2023-03-03 20:27:24Victor's mind was reeling, and his in-laws' insults gave him acid reflux. He had to escape the toxic environment before he did something terrible. He cast a sideways glance at his wife and rushed out of the house.
'I need to get the fee for grandpa's surgery somehow,' he thought, walking down the street. 'Perhaps I can borrow the amount.'Victor placed a call to his paternal uncle, George Damone. "Uncle, please help. I need six hundred thousand urgently for grandpa's treatment. Could you loan me the money, please?"He heard a high-pitched female voice from the other end. He recognized the voice as his aunt-in-law. "We don't have that kind of money!" she spat with contempt. "Especially for that old fart! He can die and stop being such a burden to everyone!" The call disconnected.Victor let out a cry of exasperation. George's wife despised the Damone family. At least whatever was left of it. Old man Edgar Damone's company used to be profitable. He had two sons and a daughter who invested proportionately with their disposable income. When Victor's parents died in a car accident, Uncle George withdrew investment from the company following his scornful wife's advice.Edgar suffered a stroke right afterward, leading to the company's downward spiral. George's wife did not let him visit his father on his deathbed.Victor was desperate but wouldn't give up. He called all his friends and coworkers, wandering the streets while he made the calls. However, all was in vain. Nobody could come up with six hundred thousand dollars at such short notice. His friend, Dave, offered ten thousand dollars, a drop in the sea. Victor disconnected the last call and sighed, looking blankly at the setting sun.Just then, a vehicle approached him from ahead, and headlights blinded him. A Ferrari screeched to a halt along the curb. "Hey, Victor?" James called out through a half-lowered window. "Seems like being out on the streets suits you. Anyway, normally, I wouldn't talk to a peasant like you. But I am willing to help you with your grandfather's treatment."Victor raised an eyebrow. "What do you want in return?"The billionaire put on a wicked smile. "You know what I want...""No…"James' expression was smug. "Yes, it is exactly what you think. I want you to divorce Carol and let her marry me. If you file for divorce today, I'll take care of the entire treatment of your grandfather. And tell you what, you can use my family attorney for the proceedings, free of charge." "I'll also throw in an extra five hundred thousand so that you can get back on your feet. How does that sound? This is a life-changing opportunity for you."Anger flashed across Victor's face. "How dare you, you snake! Stay away from my wife, you hyena! I don't want your dirty money!" He rushed at the Ferrari, intending to smash in the windows, but the driver floored the accelerator. Victor chased the vehicle for a few yards in outrage."Now, you look like a proper dog chasing cars!" James shouted from the speeding Ferrari.Victor grimaced. It had taken him two years to gather eight hundred thousand dollars, working all kinds of jobs while taking care of Edgar. Josh looted and splurged the entire amount in a day. After swindling him of his life savings, his in-laws even took the opportunity to humiliate him. Adding insult to injury, they had arranged for a spoiled billionaire to steal his wife!This wasn't the life he imagined leading after he retired from his old position. Did the people around him even realize who he really was?Anger welled up in Victor. Enough was enough!"All I wanted was to live like a regular Joe! I was done with the high-stakes life of the past! What is the point of hiding in this city when everything else is falling apart around me? When I can't even help my own grandfather survive? When brats and simpletons and inferior men are spitting on my face?"Victor's expression changed abruptly. He became grim and reserved. It was as if the aura around him had suddenly transformed. He removed his wallet and extracted a card lodged in a secret pocket. Victor flipped over the card and dialed a ten-digit number embossed on it. There was a single ring, after which an authoritative voice picked up the call."This is the New World Order. What is your age and legend code?"Victor repeated a set of numbers and letters he had first memorized six years back. "Age 28… Legend code is… A-4-4-5-9-I-#-E-7-7-7-8."He could hear typing on the other end, after which the voice replied, "The legend code is confirmed. I cannot believe it. Is that you really, Caesar?"Victor took a deep breath. It was two years since he had been addressed by that name. It was less of a name and more of a rank. "I want my crown back," he said.There was a sharp exhalation on the other end of the call. After a short pause, the authoritative voice posed, "Are you sure about that, Caesar? You had deactivated your position temporarily of your own accord for privacy. The activation will be permanent this time, and everyone in the organization will be made aware of your return. There's no going back." The voice was barely holding back excitement.Victor exhaled. He was going to step into a chaotic world again. But he had no other choice. "I am positive. Initiate.""Alright."A series of beeps sounded, after which the voice returned. "Your Level 1 Access is activated, Emperor Caesar. Welcome back to the New World Order." The call got disconnected immediately.
