Chapter 5
last update2024-08-01 01:57:18

The grand ballroom was alive with music and laughter. People danced under glittering chandeliers.

Zen stood quietly in the party that Keisha convinced him to attend. He watched the scene with a calm expression. 

Nearby, a group of people were deep in discussion about recent changes in the city.

“Have you heard?” a tall man with a beard leaned in, his voice excited. “The owner of mega has finally shown up in Mega.”

A woman in a green dress raised her eyebrow. “I thought Willow was the owner.”

“That’s not possible,” another man, younger and dressed in a sharp tuxedo, shook his head. “She never said she owned Mega. In fact, she’s always been clear that she’s just a spokesperson.”

“In her words, the ‘CEO’ of mega” another voice added.

A woman with red hair swirled her champagne. “Maybe she’s just the face. The real power might be someone we’ve never seen.”

“Who could it be then?” the bearded man asked. “Who’s powerful enough to stay hidden all this time?”

“I heard a rumor,” the younger man said, lowering his voice even more. “Some people think it’s someone from outside the city, someone with a lot of influence and resources.”

The woman in the green dress looked skeptical. “An outsider? That doesn’t make sense. Why would someone from outside the city invest so much in Mega?”

The red-haired woman shrugged. “Maybe they have their reasons. Power and money can make people do strange things.”

“Do you think this new owner will change things for the better?” the bearded man asked, looking around at the group.

The younger man nodded. “I think so. Mega has already seen a lot of improvements. The infrastructure is better, and there are more jobs.”

“But there’s also more control,” the woman in green pointed out. “People are starting to feel like they’re under constant surveillance.”

“Better security,” the red-haired woman countered. “It’s a trade-off. Sometimes you need to give up a little freedom for safety.”

Zen listened to the conversation, his face showing no emotion. 

“Mega this, Mega that. Don’t these people ever shut up,” Zen thought to himself as he set his glass down.

“Ugh, I need to get some fresh air,” he walked towards the hallway.

As he stepped into the hallway, he bumped into Dave. Dave was the man his wife had brought to their home the day she handed Zen the divorce papers.

Dave smirked, “Well, well, if it isn’t Zen. How did you manage to get a job here?”

Zen stayed quiet.

“Oh man, you must have some good connections with a cleaning agency,” Dave laughed.

“You also got a really expensive suit on, I guess you landed a good job in a good cleaning agency,” Dave continued, not even trying to hold his laughter.

Zen remained silent, his face calm and composed as Dave laughed and walked away, “take care of yourself, cleaner boy.”

Zen sighed and continued walking. As he rounded a corner, he bumped into someone again. 

“Don’t you have eyes,” Zen said as he reached for his face, rubbing the spot from the collision.

“Oh my God!!” Zen could hear a female voice. 

“You're the blind one here, now look how you’ve ruined my dress,” the voice continued.

Zen took his hands off his face to behold the beauty in front of him.

“Madame, please take this,” her attendant handed her a cloth.

“Do you know who this is? She is Rosalia Sinclair, from one of the 4 big families in this city,” the attendant continued.

“C’mon, I’ve told you to stop saying that,” Rosalia said, looking back to Zen to see if he got offended.

“So?” Zen asked.

“What do you mean by that?” The attendant replied.

“She’s from one of the big 4, what does that have to do with me?” Zen asked, with a straight look on his face. No hint of emotions or concern whatsoever.

“If you would excuse me, I have better things to do, you guys have already spoiled my mood.” Zen turned back and started heading back inside the ballroom.

“Hey, you just insulted one of t—”

Before the attendant could finish, Rosalia interrupted, “It’s enough, you don’t need to say that every 5 minutes.”

She looked back as he walked away.

The evening went on, and soon the host of the party, Old Man Cyrus Gryce, came down the grand staircase into the hall. The guests went silent as he approached the center with a microphone in his hand.

“Welcome, everyone,” Cyrus said, “What more can I say,” he laughed.

“Please, enjoy yourselves tonight. Let’s make it a night to remember.”

He handed off the microphone and began to mingle with the guests. Zen watched as Cyrus approached a group where Malia was talking.

“Malia, good to see you,” Cyrus said. “I hear you have a new real estate deal.”

