King of War's Dominance

Chapter 7

General Darlene’s words echoed like a quiet explosion that tore through all the tension. Everyone froze, some of them unable to believe what they just heard.

They had all been waiting to see what kind of punishment General Darlene would give Thom.

Then, calmly, General Darlene added a sentence that was even more shocking. “I will not punish the blood of Lanster.”

General Darlene looked at them and nodded slowly, as if confirming it.

“That is right. Is he not also one of the sons of the Lanster family?” he said while pointing at Thom.

General Darlene continued with a firm tone. His voice was calm but full of authority. 

“It is impossible for me to punish a member of the Lanster family who is hosting this banquet.”

At once, Madam Lena’s face tightened hard.

She wanted so badly to say that Thom was no longer part of the Lanster family.

That Thom was an illegitimate child.

That his blood was never recognized.

That his presence today was actually embarrassing for them.

But those words got stuck in her throat. She held herself back so she would not destroy her family's reputation.

One wrong word, and the reputation of the Lanster family in front of someone as powerful as General Darlene could collapse in an instant.

Madam Lena gave a stiff smile, forcing herself to stay graceful even though she wanted to explode inside.

“Of course… of course,” she said, forcing a friendly tone, her voice slightly shaking. “We are very honored that you are here.”

“Please come inside, General Darlene. All the guests are waiting.”

He gestured for General Darlene to walk first. But the General did not move.

General Darlene only turned a little to glance at Thom.

All the elite soldiers behind her immediately tensed up as well.

General Darlene bowed his head. He did not dare walk ahead of the King of War.

As if understanding the situation and not wanting to prolong the tension, Thom stepped inside the mansion hall first. He held Shenina in his arms and gently stroked her cheek, making his daughter giggle softly.

The sight made General Darlene’s elite soldiers lower their heads in silent respect.

Only after Thom truly stepped inside did General Darlene finally follow behind him. Some of the elite soldiers walked beside her, but it was very clear that they only moved because Thom had already gone in.

Frank and Benny, who watched from behind, boiled with rage.

“Thom is so disrespectful!” Benny whispered.

“How dare he walk in before General Darlene,” Frank muttered, his jaw tight.

But they did not dare say it loudly, especially when they saw the elite soldiers giving a special path for Thom.

When they entered the main hall, the atmosphere of the party was much more lively. Soft classical music played. Famous businessmen stood with expensive wine glasses in hand, talking about projects and stocks. Staff moved back and forth carrying premium dishes.

In the middle of the room stood the auction stage, with a long table covered in luxurious black cloth. On top of it, various antique items were displayed under spotlights, ready to be auctioned.

Thom stopped walking.

His breath caught the moment he saw the details of those items.

There was an old classical painting.

A music box with a picture of a small bird.

A blue porcelain vase he used to see every day.

A French antique clock that once sat in their small living room.

All of them belonged to Thom’s mother.

Belongings of the small house that used to be on the right wing of this mansion, where Thom, his mother, and his sister once lived when he was a teenager.

Three bitter years, full of pressure from his father’s first wife, Madam Lena.

Three years where they lived as the family disgrace.

Until his father died. And they were mercilessly kicked out by Madam Lena.

Even though the house on the right wing should have belonged to Thom and his mother.

Thom’s hand slowly tightened into a fist. He walked toward the core Lanster family who stood neatly beside the main stage. 

The party was loud enough that their small conversation would not be heard by other guests, including General Darlene, who now sat in the VIP seat talking to his aide.

Thom stopped right in front of Madam Lena.

“Mother,” he said without expression. “Why are my family’s belongings being auctioned?”

“Your family’s belongings?” she repeated, pretending not to understand.

Thom stared straight at her, emotionless but full of pressure. 

“Yes. That painting belonged to my mother. That vase belonged to my father. That clock used to be in my sister’s room. All of those came from the right wing of this mansion.” His breath was heavy.

Madam Lena finally let out a small sigh, raising her chin with pride.

“Yes,” she said in a cold but smiling tone. “They are all your family’s belongings. And I have the right to auction them tonight. Items like that are no longer useful.”

Thom looked at her without blinking.

“Then just give them to me. There is no need to auction them,” Thom said.

Madam Lena’s smile instantly turned into a short, sharp, mocking laugh. 

“Hahaha… are you serious, Thom?”

Her laugh was followed by Benny, who snorted while rolling his eyes.

Frank also laughed quietly, covering his mouth as if trying to be polite, even though it was clearly mockery.

Frank leaned forward toward Thom. 

“Those items are supposed to be auctioned,” he said with a sneer. “All the money will go into the Lanster family’s funds.”

Benny added with a harsher tone. “Besides, why keep them? Your mother and sister are dead. What use are those things now?”

Those words made Thom’s jaw tighten. His grip around little Shenina also tensed.

Thom’s calm eyes turned dark. A storm slowly rose within him, but he still held it back.

“Fine. I will buy everything. Just name the price. There is no need for the auction,” Thom said.

Frank and Benny burst out laughing.

“Hahaha! You… can buy them?” Frank almost bent over from laughing. “Thom, who do you think you are?”

“That is right,” Benny added. “You probably cannot even afford one antique clock!”

“All those items are antiques now, and collectors will auction them tonight!”

Frank shook his head while smiling mockingly. “You are a low-ranked soldier with no money. Your salary is not enough to support your wife!”

“Did you know that while you were on missions, I was the one who paid for your wife’s living costs?” Frank whispered.

“You even know that I visited her pussy many times!” he continued.

Thom held back the anger he had for this half brother.

“You are a greedy man who took my wife,” Thom said.

“Haha, I did not take her. She loves me!” Frank replied.

Thom only looked at him with deep hatred.

Frank leaned closer, tapped Thom’s shoulder, and whispered with pure humiliation. “There is not a single item on that table that you can buy.”

“I can buy them because I really have money,” Thom said.