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The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 005 Against All Odds
A coded message was transmitted to certain chosen individuals across the globe.Somewhere in the Indian Ocean, a high-ranked general inside a war submarine received a low-frequency ping.A hard-boiled woman sitting in the back of a traveling truck in the Sahara desert found a message on her satellite phone.An elite commander leading a guerrilla team in the ganglands of Venezuela received a communication on his radio.A world leader delivering a speech to millions of followers read an urgent message on his phone.A beautiful woman on a private jet jumped for joy when her manager whispered the news to her. The exceptional individuals who received the message either mouthed or thought the same words. "Emperor Caesar is back!"***Victor decided to walk back home. He wasn't expecting Carol's return anytime soon. She was sensitive about her family and would go to great lengths to defend them. Moreover, she never realized that they wanted to exploit her. Victor had tolerated their abuse i
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 006 Did You Cheat On Me?
Carol's color faded, and her husband could see the guilt plastered across her face."I…""You were with the billionaire James Colbert, weren't you?" he barked. He grabbed a few rolls of notes and crushed them in his fist. "Is this his dirty money?" His wife shook her head in distress. "No, you have misunderstood, dear. I just went for a drink with him and left early. That's all. He was willing to pay for the treatment if I met him once. James is not as bad as you make him out to be, dear."Anger flashed on Victor's face. "Do you know why I married you, Carol? Because you were a virtuous woman with principles. You cannot imagine how devastating it is to see you pimping yourself out!"Tears welled up in Carol's eyes. "What are you saying, dear? Don't you trust me?" But her husband wasn't listening to her. He approached the fireplace, opened the bag, and emptied the money into the embers. The six hundred thousand dollars went up in flames. "Have you lost it, Victor??" she exclaimed, gr
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 007 Cold Treatment
Sophia Baker was one in a million. She was Harvard-educated, born into a doctor family, and had resounding success in the medical world at a young age. She was only twenty-seven years old but had already surpassed many big-league peers. The female doctor was a leading researcher and authority in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery. An insider had leaked the news that she had performed surgeries on various royal family members across nations.Sophia was such a voluptuous beauty that TIME magazine featured her as the sexiest doctor of the decade. The bombshell had a million followers on I*******m. She was fashionable and filthy rich; even popular international brands signed her to promote their products.That international celebrity Sophia Baker would arrive in Springfield to treat a random elderly patient shocked the hospital administrators. Edgar Damone used to be a successful businessman, but now he was just an infirm old man whose name was relatively unknown in Springfield. Why was
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 008 Jealous Wife
Did Sophia perform the surgery for a charitable organization? Carol nodded to herself. That would make sense since Victor had no money to compensate such a top-notch doctor. Perhaps the same organization also paid the original six hundred thousand demanded by Springfield Hospital.Carol wanted to clarify this from Sophia but did not dare to ask. The female doctor had an intimidating personality which made her unapproachable. Moreover, she had just saved Edgar's life, and it would be rude and ungrateful to ask such intrusive questions. The celebrity doctor was at par with her in looks, but her confidence and attitude made her even more attractive."Can you hand me your husband's unlocked phone?" Sophia asked Carol. "I need to save my number."Carol was confused by the unconventional request. Why wasn't she directly asking Victor to save her contact number? Regardless, she obliged and handed his phone to her after unlocking it. Sophia was expressionless while she typed a number, gave a
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 009 Plan Foiled
When James Colbert reached the operation ward, he found Edgar’s surgery had already begun. He made sure Victor and Carol did not see him. James waited at the ICU corridor’s reception patiently. He flirted with the cute receptionist to pass the time. Not only was he a trustee of the Springfield Public Hospital, but his father had donated millions over the years. Therefore, every staff member treated him like royalty.Soon, Dr. Sophia Baker exited the operation theater and went to talk to the Damone couple. Then she returned via the corridor to take the elevator to the terrace. James rushed forward to talk to her. At first, he was tongue-tied to see how attractive she was. The female doctor was in a figure-hugging lab coat, and her long hair was curled fashionably. She had a hint of freshened makeup, and her skin was radiant. His immediate reaction was to try and impress her.“Miss Baker. I am an honored trustee of this hospital… My name is James-”“I don’t need to know you,” Sophia cu
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 010 The Wife’s Suspicion
