God of Restitution : Zero to Sovereign

Chapter 11: Shockwaves in the Ballroom

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 Sovereign. He is just a poor, pathetic delivery driver.”

The rich people in the crowd began to look at each other, murmuring in deep confusion. The silent ballroom suddenly filled with low whispers.

“What is going on?” a wealthy property owner whispered. “Is that boy really a delivery driver? How did he get into the VIP section?”

Julian Vance quickly stepped forward next to Chloe, his face full of arrogant confidence. He wanted to use this moment to show off his power in front of all the elites. He looked up at the stage where the military announcer was standing and yelled loudly.

“My girlfriend is completely right,” Julian shouted, puffing out his chest proudly. “I know this loser personally. His name is Leo Sterling. Just yesterday, he was riding a rusty old bicycle in the freezing rain to deliver a bowl of cheap noodles. He does not have a single dollar in his bank account. He is a homeless nobody who probably stole that black suit from a dumpster.”

Chloe nodded her head wildly, looking around the room at the billionaires. “Yes, everyone, do not be fooled by him. He is a dangerous stalker. He followed me here because I dumped his poor self for Julian. He probably hacked the light system to make himself look important. Guards, drag this garbage out. He is ruining this luxury party.”

Thomas Vance, Julian’s father, stood nearby. Hearing his son and Chloe speak so confidently made him relax a little. He thought Leo had somehow sneaked inside to cause trouble. Thomas stepped forward too, looking at the low-ranking Vanguard managers.

“Officers, please remove this trash immediately,” Thomas said, putting his hands on his hips. “The Vance Real Estate Group cannot do business in a room where a dirty delivery boy is standing. It is an insult to our high status.”

The low murmurs in the crowd grew louder. Some people began to look at Leo with suspicious eyes. After all, Leo’s suit was very plain and did not have any flashy designer labels.

Leo did not move an inch. He stood under the bright golden light, watching the three of them dig their own graves. His face was completely calm, and his eyes were cold like ice. He did not say a single word to defend himself. He just stood there, letting them show their utter foolishness to the entire world.

Right next to the stage, a middle-aged man in a perfectly tailored dark blue suit was watching the scene. His name was Donald Sterling, the Chief Executive of the city’s largest multi-billion dollar bank. He was the man who controlled all the money and corporate loans in the entire province.

Donald’s face had turned completely red with pure fury. He knew the true identity of the Supreme Sovereign. He had seen Leo’s face in secret military files years ago. Hearing this stupid girl and her arrogant boyfriend insult the ruler of the Dragon Vanguard made his heart almost stop from fear. If the Sovereign got angry, the entire city’s economy would be destroyed in a second.

Donald pushed past the elite guests, his heavy leather shoes stomping loudly against the marble floor. He marched straight toward the VIP section where Chloe and Julian were standing.

Chloe saw the famous bank Chief Executive walking toward them. Her eyes lit up with deep excitement. She thought Donald was coming over to help them throw Leo out of the palace. She quickly put on a sweet, fake smile and stepped forward to greet him.

“Oh, Mr. Donald, thank goodness you are here to help us,” Chloe said in a sugary voice, reaching her hand out. “This dirty delivery boy named Leo is…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Donald reached out with his heavy right hand and swung it with all his might.

A loud, sharp cracking sound exploded through the banquet hall.

Donald slapped Chloe across the face so hard that her sweet smile was instantly smashed away. The pure force of the slap lifted her right off her feet. She spun around once before crashing heavily onto the hard floor, her sparkling gold dress ripping at the side.

Her expensive diamond necklace snapped, and the tiny stones scattered all over the carpet like drops of rain. Chloe clutched her red, burning cheek, her eyes wide with total shock and horror.