The shattered phone lay on the floor, a symbol of the abrupt end to the ominous call. Zale was still processing the sudden turn of events, and he nodded at Ace, grateful for his quick thinking, although he was still surprised.Zale couldn't help but inquire, "How did you figure out I was being tracked?" He found Ace's quick thinking intriguing.Ace leaned in, his eyes filled with a confident gleam, "Consider this: Why would an assailant looking to eliminate you tip their hand with a phone call? It doesn't add up. In most cases, those with harmful intentions aim for the element of surprise to increase their chances of success. What I'm getting at is that this call was a deliberate attempt to trace your whereabouts. Fortunately, I managed to intervene before they could pull it off. It takes precisely seventy seconds to pinpoint a phone's location during a call, and my interception came just in time to prevent that."Zale's eyes widened as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Ace's
As the elevator doors slid shut behind them, Zale watched in fascination as Ace punched in the code for the sixth floor. The elevator began to move smoothly, and Zale marveled at the transparency of the glass walls, which allowed him to see the inner workings of the underground facility as they descended.The hidden world beneath the first floor unfolded before Zale's eyes. He had been completely unaware of its existence. The underground facility was more intricate and expansive than he had ever imagined. It was like stepping into a high-tech, subterranean maze.As they descended further, Zale's eyes darted between the various levels and sections, where people worked diligently, ensuring the smooth operation of the complex machinery. He couldn't help but be impressed by the meticulous organization and dedication of the personnel, all concealed beneath the barren desert above.Finally, with a soft ding, the elevator came to a halt on the sixth floor. Ace and Zale stepped out into a d
Ace, overwhelmed by the emotion in Magdalene's voice, tried to offer an explanation. "Maggie, it's not like I wanted to do this over text. I was caught up in the chaos of the business. You know how demanding our work can be."Magdalene's anger softened slightly, but her disappointment still lingered. "Ace, you promised that you'd always be there for me, that you'd never let your work come between us."Ace nodded, his voice filled with regret. "I know, Maggie, and I meant it when I said it. But things changed. The pressure, the expectations from my work, it all became too much to handle. I thought ending things would be better for both of us because I won't have time for you."Magdalene's eyes welled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. "Ace, we were building a life together. You were a part of my future. How could you just throw it all away?"Ace reached out to touch her hand, but she pulled away. "Maggie, please understand, I never wanted to hurt you. I still care about you,
Ace, who had just witnessed the astonishing display of Zale's newfound abilities, was speechless as he stood in front of the elevator. The shock and terror on his face slowly gave way to a mix of awe and curiosity.Zale, noticing Ace's presence, couldn't help but smile wryly. "Well, if it isn't Ace. It's been a while, hasn't it?"Ace, still trying to process what he had just witnessed, managed to stammer, "Sir, what... what was that? How did you do that? And who's that guy?" He pointed to the unconscious man on the floor.Zale, walking over to the elevator, simply replied, "Long story, Ace. As for that guy, he's someone who needed a lesson in manners." Zale pressed the elevator button and the doors slid open.Ace stepped into the elevator, still struggling to comprehend the extraordinary abilities he had just witnessed. "Sir, you have some explaining to do. But before that, I need to fill you in on what's been happening with me and Magdalene."As the elevator descended, Ace recounted t
Zale and Ace stepped out of the cab the moment they arrived at their destination.Zale found himself captivated by the world that surrounded them. The dimly lit alleys, filled with a sense of mystery, had a unique allure.After they exited the vehicle, the cab driver, who had been patient throughout their journey, simply nodded to them before driving away. Ace had instructed him to leave.The building they stood in front of was a modest two-story structure along the darkened street. An inscription on the building's facade indicated that it was a bar club.Curiosity piqued, Zale turned to Ace and asked, "What are we doing here? This is a clubhouse, isn't it?"The inscription in front of the building stated that the building was a clubhouse.Ace responded, his voice low and steady, "We're here to find someone, sir. Someone who used to be our informant in the past. He runs this place. Only he can give us information about what is currently happening in the underworld."Zale nodded in unde
Zale's voice had the timbre of authority, and his words cut through the tension-laden air like a blade.The burly men, momentarily frozen in their advance, exchanged baffled glances, caught off guard by the unexpected intervention.The young lady, though bewildered by the sudden turn of events, felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. It was only a matter of seconds before the people in the club focused back on what they were doing. The only reason they had turned towards Zale's direction in the first place was because of his high-pitched declarationZale rose from his seat and slowly approached where the commotion was happening. Though before then the bartender had given him a fair share of insults."Are you sick in the head, boy? You're new here, you don't know anything about this place. If you're not careful, you'll lose your life sooner than you expected," the bartender warned, his voice dripping with mockery.Zale ignored the man and continued marching toward the commotion.The
Zale and the young lady entered the room, falling into an uneasy silence. The thick tension in the air hung heavily over them. They were both acutely aware of the compromising position they found themselves in, but the imminent threat of the men chasing them took precedence.Zale leaned against the door, one hand covering the lady's mouth to stifle any sounds, and the other resting near her chest. In the dimly lit room, their proximity was closer than either of them had ever expected. Their minds were fixed on the hallway outside, straining to hear any signs of the pursuers.As they stood pressed together, their strange and unintended closeness went unnoticed, overshadowed by the urgency of their situation. Time seemed to crawl by, each second feeling like an eternity.Finally, the distant sounds of footsteps and voices began to recede into the distance. The men who had been hot on their heels had walked past the room without any inkling of their presence.The young lady, her voice ba
Zale was still unyielding in his insistence that Leia shouldn't join him. He understood the dangers of his life all too well and didn't want to put her in harm's way. He repeated, "Leia, you don't understand the world I live in. It's not a place for someone like you. You need to focus on building a safer, better life for yourself."Leia, however, wouldn't be deterred. She looked up at Zale with burning determination in her eyes. "I appreciate your concern, but you saved my life, and I want to repay that debt. I've spent years in a cycle of gambling and danger, and I'm ready for a change. I've already faced death once, and I've come to terms with it. Please, let me be your servant. I promise I won't hold you back."Zale sighed deeply, recognizing Leia's unwavering resolve. He realized that she was determined to accompany him, and it was futile to argue further. "Very well, Leia. Even if I were to entertain your request, we've only just crossed paths, and you're an utter stranger to me.
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