Despite the eventful day, Zale had been filled with anticipation, and he was grateful to finally be home. The soothing warmth of a fresh bath eased the fatigue that had settled into his bones. He lay down to rest, closing his eyes, hoping to recharge before the evening's event.Time slipped away as he drifted into a deep sleep, the comfort of his bed cocooning him. It felt like mere moments before his consciousness returned, but the room was bathed in the soft, golden hues of evening sunlight, and his phone buzzed insistently on the bedside table.Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Zale reached for his phone, noticing a series of missed calls from Amelia. His heart sank as he realized he had been asleep when she tried to contact him. He quickly called her back, the anxiety building in his chest."Hey," Amelia's voice, filled with relief, greeted him from the other end of the line. "You finally responded.""Hello, Amelia. I was sleeping the whole time, I'm sorry," Zale apologized,
Meanwhile, beyond the elegant walls of the auction venue, Jolene and her dedicated team of shadow guards operated discreetly to ensure the safety of Zale, their vigilant efforts concealed from prying eyes.With utmost caution, they had stationed themselves at a discreet distance, careful not to arouse suspicion within the venue's security. Their mission was clear: to safeguard Zale at all costs."What do you suppose is unfolding within those walls?" one of the guards whispered to his comrade, their voices barely audible.The guard whom Jolene had dispatched to reconnoiter the mansion Zale had entered had yet to report back, and a sense of restlessness began to permeate among the vigilant shadow guards."I cannot say for certain. It may be a gala of sorts, perhaps a grand celebration. However, I've observed the presence of notable figures from all corners of the country, which begs the question of what precisely warrants such an assembly," the other guard speculated.Jolene, engrossed i
Jinwo's brows furrowed deeply upon hearing the daring bid. The auction room, previously abuzz with anticipation, fell into an expectant hush as every eye in the venue pivoted toward the audacious challenger.The mysterious bidder was none other than Zale, whose presence had thus far been unnoticed and elusive. His entry into the high-stakes bidding for the resplendent pendant marked an unexpected twist in the evening's narrative.Amelia, who had been sitting gracefully beside Zale, felt an involuntary shiver of nerves surge through her. The abrupt change in circumstances had caught her entirely off guard. She had not expected Zale, of all people, to suddenly take an interest in the very artifact that had drawn the illustrious Jinwo.For Amelia, this unfolding situation was nothing short of a formidable problem, akin to navigating treacherous waters in the dead of night. Jinwo, with his charisma and influence in the metaphysical world, was a formidable presence. A clash with him at th
The moon hung high in the velvet night sky, casting a soft silvery glow over the rooftop of the luxurious auction venue. It was a secluded haven, far removed from the opulent splendor of the main hall below. The two individuals who had silently slipped away from the bustling auction room were none other than Zale's shadow guard and the secretive operative known as Five. As the shadow guard ascended to the rooftop, his footsteps echoed faintly in the stillness of the night. He was a professional in every sense, trained to operate with precision and discretion. Here, atop the world, he would make his report without the risk of eavesdroppers or distractions.Five, equally skilled but maintaining a considerable distance, shadowed the guard's movements with the expertise of a seasoned operative. His purpose was clear, and his mission was to ensure that nothing would interfere with the sinister plan that had been set in motion.The shadow guard found a suitable vantage point, hidden fro
In the black van parked outside, a little distance away from the opulent auction venue, tension coiled like a tightly wound spring. The air was thick with anticipation as the call with the scout guard inside the auction venue came to an end.The shadow guard seated beside Jolene couldn't contain his concern any longer. "Ma'am," he began, addressing Jolene, his voice laced with worry, "are you absolutely certain he'll be alright? He's not a field agent like the rest of us. While he might possess some strength and the ability to handle minor threats, he lacks the training and experience needed for more dangerous situations. He's more of a strategist than a field agent. Please, reconsider sending someone with him who's better equipped for this."Jolene briefly diverted her attention from the laptop screen in front of her to meet Duke's anxious gaze. Her tone remained firm, and her words carried the weight of authority. "He's the ideal candidate for this assignment, Duke. He blends in perf
Zale's bold move, increasing the bid by a staggering forty million dollars, sent shockwaves through the room. Whispers and speculations immediately ignited among the spectators, their hushed voices painting various scenarios."What if he's just bluffing? All he has done until now was bid and then back off suddenly," one guest speculated."Perhaps he doesn't genuinely want to purchase this artifact. Who could afford such a sum for a single piece?" another chimed in."I have a feeling his plan is to make Jinwo pay more than he initially intended. He's trying to drive the price up," suggested another."His shamelessness knows no bounds! I can't stand people like him.""He's just bluffing; there's no way he has that much money!"The gossip began to spread like wildfire, reaching Amelia's ears in no time. She couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt about Zale's true intentions.Ignoring the chatter, Zale remained unwavering in his focus on the Diamond Dragon eye. His determination to acquir
