After the phone rang for a few seconds, Maya finally accepted the call. Her voice came through the speaker, sounding breathless and uneasy.
"Maya," I said calmly, cutting straight to the point. "Why couldn’t you pick up my call on the first ring?"
Maya stammered softly on the other end, her voice trembling slightly. "I... I’m sorry, Sir Julian. I had to put my phone on silent because..."
"Because of what?" I prompted gently, my tone steady.
"Because..." Maya replied with a terrified, shaking voice, "since last night, President Kim has been constantly messaging and calling me. Even when I block his number, he keeps using different burner lines to call and harass me..."
A cold flash of anger cut through me. "Listen to me. Go down to the garage, take any vehicle you like, and drive over to Radel University. I am already on my way there myself. I’ll be waiting for you right at the main entrance."
"O-Okay, sir..." she whispered before hanging up.
I turned to my driver and the shadow chief sitting across from me in the luxury sedan. "Step on it. We need to arrive at Radel University before Maya gets there."
The driver nodded, pressing down on the accelerator. The Aurelius Executive Custom surged forward with smooth, unmatched power.
True to our timing, we arrived at the grand entrance of the administrative building just moments ahead. Stepping out of the vehicle alongside the shadow chief and the two capital mayors, we waited near the courtyard steps. Five minutes later, Maya’s car pulled into the parking lot. She stepped out, looking anxious and visibly shaken.
"What took you so long? We’ve been waiting for you," I said with a reassuring smile, gesturing toward our group. "By the way, Maya, I want you to meet some people. This is Mayor Jack, the Mayor of River City, and his younger brother, Mayor Grey, the Mayor of Metro City."
Maya stared at the two powerful political figures standing casually outside the university gates, her eyes widening in pure shock and disbelief. She never imagined that two city mayors would be standing by the roadside just to greet her.
"Now that you’re here, let’s go inside," I instructed gently.
The group of us walked purposefully through the grand glass doors of the administration building and straight toward the executive corridor. Reaching the heavy mahogany doors of the president’s office, I didn’t bother knocking. Without a moment’s hesitation, I raised my foot and kicked the door open with a resounding crash!
The heavy door slammed against the interior wall as we stepped inside. Sitting behind his large executive desk, President Kim was frantically scrambling to close an obscene video playing on his computer monitor. He looked up, his face twisted in annoyance. "Who the hell do you think you—"
Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes froze in absolute terror as he recognized me, followed immediately by the shadow chief and the two prominent mayors standing right behind us.
"President Kim," I said coldly, my voice dripping with absolute disgust. "You really are the lowest piece of scum crawling on this earth."
President Kim scrambled out of his leather chair, his legs shaking violently as he stared at Mayor Jack and Mayor Grey. "M-Mayor Jack?! Mayor Grey?! What... what are you both doing in my office?!"
I stepped forward, my gaze fixed entirely on the trembling administrator. "Look at me, scum. Not them. Do you recognize this girl standing behind me?"
Panicking under the heavy glare of the two mayors, President Kim stammered wildly, "N-No! How would I know some random student?!"
Bang!
Without another word, I drove a swift, heavy kick straight into his stomach. The force of the strike doubled him over instantly, knocking the wind out of his lungs with a violent gasp.
"I am a businessman by trade, President Kim, and I usually prefer keeping my hands clean," I stated coldly, looking down at him as he collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air. "But scumbags like you manage to push my patience past its absolute limit."
I crouched down to his eye level, grabbing him roughly by the collar. "I’ll ask you one more time: do you know this girl?"
"Y-Yes! I know her! I know her!" he wept, clutching his bruised stomach in agony.
"Good. Now, call your two primary partners-in-crime to this office right this instant," I ordered, tossing his desk phone toward him.
Trembling uncontrollably, President Kim picked up the landline, dialed his internal office codes, and used the conference speaker function to summon both the finance secretary and the student welfare manager directly to his office.
"While we wait for your little accomplices to arrive," I murmured softly, a dangerous smile touching my lips, "why don’t we have a little fun of our own?"
Before he could even register my words, I raised my foot and brought it down heavily onto his knee.
CRACK.
A sickening sound echoed through the office as his kneecap shattered completely under the immense pressure. President Kim let out a blood-curdling shriek of agony, collapsing sideways onto the carpet as he clutched his broken leg, weeping uncontrollably in sheer terror.
The two mayors stood silently near the doorway, watching the brutal display with pale faces and wide eyes. They had seen plenty of ruthless men in politics, but the cold, casual brutality I displayed against anyone who harmed my people was entirely on another level.
I leaned down, my voice dropping into a chilling whisper. "You like harassing innocent people and abusing your power, don’t you? Well, how does it feel to be on the receiving end?"
"I... I am from the Smith clan!" he sobbed hysterically, trying to use his noble background as a shield. "You can’t do this to me! The Smith family will—"
STOMP.
I brought my heel down sharply onto his right hand, crushing his fingers against the hardwood floor. Another agonizing scream tore through his throat as he pressed his forehead against the carpet, begging blindly for mercy.
Just then, the office door pushed open, and two panicked administrators—the Finance Department Secretary and the Student Welfare Department Manager—rushed inside, out of breath. "President Kim, what happened—?"
