One's heart pounded, and his mind raced as he grappled with the precarious situation. He had to tread carefully to convince Zale of his loyalty and secure his own survival. Taking a deep breath, he responded with determination, "I'll do whatever it takes to prove my loyalty, sir. Tell me what you want and I will get it done without hesitation." He even lowered his head in a bow.Zale's smile widened when he saw that gesture. Who would have thought that the once rebellious assassin would turn out to be a loyal servant? It was unbelievable. However, he expected nothing less from One. No one wants their life to be taken.Despite the smile on Zale's face, his voice was hostile, "Very well, I have a task for you, One. You see, some people have wronged me, and I want them eliminated. If you carry out this task without question, I may consider sparing your life."One nodded eagerly, relief washing over him at the possibility of escape. "I'll do it, sir. Just tell me who they are, and it will

Zale found himself momentarily taken aback by Sophia's last statement.He had to look at her closely, studying her demeanor to be sure she wasn't under the influence of alcohol before he could accept her words. Her eyes were clear, her posture firm, and there was a sense of determination in her expression; with all these, he would rest assured that she was fully sober.After a brief but intense study, he finally spoke, his tone firm and assuring, "Sophia, I may not fully comprehend why you trust me in this situation, but I can promise you this: nothing bad will happen to Amelia under my watch."Sophia met his gaze with unwavering confidence, her words carrying the weight of her conviction, "You don't need to tell me. I trust you implicitly. And the fact that Amelia already places her trust in you only solidifies that trust."Zale nodded, appreciating Sophia's unwavering faith in him. He turned to leave the room, fully intending to attend to the unconscious Amelia and make sure she was

Unbeknownst to Zale and his grandfather of the spreading rumors about them, they proceeded to the Adair ancestry mansion.During the journey, Cyprus couldn't resist commenting on Zale's transformed appearance and demeanor. "You seem remarkably different now, my boy. Has something occurred that I'm unaware of?"Zale was slightly surprised by the question but replied with a wide smile on his face, "Nothing happened, Grandpa. I didn't realize I looked different until now.""You certainly do. It's as if..." Cyprus paused, observing Zale before adding, "It's as if I'm gazing at someone with five decades of life experience."Zale chose not to respond, fully aware that this transformation likely resulted from the artifact and his newfound abilities, opting for silence.The journey continued in silence until they reached the Adair mansion.Both Cyprus and Zale stepped out of their car.Ace led Cyprus to his chamber, while Zale decided to take a walk around the mansion.Zale wished to allow th

The smile on Zale's face didn't go unnoticed by Loki.'What's going on with this young man anyway? Does he find this situation amusing or is there something I'm missing?' Loki pondered inwardly, genuinely puzzled.Zale, aware of Loki's gaze, chose to ignore it. He directed a straightforward question to Cyprus, "Why would your nephew choose to ally with your rival? It doesn't seem logical, or am I missing something?"Cyprus let out a deep sigh before explaining, "I held control of the underworld from the age of 20, but after my son's death, I made the decision to walk away from it all. I entrusted everything I once managed to Williams. In return, he promised to keep any underworld matters far from me, forever. Unfortunately, he struggled to maintain the operations smoothly for long, which led him to seek an alliance with a more influential underworld figure, and that figure turned out to be Asper." Cyprus paused, giving Zale time to digest his words, and then continued."As I learned of

Cumbo noticed the sudden change in Ethan's expression and decided to probe further. He leaned in, his dark eyes locking onto Ethan's face, and inquired, "What's eating at you, kid?"Ethan hesitated, his voice trembling slightly as he finally confessed, "I don't have the money with me right now, but I promise I'll get it as soon as I can."Cumbo, at first, couldn't contain his laughter. A deep, sinister chuckle escaped his lips, echoing in the dimly lit warehouse. The laughter filled the room, but suddenly, his face grew grave. He turned his furious gaze upon Ethan, and his voice carried a venomous edge as he demanded, "What rubbish are you spouting, boy? You're kidding, right?"Ethan, feeling the weight of Cumbo's anger bearing down on him, tried desperately to explain, "I swear. I'll find the money and pay you after the job is completed. Name your price and I will make it worth your time."But Cumbo wouldn't hear it. He silenced Ethan with a glare that could send shivers down anyone