That afternoon, just before three o’clock, Marcus called Thaddeus into the manager’s office. On the desk already lay a thick envelope containing three thousand dollars in cash. Marcus’s face was still tense, but he no longer dared to act as arrogantly as usual. “This… is your bonus,” he said, pushing the envelope forward. “Now answer me, Thaddeus. How did you master the Seven Knife Shadows? That technique is only taught to selected students. You never even entered the advanced weapons class. So… how?” Thaddeus took the envelope without saying a word. He slipped the money into his pocket with calm movements, then looked at Marcus for a moment. His eyes were flat—unreadable. There was no answer. Because even he himself did not know how it had happened. He simply gave a brief nod and walked out. Marcus stood in the doorway, mouth open, but no words came out. In the kitchen, several coworkers exchanged glances. No one dared to ask. A few of those who had seen the technique t

The next morning felt deceptively normal.Thaddeus woke before sunrise, prepared breakfast, took care of everything his wife needed for work, and walked Xalia and Raxy to daycare exactly as he always did. He held their hands at the crossings, reminded Xalia to finish her milk, and wiped a smudge of toothpaste from Raxy’s cheek. When the daycare teacher took them inside, he stood on the sidewalk for a few extra seconds, watching the door close.Whatever Gu Hai had said, whatever the token in his pocket meant, these two small lives were still the most solid thing he owned.The kitchen of Maison Restaurant was already running at full speed when Thaddeus arrived for his shift.Knives struck cutting boards in steady rhythms. Oil hissed in hot pans. The air smelled of garlic, seared meat, and fresh herbs. Thaddeus put on his apron, washed his hands, and went straight to his station without speaking to anyone. Marcus, the Chef Manager stood, near the pass with his arms crossed, watching Th

Thaddeus picked up Xalia and Raxy earlier than usual. The daycare teacher was surprised to see him arrive before pickup time, but he merely gave her a faint smile and said he had a family matter to attend to.The two children were happy to be going home with their father. Xalia held his hand the entire way, talking excitedly about the picture she had drawn, while Raxy asked to be carried because he was already sleepy.Throughout the journey home, Thaddeus kept thinking about how to break the news.He had already imagined Yilna’s reaction. He had already imagined Noura’s words.But reality was always heavier than imagination.When they arrived home, the door opened from inside. Noura stood in the doorway with a puzzled expression. Behind her, Shein turned toward them from the sofa.In the living room, Hans Kincaid, his father-in-law who worked as a sailor, had just sat down after arriving from the harbor that morning.“Why are you home this early?” Noura asked immediately. “You usually

Noura immediately stepped aside and smiled warmly. “Minister, please come in! Please, make yourself comfortable.” She gestured eagerly toward the living room. Julian gave a polite nod and stepped inside. His two security officers followed him, stopping near the entrance. The Kincaid family quickly gathered in the living room. Noura hurriedly offered Julian the most comfortable seat on the sofa, while Hans sat nearby with a stiff, respectful posture. Yilna and Eden took seats opposite him. Even the other relatives who had been standing around quickly found places to sit. For a moment, everyone seemed to forget about Thaddeus. They were too busy trying to make a good impression on the Minister of Economy. “Minister, would you like something to drink?” Noura asked with an overly pleasant smile. “Tea? Coffee? We have some excellent tea.” “There’s no need to trouble yourself,” Julian replied calmly. “Oh, it’s no trouble at all,” Noura said quickly. “We’re honored to have you he

Thaddeus stared at the black card lying on the wooden table of the gazebo. The garden lights briefly illuminated the faint dragon pattern etched across its surface before it disappeared into the darkness again.“What… is this card?” he asked quietly.Julian Hart looked at him calmly. “This is the Black Dragon Card, Young Master. It is a limitless card owned by only three people in this entire city. All three are billionaires with immense influence. This card can be used for virtually any type of transaction—property purchases, stock investments, international transfers, and even access to financial channels that are not open to the public. And this third card… was prepared long ago for the rightful heir of the Drake family.”Thaddeus did not immediately reach for it. He took a slow breath.“I still can’t accept all of this,” he admitted honestly. “Ever since Mentor Gu Hai told me that I am the sole heir of the Drake family, I’ve kept feeling like none of it makes sense. I’m just a che