“Yes, it’s quite promising,” Malia replied, then turned to Dave. “Cyrus, this is my fiancé, Dave.”

Cyrus smiled. “Dave, how’s your father doing these days?”

“He’s well, thank you,” Dave replied smoothly.

“You're looking as young as ever sir,” Dave continued, smiling.

Cyrus looked at Malia with a teasing smile. “I thought you were already married. Where’s this fiancé coming from?”

Malia’s smile faded, and she tried to change the subject. “Oh, Mr. Cyrus, you’re always joking.”

But before she could continue, his glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.

He clutched his chest, struggling to breathe. The room froze in shock as he collapsed, and chaos erupted as people rushed to help.

As Cyrus collapsed, his butler rushed to his aid, quickly followed by several guards. One of the guards shouted, “We need a doctor! Is there a doctor here?”

A few doctors who were present at the ball stepped forward, identifying themselves and rushing to the scene. One of them knelt beside Cyrus, checking his pulse and looking at his eyes. “I can’t identify the issue,” he said, frustration quite evident in his voice. “We need to get him to a hospital immediately.”

Zen stepped out from the shadows, his expression calm. “He won’t live long enough to make it to the hospital.”

The crowd gasped and murmured. One of the older doctors, Dr. Patel Bass, who stood beside the modern doctors, looked closely at Cyrus and nodded. “From the way his eyes are folding, he might be at death’s door. How did you figure that out just by looking at him? Such expertise at a young age.”

Zen didn’t answer but instead requested, “Let me heal him.”

One of the Doctor’s stood up, “Who are you?”

“My identity doesn’t concern you, let me heal the old man before he dies,” Zen said.

“Which hospital are you from?” The doctor asked,

“Where’s your license?” The doctor continued with his questions.

“Young man, I bet you just came out to act like a doctor just to impress the beautiful ladies from the various rich families present here,” The doctor smirked.

Before Zen could reply, Malia jumped out and shouted at Zen, “Tom! Stick to your cleaning job! Who do you think you are?”

Zen met her gaze calmly. “I can’t remember anyone asking for your opinion.”

Malia’s face twisted in anger. “You’re just privileged to clean at a ball of this status. Don’t overstep your boundaries!”

“So he was a cleaner?” One of the doctor laughed,

“We almost let a cleaner try to heal the old man, what nonsense!” Another doctor added, the crowd murmured a little.

Zen replied coldly, “I wish I could clean your character like floors.”

Malia’s face flushed with rage as the crowd around them buzzed with whispers. Zen walked forward, but one of the younger doctors blocked his path. “I said, who do you think you are? Show us your license if you’re a real doctor!”

Zen reached into his pocket and pulled out an acupuncture kit. The doctors sneered, and one of them laughed. “Traditional medicine? Are you serious? This isn’t the time for jokes.”

Another doctor added, “We don’t have time for this nonsense. He needs real medical help, not needles.”

Zen remained calm, his eyes focused on Cyrus. Dr. Patel raised his hand, silencing the other doctors. “Let him through,” he said. “I want to see what he can do.”

The doctors grumbled

“What? Dr. patel this is w—“

Before the doctor could finish, Patel silenced him with a wave of his hand. The doctor grumbled and stepped aside. Dr. Patel was well respected, known as the owner of one of the biggest hospitals in the city. His words carried weight.

Zen knelt beside Cyrus and opened his acupuncture kit. He took out several needles and began to carefully insert them into specific points on Cyrus’s body. He worked with precision, his movements were quick and confident. The crowd watched in stunned silence.

As he placed the final needle, Cyrus suddenly coughed, his chest heaving as he struggled for breath. The people around him began to gather closer, murmuring in awe. Cyrus’s breathing steadied, and color began to return to his face.

One of the doctors who had mocked Zen earlier stepped forward, looking astonished. “What did you do? How did you manage that?”

Zen didn’t answer. He quietly packed up his kit and stood.

“Quick! Bring the cars, we can take him to the hospital now,” the butler screamed.

The ball became rowdy, with staff running up and down.

“That was incredible,” Dr. Patel said. “What a remarkable man.”

