2026-07-19 13:05:51"Young... young master?" Raymond choked out the words.
His voice squeaking like a frightened child, "Mr. Vance, you must have the wrong person! This is insane!"
He stepped forward and pointing a shaking finger at Adrian, "This guy is an absolute nobody! He is a failed delivery driver who lives in a slum! We just kicked him out of our family this very minute because he is a thief and an embarrassment to our name!"
Julian Vance slowly turned his head. The professional warmth in his eyes completely vanished, replaced by an predatory glare that felt like a physical weight in the room.
Raymond instinctively staggered back. His breath catching in his throat.
"Silence, boy," Julian said softly.
The quiet threat in his voice was louder than any shout, "One more word defaming the primary heir of The Dominion, and I will personally ensure your family’s name is permanently erased from every financial registry and banking network on this continent by noon today. I will leave your group with nothing but ash."
Edward Sterling’s heart skipped a beat. A cold terror gripping his chest.
The Dominion.
He had heard whispers of that legendary name only once, decades ago, from his own father on his deathbed. His father had warned him that the major corporations of the world were just toys compared to a shadow organization--The Dominion.
The Dominion owned the very foundations of global trade, logistics, satellite networks, and technology. It was a myth he never believed was real. Until today.
"Mr. Vance..." Edward managed to speak.
His knees shaking violently as he leaned on his cane, "There must be some misunderstanding. Adrian has lived as a simple worker—"
"Adrian Veyron is the sole legal successor to Victor Aurelius," Julian interrupted sternly.
He turned his back on the Sterling family completely, focusing his entire attention on Adrian, "Young Master Adrian, the Founder left a specific safe box for you under the absolute care of our oldest, most trusted branch. The geometric iron key you possess will open it. Inside lies the Black Book of Shadows and the Sovereign Ring of the Dominion."
Adrian looked at the old lawyer. Then, he look down at the signed divorce papers lying on the coffee table.
The pieces of the dark puzzle were finally falling into place. The old homeless man dying in the rain, the proud, booming tiff of laughter in the noodle shop, the final warning about the wolves... it wasn't the madness of a poor beggar. It was the calculated final move of the most powerful man to ever live, testing the heart of his successor.
"Where is the safe box, Mr. Vance?" Adrian asked. His voice remained perfectly calm, showing a level of deep composure that made Julian Vance’s eyes flash with intense approval.
"It is located deep within the secure vault of Company number 109—Northwind Logistics, down at the old industrial harbor," Julian replied quickly.
"However, the current situation is highly critical, young master. The moment the Founder’s vital signs stopped, the other nine factions detected the protocol activation. The Forge has already deployed their local corporate enforcement agents to seize Northwind’s assets under the guise of an artificial debt foreclosure. They intend to destroy the box before you can ever open it."
Adrian touched his father's old watch. The steady ticking felt louder now, matching the pulse of his own heart.
"Then we do not have a single second to waste in this room," Adrian said.
He steped forward. He did not look back at the bedroom where his duffel bag lay. He did not look down at the wet money on the floor.
"Adrian!" Elena called out.
Her voice cracking with a mixture of intense confusion. She got a sudden realization that she had just thrown away the most important man in the world. She took two steps toward him.
Her hand reaching out into the empty air, "Adrian, wait... please... what is happening? Who are you really?"
Adrian stopped exactly at the threshold of the open doorway. He turned his head slightly, his cool gray eyes resting on Elena’s panicked face one final time.
"I am the man who cooked your breakfast and took care of you for three years, Elena," Adrian said softly.
His voice entirely peaceful, "But as your father tightly put it, a man without money has no right to speak in this house. So, I am leaving."
"Young master," Julian Vance said. He was gesturing with his mahogany cane toward the open corridor where the line of black luxury vehicles waited in the pouring rain, "Your fleet is ready. The guards are set. Let us go and reclaim what is rightfully yours."
Adrian walked firmly out of the apartment. His back perfectly straight, leaving the entire Sterling family frozen in the center of their silent ruined living room.
As he stepped into the rear compartment of the lead Rolls-Royce Phantom, the heavy door clicking shut against the roaring storm, the first phase of the Founder Protocol officially began.
