The War God Returns to Conquer

Chapter 5

The Sterling family was one of the four most powerful families in Ellsworth City, with an influence that extended across the city's business and political circles.

Today was an important day for them. Sterling Holdings had just secured a major partnership with Grandwell Corporation, one of the leading companies in the city. The agreement would bring enormous benefits to both sides, but it would also strengthen the Sterling family's position among the four great families.

On top of that, the family's patriarch, Richard Sterling, was celebrating his seventy-fifth birthday.

Outside the Sterling family's villa, expensive cars filled the driveway. Almost every influential figure in Ellsworth City had received an invitation, and the guests arrived with valuable gifts to honor the occasion.

"The Harrington family presents a collection of rare vintage wines worth seven million dollars. They wish Mr. Richard Sterling a happy birthday and many more prosperous years!"

"The Blackwood family has gifted a diamond necklace valued at eleven million dollars. They wish the Sterling family continued success!"

"The Anderson family presents a limited-edition Swiss watch worth nine million dollars!"

At the entrance, a woman held a microphone, announcing each gift for everyone inside the villa to hear.

Richard sat in the grand hall wearing an expensive blue suit. Despite being seventy-five, he looked remarkably healthy and energetic. Every time another expensive gift was announced, satisfaction spread across his face.

The banquet was filled with influential people from wealthy families across Ellsworth City. Even the smaller families had made an appearance, hoping to establish connections with the Sterlings.

The Harrington family, for instance, had spent a fortune purchasing a rare gold pen for Richard. Their patriarch hoped the expensive present would help strengthen their relationship with the powerful family.

Everyone was busy exchanging greetings, discussing business, and looking for opportunities to expand their influence.

Meanwhile, a masked man wearing a dark coat approached the Sterling villa with a coffin in one hand.

The coffin weighed more than a hundred kilograms, yet he carried it effortlessly with one arm.

It was Leon.

He had returned with two things in mind: to repay Amara for saving his life and to avenge the destruction of his family.

Now that he was married to Amara, he couldn't risk someone recognizing him and using his identity to cause trouble for her. That was why he had covered his face with a black mask.

As he approached the entrance, the security guards noticed the coffin and immediately became suspicious.

"Hey! Stop! What are you carrying? This is a private event!"

Leon ignored them.

Without slowing down, he raised the coffin and hurled it toward the entrance.

CRASH!

The massive doors shattered under the impact as the coffin flew into the grand hall and landed heavily on the floor.

Every conversation stopped.

The music went silent, and hundreds of guests turned toward the entrance in shock. Nobody understood what had just happened.

It was Richard Sterling's seventy-fifth birthday. Who would dare bring a coffin to such an important celebration?

Richard had been speaking with several family patriarchs when the coffin came crashing into the hall. His expression immediately darkened.

"What's going on? Where are the security guards? What are they doing outside? Who brought this thing here? Get it out of my sight immediately!"

Before anyone could respond, a cold voice came from the entrance.

"Richard Sterling, I have brought you a birthday present. You're celebrating your seventy-fifth birthday today, but I doubt you'll live to see another one."

A man wearing a dark coat and a black mask walked into the hall.

Richard stared at him in disbelief. This was the Sterling family's territory, and he was the patriarch. Nobody in Ellsworth City dared to insult him so openly.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

Leon looked directly at him.

"I'm the man who's come to take your life."

His cold declaration sent a wave of shock through the hall as he began walking toward Richard.

"Stop right there!"

A young man in his twenties stepped forward, pointing angrily at Leon.

"I don't care who you are. This is the Sterling family's territory. You don't get to come here and cause trouble!"

It was Caleb Sterling, Richard's grandson.

Still furious, Caleb approached Leon and reached for his mask.

"Let's see the face of the coward hiding behind this thing."

Leon suddenly grabbed his arm and lifted him off the ground.

Before Caleb could understand what was happening, Leon twisted his arm with tremendous force.

Crack!

His arm was torn from his body.

"AAAH!"

Caleb screamed as blood poured from the wound. He fell to the floor, clutching his injured shoulder.

The guests were horrified. Most of them were wealthy people who had never witnessed such brutality in their lives. Some screamed while others hurriedly moved away, afraid of becoming the next victim.

Leon threw Caleb's severed arm aside without giving it another glance.

His imposing presence and terrifying display of strength left the Sterling family trembling. Even Richard instinctively stepped backward, secretly reaching behind him for a weapon.

Leon continued toward him.

Caleb's painful screams filled the hall until he eventually lost consciousness.

The atmosphere became unbearably tense. Nobody dared interfere as Leon's footsteps echoed across the floor.

"Kneel." Leon roared

His command was brief, but his murderous aura made it impossible to ignore.

Leon had spent years on the battlefield, where killing was part of survival. His experience as a military commander had made him a terrifying opponent, And the guests could feel the danger radiating from him.

Even Richard momentarily lost his composure.

