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2024-10-29 19:42:56"Do you know who I am?" the beauty snapped. "I'm Natalie Anderson! How dare you try to scam me? Are you aware of my family's influence? The Mayor, the Chief of Police, and the Chief City Attorney are our family friends! Get lost, or you'll end up in prison for the rest of your life!"
The Anderson family was the wealthiest in Sapphire City and owned many businesses, hotels, and shopping malls. They practically bathed in money and, no wonder, had contacts in high places.Tyler narrowed his eyes. The cinematic bubble of running into an angelic beauty had popped for him. Natalie was just a spoiled heiress, and he hated such women with a vengeance.Billionaires who didn't raise their kids right created brats who thought they owned the world. Such ingrates believed their acts had no consequences; they trampled and abused everyone in their paths without mercy or sympathy.A tragic example of such a horrible brat was Trent Cooper, who destroyed his life and tortured his family over a petty incident."Are you a madwoman?" he snapped at the young woman. "Your rash driving could have killed the child!""What child are you talking about?" Natalie fired back. "Must be someone from your scam outfit!"Tyler pursed his lips. The girl was too arrogant and needed to be taught a lesson. He tried to move past her towards the vehicle, intending to flatten the tires.Natalie blocked his path, but as their shoulders collided, she spun around and collapsed like a toppled ballerina.Tyler reached the luxurious Lamborghini. He intended to flatten its tires so the spoiled heiress would have to walk home."What are you doing, you scoundrel!" Natalie hollered at him from the ground. "Don't you dare touch my car! It is worth $3 million! Keep your filthy hands off of it! Are you going to rob us in broad daylight?"Natalie's dress was ripped during her fall, and her thighs showed. As Tyler's eyes inadvertently fell on her exposed skin, she quickly covered herself up and shuffled to her feet."Not only are you a scam artist but also a pervert! I am warning you. This will not end well!"Tyler ignored Natalie's protest and readied himself by the back wheels to kick the tires flat. However, he was distracted by an agonized moan from within the car. He sensed something was wrong.The young man instinctively opened the back door of the Lamborghini. Inside, he saw a middle-aged man lying in a supine position on the back seat. He was trembling in pain, his hand clutching at his heart."What's wrong with him?" Tyler turned and asked Natalie. "Is he dying?"The young woman came rushing towards him in a huff. "How dare you touch our car? Leave my father alone! It's none of your business! Get lost, or I'm calling the cops!"Disturbed by the commotion, the old man in the back seat opened his eyes and slowly sat up. He was in a cold sweat, shivering mildly, and his breathing was rapid."Young man," he said weakly, still grasping at his chest. “I am Silas Anderson. My daughter was rushing me to the hospital because of my heart condition. If you are hurt or offended, I can offer an apology and monetary compensation. But please don't blame her. She only acted out of love for her father."Natalie stepped forward and stomped her feet angrily. "Dad! Please lie down and rest. We'll reach the hospital in ten minutes. There's no need to talk to this homeless fraud! I'll deal with him by myself!"Tyler gave the whiny beauty a cold shoulder and observed Silas. The billionaire was polite and kind regardless of his wealth. Moreover, Silas Anderson was renowned in Sapphire City for his humanitarian work. He built orphanages, schools, and retirement homes for the needy. The old man gave back to the populace and fulfilled his social responsibility.Tyler's anger towards Natalie dissipated immediately. He could relate to the turbulent emotion of a child for her parent's safety. The beauty had been driving rashly to get her father to the hospital in time.Tyler took a deep breath and scrutinized Silas. He activated his secret ability, Chiron's Eye. The young man had developed it through intense meditation under Butch Salvatore's guidance.Chiron's Eye helped him diagnose a patient within his range of vision. The ailments appeared to him in myriad colors and waves, communicating even greater insights than modern diagnostic devices.It was the first time Tyler had activated the ability outside of prison. He felt he owed the old man that much since he obstructed Natalie's path and caused a delay."Mr. Anderson," he told Silas in a somber tone. "I have bad news for you. You won't survive the trip to the hospital. I have discovered a severe congenital problem—a ventricular septal defect in you. In simple words, you have two holes in your heart. You'll suffer a fatal stroke within five minutes!"