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Chapter 12: The Black Ledger’s Warning
The light rain outside the main office of Northwind Logistics gradually faded into a steady, cold drizzle. Inside the second-floor director’s office, a single desk lamp cast a warm, golden glow across the dark wood.Adrian sat behind the heavy desk that had belonged to Director Thomas for forty years. Before him lay the Black Book—a thick, leather-bound volume whose pages seemed to absorb the light. On his right index finger, the dark iron Sovereign Ring gleamed softly, pulsing with a faint warmth whenever his skin made contact with the ancient paper.Winston stood near the tall glass window, his polished mahogany cane resting lightly against his knee. Director Thomas stood respectfully on the other side of the desk, his calloused hands clasped in front of his faded blue uniform."Young Master," Winston began smoothly, breaking the quiet hum of the room. "The arrest of Haryo Prasetyo and the seizure of Ironclad’s local assets have secured Pier 14 for the time being. However, we must b
11. The Last Loyal Servant
The leader of the Ironclad security team stared down at Adrian for a long moment. Then, his face twisted into a mocking laugh that echoed across the quiet shipping yard."Adrian Veyron?" the leader shouted.He turning his head slightly so his men could hear him, "The useless son-in-law of the Sterling family? The pathetic delivery boy who carries boxes for a living?"He stepped even closer to Adrian, trying to use his massive frame to force the young man to look up."We know exactly who the hell you are, kid. Our corporate superiors warned us that a desperate beggar might try to play king with a dead man's scraps today. Let me tell you something plain. Move along right now before we break both of your legs and throw your body into the deep harbor."Behind the line of guards, the elderly man in the blue uniform jacket froze completely. Director Thomas looked past the thick shoulder of the massive guard, his old eyes locking onto Adrian’s face.More importantly, his eyes caught the sud
10. The Horizon
The black Rolls-Royce Phantom cut through the heavy rain smoothly. Inside the vehicle, the noise of the storm was completely muted.The only sounds were the steady ticking of the mechanical watch on Adrian’s wrist and the quiet hum of the powerful engine. Outside the window, the tall skyscrapers of the center slowly vanished. They were replaced by the gray, rusted buildings of the industrial harbor district.Adrian stared out at the passing container yards. For three long years, he had driven these exact same roads. Back then, he was steering a battered delivery van. He used to spend his days dodging potholes and constantly checking his fuel gauge, worrying if he had enough money to finish his route.Today, he sat in a luxury car that could easily buy an entire fleet of those vans. Yet, his heart felt completely quiet. He did not feel any sudden greed or excitement. He only felt the heavy weight of the iron key resting inside his palm."Young Master," Winston said softly from the oppo
09. The First Order
"Young... young master?" Raymond choked out the words.His voice squeaking like a frightened child, "Mr. Vance, you must have the wrong person! This is insane!"He stepped forward and pointing a shaking finger at Adrian, "This guy is an absolute nobody! He is a failed delivery driver who lives in a slum! We just kicked him out of our family this very minute because he is a thief and an embarrassment to our name!" Julian Vance slowly turned his head. The professional warmth in his eyes completely vanished, replaced by an predatory glare that felt like a physical weight in the room.Raymond instinctively staggered back. His breath catching in his throat. "Silence, boy," Julian said softly.The quiet threat in his voice was louder than any shout, "One more word defaming the primary heir of The Dominion, and I will personally ensure your family’s name is permanently erased from every financial registry and banking network on this continent by noon today. I will leave your group with not
08. The Arrival of the Obsidian Fleet
Raymond Sterling frowned deeply. His anger momentarily replaced by confusion. He stood up from the fabric sofa and adjusting his jaw bandage.Raymond walked quickly to the large glass window to stand beside Elena, "What the hell is that noise? Did the lower-class neighbors call a heavy construction crew into this alley during a rainstorm?"But the moment Raymond leaned forward and looked down at the narrow street, his eyes widened into absolute shock. The words caught in his throat. His hands began to shake against the window frame.The modest cracked asphalt road outside their ordinary apartment complex was completely blocked from end to end.A terrifying line of six matching Rolls-Royce Phantoms had brought all local traffic to a complete halt. The vehicles were painted in a deep obsidian black that seemed to drink the morning sunlight. Behind the grand sedans stood four large, heavily armored black luxury SUVs.Before the family could even speak, the doors of the SUVs flew open in
07. The Severed Bond
The heavy air inside the small living room felt tight enough to choke a man.Outside the glass window, the gray sky poured a steady wall of rain over the city. It casting gloomy shadows across the worn wooden floorboards.Inside the room, the quiet was broken only by angry breaths of Raymond Sterling. He sat on the faded fabric sofa. His arms crossed over his chest. Even with the thick white medical bandage wrapped tightly around his jaw, a cruel, mocking smirk twisted his lips.Next to him sat Vivian Sterling, the mother-in-law Adrian had served without complaint for three long years. She kept her arms folded tightly against her silk blouse. Her eyes fixed on the damp floor with absolute disgust as if Adrian’s very presence polluted the air she breathed.In the center of the room, Edward Sterling sat on the single high-backed armchair like a king on a throne. The patriarch of the family held his posture completely rigid. His hands resting heavily on the silver handle of his walking c
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