They stopped dead in their tracks, freezing in horror as they saw their boss writhing in pain on the floor.
"Oh, look," I smiled coldly, standing up and dusting off my suit jacket. "Your partners have arrived just in time."
I glanced at the shadow chief. "Make these two kneel down beside him, and force them to sign confessions admitting every single financial crime, bribe, and extortion scheme they’ve ever committed."
"Right away, Boss," the chief replied efficiently, stepping forward with two shadow guards to pin the trembling administrators to the floor.
I turned my attention back to the weeping university president. "You seem to love women a bit too much, President Kim. Since you enjoy taking things that don’t belong to you, maybe you should become one yourself."
I looked over at the shadow chief. "You know what to order. Call in ten shadow operatives. Have the first five take the Finance Secretary and the Welfare Manager directly to the capital judicial authorities. As for President Kim... have the other five take him to the private hospital."
As the operatives moved in to haul the screaming president away, I raised my hand. "Wait. Stop for a second."
I walked over, crouching down right beside him one last time. "Tell the surgical team at the hospital to make sure he makes a full recovery. Once he’s healed up... pack him into a crate and ship him directly back to the Smith clan in River City."
I patted his tear-streaked face mockingly. "And tell your precious Smith clan this: because you dared to cross my line, I am coming after the entire Smith family next."
As the shadow guards dragged the broken president and his accomplices out of the office, a crisp system chime echoed through my mind:
[System Notification:] Host has successfully completed the assigned task! Reward unlocked: One chance to draw from the Tiered Lottery System!
"Not now," I murmured mentally, shutting off the system interface.
I turned around to face Mayor Jack and Mayor Grey, who were still standing near the entrance, visibly shaken and sweating from the display of absolute dominance they had just witnessed.
"Mayor Jack," I said smoothly, walking over with a calm demeanor. "You see? I can handle these arrogant noble families entirely on my own. I have my own dedicated forces backing me up. All you need to do is stand by my side publicly as a political facade, while I pull the strings from the shadows."
I looked between the two brothers. "This corporate alliance is merely a front for me, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both of you. So let me make one thing crystal clear: Mayor Grey, even after my operations expand to River City, my authority and influence in Metro City will remain completely untouched. Don’t even think about looking for a new backer behind my back."
Mayor Grey swallowed hard and nodded quickly. "O-Of course, Mr. Vance! You have my absolute loyalty."
"And as for you, Mayor Jack," I continued, turning my gaze to the capital’s mayor. "Now it’s your turn. If the Smith family tries to retaliate or pull any stunts before I officially arrive in River City, you must ensure their plans fail completely. If any thugs or operatives sent by the Smith clan dare set foot in Metro City, I won’t just eliminate the ones who cross the border—I will massacre the entire Smith clan down to the roots."
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "And it would be very difficult for you to explain away a sudden massacre of a major noble family in your own capital. So, make damn sure nothing like that happens. Once I personally step foot in River City, I will deal with the Smith family myself in a way that keeps your hands clean and leaves everything looking entirely neutral. Understood?"
"I understand completely, Mr. Vance," Mayor Jack replied, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "I will keep the Smith clan locked down."
"Good," I smiled faintly. "Now, you two brothers enjoy the rest of your afternoon together. I’m heading back to the villa."
I reached out, taking Maya’s trembling hand in mine, and gently pulled her along beside me as we walked out of the ruined office, with the shadow chief trailing closely behind.
We climbed back into the executive sedan, taking our seats in the spacious rear cabin while the shadow chief took the driver’s seat. As the vehicle merged smoothly into the afternoon traffic, Maya sat beside me, her eyes red and brimming with unshed tears.
She looked over at me, her voice breaking. "Sir Julian... thank you so much for saving me today..."
"If something like this was happening to you, you should have told me sooner," I said gently, offering her a comforting look. "But let’s leave the past behind. From now on, if even the slightest problem arises, tell me directly. I’m not an omniscient god who automatically knows everything the second it happens. Do you have any idea what could have happened if I hadn’t found out in time?"
Maya nodded vigorously, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Yes, sir! I will remember this for the rest of my life. If even the smallest trouble comes up, I promise I will tell you immediately."
"Good," I smiled warmly. "Starting tomorrow, you can return to university without any worries at all. I’ve permanently assigned elite security operatives to watch over you. Don’t worry—they won’t get in your way or show up unless you’re in actual danger. They know how to remain completely hidden while keeping watch. So you can go about your studies freely."
I patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Just remember not to do anything foolish just because you’re protected. And don’t let today’s unpleasant events affect your university studies or your tutoring sessions with Daisy, understood?"
"Understood, Sir Julian!" she wiped her eyes, a genuine smile finally replacing her terrified expression.
Just as we finished talking, the familiar grand gates of Grandview Villa No. 1 came into view, and the car glided smoothly up the driveway to a complete stop.
"We’ve arrived," I said, opening the door. "Head over to the staff quarters to rest, Maya. But don’t forget your scheduled tutoring session with Daisy later this afternoon."
"I won’t, sir!" Maya bowed gratefully, stepping out of the car.
I watched her walk toward the staff quarters with a lighter step, before turning around and walking purposefully toward the grand living room of the main villa.