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The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 006 At Death’s Door
Silas' face darkened while Natalie looked like she would explode."What nonsense are you blabbering?" she said in exasperation. "Are you drunk or on drugs? My dad is going to be okay once we get to the hospital in ten minutes! A world-class cardiac surgeon is waiting for us there! Get out of our way before I punch you!"However, her father reacted differently. Silas realized that every word Tyler spoke was accurate. Moreover, the old man had lived a long, disciplined life and could tell when someone was lying. His experience told him Tyler's insights were miraculously genuine. It was a near-death leap of faith to trust the stranger."Young man, what is your name?""Tyler Grant.""How did you know I have two holes in my heart? It is medically classified information."Tyler stood silent and offered no response to the question. He believed there was no cause to reveal details of his abilities to a random billionaire.Realizing the young man wasn't inclined to answer his query, Silas conti
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 007 Ungrateful Woman
Tyler took a step back in surprise. He had been focused on healing and had not expected the heiress to assault him physically."I'll sue you into oblivion!" She screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You monster!""It's okay, Nat…" Silas said, stepping down from the car and getting to his feet. His skin looked more youthful, and his breathing had become normal.Natalie watched her recovered father with widened eyes. Did the homeless man really heal him? Were such miracles actually possible? She began to have an existential panic."Thank you, young man," Silas said, patting Tyler's shoulder. "You possess a special gift, and I am blessed to have met you. I owe you my life."Tyler, still annoyed by Natalie's slap, shook his head at the billionaire. "The healing is temporary. I merely extended your lifespan by a week. You can spend it in the hospital if you must. But even the most talented doctors can't help you."Silas laughed a hearty laugh. "I must thank you, regardless. It gives m
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 008 Saving Erica
The young billionaire raised an eyebrow. Then he let out a taunting chuckle. "Oh, it's you, loser! They finally let you go scot-free. I couldn't recognize you under the homeless man attire. It seems prison time didn't wash away your arrogance. Have you come back for more punishment? Or are you here to fall at my feet and apologize?"Tyler pursed his lips to control his fury. He could kill Trent with one blow, and his revenge would be complete. However, it wouldn't be satisfactory. "I am here to rescue Erica. You've arranged her wedding against her will. My life is in shambles, but I won't let you ruin her life as well!"Trent raised his arms in mockery and began guffawing. His friends and butlers also joined him in the laughter. "Did you just say that Erica's life will be ruined if she becomes my wife? Are you drunk or delusional?"Just then, the sound of a pair of heels came down the corridor and stopped by the entrance. "Never mind that. Why don't you ask Erica directly what she thi
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 009 Unfinished Business
"You can have Erica," Tyler told him coldly. "She means nothing to me anymore. However, when your reckoning arrives, I will repay your offenses a thousand-fold!"Trent gulped anxiously and retreated into the safety of his bodyguards. "Don't act cocky! Prison may have made you loud-mouthed, but that doesn't change your social status or power level. I can toy with your life while you can't even harm a hair on my head. I usurped your father's business; all it took was a phone call. Stray dogs like you can only bark loudly and never understand what true power is!""We'll see." The young man turned sharply and left the Sinclair premises.Tyler took a deep breath as his mind settled on new priorities. Erica had betrayed him for Trent, but he felt nothing. However, he would give the rotten woman a taste of her own medicine at the right time. Trent Cooper would also get what was coming to him. Before that, there was another important matter to attend to.Tyler's father, Hugh Grant, used to ow
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 010 Restricted Club
Abe sighed. “Ricardo knows nothing about business. He squandered the profits lavishly on parties and women. In one year, we were bankrupt. Ricardo sold GlobeMall to a billionaire and became a salaried caretaker of this establishment instead. He continues to incur losses, and I think the mini-mall will be shut down sooner than later.”Tyler gritted his teeth. “Ricardo stole the place from my father and ran it into the ground! Tell me. Where can I find him?”Abe pointed to the third-floor arena. “Mr. Ricardo built an exclusive club up there. It’s frequented by many billionaire heirs. The club’s income is quite handsome, but he wastes all the profits on his extravagant lifestyle anyway.”Tyler nodded and turned to leave. “Alright. I will talk to him.”Abe held back the young man anxiously. “I know Mr. Ricardo wronged your father. But don’t go around offending him. He has over a dozen ferocious security guards around him at all times. Moreover, he has connections with the Cooper family. Th
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 011 First Transaction
