The War God Returns to Conquer

Chapter 4

Leon and Amara walked out of Henry's study together, leaving the rest of the family behind.

The moment they stepped outside the mansion, Amara turned to face him, unable to contain her anxiety.

"Leon, what were you thinking?" she asked. "A hundred million dollars in twenty-four hours? Do you even understand what you just promised my grandfather?"

Leon glanced at her, completely unfazed.

"What's wrong? Don't you believe I can do it?"

"That's not the point!" Amara exclaimed. "My grandfather deliberately made things difficult for you. He knows how hard it is to secure that kind of investment, even for established businessmen. He was only looking for an excuse to make you leave me."

Leon took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Don't worry. I'll handle it. Once I secure the investment deal with Central Financial Bank tomorrow, your grandfather will have no choice but to acknowledge our marriage."

Amara shook her head in disbelief.

"That's Central Financial Bank! Their new management doesn't care about anyone in this city, and the major families practically monopolize all their deals. How are you supposed to secure a hundred million dollars by tomorrow?"

Leon simply smiled.

"We'll never know if we don't try."

Amara paused as a sudden thought crossed her mind.

Wait... Sarah!

"Hold on!" she exclaimed. "I just remembered something. An old classmate of mine works at Central Financial Bank. She's a department head there. Let me contact her. She might be able to connect us with someone in upper management."

"Good idea," Leon said softly.

Holding hands, they walked back toward the high-rise building where Amara lived.

When they reached the entrance of her building, an older woman in a simple cardigan was waiting near the glass doors. It was Nanny Martha—the woman who had raised Amara since she was a little girl and had been more of a real mother to her than her own birth mother ever was.

The moment Nanny Martha spotted Leon, her eyes narrowed in suspicion, and she stepped firmly in front of the door.

"Amara, who is this man?" Martha asked protectively, crossing her arms over her chest. "You’ve been missing for ten days!"

Leon gave Amara a gentle nod, understanding that Martha was only trying to guard her. "I'll head home then, Amara. Talk to your friend tonight."

Amara knew Martha wouldn't let a strange man into the apartment so late, so she gave Leon's hand a quick, reassuring squeeze. "Okay. I'll get in touch with Sarah right away."

Meanwhile, Leon took a private car back to his estate—a sprawling, hidden villa located in the city's most exclusive, heavily guarded district.

He sat down on the leather couch, lit a cigarette, and dialed a confidential line.

"Bring me the chairman of Central Financial Bank."

Within twenty minutes, a heavyset, balding man in a tailor-made suit arrived at the estate. It was Marcus Vance—the mastermind who ran Central Financial Bank and held the city's commercial empire in his hands.

Before stepping through the gates, Marcus had pulled string after string to identify the man who had summoned him. What he uncovered had sent cold terror straight into his bones.

The man waiting inside wasn't just a high-net-worth client; he was the legendary War God of the Southern Front, a living Grim Reaper who had slaughtered entire rebel armies single-handedly. In elite military and government circles, his name was spoken in terrified whispers. He was a phantom who dealt out swift, merciless death on the battlefield—a man who left mountains of bodies in his wake.

The moment Marcus stepped into the living room and locked eyes with Leon, his knees gave out. He dropped straight to the floor, bowing until his forehead pressed into the rug.

"G-General... Lord Reaper..." Marcus stammered, cold sweat soaking straight through his custom shirt.

Leon took a slow drag of his cigarette, looking down at the powerful banker. "Marcus Vance. Stand up."

"Yes, my Lord," Marcus squeaked, scrambling to his feet. He trembled so violently he didn't even dare wipe the sweat dripping down his face.

"Tomorrow, my wife Amara will visit Central Financial Bank seeking a deal," Leon instructed, his voice as cold as ice. "You will handle it personally and make sure the hundred million dollar allocation is signed and finalized. Don't mess it up."

Marcus let out a massive breath of relief, nodding frantically. "Of course, General! Even if she asks for three hundred million, the entire bank is hers!"

"Remember her name. Amara."

"Understood, my Lord!"

"You may leave."

Marcus bowed three times in rapid succession and practically sprinted out the door, feeling as though he had just narrowly escaped the clutches of death itself.

After Marcus left, Leon stood up and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the darkening sky.

Ten days since he returned, he thought, his jaw clenching tight. It's time he pay his respects.

Outside, a military-grade vehicle without license plates was idling. A tall, dark-skinned soldier named Henry stood by the door, clad in black tactical gear.

Leon walked out and shot Henry a sharp glare. "Didn't I tell you to return to the border with the rest of the unit?"

"General, the rest of the men returned," Henry replied respectfully. "I stayed behind to guard you. Please don't send me back."

"Call me Leon here. Take me to the ruins of the old estate."

Ten minutes later, they arrived at the charred, overgrown site where a massive family compound had burned to the ground five years ago.

Gray clouds heavy with rain gathered overhead, and a sudden downpour unleashed a torrent over the city. Henry stepped up behind Leon, holding a massive black umbrella over his commander's head.

Leon stared at the blackened stone foundations, his heart twisting with raw poison.

Five years ago, this land belonged to his own family—a proud, noble house. But the destruction hadn't come from an outside army; it had started from the inside. Leon's father had been foolishly blind, falling under the spell of a treacherous stepmother who had infiltrated their home. She poisoned his father's mind, framed his lineage for treason, and secretly forged an alliance with the city's four rival families to wipe out Leon's bloodline.

While Leon was deployed on the frontlines, they ambushed his family, trapped them inside the compound, and set the entire estate ablaze to erase the evidence. The only miracle that tragic night was Amara—a young girl who had risked her life running into the outer flames to pull out Leon's younger cousin, destroying her own face in the inferno before the estate collapsed.

Slowly, the mighty War God sank to his knees in the muddy grass, water splashing around his boots.

Tears welled up in Leon’s eyes, mixing with the pouring rain as a ragged, heartbroken sob tore from his chest.

Behind him, Henry froze in absolute shock.

The Grim Reaper... is crying? Henry thought, his hand trembling against the umbrella handle. He had served alongside Leon through brutal campaigns, watching this man face down thousands of enemies without a single flicker of fear or emotion in his dark eyes. To the world, Leon was an unstoppable force of nature made of steel and blood.

To see this terrifying legend kneeling in the mud, weeping like a broken child over the bones of his betrayed family, shook Henry to his very core.

"I won't let those traitors rest in peace," Leon growled through gritted teeth, his fist slamming into the muddy earth so hard it fractured the dirt. "I will bring down every single person who conspired to burn my home."

Henry swallowed hard, forcing his military posture back. "General... the rival families who betrayed your father are hosting a massive celebratory birthday tonight at the Grand Palace Hotel. They just signed a joint agreement to divide up your family's remaining assets."

Leon slowly stood up, wiping the rain and tears from his face. His grief vanished in an instant, replaced by an aura of pure, suffocating dark fury.

"Get me a coffin," Leon commanded, his voice cold enough to freeze the downpour. "We're going to the party. It's time to collect a debt."