“Victor… look at the bill,” Carol said with a troubled expression. “The organization she mentioned may have paid for the surgery fee, but there are other charges amounting to one million dollars!”Little did she know that ‘the organization’ was simply a pseudonym for the gold-lined card Victor possessed. It was loaded with a billion dollars, replenished as soon as a withdrawal was made. The ancillary charges were filed by Sophia separately, perhaps because she needed an excuse to call him.Victor did not reply to Carol but just nodded. His thoughts were elsewhere. Edgar was to be transferred to a private chamber, which would cost fifty thousand per day primarily because of his delicate condition. However, he could recover peacefully there, with private duty nurses attending him 24x7.“How do you plan to pay the ancillary fees of the cardiac surgeon?” Carol asked. “Tell me.”“I will talk it out with Dr. Baker,” he said coldly.Talk it out? Carol’s heart sank. Why was Victor so casual ab
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 011 Clive’s Admiration
As Victor walked out of the hospital, a Rolls Royce cruised to a halt before him. Onlookers wondered which bigshot's car it was. Victor pulled up his hood and approached the vehicle. He peered in to see Clive in the driver's seat. The forty-year-old billionaire was a butler-cum-chauffeur now.Victor slipped into the car, and Clive drove off."What is the urgency?" he asked the billionaire, who looked strangely in character as a chauffeur."Sir, I have concluded another task you assigned via text. You asked me to survey your grandfather's finances and assets. What I have accumulated is as follows. First, someone has been draining your grandfather's accounts while he was bedridden."Victor raised an eyebrow. The prime suspect in this nuisance could be none other than his evil aunt. He'd deal with her later since Edgar's account barely had a hundred thousand dollars. "What else?""Unfortunately, Damone Industries, chaired by Edgar Damone, is about to declare bankruptcy."Victor scratched
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 012 Loyalty Tested
The head office of Damone Industries was located in the Seaboard Industrial Block. The latter block was among seven industrial blocks in Springfield. However, it was ranked lowest because of a poor turnover. Not only was business slow, but competition among the companies was toxic, leading to underhanded practices which damaged each others' profits.As Victor walked into the premises of Damone Industries, he saw seven men outside, smoking cigarettes even though it was banned by company policy. Two of them, who looked middle-aged, stepped forward. Victor recognized them as Alec, the Head of Sales, and Seagal, the Head of Marketing Division. They were the two most significant employees of the company."Here's my resignation letter, Mr. Damone," Alec said with a smirk. He knew that his exit would land a crushing blow to the company. "Oh, wait. I should call you… Victor."Victor ignored his taunt and accepted the letter. He signed it without any argument. While his indifference was noticed
Latest Chapter
268 Allies
"What the hell are these changelings?" Kate raged. "Why are the Damonists so desperate to create them with these infernal methods?"Disgust and anger overwhelmed the girl, and her voice changed to the regular low-pitch. Normally, Kate thickened her tone to sound older to throw off any witnesses. Now, with her defenses lowered, she sounded much like a University girl."Does mutilating and killing innocents come easily to them?! They ripped out unborn babies and fetuses from pregnant women! And don't get me started on the brains!"Kate trailed off, unable to handle her own graphic imagination. She had not imagined in her worst dreams that the night would take such a dark turn.Victor nodded. "All I know is that changelings are composed of uterus and brain tissue. I am not sure why they are collecting fetuses. I haven't found the purpose or application yet."Kate fidgeted with and adjusted her mask. It had loosened a bit after her brief struggle with Roadkill. "But why make such horrible
267 Changelings
Victor checked the time on his Cartier watch. It was a Valentine's gift from Eva. He wondered what she'd be doing right now—probably still awake, waiting for her lover. Even though the duo were intimate just a few hours ago, he already missed her warm, slender body., and her naughty smile.Victor had spent all night hunting down criminals—drug peddlers, child traffickers, rapists, and burglars. They were petty offenders but still made Springfield unsafe. He would be back home already if he hadn't followed Kate to the abandoned asylum."First things first, Raven," Victor began. "Why did you call me a monster? What was that uncalled-for outburst all about?"Kate crossed her arms and gave him a quizzical look. Did Roadkill seriously not know? Was the psychopath clueless about his own murderous tendencies?"I will not fall for that," she replied defensively. "You're trying to find whether I have gathered any evidence to incriminate your brutalities. Once you know everything, it will be co
266 Bird Hunting
Kate's grip loosened a bit on her knives. Did the stranger say he was Roadkill? Why was the name so familiar? A moment's reflection brought back her doubts and anxiety.Of course! The poster vigilante, Roadkill! He was so popular among the youth that cosplayers dressed up as him in comic-con. Teen girls loved him so much they got the tattoo 'R' over objectionable parts of their bodies. There were steaks and drinks named after him!Kate ground her teeth in disgust. The Raven used to be Springfield citizens' poster heroine and sole protectress. That ended when Roadkill arrived. However, the female vigilante wasn't really upset that he stole the limelight from her. She was more disturbed by how he did it.Kate went through the newspaper articles, online blogs, and witness reports of cases in which Roadkill was involved. Even though the police department publicly denounced him, they made no attempts to curb his vigilante activities. On the other hand, the Raven was painted as a hobbyist a
