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The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 244 Honoring The Hero
Springfield's beautiful town square was packed with elite and ordinary citizens. It was decorated with a patriotic tone, and the mood was generally not high.Among the elites, top billionaires, merchants, bureaucrats, artists, and civil society were present. The military was also in attendance. Everyone's eyes were on the ten-foot-tall monument at the town center, shrouded by a curtain.General Lance Baker approached the podium and addressed the crowd and the media cameras."A good morning to all citizens of Springfield. I am General Baker, appointed by the federal government for this transition period of the city."There was light applause from the audience. Even though Lance was a familiar face by now, the presence of the military made people anxious."I welcome you to a new day in Springfield's history. I will concede, of course, that the past year has been horrendous in terms of human lives lost and displaced. Several terrorist attacks almost shook the city's foundation and brought
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 245 The Interim Mayor
Carol woke up in her new mansion in Prince County and finished her chores quickly. She was supposed to register as a candidate for the Mayor position at noon. However, the beauty stayed awake all night thinking about it.Ever since Victor’s will reading turned into a dramatic affair, Carol’s depression born from losing Victor dissipated. Now, she had fresh issues to deal with.Sophia Baker, the cardiac surgeon who treated Edgar, was back. She returned with a one-year-old she claimed to be Victor’s son. While it was received with widespread disbelief, Sophia submitted her son, Niklaus, to a paternity test.To everyone’s shock, the test came out positive. Since both the Atelier and Baker families claimed to have Victor’s successor, it was an odd situation. The executor of the will, Elsa Madison, deferred the will’s execution until it could be confirmed that the child in Carol’s womb was Victor’s.Meanwhile, Carol accepted the mansion, cars, and millions of dollars Victor left behind for
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 246 New Identity
Victor was in the Mayor's office going over the fortification plans of Springfield. [Victor Cromwell, Lieutenant Mayor] was embossed on his glass door.The civilian town was set on the path of transformation into a military-industrial city. In the near future, it would produce its own arms and armaments and train its own soldiers.However, the first step was to build defenses around and within its borders. It was Victor's priority right now."Border patrol won't be enough to stop sudden military incursions," he said, tapping on a detailed map of Springfield. "We need more drastic measures in place.""What do you suggest?" General Lance Baker asked, seated opposite the newly appointed Interim Mayor. "We have to build over a hundred secret bunkers at strategic places," Victor replied, sliding the edited map across the table. Lance pored over the markings and whistled. Numerous locations were cross-marked around and within the city. "You appear to be an expert at military strategy for a
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 247 Sexual Harassment
"Hello, Mr. Mayor, sir!" Daphne exclaimed jovially. To seduce the new Mayor, she had decided to be adventurous by going braless."We're here for the secretary positions."The red tube top that covered Daphne's upper body; she had pulled it down so low it barely covered her nipples. The cloth was so shamelessly thin that it left little to the imagination."Mr. Cromwell, I am a big fan!" Chloe followed up, pressing her shoulders together and leaning on the table. She thrust her cleavage out in public display."I hope you found our resumes interesting," she added with a wink.Victor almost visibly blanched at the girls. There was nothing natural about their faces or bodies. They were likely enhanced too many times with plastic surgery.Even though such silicon-stuffed women were attractive to ordinary men, Victor was disgusted by their appearances. The thick layer of makeup and the slutty display of their chests annoyed him."I went through the credentials in your applications," Victor s
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 248 The Last Candidate
Victor raised an eyebrow but retained his composure. "Is that so? I was not aware women could lie like that, and people would still believe them.""It seems you have finally come to your senses!" Chloe said, banging on the desk. "With a single accusation, we can ruin your career! You will be fired from the Mayor's position, and the Cromwell family's reputation will be in the dust!"Victor nodded again. "It makes sense. What do you seek to achieve from such a fraud?"Daphne grinned from ear to ear. "If you don't want us to accuse you… Quickly type out our letters of joining as secretaries with double salaries. Moreover, we want a check for fifty thousand dollars each right now!""Oh, this sounds like blackmail," Victor said slowly. "And extortion. Which are both crimes."Chloe waved a dismissive hand. "Do you have any other option? Consider the money and job as compensation for us preserving your reputation and career. Fulfilling our demands would be better than going to prison, wouldn
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 249 Special Interview
What was Eva Atelier doing in the Mayor’s office? Why did she want to apply for the secretary position? Did she suspect anything?However, Eva’s body language and words did nothing to suggest she knew Victor’s real identity. He had to treat her like any other candidate and eventually get rid of her.“Take a seat.”“Thanks, sir.”“Your application says you are a fresh graduate from Carmine University. But you are a citizen of Springfield? Why did you go out of state to complete your education? Aren’t universities here not good enough?”Eva exuded confidence. “My parents shifted to Carmine City for business reasons, so I was bound to move with them. I had no choice but to enroll in a private university there. However, my heart was always in Springfield, and it always will be…”Something was left unsaid in her words. Was she referring to the late Victor Damone?“Alright. But it appears you are a fresher with no experience. Why should I hire you for a work profile that demands knowledge o
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 250 Eva’s Desires
Victor paused for an extended moment before giving in. “You know… One day, my enemies are going to abduct you and use you as a radar to find me.”Eva wiped her tears on his coat and giggled like a child. “If your enemies exploit me to find you, they will be very successful!”She punched him repeatedly in the chest. “Do you know what I went through after hearing about your death? The world means nothing to me without you!”Victor chuckled and pried the girl off himself. “Alright. Alright. Now that I am back… Tell me… How did you realize I am Victor Damone and not Victor Cromwell? I need to know to prevent others from figuring out my identity.”Eva bit her lip and rolled her eyes, pretending to go into reflection.“Hmph. Are we going to completely ignore the fact that you possess the supernatural ability to change your appearance? It’s definitely not plastic surgery or any medical technology or theatrics. It’s something out of an urban fantasy novel! First, tell me how you are alive. I
The Peerless Man With a Thousand Gifts 251 The Contenders
Springfield City Hall was bustling with crowds from all over the city. It was noon already; the time for candidates to file nominations for the Mayor elections had arrived.The event hall was under tight military security with stringent measures—snipers on rooftops, body scanners, undercover soldiers, and armed security guards. The authorities were wary after the Springfield Beach invasion. Moreover, criminal groups like Monolith used bomb threats as their modus operandi. City Hall had been turned into a military fortress.Citizens of Springfield had gathered to see which eminent personalities would file nominations for the Mayor elections. Despite terrorist attacks, the city was raking in billions of dollars in revenue because of the Rapids Project's expansion. The future Mayor would be one of the country's most powerful individuals. They would be given charge of a complete army battalion to guard the city.The morning news reported that every major billionaire conglomerate had chose
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!
