Leo Gambino A Thousand Foes

009 Confrontation Again

In the seclusion of his suite, Leonard processed the Reishi Royale using the knowledge Bodhidharma imparted to him. In fifteen minutes, it had transformed into a magical-looking tea.

He sat down cross-legged like in the morning, and sipped the Reishi tea slowly. The elixir coursed through him like a purifying flame. He could actually feel it flushing toxins from his body and opening up his chakras.

The Gambino heirloom ring stored a powerful treasure trove available only to the true heir. However, following the path of cultivation, Leonard had to root the energies in himself, gradually nurturing and opening up hidden gates of power and knowledge.

By the time dawn broke and his eyes opened, he had completed the initial sequence.

He realized he hadn't slept all night, having skipped dinner. But he felt neither fatigue nor hunger.

Only power. Strength. Clarity.

Leonard felt sharper. Stronger. More alive than ever.

He wore a Stuart Hughes suit brought by the head butler, Benedict. It was time to roll his plans into motion.

The young heir found Valery waiting for him at the foot of his staircase, ready with her electronic tablet. She was stumped by how handsome and noble he looked in the designer suit, but successfully masked her admiration.

"The gala is in an hour, sir," Valery said with a bow.

"I'm ready."

They descended upon the Eclipse Consortium headquarters located in the business core of Nexus City. It was a towering skyscraper, dwarfing all other buildings for hundreds of miles.

Leonard was supposed to enter through the main lobby, which was already bustling with guests. "Can't we go inside without being caught on cameras?" he asked Valery with a frown.

Valery protested initially but gave in to her master's demand. She excused herself for a minute to make preparations so he could enter the gala discreetly. "I'll be right back, sir."

Leonard stood by the grand revolving doors, admiring the building. He couldn't believe he actually was the owner.

Suddenly, the young man heard familiar voices. He turned to see Victor Langford and Felicity Slade with entwined arms, loitering near the entrance as if they owned the place.

Victor spotted Leonard by the doors, and his grin turned rancid. He nudged Felicity, whose hand clenched on his sleeve. Both their faces contorted into ugly expressions.

Felicity turned to her boyfriend, letting out an animal-like screech. "It's him! The loser I dumped! The scammer who humiliated my family!"

Leonard had no interest in causing a scene, and he tried to walk past the couple. However, they blocked his path.

"You really are scum," Felicity said, her face twisting with disgust as she looked him up and down. "Trash like you deserves to become dog food. How are you still alive?"

Victor's laughter made a few guests turn their heads. He stepped closer to Leonard, his chest puffed out in his tailored jacket.

"We left you broken and bleeding for the dogs. Do you need to be reminded that kennels are where you belong?"

"Now you're here in a borrowed suit, thinking you can rub shoulders with the elite? If this grand gala weren't so important, I would punch you into a pulp again!"

"Why don't you try?" Leonard said calmly, making Victor grind his teeth furiously.

Felicity jumped in again, her tone getting beastly.

"Do you think becoming a parasite to some wealthy woman raises your status? Where is that bitch, Valery? Ditched you? Have you come here to beg me to take you back?"

Victor cackled aloud. "She probably realized he was a gold digger who wanted to suck her dry."

Leonard smiled a thin smile, realizing that the toxic couple had misinterpreted his relationship with Valery, who was actually his subordinate. He stood there, relaxed, feeling the deep calm that comes from overwhelming power and knowledge.

Victor, still on a toxic high, pointed at the marble floor. "Come on, kneel, and beg us to make you a pet. Maybe, we'll let you watch the next time we make love."

Felicity giggled. "What are you waiting for? Down on your knees, boy!"

Leonard's forehead wrinkled in disgust. Are these two crazy or on drugs?

"Are you shy?" Felicity jibed. "Don't worry, I won't make things hard for you. Just kiss my feet, and then hand over the Reishi Royale to me, and I'll forgive you."

"Stand aside!" Leonard snapped at her. "I have no time for your antics."

Felicity was shocked for a moment that he was dodging her. Then she burst out laughing. "Come on! If you're not here to beg me to take you back, then what else?"

"Oh, did you get an imaginary invitation to the gala?" she jeered. "Or are you looking for another wealthy woman to leech off? Get lost before you embarrass yourself!"

Victor shrugged casually. "Even if I'm embarrassing myself, what does it have to do with you? We broke up, remember? Leave me alone."

"Huh?? As if we were ever together!" Felicity scoffed. "Anyway, I can't stand losers like you loitering around this elite location. I'm doing the Eclipse Consortium a favor by chasing you away."

"And who gave you the right to do that?"

Victor stepped forward, winding an arm around Felicity and pulling her to himself. "She's my lover, which makes her a future partner of the Consortium. You wouldn't understand what it's like to secure a major business deal, would you?"

"Look at your fake confidence!" Felicity piled on. "Victor is here to close a deal with the Chairman of the Eclipse Consortium. You shouldn't even breathe the same air as him."

"Is that so?" the young man replied with amusement. "The Chairman could probably use better company."

Felicity clicked her tongue, shaking her head with a pitying look. "Listen, trash. Don't talk big. This is no place for losers like you! Get lost!"

Victor chuckled dismissively. "Let's not waste more time on this pauper," he said, turning toward the security guards stationed at the entrance.

He snapped his fingers with a self-important gesture, asking one of them to come over.

A burly security guard rushed over, his sharp eyes already scanning the scene.

"This man is a fraud," Victor said, gesturing at Leonard. "He gatecrashes parties wearing borrowed suits and peddling fake invitations."

"I'm sure you guys are doing a great job, but we can't have scum like him wandering around the gala event. Kick him out!"