Leonidas returned to his apartment in the early morning, looking disheveled and bearing the clear marks of a fight—bruises darkening his skin, a bleeding temple, and dried blood around his nose, all reminders of his struggle with Derek at The Moore club. Despite the extraordinary advantage of his system, Leonidas couldn’t shake the frustration of his defeat, the memory of Derek’s powerlessness against him still stinging.As his slow, weary steps sounded in the quiet apartment, Alex looked up from the wide sofa, where he was relaxing and watching television. A smile lit up his face when he heard Leonidas enter."Leon! You’re finally home!" Alex’s greeting faltered, his expression shifting as he took in Leonidas’ battered face. "Leon, what happened to you?"Leonidas brushed it off, attempting to divert the conversation. "How was Mrs. Whittaker’s cooking? Did you like it?"Settling beside Alex, Leonidas listened as Alex’s face brightened. "Yes, she cooked under Nurse Amy’s watch, but it
Leonidas left the hospital in haste, unsettled by Donna's words that there was no news regarding the incident at the Lotus Building. Suspicion flared."System!" he called out, activating his system. "Search for news about the incident at the Lotus Building on May 27." He settled into his car, preparing to leave.The system responded,[Analyzing related websites...][Searching for related topics...][No topic found related to the Lotus Building incident on May 27th][Search for 'Cancelled Fashion Show at Lotus Building'?]"He erased the incident from the news?" Leonidas muttered, his lips twisting into a bitter smile. Only Derek could be responsible for burying news of Claire's accident.The fashion show had been canceled due to Claire’s accident, but Leonidas hadn't anticipated Derek’s latest move.Gunning the engine, he sped toward the Lotus Building. When he arrived, he spotted two police officers speaking with a building staff member. His gaze passed over them coldly as he strode t
Leonidas arrived at the police station, his steps purposeful as he sought answers about Claire’s incident. He requested a meeting with the detective handling the case, a man named Michael James. Once alone in the detective's office, Leonidas wasted no time.“You want a police license to investigate the Lotus building?” Michael echoed, his tone indifferent and slightly dismissive. “But what’s your purpose, sir?”Leonidas met his gaze, speaking with steady confidence. “I need access to any evidence connected to Claire Adwell’s incident.”Michael leaned back, unimpressed. “And if you gain access, what exactly do you intend to do with it?”Caught off guard, Leonidas paused. He hadn’t prepared an alibi and couldn’t reveal his true intentions.The silence made Michael’s eyes narrow, a cold skepticism settling in. He set down the file he’d been reading and sighed. “I can’t grant you access to this investigation, let alone the evidence. You lack any standing to ensure responsibility for it. T
Undertaking missions with strict deadlines required Leonidas to stay alert for time-sensitive notifications. At 7 a.m., he received one—a reminder that he had only six days left. This came just before his scheduled meeting with an employee from Avvionh, a prestigious clothing brand dominating local New York’s fashion scene.Leonidas moved quickly, adjusting to the employee’s work hours. As he approached, he spotted a woman waiting by a lamppost, wrapped in a long coat and clutching a hot coffee.“Good morning, I’m Leonidas,” he greeted.“Nice to meet you, Mr. Leonidas; I’m Marie Scott.” She replied, a flicker of surprise crossing her face as she noticed the bruises and cuts still visible from his recent fight with Derek. “I admit, I was worried this was some sort of scam, but here you are.”Leonidas offered a faint smile. “I don’t make empty promises about things that matter. I need information about the Lotus building fashion show that was canceled a few days ago…”Marie’s expression
The sun blazed high in the sky, scorching the already hot and dusty construction site on the edge of New York. Leonidas wiped the sweat from his brow, his hands rough and calloused from a day of hauling bricks and mixing cement. His muscles ached, but he pushed on, knowing he couldn’t afford to stop. His brother, Alex’s medical bills didn’t wait, and neither could he. “Hey, Leonidas!” a sharp voice called out behind him. Leonidas turned to see Kyle, one of the senior workers, with a sneer plastered across his face. “You missed a spot,” he pointed to a section of the wall that was already perfectly clean. Leonidas sighed. “That’s already done, Kyle.” Kyle laughed, his friends joining in. “Don’t talk back, scholarship boy,” he mocked. “Just do what you’re told.” Leonidas felt his cheeks flush with frustration, but he kept his head down, muttering, “Fine. I’ll get it.” Kyle leaned in closer. “That’s right. Good boy.” As Leonidas bent to pick up a shovel, he heard hushed laughter b
Leonidas' heart pounded harder with each step as he approached the sound of Emma's laughter. It was a sound he used to love, but tonight it cut through him like a blade. He turned the corner and froze, seeing Emma leaning against the wall, smiling at Derek, the school's popular hockey captain. They were standing too close, their voices low and intimate.Emma turned her head, her smile not fading as she looked at him. There was no guilt in her eyes, only mild annoyance."Oh, Leo. What are you doing here?" she asked, as Leonidas stood there, shocked and in disbelief. Derek smirked, crossing his arms over his chest, clearly amused by the situation."Looks like the mouse decided to crawl out of his hole."Leonidas ignored Derek, his eyes fixed on Emma. His voice was shaky but determined. "I’m the one who should be asking you that, Emma. What are you doing here? With him... on a romantic chat?"Emma rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically. "I was at the gym, and I just happened to meet Derek
Leonidas walked across the campus, his shoulders hunched, eyes fixed on the ground. His mind buzzed with a constant hum of worry. The words of the doctor echoed in his ears: “Your brother’s condition is worsening. We need to perform surgery immediately, or he may not survive much longer.” He shook his head, trying to clear the thoughts. He needed to focus on finding more work, more money. But every step felt like he was dragging himself through thick mud. As he neared the main courtyard, he heard a commotion—a crowd of students gathered around Emma and Derek, who were standing on a raised platform. Emma looked radiant, a satisfied smile on her face, while Derek held her close, grinning like he had won the biggest prize. “Attention, everyone!” Derek’s voice boomed across the courtyard. “We have an exciting announcement to make. Emma and I are officially engaged!” The crowd erupted in cheers, applause ringing out across the space. Leonidas froze, his breath catching in his
Leonidas slowly opened his eyes, the sterile white ceiling above him coming into focus. The harsh light of the hospital room stung his eyes, and for a moment, he was disoriented, unsure of where he was or how he had gotten there.His body ached all over, bruises and cuts made him hard to move. He winced, trying to sit up in the hospital bed. What happened last night? he thought. Memories of the alley, the beating, and that strange system flickered through his mind.“The system…” he whispered. He remembered the gun, the money, the screen that had appeared out of nowhere. But was it real? Maybe that was just his hallucination after craving for help on the verge of death, but if that was just a hallucination, how could he run from Marcus and his friends when his hands still so vividly left the trace around Leonidas' neck?Then it hit him—Alex. His brother! He had to make sure Alex was okay. Ignoring the pain coursing through his body, Leonidas ripped the IV needle out of his arm and s