Zale turned around to face the owner of the voice, his expression a mix of curiosity and calm. Before him stood a woman, tall and elegant, with an air of menace. She exuded a certain aura of power that made it clear she wasn't someone to be underestimated.She was impeccably dressed in a black short gown, and her piercing eyes seemed to bore into Zale's soul. Her lips curled into a faint, devilish smile as she regarded him.Zale remained composed, his gaze steady as he addressed her. "And who might you be?"The woman's smile broadened slightly as she walked toward Zale. "My name is Three. I have a habit of always introducing myself before I send people to hell," she introduced herself, her tone containing a hint of amusement. Speculations were already forming in Zale's mind that he didn't want to believe. To make sure he didn't get it all wrong, he decided to ask, "You're kidding, right?" Three chuckled at those words. She stopped in front of Zale, leaned closer, and whispered, "You
Bale and Loki had been diligently working on the task Oracle had assigned them, yet success had proven elusive.Oracle's former business associates were now flocking to the banner of the newly risen power, Asper. Bale's mission involved discreetly reaching out to these former allies and persuading them to reconsider their loyalties. As the sun dipped below the horizon and night took hold, Bane found himself once again on Loki's mansion balcony, their habitual spot for discussions. He had chosen to stay close to Loki, committed to seeing Oracle's task through to completion as quickly as possible."Any progress on uncovering information about the alleged alliance?" Bane inquired, his gaze fixed on the distant night sky.Loki sighed, his posture relaxed, almost dismissive. "My men haven't come across any concrete information yet. It's all just hearsay and rumors. I'd say it's likely the alliance hasn't been made."Loki wasn't taking Oracle's task seriously at all. In his mind, he had al
As Zale and Ace ventured beyond the gate, the air hung heavy with tension. They arrived in front of the mansion, which was guarded by three security guards.The guards were slightly taken aback when they saw Zale and Ace.Their comrades at the gate hadn't informed them of the arrival of any guest, so they were confused.They didn't have the slightest idea of the fight that had taken place outside; they were completely oblivious.The guard, who appeared to the leader, stepped forward and asked, “Who might you be, sirs?” His voice was polite and respectful.He thought that if his companion had allowed Zale and Ace entry, it meant they were esteemed guests of honor.Ace glanced at Zale and upon seeing the hidden smirk on his face, he understood what was going to happen.“We are honorable guests of your boss. Should you really be standing here asking questions or just step out of the way?” Zale asked, his voice stern.The guard shivered slightly when he felt Zale's gaze on him. “I…I’m so
The guard's eyes widened in shock, his expression transforming into a lethal glare directed at Zale."Who the hell are you, you bastard?" Despite his astonishment, fury seethed in his voice.Zale chuckled softly before responding, "I'm just someone who wishes to see your boss. We can avoid all of this if you tell your colleagues to let me in."The guard's eyes ignited with rage as he retorted, "Bullshit! If you don't want to leave peacefully, I will make you leave myself."The tension escalated, drawing the attention of the other guards who became alert to the hostility emanating from Zale.They stood ready, poised to open fire at a moment's notice if the need arose.Ace moved in closer to Zale and whispered in his ear, "I don't know what you're trying to do, but these guys are well-armed. I trust your decisions, but I must admit we are clearly at a disadvantage here. The shadow guards are nearby. I can send them a message, and they will take out these guys."Zale nodded, seemingly in
In the aftermath of the charged meeting, Zale and Ace headed outside the building, toward the mansion.Zale's mind swirled with a mixture of determination and uncertainty, while Ace, ever stoic, maintained a vigilant presence.As they arrived in front of the mansion, Zale’s phone vibrated in his pocket. It was his grandfather."Zale," Oracle's voice resonated. For the first time in a long time, he called Zale by his name. "I've been monitoring the meeting. Bane's words have validity. Are you certain about this path you're taking?"Zale, undeterred, responded, "I've made my choice, Grandpa. This is a battle I must face, not just for myself, but for those who've suffered unjustly."The last part was talking about Oracle. The old man had gone through a series of emotional breakdowns after his son and his daughter-in-law died. It was one hell of a torture at that time.Oracle let out a sigh, a blend of regret and understanding in his simulated eyes. "I cannot dissuade you, but remember th
