“So how can I convince you?” Richard inquired.Alonso was the one to talk as he replied. “We can't say for sure but you'd have to earn our trust. The money got us here, trust would make us stay. Arturo told us all about what you've done ridding this city of crime despite being a businessman, it's impressive and though I want to deny it, the evidence is there so I can't.”“In that case, I look forward to working with you a lot. I see us working together for a long time.”“If you'll excuse us, Mr. Smith.” With that, both Vladimir and Alonso took their leave with Axel remaining behind. Richard didn't immediately address him as he inquired from Arturo.“Have you found a good location?”“A few but their prices were bigger than I expected. It should take some time before I find a good location that can be bought for cheap.”“No, there's no need for that. What's the amount they called for the best location so far?”“... 120 million.”“Call them up and tell them you're ready to buy it. We ca
Richard sat in a white van parked across from First City Bank headquarters.He couldn't afford to enter and jeopardize the mission but he also couldn't be too far away so he'd be able to react quickly enough in case of an emergency.Axel lived up to his name as a Hacker King as he hacked the cameras allowing them to keep track of Zach's movements in the building.Zach, who had a wire attached to his best, was able to communicate with them as he made his way to the record room.He was nervous but he kept moving regardless.Thankfully, no one noticed anything suspicious though it was a bit problematic when he tried to enter the record room.In the end, even that was resolved as Zach was able to convince the security guard that he was just there for a routine check.Zach got into the record room and copied the relevant files before attempting to take his leave.That was when troubles began.Cameras around the bank started shutting down all of a sudden and then the same happened to the on
Richard had been worried.He knew Zach would be in danger which was why he had put so much effort into ensuring his safety.In the end, his preparations were nearly ruined as the enemy destroyed the cameras and even interfered with the microphones to ensure there was a lack of communication between Richard and Zach.It was a smart choice considering it caused Richard to miss Zach just as he left the bank but they hadn't considered the fact that Richard had put a locator chip in Zach's clothing.As long as Zach was in the city, Richard would be able to find him.After he got Zach's location, it was a simple case of chasing after him which was achieved after Richard bought a suitable car from a car owner.Of course, he'd only put a phone number to call so the owner would be able to reach him, but that didn't matter at the moment.He glanced to find Zach on the ground with a little bruise on his lip.Richard let out a relieved sigh.He was worried that he would get to Zach late but it se
“Are you feeling okay?” Richard inquired as he helped Zach to his feet.Flustered at first at the care shown, Zach slowly nodded. “Yes, he only hit me once.”“I'm sorry. I promised that no harm would come to you but this happened.”“It's not your fault and in any case, I'm a man just like you. If I needed your help for everything, would I be able to keep calling myself a man?” Zach joked earning a chuckle from Richard.It was good that even after experiencing something so terrifying, Zach could still make jokes.“Did you get the records?” Richard inquired with Zach nodding.“I hid it in the car because I was worried that the goons would try to take it from me. I was hopeful that if I made them focus on me, the driver would find an opportunity to run away.”“You are a brave man, Mr. Zach.”“You have faced off against much worse, Mr. Smith,” Zach remarked but Richard shook his head.“I have a backup, you don't. That makes all the difference.”Richard was truly grateful to Zach.He showe
Richard grinned upon seeing Zach's expression.He'd already known the man would react this way as he never actually had any intentions of ever getting such a post.All he wished for was to continue in his post and do his best to ensure the company's growth.Such a person was the right man for the job of heading First City Bank until it was successfully merged with Keystone Bank.At least, Richard would be assured that Zach would work not for his benefit but to ensure that First City won't end up shutting down due to a lack of competent leadership.Richard couldn't afford to let such a competent mango.After some time passed, Zach inquired. “Sir, are you joking?”“Does it sound like I'm joking?”“But… I'm not worthy. Such a position… it's too much for me. First City Bank is a monolith that someone like me won't be able to handle properly.”“And I say you can handle it better than most. There's no one more suitable for the role. So don't refuse this, I want you to take it because from t
Martins woke up early the next morning in a bid to try and spy around the house before Maddie woke up but unfortunately, just as he stepped out of his room, he was apprehended by the guards standing at the door. Stunned at first, Martins immediately tried to struggle. “Hey, what do you think you're doing to me?... I am a guest of Madison Smith, sister of Richard Smith. You'd best let go of me now or else I'll make you regret this.”The guards didn't even bother offering a response as they dragged him down the stairs.“Hey, let go of me!... Let go of me already!... Is this how you bastards treat a guest?... I'll have your heads for this!... Maddie, Maddie!” Realizing that his threats weren't fazing the guards in the slightest, Martins immediately knew he had to do something else he'd be taken away, so he called out for Madison.Scared that Madison was not around since she wasn't responding to his calls, Martins grew terrified at the thought that he might be taken away to some unknown
