2025-12-31 18:14:41They are to report to River City General Hospital, V.I.P. Ward.
The disinfectant was very heavy in the atmosphere.
David Miller lay bedridden, right hand in heavy plaster cast, but sweat was drenching his little body with pain, yet on the feverish expectant eyes of the boy.
Next to him, Martha Miller peeled an apple with a small knife.
"And I just got a text," said Martha venomously from their company. "Don't worry, sweetie—the Black Tiger Gang has entered the Villa. Fifty men. Iron Tiger is personally leading them all."
He grinned and the grin took more the form of a grimace. "Good. Good! I want Ethan crippled. No, I want him dead! I want him head on a platter!"
"He will be." Babes soothed him. "Iron Tiger is a monster. No one survives him. By sunrise, Ethan will be history, and then we can take that slut Sarah and sell her to underground brothels to make for our lost stock value."
Bang!
The door of the V.I.P. room sprang open.
David and Martha craned their necks waiting for a doctor.
Instead, in came this giant, bloodied, hollow figure. It was Iron Tiger. His right arm was dangling about like a rag beside him, his face huge and swollen like a purple watermelon. And behind him limped two of his lieutenants looking as though they had just been run over by a truck.
"Mr Tiger!" David sat up, glancing round and wincing. "You're back! Did you do it? Is Ethan dead?"
Martha jumped mainly to her feet while clapping her hands. "Wonderful! I knew you could do it! I'll transfer the remaining payment right n—"
"Shut up," Iron Tiger growled.
Martha froze. "Excuse me?"
Iron Tiger limped forward. He looked terrifying-like a wounded bear. He didn't look at Martha. He looked straight at David.
You didn't tell me," Iron Tiger whispered and his voice trembled with suppressed rage. "You didn't tell me he was a monster."
"What?" David blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about? He's just a convict!"
"He destroyed fifty of my men in three minutes; he broke my arm with one punch. One punch!" Iron Tiger spat blood onto the pristine hospital floor.
David's face went pale. "Impossible... that's impossible..."
Iron Tiger walked to the side of the bed and lifted a metal IV drip stand, heavy and heavy, from the corner of the room.
"A message?" David looked at the metal pole, then at the look in Iron Tiger's eyes, more fear-cold, primal fear-gripped his heart. "Wait... Mr. Tiger... what are you doing?"
"He said..." Iron Tiger raised the metal pole high above his head. "'To give you a gift.'"
"No! No! Mom, stop him!" David shrieked, scrambling backward against the pillows.
"Security!" Martha screamed, lunging forward.
One of the lieutenants shoved Martha back onto the sofa.
"This is for the Dragon King!" Iron Tiger roared.
WHAM!
He swung the metal pole down with all his remaining strength.
CRACK!
It connected squarely with David's left leg-the healthy one.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
David's human scream rent through the hospital ward and sent patients across three floors awake.
"My leg! My leg!" David convulsed on the bed, foaming at the mouth.
Iron Tiger dropped the bent metal pole. He looked at the sobbing Martha.
"Tell your son," Iron Tiger panted, clutching his broken shoulder, "If he touches Sarah again... next time, it won't be a leg. It will be his head."
Iron Tiger turned and stomped out of the room. Behind him, he left a scene of sheer chaos.
Location: Sky Garden Villa, The Study.
While David screamed hell, I celebrated sipping Earl Grey tea in heaven.
The sun was rising over River City, gilding the skyline with a golden hue. I was seated in the master study of my villa, where the walls were lined with mahogany bookshelves.
Viper stood by the door, silent as a shadow.
I picked up the secure satellite phone placed on the table. It didn't work on local cellular networks. Instead, it was attached to a private server located deep in the Swiss Alps.
I punched in a number.
Ring. Ring.
"Director," said a respectful voice after breaking the silence. "We have been waiting for your call."
This was Magnus, known in the financial world as the God of Coin. He managed assets for the Dragon Temple—which are in excess of the GDP of most small countries. He was my Seventh Disciple.
Magnus, I said calmly, I want you to go shopping.
"Certainly, Master. Are we purchasing an island? A country?"
"Something smaller," I said, looking at the skyline. "The Miller Corporation in River City."
"The Miller Corp?" Now Magnus sounded puzzled. "Master, I'm looking at their financials right now. It's a rubbish company. Low liquidity, high debt, and plummeting stock. Not worthy of your attention."
"It has sentimental value." Coldly. "They offended me."
Instantly Magnus's tone changed. Sharply. Predatory. "I see. What is your plan? Hostile takeover? Asset freeze?"
