2025-05-06 06:33:32Everyone turned toward the voice.
A collective gasp rippled across the hall. It was Elsa Logan—the icy, elegant CEO of Nova Corp—standing tall in her midnight-blue gown, her posture commanding and her gaze razor-sharp. The hem of her dress trailed like dark silk smoke as she walked down the aisle, her heels tapping a warning with every step. Maxime Trent’s face turned ghost-white. Why is she here? he panicked internally. Elsa had no official title or shares in the parent corporation, but everyone in the company knew one chilling truth: she was the only one with a direct line to the mysterious boss—the real power behind the empire. Maxime wouldn’t dare offend her. “Miss L-Logan,” he stammered, trying to maintain his composure. “I—I didn’t know you were attending tonight…” Elsa didn’t spare him a glance. She addressed the host once more, her voice clear and sharp. “There was no mistake. MorganTech belongs on the list. That was my decision.” Murmurs surged again, confused and louder this time. Sierra’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t recognize this woman and wasn’t about to back down. “Who the hell do you think you are, mouthing off in front of Mr. Maxime!” she snapped, striding forward. “You’re not on the board. You don’t speak for the organizers or the host! On what basis do you say—”To her, Maxime was the highest authority in Nova Corp—she had no idea who Elsa was.
SMACK!
Hearing Sierra’s foolish words, Maxime’s expression darkened, and Marcus’s face turned deathly pale. Enraged, he raised his hand and slapped Sierra hard across the face.
“Ah!” Sierra screamed, collapsing to the floor. Clutching her cheek, she stared at Marcus in shock and fear. “You… you’re insane! Why the hell did you hit me?”
Marcus’s expression was grim. Without sparing her another glance, he quickly bowed to Elsa. “I’m sorry, Miss Logan! This woman is out of her mind—she has no idea who you really are!
please forgive her. She didn’t know. She’s ignorant—I sincerely apologize!”Sierra shrieked, “Marcus, are you out of your damn mind? You actually bowed to this bitch? Don’t tell me her status outranks Mr. Maxime’s?”
Marcus turned back and slapped Sierra again, even harder. “You blind fool! This is Miss Elsa Logan, the Chief Executive Officer of Nova Corp! She’s the only one who has direct contact with Nova’s mysterious boss! If you want to die, don’t drag us down with you!”
Sierra froze in disbelief. She had never imagined that this young, beautiful woman standing before her was actually the CEO of Nova Group.
Sierra blinked rapidly, her pride burning hotter than her cheek. But the moment she saw Elsa’s emotionless stare, a chill ran down her spine. Even the guards had stepped back.
“…I-I’m sorry,” Sierra mumbled, bowing her head. “I didn’t mean any disrespect.” Elsa finally looked at her, her voice as cold as marble. “You’ve been loud enough for everyone to remember your face tonight. Be grateful we aren’t revising the guest list mid-event.” Maxime stepped forward nervously, trying to salvage his reputation. “Miss Logan, I… I truly didn’t mean to meddle. I was just trying to ensure everything went smoothly. If I crossed a line—” “You did cross it,” Elsa interrupted flatly. “You saw a list yesterday. That was a draft. The final decision wasn’t yours to see, nor to use for your gain.” Maxime began to sweat profusely, gulping. “I understand. I apologize. I’ll accept any consequence…” Elsa turned away from him, clearly done. She raised a hand, signaling the host to calm the murmuring crowd. “Let me remind everyone,” she said, “the cooperation list was finalized through the internal council and delivered directly from the boss himself. No one else has the authority to question it.”“So… Morgan Tech is the partner we’ve chosen, not some no-name company,” Elsa said lightly, casting a faint glance at the disheveled Sierra.
“Damn, who would’ve thought Morgan Tech had such powerful backing? I thought Sierra had connections, but turns out her so-called background is just Marcus Lang—what a joke…”
“She thought cozying up to some mid-level Nova manager made her untouchable. What an idiot…”
Hearing the mocking voices around her, Sierra’s face twisted. Faced with so much scorn, she didn’t dare talk back. Instead, she cursed furiously in her heart.
“You sycophantic bastards! When you thought I’d secure a deal with Nova Group, you couldn’t lick my boots fast enough. Now you all dare to mock me? Just wait. The moment I connect with Nova Corp's mysterious boss, I’ll make every last one of you go bankrupt!”
A sickly smile crept across her face at the thought.
“Shit, is this woman really insane? She’s still smiling at a time like this?”
“Alright, everyone, quiet down!” Elsa frowned, silencing the crowd. “I’ve just received word—the company’s mysterious boss is here at tonight’s banquet. He’ll be meeting all of you in person!”
The boss?
He’s here?
The room erupted in gasps. Even Sierra scrambled to pull out a mirror, frantically covering the cheek Marcus had slapped red.
She straightened up, smoothing her dress. Her eyes gleamed with sudden hope. Even if I lost the partnership slot… if I can meet him, charm him… Her lips curled in a small, triumphant smile.
“I can’t wait to see him! He must be incredibly handsome! I swear, I’ll find a way to marry him!” one woman gushed.
“The mysterious boss of Nova Corp… I’ve heard he’s quite old. Otherwise, how could he have amassed such a fortune? His wealth must rival the city’s top families!”
“No way. The real tycoons of the city didn’t show up tonight, and they’re worth billions. But this mysterious boss must still have assets in the tens of billions—he’s far above the likes of us.”
“Quiet, everyone!” Elsa raised her voice. “Now, let us welcome Nova’s mysterious boss with the warmest applause!”
Thunderous clapping filled the hall. People craned their necks in every direction, eager to see who the mysterious boss truly was.
