''Your promotion is already in progress,'' Manager Tom muttered, his hands flipping through the bunch of papers on his desk.Upon hearing this, Austin's heart couldn't help but quiver, realizing what that meant.He had been working for this delivery company for about half a decade now, and not even for once was the talk of promotion ever brought up.He watched as Manager Tom's round eyeglasses fell to his big nose bridge, as he pushed it back to his face.''Your next delivery is in an hour, make sure you get the job done perfectly.'' Manager Tom raised his head, his eyes finally meeting Austin's.''Remember, the item belongs to one of our VIP clients, and I assume you know what that means…'' the bald manager said, his eyes knitting with underlying intentions.''Yes, boss,'' Austin replied with a slight bow.''Good.'' Manager Tom nodded.Having nothing to do in the medium-sized office any more, Austin headed to the door, his face plastered with a big grin.Bam!Manager Tom's eyes locke
The room was heavy with tension. The air thick, as if the walls themselves could sense the finality of what was about to unfold. Austin stood at the center of the secret basement, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of the people who had stood by him, helped him build this empire. The Blake family Elders, Senator Hayes, Farhan, and the others—his closest allies—were all gathered, eyes filled with something more than just respect.It was the weight of a journey, a history, and an unspoken understanding that this chapter was closing."Well, it’s time," Austin said, his voice calm but edged with determination. His words hung in the air for a moment before they sank into the hearts of those around him. Farhan stood beside him, arms crossed, his usual bravado replaced with a quiet, contemplative air. The years had changed them both. They had grown older, more thoughtful, more burdened by the responsibilities they’d carried for so long. Yet their connection remained unshaken. The bond of
The whiskey glass in Austin's hand was half empty, the amber liquid swirling around as he tapped his fingers lightly against the rim. His mind, sharp as ever, wasn't focused on the business of the day. Instead, it was on the conversation that had been simmering in his mind for weeks now. Across from him sat Farhan Maleq and James, two of the few men who had stuck by him through thick and thin, who had seen him rise and fall, and now, who were part of the very foundation he had built. They weren’t just allies anymore; they were family.Farhan leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on Austin. The years had changed him, just as they had changed Austin, but there was a familiarity in the air. It was the kind of silence you could only share with people who had seen you at your worst and still stuck around. The weight of the world they’d carried together was too much for just words to explain.James, ever the quiet one, was staring into his glass, eyes unfocused but filled with a k
The room buzzed with quiet murmurs and soft laughter, a stark contrast to the bloody chaos of just a few years ago. The grand hall of the Blake estate was draped in gold and white, the colors of celebration and unity. Every corner of the room radiated opulence, a testament to the new world order that Austin had built with his iron will. Emma sat in an intricately carved chair at the center of the stage, her face glowing with a mixture of pride and exhaustion. The twins lay in her arms, swaddled in soft fabrics that probably cost more than the average person’s yearly salary. Austin stood next to her, his towering frame exuding authority even as his gaze softened every time it flickered to the babies. The crowd of global elites, Mafia heads, and influential dignitaries stood below, glasses raised in celebration. Farhan, representing the El Maleq, stepped forward to speak. “To the future of our world,” he began, his voice smooth and commanding. “And to the two children who symbol
Austin sat at the head of the table, his presence alone silencing the murmurs that rippled through the room. Representatives from the El Maleq family, the Shadow Council, and other former Mafia factions filled the massive conference hall. Farhan stood to his right, his gaze sharp and unreadable, while Senator Hayes leaned back in his chair, his face set in an expression of calm calculation. "This isn’t a negotiation," Austin said, his voice low but carrying. "This is a reality check. The days of fractured territories and petty rivalries are over. From now on, the Blake family is at the center, and I lead the world. Anyone who can’t live with that is free to leave—preferably without causing a scene." Farhan smirked slightly, but his eyes scanned the room for any signs of dissent. The silence was heavy, the weight of Austin’s words pressing down on everyone present. Senator Hayes finally spoke, his voice measured. "No one’s questioning your power, Austin. But centralizing everyth