"Complete annihilation," I ordered. "Fifty-one percent of the shares should be procured by lunchtime. I demand the ousting of the board of directors, as well as the cessation of any thought in the minds of the Miller family that they own the company any longer."
"Understood. Money shall be loosed. By the stroke of twelve, the Miller Corporation will be the sole property of the Dragon King."
"Good."
I disconnected.
I stood up and walked toward the window. Sarah was still asleep upstairs. Today was going to be a busy day.
"Viper."
"My Lord."
"Bring the car around. We're heading to the Miller Corporation Headquarters."
Viper blinked. "Sir? You want to go there personally? Why not just wait for the acquisition?"
I straightened my tie. A cruel smile flattered my lips.
"Because," I said. "The Board of Directors's meeting is today. David won't be there because he is in the hospital. But Martha will be there."
''I want to see her face when she knows she's fired."''
Location: Miller Corporation HQ, Boardroom.
The environment was toxic atmosphere.
Twelve directors surrounded the long oak table, screaming against one another. The stock graphs on the screen were all red lines plunging downward.
A director bellowed, "We lost 40% in one night! The Grand Sky deal is dead! We are dead!"
“Quiet!” Martha Miller slammed her hand on the table. She looked wrecked; her eyes were puffy from crying, but she had forced herself to come here to save the company.
"We are not ruined!" Martha was lying through her teeth. "I have... I have connections! I am calling the bank right now to secure an emergency loan!"
"The bank won't pick up your calls, Martha!" another director yelled. "We need to sell! We need to liquidate before the stock hits zero!"
"We will not sell!" Martha screeched. "This company belongs to my family! My son David is the CEO! We will never sell!"
Bang!
The heavy double doors of the boardroom were kicked open.
The room fell silent. All gazes turned.
I walked in wearing a black bespoke suit, acquired this morning by Viper. It fit like a glove, highlighting my broad shoulders. Following me was Viper, carrying a briefcase.
"Who are you?" someone asked. "Security! How did you get in?"
Martha's eyes widened. She stood up, throwing her chair backward.
"Ethan?!"
It sent waves.
There was shock. "Ethan?" "The convict?" "The one who ruined the wedding?"
Martha's face turned purple. "You! You murderer! You crippled my son! You dare show your face here? I am calling the police right now!"
With that, she reached for her phone.
"Go ahead," I said, pulling out a chair at the head of the table, the Chairman's seat. I sat back comfortably, crossing my legs, "And call the police. But first, check your stock ticker."
"What?" Martha froze.
"Look at the screen," I pointed.
The directors turned to the screen.
The red line... it stopped falling. Suddenly, a massive green vertical line shot up.
"My God!" a director exclaimed. "Someone is buying! Someone is buying everything!"
"Who?" Martha screamed. "Who is buying our dump stock?"
"Look at the volume!" gasped the finance director. "10 million shares... 20 million shares... 30 million shares! It's a hostile takeover!"
Then the phone rigged in the middle of the table. It was the Stock Exchange Regulator.
Martha shakily put it on speaker. "H-Hello?"
"Mrs. Miller, The formal voice of the regulator sounded. The majority ownership of the Miller Corp has just transferred. An offshore entity called Dragon Capital has acquired 51% of the voting shares."
"Dragon Capital?" Martha whispered. She gazed at me.
I smiled.
"That would be me," I said.
The room erupted.
Martha screamed: "Impossible! You are a beggar! You have no money! How could you buy 51% of my company?"
I said, "Viper."
Viper stepped forward. He opened the briefcase, took out a single document, and slid it down the long table. It stopped perfectly in front of Martha.
That was the Transfer of Ownership Deed. Signed, sealed, and stamped.
I leaned forward, my eyes glowing with that terrifying golden light.
"You said this company belongs to your family?"
I tapped on the table.
"Get out of my chair. You're fired."
