The Almighty Garbage Collector: Reclaiming My Throne

Ashes of the Past

The heat from the burning mansion hit my back like a wall of fire. I rolled across the grass, holding the golden box tightly against my chest, while chunks of burning wood and broken stone rained down around us.

I pushed myself up to my feet, coughing from the thick gray smoke. A few feet away, Ms. Alabi was dusting ash off her ruined designer suit, coughing lightly, with Ronke lying flat on the grass beside her. Ronke was shaking all over, her white lace dress torn and covered in black soot.

"Is everyone alive?" Ms. Alabi asked, her voice sharp as she looked over at me.

"I am fine," I said, looking down at the golden box in my hands. The box was no longer glowing red. The dangerous light had faded away, leaving the metal warm and quiet.

Before Ronke could even catch her breath, she scrambled across the grass and grabbed my shoes, her face twisted in absolute terror. "Tunde! Please! You saw what they tried to do to me! They lied to me! They told me I would rule the branch, but they wanted to blow me up with the rest of you!"

I looked down at her. Twelve years ago, this woman stood by and watched while my parents were dragged out of this house. For three years, she treated me like dirt, kicked me out onto the street, and laughed while I cleaned up garbage just to pay for my sister's medicine.

"You got what you wanted, Ronke," I said, pulling my foot away from her grip. "You wanted power, and you wanted wealth. Now you have nothing."

[System Alert: Golden Box synchronization complete.]

[New Item Unlocked: The True Heir's Seal.]

[Core Data Uploaded: Coordinates of the Black Sun Faction Main Headquarters.]

The system interface popped up right in front of my eyes, filling the dark night with bright blue letters. A complete map of the city appeared, showing a hidden underground network stretching far beyond the old estate.

"Look at this," I said, holding up the golden box.

Ms. Alabi stepped closer, her eyes scanning the floating blue map. "That is not just a branch office. That is the main financial server for the entire Black Sun syndicate. Every single bank account, property deed, and illegal contract they own in Lagos is routed through that network."

"Good," I said, my voice cold. "Then we burn them down."

Suddenly, the sound of heavy tires crunching on gravel echoed through the dark driveway. Three black armored trucks came around the bend, their high beams cutting through the smoke. The doors flew open, and Commander Okoro stepped out, holding his assault rifle ready, followed by four of his best guards.

Okoro looked at the burning mansion and then at us. "Young Master! We heard the explosion from down the road. Are you all right?"

"We are fine," I said. "Where is Ife?"

"She is safe in the back of the van," Okoro replied, pointing back toward the gate. "My men are guarding her. But Young Master, you need to see what is happening on the city networks right now."

Okoro pulled out a small tablet and handed it to me. The screen was flashing red with a major news alert from every news station in Lagos.

A familiar face appeared on the screen. It was Babajide, looking smug and confident in an expensive gray suit, standing in front of the city's main financial exchange building.

"As the newly appointed chairman of the Apex Global Consortium," Babajide said into the microphones, smiling brightly for the cameras, "I am proud to announce that all assets belonging to the late family estates have been legally transferred to my company. Tunde is currently a wanted fugitive linked to terrorist activities, and our board has taken full control of his family's wealth."

Ms. Alabi stared at the screen, her jaw tightening in anger. "That little thief. He used the chaos tonight to steal your corporate registration while your house was burning."

Ronke laughed hysterically from the ground, her voice cracking. "You think you won, Tunde? Babajide has the entire city government behind him! You can't fight the whole board!"

I did not answer her. I looked at the system map, then at the burning ruins of my family home, and finally at Babajide's face smiling on the tablet screen. They thought they had left me with nothing. They thought destroying the house would erase my name.

"Okoro," I said, turning to the commander.

"Yes, Young Master?" Okoro answered, standing at attention.

"Gather every man you have," I said, my voice steady and cold. "We are going to the Apex Financial Exchange."

"And what about her?" Okoro asked, pointing down at Ronke.

"Leave her here," I said, turning my back on my ex-wife as she began to scream in panic. "Let the police find her. She is no longer worth my time."

We climbed into the van, leaving Ronke crying alone in the dirt of the burning estate. Okoro slammed the door, and the vehicle roared to life, speeding down the highway toward the city center.

Ten minutes later, the van pulled up across the street from the towering glass skyscraper of the Apex Financial Exchange. Through the massive glass windows on the ground floor, I could see Babajide standing at a podium, surrounded by flashing cameras, celebrating his victory with the city's corrupt board members.

[System Alert: Hostile territory detected.]

[New Quest: Crash the corporate gala and reclaim the family throne.]

[Reward: Unlock Level 3 Dragon Bloodline and permanent financial control.]

I opened the van door and stepped out onto the sidewalk, adjusting my jacket. The city lights shone brightly above us, but I knew the darkness waiting inside that building was far worse.

I walked straight toward the glass doors of the lobby, with Okoro and Ms. Alabi right behind me.

The security guards at the entrance saw me coming and reached for their batons, shouting for us to halt. I did not stop walking. I raised my hand, the power of the system surging through my veins, ready to shatter every single glass window in the building.

Before I could reach the door, a loud screech of tires echoed behind us. A black sports car slid across the street and blocked our path.

The driver's door popped open, and a man stepped out into the light. My eyes narrowed as I recognized him instantly. It was Elder Balogun’s personal enforcer, holding a heavy silver briefcase and a golden invitation card with my family crest stamped on the front.

"Tunde," the enforcer said, stepping forward with a dangerous smile. "The Supreme Leader has been waiting for you. And he brought a guest you thought was dead."