Austin sat at the edge of a conference table in the Blake family’s main office. The room was packed with faces that wore varying levels of exhaustion and wariness, but none could deny the determination etched into their features. Farhan leaned back in his chair, flipping a pen between his fingers, while Emma sat opposite Austin, scanning through a list of proposed actions. “The loot from the war,” Emma began, her tone sharp and deliberate, “is more than enough to compensate every major city affected by the fighting. But if we’re not careful, this could spiral into another power struggle.” Austin exhaled slowly, his hands resting on the table. “No more power struggles,” he said firmly. “We’ve had enough bloodshed. The loot is going to rebuild, educate, and unite. Anyone who tries to hoard it or weaponize it is going to wish they hadn’t.” Farhan chuckled, though there was no humor in it. “You’re asking wolves to stop hunting, mate. They’ll need more than a warning.” “They’ll ge
The war was over, but the silence it left in its wake was deafening. Cities that had been battlegrounds now bore the scars of Austin’s conquest: shattered buildings, scorched earth, and a populace weary of the bloodshed. Yet amidst the rubble, a new world was being forged. Austin had no intention of letting the old order crawl back from the ashes. The grand hall of the Blake family’s headquarters buzzed with activity. Delegates from the former Mafia factions sat stiffly around the long table, their postures wary. Some still bore the bruises and cuts from their recent battles, their pride as battered as their bodies. Austin entered without ceremony, his presence demanding silence. Dressed in a sharp black suit, his gaze swept over the room. He didn’t need to speak for the tension to settle like a weight on everyone’s shoulders. “We’ve spent decades clawing at each other’s throats,” he began, his voice sharp, cutting through the room. “For what? Territory? Power? Pride? And where
Austin moved through the battlefield like a force of nature, his movements precise and terrifying. His fists cracked the air with raw power, sending shockwaves that obliterated anything in their path. The thirteen ninth-stage cultivators encircled him, their Qi radiating like a blazing inferno, but there was no fear in his eyes. Only rage. The ground beneath his feet split apart as he surged forward, faster than their eyes could follow. His first strike hit the closest cultivator square in the chest. Bones shattered audibly, the man’s body folding in on itself before he was hurled across the field like a broken doll. The others hesitated for only a second before launching their counterattack. Qi blasts illuminated the battlefield, the air heavy with energy so potent it made the surrounding soldiers—cultivators and non-cultivators alike—falter. But Austin didn’t flinch. ---“Come on!” he roared, his voice booming like thunder. His figure blurred as he leapt into the fray, weaving
The hospital room was deathly quiet. The faint hum of machines barely masked the steady tick of the wall clock. Lady Katerina lay on the hospital bed, her face pale but serene. The bandages on her chest hid the severity of the wound, but Austin knew better. He stood at her bedside, his broad shoulders rigid, hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You asked to see me,” he said, his voice low, rough. He didn’t look at her face; he couldn’t. The woman who had been a pillar of strength for the Blake family now looked so fragile, her breaths shallow and strained. “Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her lips curved in a faint smile. “It’s time.” “Don’t say that,” he snapped, his tone harsher than intended. He turned to her finally, his eyes blazing with frustration and something deeper. “You’ll pull through. You always do.” Katerina’s smile widened, though it cost her. The pain etched in her features was evident. “Always so stubborn, Austin. But this... this is differ
The battlefield was finally quiet, save for the groans of the wounded and the distant crackle of dying Qi flames. Victory hung heavy in the air, bitter and costly. Austin stood among the carnage, his blade still in hand, blood dripping onto the scorched earth. His chest heaved as he looked around, the faces of his allies weary but triumphant.“We did it,” Farhan said, his voice cutting through the haze. He clutched his side, blood seeping between his fingers, but his grin was defiant. “They’re finished. Their ninth-stage are gone. We’ve crushed them.”Austin nodded, his jaw tight. “This was just the beginning.”The words barely left his mouth when a piercing scream shattered the fragile calm. His head snapped toward the source, his heart dropping into his stomach. It was Katerina.---Lady Katerina stood at the command post, her focus on relaying orders to secure the retreating enemy lines. She barely saw the shadow until it was too late. A sharp pain exploded in her chest, and she st