My Aurelius Executive custom sedan glided smoothly down the tree-lined driveway, coming to a soft halt in front of Grandview Villa No. 1 after a fifteen-minute drive from Daisy’s school. I turned toward the back seat, offering a warm, reassuring smile. "Sophia, take Daisy inside and get some rest, love. I have to head out to take care of a quick business matter, okay?"
Leaning over, I placed a tender kiss on Sophia’s forehead and then kissed Daisy softly on her hair. "I’ll be back home as soon as my work is finished."
Sophia nodded warmly, her eyes filled with gentle trust. "Take care, love. Don’t push yourself too hard."
I watched with a quiet sense of peace as Sophia and Daisy stepped out of the vehicle and walked through the grand double doors of the villa. Once they were safely inside, I tapped my phone, beaming the precise digital coordinates of my newly acquired property directly to the dashboard screen. Looking up at the rearview mirror, I said to the driver, "Head to these coordinates."
Inside Grandview Villa No. 1, Sophia and Daisy entered the grand living room, where Seraphina was sitting comfortably on the plush sofa, reading through a stack of documents. Hearing their footsteps, Sera looked up with a warm smile, but her brow furrowed slightly as she noticed I wasn’t with them. "Why is it just the two of you? Where’s Julian?"
Sophia sat down on the edge of the sofa, letting out a soft breath. "He had some urgent work to take care of, so he went straight to handle it. Where are Clara and Belle?"
"They went over to the Cosmos Group headquarters for an executive board meeting," Sera replied, setting her papers aside. "They should be back around 6:00 PM."
"Alright," Sophia nodded gently. "I’ll head upstairs to put Daisy down for her afternoon nap, and then I’ll come back down so we can catch up."
Sera immediately stood up, offering a gentle smile. "Wait, I’ll come with you and help."
The two women walked upstairs to Sophia’s spacious room, quietly tucking Daisy under her blanket and staying beside her until the little girl drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Meanwhile, after a thirty-minute drive to the secluded outer limits of Metro City, my car pulled up to the entrance of a massive, heavily fortified private complex. I looked over at the driver. "Wait in the car for me. This might take some time."
The driver turned around, offering a respectful bow. "No need to worry, sir. Take all the time you need. I will be waiting right here for your return."
I gave him a subtle, appreciative smile. "Good."
Stepping out of the vehicle, I pushed open the reinforced doors and walked inside the newly acquired weapons testing facility. The venue was vast—a sprawling underground proving ground fitted with long-range targets, specialized tactical shooting bays for various firearms, and dedicated rings designed specifically for hand-to-hand combat and blade training. Aside from myself and the shadow chief, there wasn’t another soul in sight. However, the entire facility was fully stocked with a staggering array of weapons, ranging from standard combat firearms to exclusive, high-tech tactical gear for my private practice.
I walked up to the central shooting line, staring at the distant paper targets. "You really outdid my expectations this time, Chief," I remarked casually.
A rare, proud smile broke across the shadow chief’s usually stoic face. Even though he was a cold, calculated combat operative created through the system, receiving genuine praise from a master like me—someone who calculated every tactical detail with absolute perfection—was a moment of immense satisfaction.
I reached out, picking up a tactical automatic rifle from the display rack. My fingers moved with natural, fluid speed as I began completely disassembling and reassembling the weapon, testing its mechanical balance. Keeping my eyes fixed on the assembly, I asked, "Tell me everything that happened during Karon Smith’s meeting with the elder council."
The shadow chief stepped closer, standing at crisp attention. "Sir, the elders received our anonymous letter and immediately confronted Patriarch Karon regarding the online evidence of his past crimes. However, I am somewhat puzzled... why didn’t the elders strip him of his patriarch position right then and there? And why didn’t they question him about the mysterious backer known as ’Sir’?"
I placed the reassembled rifle back onto the rack, offering a faint, knowing smirk. "It’s quite simple, Chief. First of all, the elders are seasoned politicians—they don’t blindly trust an anonymous letter 100 percent right off the bat. Second, they are carefully trying to figure out the true motives of whoever sent that letter. And third, they don’t even know if this mysterious ’Sir’ actually exists. If he does exist, they certainly don’t want to risk offending a high-tier backer by rashly exiling Karon over minor public scandals that lack concrete court evidence."
I looked over at him. "Did anything else happen during that confrontation?"
"Yes, sir," the shadow chief nodded. "The elders issued a final, strict warning to Karon. They told him that if he ever drags the Smith family name through the mud again—even if there is no formal proof—they will instantly strip him of his patriarch title, exile him from the clan, and revoke his right to ever use the Smith name or influence again."
I chuckled softly, tapping the barrel of a sleek hand pistol. "That’s excellent news."
"Karon must be furious to his core over this setback, right?" I added.