Martins immediately knew at that moment that he'd been caught which is why he immediately grabbed Maddie and tried to use her as a hostage, even pulling out a knife to hold to her throat.“You won't do anything.” Richard calmly remarked as he watched him try to threaten him with Maddie's safety.Martins snorted. “Stop bluffing, Richard Smith. We know just how much you cherish your family, so you'd best do as I say else Madison will surely die today.” Richard sighed. “You know how much I cherish my family yet you still threaten them?... Are you being stupid or you are just that desperate?”“Just shut up!... Now, where is it?”“Where is what?”“The hidden treasure that's allowed you to amass such wealth in a short amount of time?”“Hmm, is that why you were sent?... To figure out my source of wealth?”“Shut up!... I'm the one asking the questions here, now answer. Where is it?... Tell me or Madison gets it!” Martins was quite bold as he demanded Richard's compliance.He knew Richard wa
Richard glanced at General Watson once the maid left. “What's going on?”“I have no idea.” General Watson replied. “But considering you two are most likely here to speak with me, I believe it's best I listen to you both or what do you think?”Richard pursed his lips, considering if it would be alright to meet with the ones who wished to spy on him for reasons unknown.Just as he came to a decision, the door opened and the maid walked in with Caesar Milan.“Hello, General Watson, I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.” Caesar casually remarked in a manner Thag showed he held no deep regard for General Watson.Richard couldn't help but wonder if they had connections with people in the capital.Only such people could react so casually before the general.General Watson didn't seem to mind as he replied. “You aren't. Regardless, I do have a guest and you should know him.”Saying that he gestured at Richard with Caesar furrowing his brows, having not noticed Richard up until he was tol
Snorting derisively, Richard glanced at Queen Mother who was staring hatefully at him. “Due to your antiquated beliefs, you have allowed nonsense to remain, ensuring that progress is not made. Do you think that if this man rules, he would do a better job than his father?... I mean, at least the Emperor is sufficiently strong, but this fool?... Ah, well, what can I say?”Seeing as how everyone was silent, Richard continued. “My mother should have sat on that throne, she was the natural choice, but you all decided that because of her gender, she would not rule. Foolish. Too foolish. Now she lays dead, having tried her whole life to ensure that her family was safe and secure, a feeling she would have extended to everyone here had she remained.”The silence indeed deafening as no one knew what to say.The fact that Tabitha was dead was also quite shocking.“Regardless… I am here now and I plan to make changes. The first change I shall make as Crown Prince…”“You are not Crown Prince and w
Richard sat in his bedroom, already prepared for the bout that would bring everything to a natural conclusion.His expression is impassive, he sat before a mirror and wondered what he would do after he had won.It was a question he needed to answer before he could take the right to the Crown in good faith.He was no leader, so was he willing to become one all because he wished to avenge his mother?Letting out a sigh, he thought to call his beloveds only for someone to knock at his door.“Come in.” He calmly responded.Moments later, Gina entered alongside her father, Elder Wu, both of whom had their heads down as they found themselves unable to meet Richard's gaze.Seconds passed before Richard inquired. “Why are you here?”“... I… no, we are sorry, your highness. We were scared and…”“And so you decided as long as you survived, an innocent man paying the price would not be too bad.”“That…”“Sums it up nicely. If only you had stood your ground, I would have made sure you both got th
“Ahem, Princess Liliana.” An elder who could hardly control his curiosity any longer called out, drawing the attention of the first Princess. “Yes, elder?”“... Can you see me?” He inquired as it was common knowledge that the first princess had gone blind at some point as a result of her condition.Silence followed for a moment before the princess replied. “Of course, I can see you, older.”A flurry of gasps escaped the lips of everyone present as one exclaimed.“It's a miracle!”Soon enough, many more began to comment causing the hall to turn rowdy.“The princess is cured of her condition?... How is this possible?”“It makes no sense, the Princess couldn't have been healed just like that.”Just then, the Emperor erupted. “Silence!”Immediately, the hall went pin-drop quiet as everyone shifted their attention to the Emperor who had his eyes on Lily.“Are you truly cured, Liliana?” He inquired softly.Lily pursed her lips. “Yes… I am.”“But how?... Even your aunt Tabitha who was a pow
