Leo Gambino A Thousand Foes

003 Royal Herb

Leonard's eyes opened to golden flashes of sunlight filtering through thick velvet curtains. The young man woke up in a room grander than the finest seven-star hotels in the world.

Last night, Valery drove him to this majestic villa overlooking Nexus City. From his grand, futuristic balcony, he could look down on the city like a Roman emperor.

"It has top-tier security, an underground training facility, and direct access to a private airstrip," Valery had explained. "There's everything you'll ever need."

It wasn't a dream. He was, indeed, the heir to the King of the World.

Leonard found an English breakfast by his bedside along with a gold-rimmed event card. Tomorrow, he was to assume the role of Chairman of the Eclipse Consortium publicly.

A mega-celebration was planned. Major conglomerates, from finance to tech, had sent their RSVPs months ago. Hollywood celebrities, senators, congressmen, and sportspersons would arrive to curry favor with the new Chairman.

In the document stack, Leonard's eyes caught a familiar name. An RSVP from Langford Enterprises, Victor's rotten company. The man who conspired with his girlfriend and tried to kill him. He picked it up, a predatory smile tugging at his lips. "Interesting."

Before he dealt with Victor, there was something far more important to address. The Gambino heirloom ring had evolved him into a superior human being, cracking open a vault of arcane cultivation methods and sciences.

Qi refinement. Meridian forging. Kung-fu. Goddess Tantra. Chakra healing. Celestial elixirs—you name it.

Metallurgy, medicine, engineering, horse-riding, martial arts—he knew everything. That was the true Gambino legacy he inherited.

Leonard could now see infinite possibilities for growth, but his latent powers were dwindling. He had to find a way to replenish them.

The young heir sat cross-legged on the Persian rug with his spine straight.  Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply and focused inward.

The world went into a standstill for a moment. He could hear temple bells and monsoon rains.

When Leonard's eyes fluttered open, he was no longer alone. Before him sat a man wearing flowing robes of ancient Chinese silk, striped in red and gold.

"You are Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen and kung-fu," Leonard spoke sincerely. "I am the true Gambino heir. Guide me to start cultivating my power."

The monk's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "You are the ringbearer indeed. But your chakras are clogged with mortal rust. First, you must purify your body."

He extended a hand, and a faint image appeared over his palm. "The Reishi mushroom—Lingzhi Royale, is the herb of immortality. You must brew it into a tea and drink it before starting the path of cultivation."

***

Ten minutes later, Leonard was in the passenger seat of the latest Chrysler limo, costing millions of dollars. He stared out the window, watching pedestrians bustle along the sidewalks. Less than twenty hours ago, he was nothing but a discarded orphan.

Valery Frost watched the Gambino heir with intrigue. Even though she was the CEO of the Eclipse Consortium and Vincent's right-hand, her duty and service now belonged to Leonard.

The young man noticed her staring. "Yes?"

Valery blushed slightly on being caught in the act. She showed him a website listing on the car's touchscreen.

"Sir, the only location where the Lingzhi Royale variant of the Reishi Mushroom is available is Aureum Vaults. It is priced at six hundred thousand dollars, which, of course, is spare change for a man of your wealth."

Leonard had obviously heard of the place, although the likes of him wouldn't even be allowed to wander near the entrance. He whistled to himself, realizing the herb was more expensive than diamonds. "Let's go there!"

Aureum Vaults was in the most upscale area of Nexus City. The parking space was dominated by expensive luxury cars. As Leonard stepped out, Valery made to follow him, but he held up a hand.

"Wait here. You're a celebrity in the corporate world and will attract unwanted attention. I want my visit to be a secret."

The beautiful CEO looked like she wanted to protest, but nodded obediently instead. "As you wish, sir. Apologies for my limitations."

However, after Leonard was gone, Valery opened her tablet and activated all Gambino agents in the area.

Inside, Aureum Vaults was paradise on Earth. Crystal chandeliers, orchid gardens, and koi ponds adorned the halls. At the same time, the display counters gleamed with jewels, rare vintages, and exotic botanicals under bulletproof glass.

A dozen sharp-looking clerks waited to receive customers in the luxury reception area. Leonard approached one of them, Teddy, a charming man in a crisp suit. 

"Appointments only, sir," the clerk said without looking up from his computer.

Leonard didn't blink. "I am looking for the Reishi Mushroom, particularly the Lingzhi Royale strain."

That got his attention. Teddy dropped his pen, and his gaze sized up Leonard's frame. He judged the unremarkable jacket, the lack of a designer wristwatch, and the absence of the smug assurance of old money. A muscle twitched near his temple.

"I'm afraid," he said slowly, "That particular item is not on display."

Leonard leaned forward, just enough to cast a shadow over the ledger. "I know Reishi is always locked up in the security vault."

Teddy's lips thinned. He had dealt with bluffers before—adventurous kids slumming it for a dare. They weren't real collectors; they came for window shopping and thought haggling was a sport.

"Even if we had it in the vault," he said, testing the young man. "The reserve price starts at $600,000 per ounce." He paused, waiting for the flinch.

Leonard didn't move. The clerk exhaled, giving up, and tapped a code into the security panel. A biometric scanner slid out. He pressed his palm to it, and the entire back wall hissed open, revealing a cryo-chamber.

Inside, suspended in a vacuum-sealed container, was a single spore of the Reishi Royale mushroom. Even from six feet away, Leonard's skin prickled with its resonance. It was the mystical key to opening his true potential.

Teddy didn't remove it from the chamber. "As you can see, we currently hold one of the two verified remnants of the royale strain."

His tone sharpened, just slightly. "The total cost is $1.4 million."

The simple translation was: Get lost, you're wasting my time.

Leonard felt the Black Eclipse Card in his pocket for a moment, tracing his embossed name on the surface. "Wrap it up. I'll take it."

The clerk's skepticism wavered for a moment. This wasn't the hesitant bartering or window-shopping of a tourist. This was the tone of someone who knew exactly what they were buying and what it was worth.

But before Teddy could respond, shrill, feminine laughter disturbed the conversation.

"Ugh, finally, we are here!" a sharp and arrogant voice cut through the air. "Teddy, darling, I've come for an expensive gift item—the Reishi Royale Mushroom. Could you pack it up?"

The clerk swallowed hard. Leonard's mood soured instantly. This was the worst possible moment.

He turned his head slightly and saw two unwanted faces approaching the counter—Darlene and Mabel Slade, his ex-girlfriend's toxic mother and sister.