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The Trembling Dragon
The stillness that had fallen upon the Grand Medical Pavilion after the herb identification round was not the calm before a storm; it was an atmospheric imposition as if a storm upon the ground had just held its breath.Ethan Smith stood with the utmost calm at the long table, brushing away imaginary particles of dried root from his hands. Around him, whispers began to rise like steam. The term "barefoot doctor" was no longer being used with mockery but rather with confusion and suspicion.Overhead, in the shadowy VIP room with one-way glass, the ambiance was utterly poisonous.Heirs of the Vance family, Victor Vance crushed a crystal wineglass in his palm. The red fluid dripped onto the expensive carpet, much like blood."Explain this," he hissed, his gaze trained on the figure of Ethan down below. "You told me he was a nobody. You told me he was a soft-rice man living off the River City hospital director. Since when can a nobody identify twenty herbs by smell in thirty seconds?"A m
The Capital's Laughingstock
The Grand Medical Pavilion of the Capital was an imposing emblem. Heavy marble pillars as old as an oak forest, high ceilings that absorbed all sound but the half-dreaming whispers of the nation's medical elite.The mood changed the minute Ethan and Sarah entered through the gilt doors. Not very steady as she ordinarily was, Sarah tugged at her blazer's hem, surveying the crowd: men in bespoke suits, women in designer dresses, and doctors with white coats that cost more than their cars."Ethan," she whispered, drawing closer to him. "Everyone here is either a department chairman or a specialist from the top hospitals. Perhaps we should have prepared a fake resume or something?"Ethan's hands were shoved deeply into his pockets, and his face showed mild indifference. "Why bother? Real skill doesn't need a piece of paper."Rounding the registration booth, a bespectacled clerk glanced up from his clipboard, the pen held in a motionless hovering position."Name and affiliation?""Ethan Sm
The Alliance of Snakes
Location: The Onyx Club, Imperial Capital.The Onyx Club was an underground fortress disguised as a gentleman's lounge. It was where the true rulers of the province met to decide the fate of millions.Tonight, the atmosphere in the private VIP room was laden with cigar smoke and anxiety.Lord Julian Vance sat panting at the head of the black-hued table. He was a shadow of a man; his other arm was slung in a sling, bruises covered his face from whatever riot had transpired at his estate, and his eyes seemed to burn in a chaotic, unstable rage.On the other side of the table sat four other powerful men. Four members of the Great Families of the Capital—the titans in real estate, banking, and shipping.In usual times, they would have been rivals against one another. However, fear had bound them into one on this particular night."He sent the monsters back" came the blood-chilling whisper from below. "Twenty genetically modified beasts. He packed them in a box like toys. My entire estate
The General’s Gift
Location: The Vance Family Estate in the Imperial Capital.The Vance Estate had its old-world charm, but it was a fortress of wealth. The capital sprawled across fifty acres-the densest yet germane in its expensive district-and so an emblem of old money-infested and ruthless power.Yet the main hall presented the scene far gloomier than that of a grave at this time.Lord Julian Vance-the Patriarch of the clan-strolled ceaselessly on the short Persian rug. He was a most terrifying man with hair like silver and eyes that pierced like a hawk. He held an ebony cane topped with a golden cobra.His son, Lucas Vance, lay on the center of a stretch in the room.Lucas was a mess. His face was wrapped in bandages. His jaw was wired shut. His ribs were in a cast. He was whimpering softly, unable to speak because of the missing teeth."They hit my son in that trash city?" Lord Vance hissed, gripping his cane until the wood creaked. It sounded like a country bumpkin in some trash city dared to tou
The Night of Blood
I jumped from the second-floor balcony like a world champion gymnast.The wind was racing past my ears; I was landed, not with respect-thumping like a superhero but without noise; the leather shoes had stolen every dew drop upon the grass in silence.I was standing right in the center of a lawn, well groomed.Twenty meters away, the darkness of the forest churning. There it was. The "Berserker Puppets" appeared in the moonlight, drooling chemical foam and having their eyes burning red. Once men, now they were turned into biological weapons by Shadow Sect."ROAR!"The leader was a monstrosity, hulking with bulging veins resembling ropes, for although he's first to charge as he covered the distance within 2 seconds, faster than an Olympic sprinter, raised a fist size of a sledgehammer, aiming to create a paste from my head.I didn't move my feet. Just raised my right hand.Between my fingers, the shimmer of three silver needles."You have too much yang fire in your liver," I said calmly
The Secret of the Necklace
Location: Sky Garden Villa, the Master Study.The moon hung above River City, shining like a pale coin through the bulletproof glass windows of the villa.The din of the auction house felt like a distant memory. The silence here was complete.I sat at my mahogany desk. On a velvet cushion in front of me lay the Heart of the Ocean.The huge blue gem sparkled under the desk lamp. It was flawless. Deep. Mesmerizing. It cost a billion dollars. This was the GDP of an entire country.Sarah was standing beside me, staring at it. She was frightened to touch it."Ethan," she muttered. "We really... we really spent a billion dollars on this? It's beautiful, but... that's a lot of money.""Money is just paper," I said, peering into the depths of the blue stone. "This necklace is worth something beyond its monetary value. It cost my mother her life."One could almost feel Sarah's shock in the silence. She placed her hand gently on my shoulder. "Your mother... was she wearing it when...?""Yes."I
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