Before he could react, Richard's body began to shiver, and his legs gave way. He dropped to his knees in sheer panic.

The guests stared in disbelief. The Great Richard Sterling was kneeling? It felt like a complete abomination to witness.

Richard Sterling, the patriarch of the Sterling family and one of the leaders of the Four Great Families, was kneeling before a masked stranger.

Leon reached into his coat and brought out a strange silver wire. It was made up of numerous tiny needles connected together, forming a thin but deadly weapon.

He held it up before Richard.

"Richard Sterling, do you remember what you did five years ago?"

Richard finally realized that he was kneeling. He tried to stand, but his body refused to obey him. Cold sweat ran down his back.

"Do you know who you're dealing with, boy?" he demanded, trying to maintain his authority despite his helpless position. His hand was still hidden behind his back, gripping his weapon.

The other members of the Sterling family remained at a distance. None of them dared approach Leon after witnessing what had happened to Caleb.

Leon looked down at Richard.

"Five years ago, a fire destroyed the Leon family estate. Thirty-five members of my family died that night. Their only crime was sharing the same blood as me."

His voice grew colder.

"You and the other three families worked together to make sure none of us survived. You took everything we owned and thought the truth would remain buried forever."

Richard's eyes widened as the realization began to sink in.

A survivor of the Hart family?

Before Richard could utter another word, Leon moved behind him and swiftly looped the silver needle wire around his neck.

Richard struggled to reach for his weapon, but Leon pulled the wire tight without hesitation.

Blood sprayed across the floor as Richard's head was severed from his body and rolled several feet away.

The guests erupted into terrified screams. Some dropped to the floor in horror, while others scrambled toward the exits, desperate to escape.

The Sterling family members stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Leon took out a black bag, picked up Richard's severed head, and placed it inside.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

Nobody dared to stop him.

Even after he disappeared, the Sterling villa remained eerily silent. The guests were too terrified to move, while Richard's headless corpse lay motionless beside the coffin.

At the cemetery, Leon finally stopped in front of his grandfather Thomas's grave.

He placed the black bag beside the tombstone and stared at the name engraved on it.

After a moment, he took out a flask and drank from it before pouring the remaining liquor onto the ground.

"Grandfather, you can rest assured. I'll make sure everyone responsible for our family's destruction pays for what they did."

His eyes grew distant.

"I'll restore our family's honor and take back everything they stole from us, including Moonlit Flowers on Cliffside's Edge."

After speaking, Leon stood up and left.

***

Back at the Sterling villa, the guests had finally begun leaving. The birthday celebration had ended in a tragedy nobody would forget.

The coffin remained in the grand hall, and Richard's headless body still lay on the floor.

Caleb, who had lost an arm, had been rushed to the hospital.

The remaining members of the Sterling family gathered around Richard's corpse, all of them kneeling.

Standing at the front was Evelyn Sterling, Richard's youngest daughter and the woman who had played a major role in destroying the Leon family five years ago.

Her expression was filled with rage.

"Has anyone contacted Victor?"

Her voice echoed through the hall.

"Y-yes. We've already reached him."

Evelyn took another look at her father's corpse.

"Leave everything as it is. Nobody touches anything until Victor gets here."

Later that night, several military helicopters landed at Ellsworth City's military base. They carried the markings of the Western Front.

A middle-aged man wearing a military uniform stepped out of one of them. His expression was stern, and his presence immediately commanded respect.

A group of fully armed soldiers stood in formation and saluted him as he approached.

A jeep was waiting nearby. The man entered, and it drove straight toward the Sterling villa.

He was Victor Sterling, Richard's fourth son and a high-ranking military commander.

Upon arriving, Victor was taken into the grand hall. His eyes immediately landed on his father's headless corpse.

He removed his military cap and dropped to his knees.

"Father, I'm sorry I arrived too late. I promise I'll find the person responsible and bring him to justice, no matter who he is."

His voice was thick with anger.

"Victor."

Evelyn approached him.

Victor rose to his feet, his expression dark.

"I need the surveillance footage from tonight's celebration."

"I'll have someone bring it immediately," Evelyn replied.

When the footage arrived, Victor watched it from beginning to end. He saw the masked man arrive with the coffin, attack Caleb, force his father to his knees, and finally take his father's life.

His expression became increasingly grim.

After the footage ended, he turned toward Evelyn.

"What exactly did he say before killing Father?"

Evelyn recalled the stranger's words.

"He mentioned a fire that destroyed the Hart family's estate five years ago. He said thirty-fivd people died and that our family was responsible."

Victor clenched his fists.

"A survivor of the family?"

"It has to be," Evelyn replied.

Victor lowered his head, pressing his palms against his face as he considered the situation.

After a moment, he looked at Evelyn.

"Arrange Father's burial. Keep everything simple."

He paused before continuing.

"I'll be going to the capital. There's someone I need to speak with about the Hart family. If anyone knows whether a member of that family survived, it's him."