Amid the ovation, Ethan slowly rose to his feet. With a calm, expressionless face, he walked toward the podium.
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Velthra’s wings flared slightly before she caught herself. Ilyss sucked in a sharp breath. “My… guard?” Karpeta repeated, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity. “Yes,” Ethan said simply. Karpeta’s brow furrowed. “But… why? Why now?” Ethan’s tone remained calm, neutral, as if suggesting nothing more significant than a change in travel formation. “It provides a clear explanation for my presence,” he said. “Authority without exposure. Mobility without scrutiny.” Karpeta glanced at Velthra, then back to Ethan. “So… you’re proposing this as a matter of convenience?” Ethan shook his head slightly. “Not convenience. Strategy. Discretion. And… accountability.” “Accountability?” Karpeta echoed. “Yes,” Ethan replied, meeting her eyes directly. “It places responsibility somewhere acceptable.” She stared at him for a long moment, trying to weigh the meaning behind his words. “So,” she said finally, “you would be publicly associated with me.” “I would,” he confirmed. “And others wo
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If he bowed too deeply, he’d imply subservience. If he didn’t bow at all, he’d signal arrogance. If he mirrored demon customs incorrectly— That’s it. You’re exposed. His body moved before his thoughts caught up. He inclined his head—not deeply, not shallowly—just enough to register respect. At the same time, he placed one hand lightly over his chest and angled his body half a step to the side. It wasn’t intentional. It was muscle memory. Something ingrained from formal events back home. Diplomatic receptions. Meetings where rank existed but wasn’t supposed to dominate the room. A compromise between deference and equality. The reaction was immediate. Karpeta froze mid-breath. Velthra inhaled sharply, wings twitching despite herself. Ilyss’s eyes went wide. “That…” she whispered. “That’s a neutral acknowledgment.” Velthra nodded slowly. “Used only by those whose rank cannot be formally declared.” Silence fell again—different this time. Heavier. Charged. K
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A cold prickle crawled up Ethan’s spine. “You couldn’t confirm it even if you wanted to,” she continued softly. “High-clearance units aren’t permitted to disclose affiliation. Especially not to civilians.” The biggest succubus exhaled slowly. “Oh gods. He’s that kind.” “The quiet ones,” the third said faintly. “The ones whose names don’t exist on record.” Ethan remained silent. Not because he was trying to be dramatic. Because he genuinely had no idea what to say next. Three pairs of eyes were on him now—measuring, recalculating. He could almost feel them trying to slot him into some invisible taxonomy of power and threat. Say too much, and he’d expose the lie. Say too little, and he’d invite suspicion. Say the wrong thing— You’re dead, his brain supplied helpfully. However, in order to maintain his sense of mystery, Ethan did not rush to explain. He let the moment breathe, pretending the pause was intentional while his thoughts scrambled. He searched for something—an
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Their earlier grins were gone. Not faded—erased. Their eyes were wide now, too wide to be casual. One of them sucked in a sharp breath she clearly hadn’t meant to take. The other’s tail, which had been swaying lazily a moment ago, snapped stiff and curled tightly around her ankle, as if anchoring herself to the ground. Ethan noticed immediately. He turned slightly, brow furrowing. “Why are you all looking at me like that?” No one answered. The silence was strange—thick, uncomfortable. As if everyone had reached the same conclusion at once and was now afraid to say it out loud. Then Karpeta moved. She bowed. Not the quick, half-embarrassed bow she’d given him earlier out of gratitude. A proper one. Measured. Respectful. Precise. “Forgive my ignorance,” she said carefully, her voice lower than before. “I did not recognize you earlier.” Ethan stared at her. “Recognize me as what?” The biggest succubus’s lips parted. She swallowed hard. “Oh,” she murmured. “Oh no.” The
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Karpeta shook her head immediately.“It’s not charity. It’s exchange. You saved my life.”Ethan opened his mouth to object, but she barreled on, wings twitching despite the torn membranes.“Whatever debt you think you don’t want,” she said, jaw tightening, “it already exists. Pretending otherwise doesn’t make it disappear.”Her voice wavered for half a heartbeat—then steadied.“Let me help you with yours.”The biggest succubus let out a quiet, knowing huff. “Told you. Once she decides something—”“She does not bend,” the third finished dryly. “She collides.”Karpeta shot them both a look. “You’re not helping.”“We’re being accurate,” the biggest one said, hands up. “There’s a difference.”Ethan studied Karpeta again.Really studied her this time.The way dirt clung to the edges of her armor. The shallow cuts she hadn’t bothered to treat yet. The wings—torn, uneven, still trembling faintly from strain. And yet she stood straight, shoulders squared, chin level, like pain was simply ano
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“Yes,” she said firmly. “A life-debt. Three, technically.”The other two nodded immediately.“Name it,” the biggest one said. “Gold. Information. Safe passage.”“Contacts,” the third added. “Favors. Blackwater remembers its debts.”Ethan frowned. “I didn’t do this for payment.”“I know,” Karpeta said. “That’s why I’m offering it anyway.”He studied her for a moment—really looked at her now. The damage to her wings. The grime on her face. The way she was holding herself straight despite the tremor still in her hands.“…You shouldn’t throw titles around lightly either,” he said.“I won’t,” she said quickly. “I swear it.”The biggest succubus grinned faintly. “She learns fast when she’s terrified.”Karpeta huffed despite herself, then sobered again. “Whatever you decide, we’ll honor it. If you want nothing from us, we’ll accept that too.”Silence lingered after her words.Ethan looked away again, toward the empty road where the demons had fled, jaw set like he was weighing something unpl
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Reader Comments
Really good so far, very intriguing, can’t wait door the next chapter.