"Extremely furious, sir," the chief replied grimly. "In fact, he was so consumed by rage that he shot his own butler six times, killing him on the spot. As for what happened after that... I had to disconnect our live audio feed momentarily to coordinate your arrival at this range, so I missed the immediate aftermath."
I nodded smoothly, taking aim at a target fifty meters down the line. "Alright. Go find out the rest of the details while I get some practice in with these firearms."
"Understood, sir," the shadow chief bowed, vanishing into the tactical control corridor.
Meanwhile, back in River City, inside the dimly lit study of the Smith estate...
General Rey lowered his head, staring into Karon’s bloodshot, murderous eyes without a single flinch. "Patriarch... before you pull the trigger, please allow me to say one last thing..."
Karon glared at him, his finger resting heavily against the trigger guard. "What is your last wish, General?"
General Rey didn’t offer a dramatic plea for mercy. Instead, he reached down to his holster, pulled out his own personal sidearm, and held it out with both hands, offering it handle-first to Karon. "Patriarch Smith... your pistol was emptied when you executed the butler moment ago. Please, use my loaded firearm to deliver my punishment."
Karon froze, staring down at Rey’s trembling hands holding the fully loaded weapon. The heavy, suffocating silence in the room stretched for several seconds before Karon slowly lowered his empty gun, turned around, and walked back behind his heavy mahogany desk.
Taking his seat, Karon leaned back, staring intensely at the kneeling officer. "Rey... my friend, my ally, my strategist... no matter what title I give you, you always fulfill it. Tell me something... you knew my gun was completely empty. Your pistol has a full magazine, chambered and ready to fire. Why didn’t you take that chance to shoot me right where I stood?"
General Rey remained on one knee, his head lowered in absolute submission. "Why would I ever do such a thing, sir?"
Karon let out a bitter, dark laugh. "For my fortune, of course! For my position! Aside from me, you are the only man who can command this family’s private army. If you killed me right here, you could easily take over the Smith clan. So tell me... why didn’t you?"
"Because that is not my duty, Patriarch," Rey answered softly, his voice echoing with absolute loyalty. "My sole duty in this life is to serve you, to make your ambitions come true, and to die protecting you if necessary. Offering my life to you is nothing compared to my allegiance."
Karon stared at him for a long moment, the wild, unhinged fury in his eyes slowly subsiding into a cold, calculated calm. "If that is your duty, don’t you know that taking your life wouldn’t bring me an ounce of happiness? The only thing that can make me truly happy right now is the head of Julian Vance. Why offer me your life when you could be planning his absolute destruction?"
General Rey raised his head slightly. "Because I failed you, sir. My strategy to manipulate the elders failed, and I know you do not tolerate failure."
Karon waved his hand dismissively, letting out a harsh exhale. "Manipulating the elders was merely a stepping stone you suggested. My ultimate plan was always one thing: to eliminate that arrogant brat in Metro City in a way that sends a terrifying message to the entire world—proving that no one messes with the Smith noble clan. Go fulfill that mission. Do that, and your failure today is completely forgiven."
A sharp, cold glint returned to General Rey’s eyes. He stood up smoothly, bowing low. "Understood, Patriarch. I will immediately contact our sleeper operatives embedded within Metro City. I will order them to strike from the dark and bring Julian Vance back to River City alive, without letting a single soul trace the operation back to the Smith clan."
Karon Smith threw his head back, letting out a deep, malicious laugh that echoed through the stone walls of the study. "Julian Vance... just you wait! Your end is drawing near!"
Stepping out of the study, General Rey walked briskly down the corridor, pulling a confidential file from his inner coat pocket. He summoned his most trusted lieutenant to the private briefing room.
Handing the encrypted documents over, Rey commanded firmly, "These are the contact codes and current locations for all our hidden sleeper cells in Metro City. Contact them immediately. Inform them of the strategic plan and the massive bounty Patriarch Karon has placed on Julian Vance’s head. They are to capture him alive and transport him here quietly. However, if anyone dares to meddle or stand in their way, grant our operatives full authority to dispose of them without mercy."
"Understood, General! I will execute the orders at once," the lieutenant bowed, rushing off to initiate the encrypted transmission.
Back at the private underground shooting range in Metro City...
The rapid thunder of gunfire echoed continuously through the reinforced concrete walls. For thirty straight minutes, I moved through various shooting stances, testing automatic rifles, sniper systems, and handguns one after another. With my newly acquired Ace Shooting Skill and All-Weapon Mastery, every single bullet struck the absolute dead center of the distant bullseyes with terrifying, mathematical precision.
Just as I reloaded a sleek tactical handgun, the heavy steel doors of the firing range slid open. The shadow chief walked back into the room, his face unusually grave and solemn.