Eve could never have fathomed that Richard had anticipated her sabotage and carried out measures to make up for it.In her long life, she had never met someone who was able to match her cunning which was why even though Richard proved himself smart, she still considered herself superior.She had superior intellect, superior resources, and superior manpower and most importantly, Richard was on her home turf.There was no way he could pull a fast one on her yet here he was, doing exactly that.Her mind turned fast, trying to figure out how exactly she missed these drones but despite her efforts, she found herself pulling up repeated blanks with no end in sight.She'd made sure she destroyed all the drones after Richard had unceremoniously revealed that he had a network of drones currently spying on every portion of the capital.Of course, he hadn't said it outrightly but she had deduced it judging from what she had learned about his life so far.Which was why she had gotten her most tru
“It's not even been a week since he arrived yet he does something like this, so despicable.”“If he couldn't control himself, couldn't he have gotten a courtesan?... So cheap, utterly disgusting.”“I can't believe such a person is the Legacy. If he truly is the Legacy, he needs to have the Black Book stripped from him before he turns into a monster.”A lot of murmurs flew around amongst those Richard saw on his way to his destination, with many giving scathing remarks as they hurried past him.Whatever the first prince and Queen Mother were planning, its initial effect seemed to be quite good.They'd played an incredibly good card.Soon, he arrived at the courthouse where several elders both from the Right Hand and the Left Hands were gathered.Several looked upon Richard with scorn and absolute disgust with some even voicing their discontent.“I knew we should have never allowed him into the city. He looks like the textbook definition of a hooligan.”“To dare do such a thing and to E
Lily hadn't ever thought she'd be able to live a normal life again.From birth, she'd already been tagged as a child with little prospects and so was left to suffer alone for years.Few of her step-siblings ever showed any form of care, instead treating her as an opponent out of the race.That was the unfortunate thing.Every single member of the Royal family saw themselves as opponents to be defeated and not as a family.It was a situation born out of a desire to rule over millions.Very few were like Maverick, who didn't bother with anything and instead just tried to enjoy as much of their lives as they could.But here comes someone who has no connections to her, doing what no one else had ever deemed necessary to do.No, perhaps, she indeed had a connection to him.Hadn't he said it himself?... This was his attempt at finishing what his mother had started.Tears clouded Lily's eyes as she muttered softly. “Thank you.”Richard managed a smile as he reached out and cleaned a tear tha
The lady, having finished her heartfelt melody, took a deep breath before proceeding to empty her lungs, a look of satisfaction etched on her face.However, she soon paused with her expression shifting as she seemed to sense something, then she asked.“Who's there?” Her voice sounded hoarse, almost like it wasn't used as much as it was supposed to.Richard pondered on how best to respond before deciding to be straightforward.“My name is Richard Smith, I was attracted over by your zither playing. I must confess, it was incredible listening to you play, you are a genius.”The lady seemed to relax only for her expression to shift to curiosity as she inquired. “Smith?... You mean the man who claims to be the Legacy?”“I have been called that.”“I see, it would explain why I didn't detect you immediately. You carry a presence that despite being so immense, can be easily ignored… almost like a ghost.”Richard was unsure of how to respond and so, remarked. “Do you play this every night?”“
In a certain way, Richard had come to rely on the camouflaged drones as the best way to ensure he was never blindsided.If evidence couldn't be gotten from other sources, why not make your own?That was his understanding and so he didn't hesitate to apply it with necessary, hence the reason why he had already unleashed a good number of drones into the capital the night before.Ensuring they covered every corner of the city, nothing was happening in the capital Richard wasn't aware of.How he knew that Elder Wu wasn't doing as he had instructed and was instead meeting with his fellow Rights to discuss what he considered to be a potential disruption of the Order of the city.It seems he feared that Richard would cause chaos in his desire to get revenge.It was understandable why he would think that way but Richard was no madman and he had no desire to implicate innocents in his quest for justice for his mother.Regardless, that wasn't the point right now as he watched Prince Harry's exp
When was the last time he'd been so casually insulted that it felt like a compliment?Harry couldn't remember, perhaps because it had never happened.Those that had dared to look down on him had paid the price without question yet the man before him made him feel like that wouldn't be the case no matter what he did.Harry turned livid as he hated the fact that someone else, a nobody for that matter, would lead him to feel so wary.“How about we put that claim to the test then?” Harry inquired, unwilling to back down just like that.Richard raised a brow. “Wasn't this meant to be a party?”“Plans changed, let us compete. I believe it's a better way to decide if your words are true or you just have a big mouth, don't you agree?”“I see.”“Or perhaps, are you scared?” Harry asked in slight provocation.Richard shrugged. “Alright then, if you really wish to humiliate yourself, then sure, let's fight.”Harry snorted. “Good. We shall exchange three blows. Whoever can remain standing without