But as the crowd turned to look for Zen, he was nowhere to be found. Dr. Patel scanned the room and finally spotted him walking away, disappearing into the night. Dr. Patel smiled to himself and whispered, “What a man.”

Malia stood there, shocked. "Did he have that kind of skill all these years?" she thought to herself. She watched as Zen walked away, past Rosalia, who also turned to watch him leave quietly.

Rosalia turned to a friend nearby. "That man just saved Cyrus, do you have any idea who he is?"

"No, but I just heard from a friend that he’s the rumored trash husband from the Rossi family," her friend replied, 

Zen walked calmly through the crowd, ignoring the whispers and stares. He approached the exit, where Keisha stood ready to open the door for him. He entered the car and Keisha shut the door behind him.

Patel followed closely behind. "Wait!" he shouted, hoping to catch Zen before he left.

Keisha stepped in front of Patel, her expression firm. "My chief is not available right now," she said, blocking the way.

Patel frowned. "He must be someone powerful, huh?"

Keisha nodded slightly. "If you wish to speak with my boss, you will need to book an appointment."

Patel looked puzzled. "Where do I make the appointment?"

Keisha opened the door and entered the car. "Mega," she said simply, then shut the door firmly behind her.

Patel stood there, mumbling to himself. "Mega? Mega?" His eyes widened in realization. "Wait, don’t tell me he’s—"

He turned quickly and watched the car drive away with Zen inside. 

Related Chapters

  • The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War   Chapter 6

    Zen woke up to the gentle warmth of the morning sun filtering through the sheer curtains of the elegant room. He stretched a bit as he got up."It was so dark last night I didn’t notice how nice this place was," he murmured to himself, running a hand over the plush bedding.“When was the last time I slept so comfortably?” He thought to himself.Just then, a soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Come in," Zen called, straightening up.Keisha stepped in, "Good morning, Zen. I hope you slept well."Zen nodded. "Better than I have in a while. This place is... different."Keisha smiled slightly, “it’s called luxury chief,” she said as she walked towards the table to take a sit.“Very funny,” Zen replied sarcastically as he dived into the bed more."I need to ask you something,” Keisha said.“Last night, at the party, why did you heal that man? It’s unlike you to step in like that."Zen shrugged, leaning back against the headboard. "I don’t know. I just felt like it."“Let’s

  • The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War   Chapter 7

    The woman didn’t respond immediately, but her eyes locked onto his with a calculating gaze. "Tom, I presume," she finally said, her voice smooth and deadly.Zen nodded. "And you are?""It’s not something you need to know when your on death’s door," she replied, drawing a knife from her belt. Zen sighed. "Why does it always have to be when I’m tired? Oh well, I was a bit bored anyway."The woman lunged at him, her movements were very precise and swift. Zen blocked her initial strike, countering with a quick jab to her wrist. The knife clattered to the ground, but she was unfazed, immediately launching a series of kicks aimed at his stomach.Zen blocked each one, his eyes never leaving hers. "You’re good," he said as he held her hand and twisted it.He cracked his neck and folded his arm in a boxing pose without moving an inch. “But I don’t have all day to play cat and dog,” He added.She grunted in pain but twisted free, spinning to face him again. "You’re not bad your—“Before she co

  • The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War   Chapter 8

    Cyrus and Zen arrived at Robert Leon’s house. The front door was opened by a lady.“Robert’s eldest daughter, Nia.” Cyrus informed Zen.“Mr. Cyrus, who’s this?” Nia asked, her eyes flicking over to Zen, who came with no briefcase or medical tools.“This is Tom, the practitioner I mentioned,” Cyrus replied, his tone respectful. “He’s the one who helped me with my issue.”Nia’s gaze softened slightly, but there was still a hint of skepticism. “Please come in. My father is in his room, but be warned, we have a team of doctors here who have been treating him.”As they entered, Cyrus led the way and they found Robert lying on a bed, looking pale and weary. Two doctors were scattered around the room, discussing treatment options.“Dr. Lee, Dr. Morris,” Cyrus greeted the doctors with a nod. “This is Tom. He’s here to see if he can help Robert.”Dr. Lee, a middle-aged man with a stern demeanor, raised an eyebrow as he noticed Zen pull an acupuncture kit out of his pocket. “I see we have a new

