"This one." Clive projected Claire's Inst@gram post on the office wide-screen. She had taken a selfie while riding on the rear seat of a bike. The rider's back was visible. It triggered a social media guessing game to establish who her new boyfriend was. Many celebrity names were taken, including many Hollywood hunks."Claire Holt?" the protégé exclaimed. "Did she finally start dating someone? Lucky chap, that guy. But what does the picture have to do with Emperor Caesar?"Clive Baron looked up and pursed his lips. "Don't use that name publicly, Eddie. You can call him Mr. Damone for all intents and purposes. That is his will." Clive was a three-star ranker in the New World Order. However, Edward Shannon was still a one-star, being groomed by the former. He was the luckiest person in the world to have met the legendary man and been privileged to serve him.Edward nodded. "I understand, sir. Apologies. But what does Claire Holt's picture have to do with Mr. Damone?"Clive winked at him
Victor had explicitly asked Carol not to meet James Colbert again or allow his flirtatious advances. That man's sole aim was to manipulate her to file for divorce. James was obsessed with Carol and wanted to demonize Victor and steal his bride. The billionaire was willing to go to great lengths to fulfill his lewd intentions. It was evident from the hurdles Victor had to face in Springfield Hospital."Carol!" Victor barked, jumping off his bike. He rushed towards the Mercedes group with veins popping on his forehead. Many other ticket-holders turned to look for the source of the commotion. "Victor?" Carol asked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"She looked ravishing in a long, silver satin gown. Her beautiful coffee-brown hair was tied up in a bohemian bun, making her appear like a vintage beauty. Victor realized her dress must have cost a fortune and did not belong to her wardrobe. James must have gifted it to her. The realization made him smolder in jealousy. How close was sh
Victor saw Carol was serious. She must be under great strain already for want of answers. He massaged his temples and dropped the leather bag in his hand."There's two million in this bag," he said coldly. "Take six hundred thousand and pay back Colbert his six hundred thousand. You can keep the rest for Edgar's pending bills."Carol saw the bag but did not pick it up. Was her husband bluffing now that he was caught red-handed? "I'll tell you where I got the money from," Victor continued. "Claire Holt, the CEO of Holt Enterprises, had an accident near Springfield Rapids. I was on a ride to clear my head and found her desperately needing help. In return for my services, she offered me a reward of two million dollars." "What…" Carol mumbled."The woman you see in the picture is Claire," her husband said. "Here, look at this."Victor showed her a receipt from Holt Enterprises. "Claire Holt herself signed it. That should be proof enough."Claire's anger subsided, but a look of disbelief
Victor approached the back entrance of Springfield Concert Hall. Most of the wealthy elite and top celebrities wanted to be photographed and interviewed by the paparazzi before entering the event hall. The main entrance was suited for them since it was thronged by fans and engulfed by floodlights.However, those who wanted to avoid being noticed took the back entrance. Regardless, everyone needed a ticket to enter. The ticket collector, a petite young woman named Suzie, looked Victor up and down and said, "Sir, fans are not allowed inside. There is a projector screen set up on the front lawn. You can watch the telecast event with the rest of the crowd. Those who can't afford tickets belong there."Victor waved a dismissive hand at her. "I am not a fan. I have been invited to attend."Suzie raised an eyebrow. Her voice took on a patronizing tone. "Sir, this is not a matter to be joked about. You clearly don't look like someone who'd carry an invitation to an Exclusive Haley B event."V
The bouncer felt a twinge of fear, and his military instincts told him to back off. However, he tried to rationalize the situation. He was a trained guard proficient in martial arts and did weight training. A commoner could not last against him even for seconds.Besides, Hank had a massive crush on Suzie. He needed to exhibit his machismo in her presence. She had really enjoyed watching him expel ruffians over the past few days."What the fuck can you do if I touch you again?" Hank spat at Victor. "Here!" he said, poking at his chest again.Before the guard could withdraw his baton, Victor's hand shot out, grabbing the weapon. He broke it into two and dropped the pieces. Hank was taken by shock and instinctively threw a pinch at him. Victor caught his arm by the wrist. His fingers wound around the joint and pressed hard.Hank's eyes widened as excruciating pain shot up his arm. He went to his knees as blood flooded his eyes. Who was this stranger? How did he break an unbreakable baton
"This is amazing, James!' Josh exclaimed, exploring the executive seats. "It's much better than the regular audience seats. There's a dedicated catering service as well!"James swelled in pride. Josh was just the kind of person to be excited about subtle luxuries. The more the brat broadcasted his praises to Carol, the more likely she was to be impressed by James."Indeed," James replied. "Only the elite business classes and top government officials are allowed up here. You cannot imagine how difficult it was to get these seats." "Thanks, Mr. Colbert!" Chloe said. "I never imagined I'd ever be allowed up here, that too during a Haley B concert!"James nodded and eyed Carol's reaction from the corner of his eye. Carol had always idolized Haley B and tried to emulate her fashion and hairstyles.Even after the dampening incident with Victor, she looked upbeat. "I wonder what kind of people sit up there…." Carol said, admiring the patron tier above the executive pavilion. "The lights are
"Wow!" Chloe exclaimed. "This suite is like a dream come true!" The furniture was modernistic, with luxurious lounges and spa tables. Finger foods and a choice of drinks were available at their tables. Attendants arrived at the press of a button with warm towels and compliments.Carol and Chloe giggled excitedly when the anchor announced that Haley B would arrive on stage in a few minutes. The duo had a marvelous view of the center stage from the private suite.The crowd erupted as Haley B walked into the spotlight. She wore a red sequin gown that almost looked fluid under the neon lights. Her hairstyle had a Hellenistic look about it, matching her fluid clothes and red shoes.The star celebrity smiled at the crowd and looked toward the patron suites. "Tonight, I reminisce about my reason for being alive," she said, and the audience simmered down. "I dedicate this song to my one true love…"People gasped and broke into chatter. Was Haley B speaking symbolically, or was she going to con
Victor's bike sputtered to a halt outside his home. He lived in a two-bedroom house in a peaceful locality. The neighborhood was modest and was primarily inhabited by salaried workers. It was the best he could afford with his savings.The living room lights were on, which meant Carol was already home. Victor sighed in relief, hoping the bitterness between husband and wife was finally over. However, the vehicle parked outside triggered him immediately. It was a familiar Mercedes car. "Goddammit!'Victor parked his bike in a temper and rushed towards the porch. Just then, the front door opened, and James Colbert walked out with Carol. "Thanks, sweetheart. We'll do this another time," the billionaire said, planting a kiss on Carol's hand. Victor's jaw clenched. "What are you doing here, Colbert? Didn't I warn you to stay away from my wife? Get your hands off her!"While James took a step back in surprise, Carol came to his defense. "Victor! Why do you have to be so rude to him? He came h
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!
Victor recognized the vigilante named Roadkill because he was, in fact, Roadkill. When he first arrived in Springfield as Victor Cromwell, he immediately noticed the societal change. People were bolder, more outspoken, and political. On the other hand, something was uncanny about the steep rise of both crime and criminals.Even after the military boosted security and restored the economy, public order continued to worsen. It meant certain forces were actively inciting crimes. Robberies, burglaries, and murders were frequent.As soon as the sun set, a hush fell over the city. People were scared to go outdoors in the dark. Anti-social elements hung out in the alleys. Drugs, smuggling, and trafficking were at an all-time high. It was dangerous for women and children to go out alone after dusk.Victor decided to take matters into his own hands. He walked the streets and alleys himself to investigate the cause of this anomaly. Since he couldn't publicly reveal his identity and face, he dis