Leo Gambino A Thousand Foes

002 Destiny Calls

A shockwave radiated from Leonard as if an unknown power had been awakened in him.

The alpha hound padded to a stop and hesitated. In fact, the entire pack whined and barked among themselves in apprehension.

Leonard was equally perplexed, but then his ring burned hot, and a jolt of strength coursed through him, running through his veins like ancient tree roots coming alive.

Visions flashed through his mind—memories of ancient, medieval, and modern times. He saw epic battles fought, empires rise and fall, and history made before his eyes.

When Leonard's eyes opened, his wounds were healed completely, and his muscles hummed with vitality. But more astonishingly, his mind overflowed with superior knowledge.

The wild dogs were crazy again, their training aggression and hunger taking over. They charged, led by the alpha, a massive Rottweiler. Its ravenous jaws snapped for his jugular.

Leonard's body moved on instinct, his leg lashing out in a fluid arc. His foot connected with the beast's side, and it was thrown back, slamming into the chain-link fence with a whimper.

"Incredible," Leonard muttered to himself. "My strength has surpassed human limits."

The remaining dogs were so terrified that they turned on their heels and broke out of the cage. Their instincts recognized an apex predator had arrived.

Suddenly, a deafening whir filled the night. Floodlights pierced the darkness as three Black Hawk helicopters descended, their rotors slicing the air with staccato. A majestic insignia—the letter G on a throne was emblazoned across them.

Leonard ripped the cage open with his bare hands, watching the choppers land in the yard. Dust billowed in windy gusts as the doors slid open.

He watched curiously as men in combat gear filed out, armed with precision rifles. They moved with discipline, quickly forming a perimeter.

At their forefront was a tall, blonde woman with the alluring looks of a supermodel and the dominating vibes of a military commander. Her gaze was sharp and quick enough to cut a falling leaf.

Leonard narrowed his eyes, a bit concerned. Who were these strangers? The government? FBI? Interpol? And what were they doing here in Nexus City? The timing was too convenient.

"Young Master," the blonde said in a reverential tone. "The ring forged by the founders has revealed itself. We have been searching for you."

"Who are you?" Leonard demanded. "What do you know about this ring, and why were you looking for me?"

The gorgeous woman bowed. "I am Valery Frost, Head of Operations. We have been searching for the lost heir to the Gambino family—the ring's chosen one."

Leonard froze, since the words sounded absurd, almost like a movie scene. He looked around for cameras, but there weren't any. His ring belonged to the Gambino family?

"I've had enough games tonight," the young man said incredulously. "I'm merely an orphan, abandoned at an orphanage as a baby. You're mistaking me for someone else."

Valery's sincere expression didn't waver at all. "There is no mistake here, sir. The heirloom ring activated an emergency beacon, signaling our team to find your location."

Leonard clenched his jaw, beginning to believe her. "Is that so? What has changed now? Is that the same family that stranded me at the orphanage, and let me be abused and exploited—"

He paused, cutting himself short before voicing Felicity's betrayal aloud. It was still raw.

"Sir, there are forces that would tear this country apart, which have only gotten stronger since your birth. You had to be hidden away for safety until the ring determined that you were ready."

Leonard's mind was overwhelmed for a second. Everything started to make sense.

As if in recognition, the ring gleamed suddenly, and boundless knowledge flowed into him—arcane martial arts, cultivation techniques, war strategies, legal knowledge, medicinal practices, and so on.

Valery gestured at the open helicopter doors. "Come with us, sir. Your father awaits your arrival. He'll explain everything."

Leonard turned back and glanced at the hound cage where he almost became dog food tonight. Felicity and Victor would pay for what they did to him, but right now, he was inclined towards heeding destiny's call. What did he have to lose?

"Alright. Let's go."

In thirty minutes, the helicopter hovered over a sprawling mountain estate. It had towers of glass and stone, ports illuminated by lighthouses, dotted with fuming factories, and littered with barracks. Security drones patrolled the entire area.

How was this advanced city hidden from the world?

They landed on a helipad atop a castle tower. Ushered inside, Leonard entered a grand hall with marble floors that was more extensive than the White House. He walked across priceless paintings, sculptures, military medals, and artifacts from past eras.

As they proceeded, Valery whispered to him. "Your father, Lord Vincent Gambino, is dubbed the King of the World. He rules a shadow empire comprising global finance, cutting-edge technology, private militia, and intelligence networks."

At the far end, holographic displays of stock markets and geopolitical maps were scattered. A crowd of technicians gathered there, working fervently.

A tall, silver-haired, bearded man stood behind them, his presence commanding even in silence.

"Father?" Leonard's voice echoed across the hall.

The man turned, and his eyes softened with emotion. "My son," he said in a baritone voice. "At last, you have returned after twenty-three years. You have your mother's eyes."

They hugged. Leonard's heart was pounding. He couldn't believe the incredible fact that not only was he not an orphan, but was actually the sole heir to a vast empire. 

"I don't know where to begin? Why did you abandon me?"

Vincent sighed. "I am sorry for everything you went through. Let me tell you what happened."

On a holographic screen, he displayed Leonard's birth records. He kept swiping through footage of a young woman, Leonard's mother, fleeing assassins.

"Tabitha and I led the Gambino empire, which protects the world from evil forces. We had everything under control until a trusted aide betrayed us and our rivals targeted our family."

"To protect you, we placed you in an orphanage with a beacon inserted in the family heirloom. After the threat had been eliminated, we went back several years later, but you were gone. My people have been searching for you ever since."

Leonard raised an eyebrow, thinking. "I was sent to a foster home, from where I ran away…"

Vincent smiled faintly. "I'm sorry. But now you are back to claim your rightful place as my heir."

"My rightful place? What does that entail?"

"I want you to rule the Gambino empire eventually. But first, let us start from our organization's business front—the Eclipse Consortium. Have you heard of it?"

"Of course!" Leonard replied. Eclipse was Nexus City's largest business group, owning half the land and contracts.

Vincent gestured towards Valery. "She's the consortium's CEO, but you will take over as Chairman. Valery will be at your disposal at all times. Prove yourself there, and learn what you can before I hand over the reins."

Vincent handed Leonard a sleek black card with a matte finish. "What is this for?" the young man asked.

"An unlimited credit line backed by the Gambino wealth," his father replied with crossed arms.

He clasped his son's shoulder firmly. "Rest now. Tomorrow, you must go out and conquer the world."