  • The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War   Chapter 9

    As Zen and Cyrus walked toward the door, the tension from the room lingered. Nia approached them suddenly.“Mr. Zen, wait,” Nia called out. “I want to apologize for Jane’s behavior. She was out of line. I’m grateful for what you did for my father.”“Can I get your contact, so I can call you to check on my dad once in a while?” Nia added.Zen paused, his expression still guarded. “Thank you, Nia. I understand the stress you’re under. However, I don’t think it’s wise for me to leave my contact information.”Nia looked taken aback. “Why not?”Zen glanced at Cyrus before responding. “I’d prefer not to be involved in situations where I’m met with hostility. Perhaps it’s best if we keep our interactions to a minimum.”Cyrus gave Nia a reassuring look. “I’m sorry for the trouble, Nia. I understand Tom’s point of view.”“Your keys,” Zen turned to Cyrus.Cyrus immediately puts his hands into his pockets, retrieving the key for Zen.With that, Zen walked out of the house, leaving Nia and Cyrus

  • The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War   Chapter 10

    Zen’s eyes were locked on the photograph of Silas and Malia. Rosalia watched, beside him, her own face mirroring concern.“Why are they holding hands here? Did she betray him?” Zen muttered, his fingers tracing the edges of the photograph.“What was that?” Rosalia asked as her gaze shifted to the photo. Zen pretended like he didn’t hear her. “Silas was known for his cruelty. If he had a personal vendetta, he didn’t hold back. You said he wasn’t a friend?”Zen scoffed. “Friend? No, definitely not. He never had a friend, only toys and people he saw equal to him,” Zen said, as he made things up.“Why would my late brother's wife be holding this Silas guy’s hand in a photo?” Zen thought to himself.Rosalia fingers drummed lightly on the table as she rummaged through old files. “I wonder why a tough guy like that would be holding a pretty lady’s hand for a photo.”Zen’s eyes were fixed on the particular photo of Silas and Malia. “This is the most crucial lead yet.”“I’m confused tho, you

  • The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War   Chapter 11

    “Who are you!?” Silas screamed.“Why don’t you look closer,” Zen said with a smirk.Silas squinted for a bit and slowly, his eyes widened. “No way,” he uttered.“Yes, way,” Zen smiled.“Tom? Is that you?” Silas asked.“I don’t believe it! Tom is a loser! You can’t be Tom!” Silas roared.“Thought you could avoid facing consequences?” Zen said.Silas looked up, fear evident in his eyes. “Please, Tom, we were classmates in college, we were all so young. Everything that happened was because of how young we were.”Zen’s expression remained impassive as he seized Silas by the collar and pulled him to his feet. “You think apologies can undo the damage you’ve done?” His voice was controlled but seething with anger.“I’ll be the one asking the questions here, and if you tell a single lie, you're not going to make it out of here,” Zen said as he threw Silas back to the chair.“What happened with you and Malia?” Zen asked.“I-I thought you knew everything? Why are you—“Before he could continue,

  • The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War   Chapter 12

    Zen, Cyrus and Guber had dined and laughed and as the final course was cleared away, Zen’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen and saw Willow’s name.“Chief, I hope I’m not interrupting,” Willow’s voice was warm and slightly teasing. “We need you to check out our yacht. Can you make it?”“What’s the name of the Yacht?” Zen asked.“It’s the biggest one there, it’s hard to miss,” she replied. He could hear her giggle over the phone.Zen immediacy turned to his right, and before him was the biggest yacht there. “Sure, I’ll be there shortly,” Zen said, as he hanged up.He excused himself from Cyrus and Sinclair, giving them a polite nod. “I have to go. Something came up.”“It was nice to see the real you, Mr. Tom,” Cyrus said with a bright smile.Walking briskly, Zen exited the super yacht and made his way to the neighboring vessel. As he boarded the yacht, Willow appeared on the deck, her eyes widening in surprise.“Did you fly all the way here? Don’t tell me you

