked, his voice c

The cell phone inside Victoria's purse began to vibrate aggressively, the screen flashing with an unlisted international number from Europe, but she couldn't even reach for it. The Chief Attorney General raised his arm, his uncorrupted federal marshals immediately stepping forward to clear the ruined room under Dustin's strict, unyielding direction."Everyone out of this facility immediately," the Attorney General ordered, his sharp voice brooking absolutely no municipal resistance.Vivian was forced backward by a stern marshal, her hands shaking as she tried to shout over the official's shoulder. "This is a setup! You are protecting a common thief! Senator Blackwell will hear about this before noon!"Victoria didn't run; instead, driven by a volatile flash of her old high-society arrogance, she stepped close to Lucas, her breath ragged. "You think Dustin Steele can protect you forever, Lucas? You think playing delivery boy for a billionaire makes you special? He's just using you as a

"Your delivery boy can't hear you, darling," the mercenary sneered, his fingers wrapping around her wrist like iron as he dragged her forward.Valery Kozlov stepped heavily through the shattered entry framework of the gallery, his boots crunching loudly over the expensive glass fragments. His face was a brutal roadmap of deep, rugged scars earned from old European wars, and a thick, burning cigar dangled loosely from his cruel lips."Stop wasting time with the screaming," Valery barked, his voice a low, mechanical rumble that vibrated with a dangerous, unchecked malice. "Bind her hands with the high-tensile zip-ties and throw her into the back of the lead transport vehicle right now."Two large mercenaries stepped forward, their faces completely obscured by dark tactical masks as they reached aggressively for Sophie's shoulders.Sophie felt a sudden, volatile burst of pure adrenaline override her suffocating terror, her fingers locking around a heavy glass jar of thick oil paint on the