The giant golden spotlight stayed frozen on Leo Sterling. He stood completely still in the middle of the VIP area, his hands tucked quietly into his black suit pockets. The bright light made him look like a powerful god who had just stepped down from the sky.The entire banquet hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The wealthy billionaires, the famous politicians, and the top business leaders all stared at Leo with wide eyes and open mouths. They were waiting to see the most powerful man in the nation speak.Suddenly, a loud, screeching laugh broke the holy silence of the room.It was Chloe Taylor. She was pointing her finger at Leo, her face twisting into a hideous, ugly grin. She laughed so hard that her expensive diamond necklace shook against her skin.“This is a mistake,” Chloe screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing through the high-end sound system of the hall. “The spotlight made an error. Turn that light off right now. That boy is not the Supreme Sover

The heavy silence in the grand ballroom felt like a thick blanket choking the breath out of Julian Vance. He remained on his knees, his hands pressed hard against the cold marble floor. The bright golden spotlight felt like a laser beam burning right through his skull. He looked up slowly, his body shaking uncontrollably as he stared at Leo Sterling.This could not be real. His mind screamed that it was all a terrible nightmare. The boy standing before him was the exact same person he had kicked into the mud just twenty four hours ago. It was the same delivery boy whose fingers he had crushed under his expensive leather boot. But now, that boy was holding the dark gold dragon token. He was the absolute master of the Dragon Vanguard.Thomas Vance, Julian’s father, did not wait for his son to understand the situation. He kept his forehead pressed flat against the carpet, weeping loudly like a frightened child.Sovereign, please show mercy to my company, Thomas begged, his voice cracking

Chloe crashed heavily onto the wet, dirty asphalt outside the palace gates. The guards had thrown her out like a bag of rotten garbage. She landed face first right in the middle of a deep, wide puddle of filthy mud.The cold water splashed all over her. Her expensive gold designer dress was instantly soaked in black slime. Her face, her styled hair, and her hands were completely covered in dirt.The heavy iron gates of the Grand Dragon Palace slammed shut behind her with a loud, final bang.Chloe lay in the wet mud, shivering and crying. She could hear the loud laughter of the photographers and bystanders standing behind the security ropes. They were taking pictures of her messy, ruined state. Just ten minutes ago, she was walking up the red carpet like a queen. Now, she was nothing but a joke to the entire city.Inside the beautiful ballroom, the atmosphere was completely different. The air was thick with absolute respect and fear.Julian Vance and his father, Thomas, were quickly dr

The photo on the cheap phone screen was horrific. Old Man Harry was tied tightly to a heavy wooden chair. His face was covered in dark bruises, and a thin line of blood ran down his forehead. He looked weak, his eyes closed in deep pain.Below the bloody picture, there was a short text message. It was a simple address. Pier 44, the old abandoned shipyard by the dark river. Bring yourself in thirty minutes, delivery boy, or the old man dies.Logan looked at the screen over Leo’s shoulder. His face turned completely red with immense fury. My Lord, let me call the heavy central army right now. We can deploy five hundred armored vehicles and crush that shipyard into flat dust in five minutes.No, Leo said. His voice was completely flat, empty of any emotion. It was the quiet before a massive, deadly storm. If Marcus sees a single military vehicle, he will pull the trigger. Harry cannot survive that. I will go alone.My Lord, that is too dangerous, Logan begged, dropping to one knee. Marcu

Leo lifted Marcus completely off the ground by his neck. The brutal underground boss kicked his legs wildly in the air, his face turning a deep, dangerous shade of purple. He clawed at Leo’s iron fingers, but Leo’s grip did not loosen even a single millimeter.Old Man Harry watched from his chair, his mouth open in pure shock. He could not believe that the sweet, quiet boy who used to deliver noodles could lift a giant, muscular gangster with just one hand.Leo looked into Marcus’s bulging eyes with absolute coldness. You came all the way from the capital city just to break my legs, Marcus, Leo said. His voice was quiet, but it filled the giant warehouse with a terrifying weight. Now, tell me everything about Beatrice Sterling’s operations in this city, or you will never breathe again.Leo slammed Marcus down onto the hard concrete floor. Marcus crashed heavily, coughing and gasping for air. He clutched his bruised throat, rolling around in the dust like a pathetic worm. All his pride