  • The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War   Chapter 13

    Somewhere in the city,The TV blared with shouts and cheers. "Wow, isn’t that Silas Wales?”“Damn, they're rubbing the floor with his guards. Damn, that ought to hurt," a voice exclaimed.Click. The screen went dark as someone tapped the remote. The room fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of Silas Wales, kneeling on the floor. Before him stood an imposing figure, his face was a mask of stern disappointment."Explain yourself, Silas," the man demanded. "Who is this man who beat you up?"Silas, head bowed, barely whispered, "Patriarch, Tom was a boy I used to bully in college."The patriarch's eyes narrowed. "Is that all? Just some boy? He managed to defeat the top guards I assigned to your security."Silas swallowed hard, unable to meet the patriarch's gaze. "I... I don't know how he did it," he stammered.“Which family?” The patriarch asked.“The Diel family. From what I know, his grandfather is the patriarch. Tom’s father happened to be one of his many children and after his

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter 137

    The press conference was a masterclass in corporate theater. Zen stood on the podium at the future site of Skyline, the skeletal framework of the unfinished building rising behind him like the bones of a slumbering giant. Construction equipment gleamed in the afternoon sun, workers in Mega-branded safety gear positioned strategically in the background.Camera flashes punctuated his arrival as journalists frantically took notes. The city's most prominent business reporters had rushed to the site following Mega's cryptic announcement of "significant developments regarding the Skyline project."Zen adjusted the microphone, his expression betraying nothing of the calculated vengeance driving his actions. Sinclair stood to the side, scanning the crowd with practiced vigilance, while Keisha managed the press at the perimeter."Good afternoon," Zen began, his voice carrying across the assembled media with commanding precision. "Thank you for joining us on such short notice. Today marks a sig

  • Chapter 136

    Night had fallen across the city as Zen sat alone in his office, the only illumination coming from his desk lamp and the soft glow of his computer screen. The Rossi loan documents were spread before him, each page meticulously annotated with his observations. The evidence was damning—predatory terms, hidden clauses, and what appeared to be deliberate manipulation of financial projections to ensure default.Mrs. Rossi had overplayed her hand, and now Zen had everything he needed to take control of the Skyline project.A soft ping from his security system alerted him to movement in the outer office. Zen glanced at his watch—11:47 PM. The cleaning staff had already finished hours ago, and his assistant had left shortly after six.He wasn't expecting anyone.With calmness, Zen closed the folder containing the loan documents and slid it into his desk drawer. He then pressed a concealed button beneath his desk, activating the silent recording system he'd installed for exactly this type of s

  • Chapter 135

    The Skyline project dominated the horizon, its partially completed towers rising like monoliths against the afternoon sky. Construction cranes swung in choreographed precision, while teams of workers navigated the massive structure with efficiency. Despite being 15 percent complete, the development already commanded attention—a testament to Tom's architectural vision and business ambition.Zen stood at the edge of the site, ostensibly reviewing progress reports while actually conducting a far more strategic assessment. Following Wilson's revelations about the underground infrastructure connections, a personal inspection had become necessary."The north tower foundation is proceeding ahead of schedule," James Wilson explained as they walked the perimeter. "Structural integrity tests exceeded specifications by twelve percent.""And the sublevel excavation?" Zen asked, his attention focused on the massive pit that would eventually become the project's underground parking and service are

  • Chapter 134

    Back in Zen’s Home country, after the whole heat has died down.Evelyn Rossi's office occupied the entire top floor of the Rossi Enterprises headquarters, a testament to both her inflated sense of importance and desperate need for the appearance of power. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided a 360-degree view of the city, including—Zen noted with satisfaction—a perfect sightline to the Skyline project rising in the distance. A project she'd foolishly leveraged her company to infiltrate."Mr. Diel," she greeted as he was ushered in by her assistant. Her voice carried the brittle warmth of someone trying to mask anxiety behind social pleasantries. "What an unexpected pleasure. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me."Zen moved into the spacious office with confident strides, each step calculated to remind her who truly held power in this room. He didn't wait for her invitation before settling comfortably in the chair opposite her desk."Avoiding you, Evelyn? Quite the contrary. I've

