The Hidden King: Rise of Hercules

Who Is He Really?

It was a check for one hundred million dollars!

Alex had never laid eyes on such a mind-blowing fortune in all his days.

“I insist you take this. Until you are ready to reclaim your throne as Hercules, you are going to need proper resources.”

Across the crowded hall, Sophia anxiously watched the door where Alex had disappeared, a heavy knot of worry twisting her stomach. She couldn't figure out what was happening behind those closed doors or why Alex was taking forever to come back out.

Ryan let out a sudden, loud laugh. “Looks like the little punk is already getting a taste of real payback.”

Tyler chimed in right away. “It’s just a crying shame he didn't even get to spend a single night with his wife before meeting his maker,” Tyler mocked.

Sophia’s heart skipped a terrifying beat at their words. Knowing how ruthless billionaires like Mr. Kane could be, it was entirely possible.

“Come on! Mr. Kane doesn’t tolerate stray trash like him. He’s definitely not walking out of there breathing,” Ryan declared, grabbing a glass of fruit punch. He took a sip and chuckled. “Suddenly, the weather feels pretty great.”

“Oh please!” Tyler put on a serious face. “The weather stinks. A mangy dog is about to bite the dust!”

Both men burst into obnoxious laughter while Sophia felt her feet go freezing cold. Her whole body shuddered at the dark thought of becoming a widow barely twenty-فاcher hours after her forced wedding.

“Don’t you dare call my husband a dog!” Sophia snapped back. She couldn't just stand there and take their abuse anymore.

Tyler slanted a cold look her way. “Well, what else is he then? I bet a stray dog has more value than him. And Mr. Kane can spot a nobody from a mile away.”

“Exactly,” Ryan agreed eagerly. “Who doesn't know that Mr. Kane has zero patience for lowlifes? Alex was a criminal anyway, so he totally deserved to get iced,” he murmured with a sickeningly proud grin.

Without any warning, the heavy door swung wide open, and every head in the room snapped toward the entrance.

To their absolute shock, Alex strolled right out side-by-side with Mr. Kane, looking completely unharmed.

Pure disbelief left Ryan and Tyler totally speechless and frozen in their tracks as they watched Mr. Kane and Alex walk in their direction.

Ryan’s eyes blew wide open. “What the actual hell!” he muttered under his breath, his grip tightening around his glass until his knuckles turned white. “Why didn’t Mr. Kane ice him? It doesn't even look like he laid a finger on the kid!”

Tyler furrowed his brow in deep skepticism. “I’m just as baffled as you are. Why would they spend all that time locked in a private room together and the kid's nose isn't even broken?” he complained, looking deeply disturbed.

“Listen up, everyone,” Mr. Kane announced as he drew closer to the group, a genuinely warm smile lighting up his face. In fact, he looked happier than anyone had ever seen him. The only mystery was what he had to be so cheerful about. “I want you all to meet Alex, the son of a very dear, lifelong friend of mine.”

“What the fuck!” Ryan nearly yelled out loud, barely catching himself in time. He knew better than to ever cross a titan like Mr. Kane. He whipped his head toward Tyler in a panic. “How on earth did a worthless lowlife turn out to be the son of someone important to Mr. Kane?”

Sophia was just as stunned by the sudden revelation, though a heavy wave of relief washed over her knowing her husband wasn't entirely a penniless nobody. Still, it made zero sense given the squalid lifestyle she assumed he lived.

She quickly rationalized that he must have suffered a massive financial crash. Even if that were true, it proved Alex’s background wasn't nearly as powerful as the Robinson dynasty and certainly nowhere close to Mr. Kane's league.

“And please,” Mr. Kane continued cheerfully, addressing the wider crowd, “make sure you all enjoy yourselves tonight.” With a final, pleasant nod, the powerful tycoon walked off into the mingling crowd.

“What just happened here? Why didn’t Mr. Kane toss him out on his ear? Did he forget I told him Alex is a criminal? The bastard broke my damn nose!” Ryan hissed in pure rage, glaring at Tyler. “What does this mean for us now?” he asked, a cold sweat breaking out on his neck.

“Hey, pull yourself together,” Tyler muttered, giving Ryan a sharp shove on the shoulder. “Alex clearly isn't that close to Mr. Kane. There's no way he's actually important. For all we know, he’s just some random adopted charity case.”

Ryan nodded slowly, the panic instantly draining from his face as his arrogant composure returned. He took a comfortable sip of his wine, watching Mr. Kane vanish into the sea of wealthy socialites.

“Don’t you think something feels off?” Tyler added a moment later, narrowing his eyes. “Notice how Mr. Kane just walked away? That proves he doesn't actually care about the kid.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Alex’s plain, off-the-rack suit, easily the cheapest outfit in the entire room. “How did they even cross paths? How could that idiot possibly be connected to someone of Mr. Kane’s stature?”

Tyler shrugged dismissively. “Like I said, I doubt there’s any real bond. If they were actually close, do you really think Mr. Kane would have just walked off like that without throwing his weight around?”

Ryan gulped down the remaining contents of his cup. “You know what? You’re dead right.”

“Besides, it was obvious Mr. Kane didn't even like the guy. If Alex was genuinely dear to him, he would have stuck around to introduce him to the inner circle.”

Ryan finally relaxed, a smug grin returning to his lips. “Spot on. That’s definitive proof Mr. Kane couldn't care less about Alex.”

Meanwhile, Alex stood quietly as a flood of forgotten memories continued to unlock inside his head. He remembered his extensive, lethal training in hand-to-hand combat. But looking at the dangerous political chess board around him, he knew he had to keep his true identity under wraps for a little longer.

Yet, he couldn't shake the crushing grief of losing his father and John. He missed them with every fiber of his being. He still couldn't fathom how he had survived taking three point-blank bullets to the chest. It felt nothing short of a miracle.

Noticing he had returned unscathed, Sophia felt her guard instantly shoot back up. Desperate to hide any trace of relief, she slapped a deep, icy scowl across her face.

“I honestly thought you weren't going to make it out of that room alive,” Sophia said coldly.

Alex offered a faint, knowing smile. “Were you actually worried about me?”

Sophia snatched a glass of ice water from a passing waiter's tray. “Not in the slightest! Just watch your step if you value your miserable life,” she snapped dismissively.

Before Alex could reply, Ryan and Tyler swaggered back over. “Looks like the golden boy didn't get the VIP treatment after all,” Ryan mocked.

“I bet he got kicked right out of the inner circle!” Tyler laughed.

Ryan chuckled darkly, his eyes darting back and forth across Alex’s face. “What the hell were you two even discussing behind closed doors for so long?” he demanded anxiously.