They barely made it a few steps before bumping into a woman in a sharp, tailored suit. She was standing right in their path, her posture rigid, her face obscured by a sleek mask with gold detailing. Sinclair was quick to speak. "Hey, move it," he snapped, a hint of irritation in his voice.But Zen raised a hand, followed by a smirk playing at his lips as he recognized the poised figure before them. "You're quite the superstar these days, Keisha. I hardly see you anymore."Keisha removed her mask with a practiced grace, revealing a calm, composed expression that seemed almost serene amidst the chaos of the auction. Her lips curled into a slight smile. "Well, when my boss decides that blowing twenty billion on a chest is his idea of fun, I have to stay busy."Sinclair’s eyes widened in surprise. "Keisha!" he exclaimed, realizing who she was. He didn’t expect to see her there, let alone hear her speak so casually about the staggering sum Zen had just spent.Zen chuckled softly, unfazed.
The soft hum of the car engine was drowned out by the news blaring from the radio. “Breaking news from Fairy Island: the Albrecht family has recorded their highest surge in income in a single day—twenty billion dollars.” Zen leaned forward and switched off the radio with a flick of his wrist, his expression unreadable as he took of his mask. “No mention of the auction hall,” he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else. He turned to Sinclair, who was seated next to him, a thoughtful look on his face. “Why wasn’t the auction mentioned? They made it sound like it came from nowhere.”Sinclair shrugged, leaning back in his seat. “These sorts of things, the general public doesn’t need that kind of information. The allure of Fairy Island is its mystery. People are drawn to it because it’s like a dream—a place where anything can happen. Keeping details under wraps keeps that dream alive for 90% of the citizens.”Zen nodded, his fingers drumming lightly against his knee. “I suppose you’r
“Keisha!” Zen’s voice sliced through the room with a commanding tone.Keisha turned swiftly, her usually calm expression attentive. “Yes, Chief?”Zen took a slow step towards her, his eyes fixed with a calculating stare. “I need you to respond to Malia. Tell her we’re willing to lend her the money she needs for ‘Operation: Sky City’ but on one condition.”Keisha raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. “What’s the condition?” she asked, curiosity lacing her tone.Zen’s lips curled into a sly smile. “We’ll tell her that we’ll start reclaiming our loan from the profits generated by the city they’ll build. It sounds beneficial, right? Like a fair deal.”Sinclair, sitting nearby, leaned forward, his interest piqued. “That does sound fair. What’s the catch?”Zen’s smile widened, the devious glint in his eyes becoming more pronounced. “The loophole is this: the contract will specify ‘profits from when they build the city.’ But we won’t wait until it’s completed. We’ll start demanding
Zen watched through a narrow opening in the door as the other interns buzzed around the ward. They were all busy with their tasks, some carefully preparing tinctures, while others mixed herbs. There was an air of quiet concentration, interrupted only by the occasional clatter of a jar or the muttered instructions of a more experienced nurse. He observed them for a moment longer, then turned his attention back to Tasha as they finished up their own tasks.Tasha glanced at Zen, noticing his gaze drifting towards the other interns. "Want me to introduce you to the others?" she asked, gesturing toward the group.Zen shook his head, his expression indifferent. “No need. I don’t want to bother myself with remembering names.”One of the interns overheard and looked up, scoffing. “He sounds like a rich kid.”Another intern, without looking up from his work, added, “Yeah, that’s how they all are. Snobbish.”Zen’s lips curled into a faint smile, finding their assumptions amusing. He wasn’t offe
The light on Zen’s phone blinked, pulling him back to reality. He picked it up and answered with a quiet, “Yeah?” Keisha’s voice came through, slightly muffled. “Malia has eaten the bait.” Zen's lips curled into a sly smile. “Perfect,” he replied coolly. “Thanks, Keisha.” Without another word, he hung up, his smile lingering as he thought about the next steps in his plan. Almost immediately, his phone buzzed again. It was Willow. “Tom, your suit is ready,” she said cheerfully. “You forgot about the big four families’ party tonight, didn’t you?” “Shiiii!” Zen cursed, realizing he’d almost let it slip his mind. “Thanks for the reminder, Willow.” Sensing an opportunity, Willow's tone became teasing. “So... when should I be ready?” she asked, trying to sound casual. Zen chuckled. “Sorry, Willow, but I already have a date for the night.” He could almost hear her pout through the phone.
As Zen and Rosalia drove through the bustling streets toward the event hall, a tense silence filled the car. Rosalia’s eyes fixed ahead, seeming lost in thought. Zen, however, couldn't help but glance at her every now and then. He finally broke the silence, his voice was low. "Rosalia," he began, "what’s the real deal with this Big Four gala?"Rosalia turned her head slightly, a faint smile playing at her lips. "The gala?" She echoed. "Well, on the surface, it’s a charity event. But in reality, it's more about maintaining the balance of power. The Big Four families—they need the world to see them together, to remind everyone that their alliance is still strong, still in control."Zen nodded slowly, processing her words. "So, it's more like a show of strength than an actual charity event," he said.Rosalia chuckled. "Exactly. They have to appear united, to let the public know that their power isn't waning. It’s about reassurance—both to the people and to themselves."Zen frowned, glanc
As they weaved through the bustling crowd, Rosalia led Zen with a firm grip on his arm. The grand hall echoed with laughter and chatter, but the moment she approached a group of older men standing at the center, the noise seemed to diminish. Zen could feel the weight of every gaze in the room. "Come," Rosalia whispered, pulling him closer. "I want you to meet my grandfather, the patriarch of the Albrecht family."Zen’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t say a word. He followed her with a relaxed posture. As they reached the group, Zen found himself standing before the Big Four—powerful men whose influence stretched across the country.Rosalia's grandfather, a tall man with a deceptively cheerful face, stepped forward, his smile was wide. “Rosalia, my dear,” he greeted warmly, his voice carrying an air of authority. “Grandfather,” Rosalia said, with a respectful but light tone. “I’d like you to meet Tom.”Zen stood his ground, unbending, unbowed. No gestures of respect, no nods. J
Zen leaned over to Rosalia. “Hey, could you point me to the restroom?”Rosalia nodded and stood up. “I’ll take you there.”Zen gently placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. “No need to stress yourself. Just point me in the right direction.”She gave him a small smile and pointed down a hallway. “It’s straight down there. The last door on the left.”“Thanks,” Zen replied, giving her a nod before making his way toward the restroom.___As he finished washing his hands and stepped out of the restroom, he almost bumped into two men waiting outside—Silas Wales and his friend, Dave. Zen’s eyes met Silas's, and he recognized the familiar sneer. Silas, whose ego Zen had bruised in a previous encounter, clearly hadn’t forgotten.“Long time no see,” Silas said with a forced smile, his tone dripping with condescension.Zen raised an eyebrow, with a calm expression. “It’s been a while, Silas,” he replied evenly, not showing any hint of concern.Dave smirked, leaning against the wall. “Still