  • Chapter 133

    The yacht cut through darkening waters, its engines humming at three-quarter power as it navigated away from Saint-Malo's harbor. Security personnel had settled into cruising positions—two on the aft deck, one on the forward observation point, and two inside the main cabin with Zharkov and Nia. The remaining guards were likely positioned on the bridge and in the engine room, maintaining operational security throughout the vessel.Zen and Henri remained concealed near the outer deck storage compartments, using the shadows cast by the yacht's exterior lighting to avoid detection. The increasing distance from shore worked in their favor—intervention from harbor authorities becoming less likely with each passing minute."Approaching optimal position," Henri noted quietly, checking the GPS coordinates on his tactical device. "Five minutes to designated extraction point."Zen nodded. They had identified a stretch of water approximately three nautical miles from shore—far enough to avoid imm

  • Chapter 132

    Saint-Malo's ancient granite walls rose against the darkening sky, silhouetted by the setting sun as it dipped into the English Channel. The medieval fortifications had withstood centuries of sieges and storms, but now they served as mere backdrop to a far more immediate conflict. NiaZen studied the waterfront property through high-powered binoculars, his position on a neighboring rooftop offering optimal surveillance while maintaining adequate distance. The target—a modernist villa constructed with obvious disregard for the historic surroundings—sat directly on the water, complete with private dock where a sleek yacht waited, engines idling."Preparations for immediate departure," he noted, observing increased activity around the vessel. "Security detail?"Beside him, Henri adjusted his own observation equipment. "Eight visible. Professionally positioned. Two on the main approach, two patrolling the perimeter, four on the property itself.""Armed?""Concealed, but evident from their

  • Chapter 131

    "Eighty-five seconds," the commander announced with professional detachment. "More than enough time for my departure, but rather challenging for yours."Zen maintained his aim, mind calculating options with cold efficiency. The commander held a decisive advantage with Catherine as hostage, but his announced departure suggested a tactical opportunity—he needed to move, which meant a moment of vulnerability."Your men upstairs?" Zen asked. "They're aware of Protocol Omega?"A flicker of something—annoyance, perhaps—crossed the commander's face. "My team understands operational necessities."Expendable assets, then. The commander had no intention of extracting his full team. Only himself, with Catherine as insurance, and the evidence they'd recovered.Catherine had remained silent, her posture tense but controlled. Now she caught Zen's gaze with deliberate intent, her eyes flicking briefly toward the ceiling—a message.Zen followed her glance, noting a specific pattern in the cellar's ov

  • Chapter 130

    The chateau had transformed from elegant estate to tactical battleground in a matter of minutes. Emergency systems filled corridors with obscuring mist while strategic power failures created a disorienting environment of alternating darkness and strobing emergency lights. The cacophony of alarms, sprinklers, and intermittent gunfire completed the sensory disruption Sinclair had engineered."Status?" Zen asked as Sinclair emerged from the safe room, moving with obvious discomfort but determination."Mobile, armed, and extremely irritated," Sinclair replied, accepting the weapon Zen offered him. "Evacuation route?""Compromised," Zen stated, gesturing to the bound Marie. "She's been working with Marcus. Likely provided the layout and security details."Sinclair's eyes narrowed as he took in the situation. "Dr. Benoit?""Uncertain. Claims loyalty to Catherine."Benoit straightened, indignation overcoming caution. "I've served Catherine faithfully for years. Marie is the traitor, not me."

  • Chapter 129

    Zen assessed their deteriorating tactical situation with cold precision. The intruders had effectively split their forces—one team maintaining pressure on him and Henri, another moving toward Sinclair's location, and likely a third searching for Catherine and the evidence drives."We need to reach Sinclair," he told Henri. "Before they do."Henri nodded grimly. "Secondary passage through the library. Concealed door behind the east bookcase."They moved in coordinated retreat, covering each other's movements while maintaining suppressive fire to slow the intruders' advance. The smoke provided useful cover, but it would dissipate soon, eliminating that advantage.As they reached the library, a sudden burst of gunfire from another section of the chateau confirmed Zen's assessment—the attack was proceeding on multiple fronts simultaneously."That came from near the kitchen," Henri noted, concern evident in his voice. "The safe room...""Sinclair's armed," Zen reminded him. "And Marie is w

Scan code to read on App