Yara raised an eyebrow in irritation. What was the stranger playing at? She had been considerate with him all along, explaining why he couldn't afford to enter the restricted club. Wasn't he now taking advantage of her kindness? She considered for a moment to expel him with the help of her bouncers.Yara had been raised by parents who held values and morals above everything else. Their conservative beliefs led to their social status remaining middle-class.Yara's parents could not provide their daughter with the best things in life. However, she never resented them for the modest upbringing. In fact, she was grateful.The principles helped Yara become self-dependent and uncompromising. Growing up, she sharpened her mind and enhanced her body to get ahead in the world.Yara was a model, a part-time hostess, and had already graduated from business school. However, her job applications to five-star hotels and top companies were rejected primarily because she had no references.Yara's coll
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 012 Take Me To Ricardo
Yara turned around with a look of disappointment. The stranger had turned out to be a fraud and pretender after all. Why did she have such unreal expectations?Marv and Pat sniggered and cracked their knuckles. They'd give the homeless man a beating before throwing him out."Why don't you try again," Tyler said, ignoring the advancing men. "Sometimes transactions don't go through."Yara pursed her lips. He wasn't wrong. It was actually her training to swipe up to three times if the customer insisted. She sighed and began the transaction again, entering $3000 as a charge.Beep! The transaction was successful!Yara turned around in surprise. Marv and Pat's faces looked like they were made of leather. Did the homeless man really have three thousand dollars? Was he going to dine in the restricted lounge?"Your table is booked for the night," Yara told Tyler with a charming smile. She was still reeling from the fact that the stranger possessed an active GIB card. How much money did he reall
The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives 013 The Bossman’s Arrogance
Ricardo shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. "I don't know this guy. Is he a janitor? I told you I can't pay any salaries this month. Get him out of my sight!"Yara took a deep breath. Ricardo had cited silly excuses to withhold staff salaries for the month. The truth was that most of the profits went into the purchase of illicit drugs, jewelry, and escort girls. There was barely anything left behind to pay the staff.Ricardo’s employees were disgruntled but were too scared to protest or approach him. Anybody with the Coopers' blessing was untouchable.Yara offered him a sharp reply. "Actually, this gentleman booked a table just to gain entry into the restricted section. He is intent on speaking to you."Ricardo raised an eyebrow and eyed the young man again. "Is that so? What do you want? Looking for drugs?"Tyler regarded the arrogant boss silently. "I am Tyler Grant. My father is Hughes Grant, the previous owner of GlobeMall. Do you remember who he is and what you put him throu
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- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
230 Lazarus Briar
The Seraphim King’s mention induced a wave of muttering among the conference members. Lazarus raised his hand to silence them. "The last time I checked, the Seraphim King was dying in Montserrat Prison," he resumed with a louder voice than normal. "What the hell was he doing in El Abyssium? Tell me the truth!" A couple of shadows parted from the room's darkness and gradually slithered towards Dagon and Veronica. The hulk realized this and panicked. "When we reached the Hetacomb site, Butch Salvatore was already there! It was actually him who defeated Goliath!" "So you thought it convenient to claim the credit? You picked up the pieces and ran with the tail tucked between your legs?" The shadows moved faster, now only several feet from Dagon and Veronica. "No, my lord! I killed the Seraphim King with Kraken! He is dead!" Lazarus raised his brows. A gasp of surprise in unison rose from the conference members. It turned into scattered cheers. The Seraphim King was considered t
- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
229 The Coronation Arc Begins
“You will certainly not die if you eat the forbidden fruit,” the serpent said to Eve.~Genesis 3:1-5.***Far off, a secret conference was under way in an undisclosed location. Selected individuals crowded a long table. Some faces were covered with hoods and masks, while others were shadowed. Regardless of the secrecy and covertness, the chatter was loud."What? We lost El Medalla? How could this happen?""Years of hard work and investments ruined? Shame!""What were the mercenaries doing? Did the Red Marauders give up?""Dagon has never failed us before! Does that dog's leash need to be tightened?""How dare the Prince of Petra launch a war against us? Who told him about El Medalla in the first place?""We must retaliate! We have no other alternative!"A man sat at the head of the conference table, paying no attention to the rabble. He looked engaged in deep meditation or profound thought. Suddenly, he stirred, his eyes turning to the side.A surge of incoming energy disturbed his in
- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
228 Note To Readers
The previous chapter marks the end of the Ascension Arc. I applaud and congratulate all readers who have read this far. I hope you enjoyed the journey. However, this is just the beginning. The Ascension Arc will be followed by the Coronation Arc, where Tyler deals with more daunting enemies and situations. New characters will be introduced, and the focus will shift towards those I have ignored till now. We have had a lot of fantasy battles. It is now time to return home and face more down-to-earth challenges. Those who read so far, kindly leave a review under the story's main page. (Note: there is a difference between leaving a comment on a paragraph or chapter and under the main page) I hope you will still accompany Tyler further on his journey. Thanks again for the support and love. Yours fictionally, KAISER KEN P.S: Do read my other story, THE PEERLESS MAN WITH A THOUSAND GIFTS. It is set in the same universe with an equally awesome main character. Thanks.
- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
227 The End
The Salvatore estate was situated in the hilly regions of Sapphire City. It was remote, accessible only by helicopters, ski lifts, and cable cars. Other billionaires of the city were rather unaware and uninterested in the massive terrain covered by the Salvatore estate. They dismissed it as waste hilly lands. Actually, the ancient estate was hidden from commoners through different geographical and magical means. However, the truth was far from it. The area was replete with mines and minerals. It was a treasure trove of riches. Moreover, a thirty-thousand-square-foot castle dominated the Salvatore estate. It was an ancient structure from where Butch used to rule when he was alive. Britta was raised within those premises. Tyler Grant touched down at a site specially selected for the old man’s last rites. As his wings retreated, he noticed a ceremonial gathering had been summoned. They were Salvatore loyalists, castle butlers and staff, and a few of Tyler’s acquaintances. Under Ty
- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
226 Lilith
The resurrected Yara Mathews received no replies from the others. Instead, she was the object of shocked stares from the girls and a blank look from Tyler. She turned from one to the other in utter perplexity. Suddenly, Yara realized she was naked. She let out a feminine scream. With one arm, the beauty covered her breasts and her crotch with the other. “Someone help me…” she whimpered. “I don’t know what’s happening…” Tyler turned his eyes away from the nudity, instead focusing on the charred Hetacomb site. While he dwelt on his emotions, Kat and Britta rushed towards Yara to aid her. “Don’t worry, child!” the goddess called out the soothing words. “Everything’s fine. I’ll manifest some clothes on your body immediately!” “Stay right there, Yara!” the young Salvatore assured her. “We’re coming to help you!” Suddenly, Tyler’s senses tingled. His gaze whipped back to the girls. “Don’t look at her while she is naked!” Britta snapped at him. “What’s wrong with you?” The you
- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
225 Pitch Black
Kat was still connected to Tyler emotionally and spiritually through a fine strand of mystical energy. It snapped abruptly, making her take an apprehensive step back. The goddess realized something had broken inside him. Butch Salvatore's death had already dealt a powerful blow to Tyler's psyche. Now, Yara's passing had broken the threshold. A part of his personality that he had suppressed all his life had awakened. "Tyler… You're scaring me…" Kat mumbled anxiously. The young man's demented smile was oddly persistent. He appeared not to have heard the goddess' concerns. He spun sharply, taking a purposeful step in the opposite direction. "Where are you going?" Kat asked, knowing her question would fall on deaf ears. Tyler took a single leap and, in a second, appeared fifty yards away. The area he landed on was bathed in deep red. It was as if a large tank of blood had been overturned. The young man's sharp eyes scanned the area with urgency. He finally spotted what he was l
- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
224 Crippling Loss
"NOOO!" Britta screamed, jumping off Kat's back before the latter stopped her gallop.The girl's loud reaction was justified. She had just noticed that her grandfather lay on his back, seemingly lifeless. The old man had only one arm. Half a dozen holes riddled his muscular torso. Moreover, the corpse had already begun to turn blue.The great Butch Salvatore was dead. Tyler knelt before his body with a vacant and spaced-out expression. His own clothes were tattered, but no injuries or bruises were visible."Thank the primordial gods," Kat muttered to herself, realizing her ex-husband was alive and unharmed. She skidded to a stop and changed into her human form.The Mayan goddess raced towards Tyler for a much-desired reunion. However, she stopped abruptly on spotting Butch's corpse. Kat stood motionless, unable to decide whether to hug Tyler out of relief or grieve for Britta's grandfather.Butch Salvatore meant nothing to her as a person. She hadn't encountered him earlier in the pr
- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
223 The Prophecy
“Yes. Do you know what it is about?”“I thought it was another name for the Seraphim King?”The old man shook his head. “No. The prophecy is about the arrival of one powerful soul in a hundred thousand years.”“A hundred thousand? That is a long time period, running into prehistory! Even before humanity came into existence!”Butch furrowed his brows dismissively. “I don’t have the time to tell you about all the ancient civilizations that existed before recorded history. All you need to know is that the thousandth Seraphim King will be the prophesied Gilded Man.”“Who is he?” Tyler asked curiously. “What number were you?”“I was the nine hundred and ninety-ninth,” the old man replied with a knowing smile.Tyler sat up with a start, now that all his injuries were healed. “I am the Gilded Man? Are you sure about that? Clearly, there’s been a mistake! Someone who couldn’t even protect his own master can’t be a savior born from prophecy!”“Didn’t I ask you not to interrupt me?” Butch fired
- The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives
222 Unexpected Savior
Pluck! Something arrested Tyler’s free fall in mid-air. It was unexpected since his fractured senses detected no living beings in the vicinity. That was the primary reason he gave up in the first place.The young man opened his bleeding eyes to find out what was happening. Who was the mysterious savior? With sunlight blinding his already blurry vision, he could see someone carrying him. Together, they floated to the ground comfortably.Tyler strained his eyes as they landed. A heavily muscled torso and a familiar face loomed over him. It was Butch Salvatore!“Master!” he groaned in disbelief. “Is that really you? I thought you were dead!”Tyler had seen Butch die with his own eyes. Kraken devoured the old man’s right arm and later riddled his body with holes. In the end, the monster crushed his heart, essentially ending his life.How did Butch survive such irreparably fatal wounds? How did he fix his entire shredded body? Moreover, it was known that damage taken from Kraken could not