265 The Raven
Kate jumped from rooftop to rooftop undetected in the darkness, her beastly green eyes glowing in the night. She was light as a feather and agile like a feline. She used parkour moves, advanced gymnastics, and physical resilience to traverse buildings.Kate was trying to put some distance between herself and the crime scene she had recently visited. Less than ten minutes later, she found a group of drunkards harassing an innocent lady. The latter was returning from shopping and somehow missed the curfew time.The villainous group ambushed her in an alley and surrounded her. After robbing the lady of her belongings, they went too far. Inebriated and stoned, they attempted to tear off her clothes and rape her.Luckily, Kate heard her cries and jumped down from the building for a rescue. She offered no warning to the perpetrators. Her powerful chops, jabs, and slams floored them in a minute. The end result was that the men needed hospitalization to survive.After making an anonymous call
264 Eva’s Perfect Life 3 (18+ Warning)
Clearly unsettled, Eva tried to get up from the bed. But she failed because her legs and arms were bound. The young woman had been stripped and made to wear a hospital gown.What was going on? Didn’t she lose consciousness in the restaurant? Where the hell did they bring her? Or was she asleep, having a nightmare?Eva heard a few voices talking but couldn’t recognize them.“The fresh specimen has a bun in the oven, sir…”“What? Is the woman pregnant? Now, that sounds like good news. We can have both her grey matter and her uterus. Jackpot!”Eva’s heart froze in horror. What nonsense were the strangers blabbering? Then, the realization hit her. She had been abducted!“Where am I?” Eva called out to the voices. “What’s going on here? Answer me! I am the Mayor’s executive assistant! You guys are in a lot of trouble! The military police will barge in at any moment and gun you down!”Eva heard footsteps. Moments later, three smiling faces loomed over her. “Ah, the specimen is awake,” a mid
263 Eva’s Perfect Life 2
Eva stopped eating her food and stared at the young man. He looked innocent, probably fresh out of high school, a college freshman. Was he a fan of Victor Cromwell?“How did you know it was me?” she asked apprehensively.“Please don’t be alarmed, ma’am,” he replied, joining his hands. “I am George. I am actually a big admirer of Mr. Victor Cromwell and the wonderful work he has been doing for Springfield. You’re always by his side in meetings, conferences, and photo ops. Therefore, it isn’t irregular for commoners like us to recognize you.”Eva was still unconvinced. “You are a fan of Victor’s work? Are you okay with military rule? Most of the city appears to be against it.”“Yes, of course they are against it!” George exclaimed. “Governments rise and fall all the time. Governance styles also change. Springfield is becoming a military-industrial complex, and people must get with the times.”Eva nodded, reassured that the boy was a modern arts student, an idealist. Why else would he tr
262 Eva's Perfect Life
Eva Atelier stepped out of the shower, looking resplendent. She wore only a white bathrobe and smelled of lavender and honey. The beauty just had a long, warm, and luxurious shower. However, the timing could have been better since it was past midnight.Victor had gone out after an hour-long lovemaking session, leaving her yearning for a thorough cleansing. Perhaps he would return soon, and they could go at it again. She was already horny thinking about her man.Victor usually disappeared every night and returned before dawn. Eva never asked him about his whereabouts. She assumed he was meeting important people and hatching plans for Springfield's betterment. The girl equated herself with a superhero's girlfriend, never disturbing his high-stakes, clandestine nightlife.It had been a month since Eva started living with Victor at the Mayor's mansion. It was now public knowledge that the two were dating. The media picked up the news on the first day and played it until the entire city kn
261 The Dark City Arc Begins
Haley B stumbled out of a high-end liquor store with a vodka bottle in her hand. She was clearly inebriated. The young, beautiful celebrity had fallen off the wagon and had been drinking every day since Victor died.Haley B had postponed all her movie and concert schedules indefinitely and wasn't accepting any more offers. All she wanted to do was bury her sorrows in alcohol. When her media team tried to convince her otherwise, she fired them.At the moment, with a liquor bottle in hand, and wearing a loose hoodie and track pants, Haley was in disguise. If the paparazzi found her intoxicated, she would be on national news, and the internet would break. Not that she cared much about her celebrity status anymore.Haley looked around at the pedestrians and drunkard crowds. Nobody gave her a second look. People probably thought she was a homeless woman.Her Mercedes stood outside with a chauffeur and two guards. Haley eyed them from a distance with blurry vision. Indeed, she had had a lot
260 Note To Readers
Dear Readers, Thanks for staying with the story this far. You're all awesome. I have tested your patience with slow updates and such tests will be less frequent in the future. About the story: The Invasion Arc ends with the last chapter. It will be followed by the Dark City Arc, that will introduce new characters and spring many more twists. Victor Damone is now Victor Cromwell, the legal heir of a royal family. However, escaping his past won't be as easy as he thought. Let's see how the Peerless Man deals with the upcoming dangers. Stay tuned!