The following day, Zale gathered his closest allies in a private meeting. The meeting took place in one of the buildings in Oracle's estate.The atmosphere was charged with tension as he addressed them, laying out the challenges they faced and the imminent battle against Asper.A middle-aged man interjected, "I don't harbor personal grudges against Asper, but I'm willing to assist you."Another guest joined the conversation, expressing disdain, "That kid is a rude brat. I recall the first day he invited me to his place. He subjected me to the worst humiliation of my life. I can never forget that day. Count me in; I'm ready to join and bring him down.”"While I don't hold a personal grudge against Asper, many of his allies are my enemies. Participating in this battle, I aim to indirectly confront my enemies.” Gradually, each person in the room consented to join the battle.Zale sat at the table's forefront, wearing a smile.Once he explained the purpose of the gathering, he observed as
About an hour or so later, Zale arrived at Oracle's estate.Zale went straight to his room the second he entered the mansion.He freshened up and changed his clothes. When he was done, he headed downstairs and had his breakfast.“Where were you last night, sir?” Leia inquired as they strolled out of the dining room.As usual, they were the only ones in the dining hall. Ace was said to have gone out of the mansion early in the morning.Zale chuckled mischievously. “Why, you miss me?”“Cough!” Leia feigned a cough and changed the subject.“Anyway, how did last night go?” She asked, curious.“If you're talking about your performance, I must admit; you did….” Zale began, but Leia cut in."Not that, sir. Ace has already filled me in on that a million times," Leia interjected with a pout. "You know what I'm referring to.”Zale paused as if thinking about it. “Are you by any chance asking about what happened between me and my girlfriend?” His smile had taken a mischievous glint.Leia let out
Zale headed straight back to Oracle’s estate. He needed to have a serious conversation with Ace.He couldn't wait any longer. Asper had begun his move and he wouldn't just sit back and watch.“Now I have stopped to think about it, what later happened to Adams? I didn't see him again last night. I guess the security threw him out. After all, he had attacked me,” Zale muttered, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.‘Does this mean others now know about me?’ Zale mused excitedly.It was pretty easy to guess; Adams wouldn't keep what he saw last night to himself.Zale made it pretty clear last night that he was the one behind all of Jenkins's misfortune, so Adams would most certainly not keep quiet about it.“I’m glad things turned out this way. Although I doubt Adams' words would be enough to convince them.” Zale seemed pleased by the fact that he stumbled upon Adams last night.He didn't plan to suddenly show up claiming to be the new chairman of Adair Group. To him, that wouldn't be
The atmosphere in the room shifted, with Oracle grappling with the unexpected revelation. Zale, still chuckling, tried to ease the tension."Well, Grandpa, surprise! We kept it low-key for a while," Zale said, grinning. He wanted to gauge his grandfather’s reaction.Oracle sighed, shaking his head. "You always find a way to keep me on my toes. I hope you're serious about this, Zale."Zale's smile softened. "I am, Grandpa. Maya means a lot to me."Oracle studied Zale for a moment, then nodded. "As long as you're sincere and treat her well, that's what matters."Zale was a little taken aback when he heard that. He was confused, more like shocked.He had expected the old man to be greatly against the relationship but that didn't seem to be the case.“Seriously?” Zale couldn't help it. “Are you really not against our relationship?” He didn't expect such an outcome.“I mean, why?” Oracle pretended not to know anything.Zale gave the old man a dry look. “You're very bad at acting. You shoul
Before long, Zale was ready to leave. He intended to head directly to his family mansion to visit his grandfather.“I will get going now, darling. Take care. I will call you later in the day.” Zale gently planted a kiss on Maya's forehead before he departed.Maya arranged a car to drive him there, therefore as soon as he arrived outside, he entered the car and left the mansion.Maya’s head guard, despite having the urge to wave at Zale while he was departing, had decided against it.What if all of this was a ploy to make him let his guard down? He couldn't help but think.“I have to be completely sure he isn't going to harm my young Miss. Only after then will I be at ease around him,” the head guard muttered to himself.The journey was long and full of silence. Adams was occupied with his thoughts, and thankfully, the driver wasn't interested in striking up a conversation with him either, so none bothered to say a word to each other.“I don't think I will be able to enter the Adair ma
The room fell into a stunned silence upon hearing Elsher's speculation about Zale's possible connection to Adair Group. The family members exchanged bewildered glances, grappling with the implications of this unexpected twist. Azazel, breaking the silence, furrowed his brows and questioned, "Adair Group? What does that have to do with our troubles?"Elsher, maintaining her composure, explained, "Adair Group has substantial influence and connections. If Zale is indeed associated with them, it explains how he gained the resources and power to orchestrate our downfall.”"I discovered that Ace is aligned with the Adair family when I was researching the mysterious chairman of the Adair Group. Consider this – why would Zale have any association with someone like Ace if they weren't collaborating? It raises questions, especially regarding our acceptance of a contract from Adair Group. After mysteriously losing the contract funds, they still extended a substantial loan to us. Have you ever w