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 standing in the doorway. Once outside, Zen took out his phone and dialed Keisha’s number. She answered quickly. “Good day, Chief?” Keisha’s voice was bright but quickly shifted to concern. “I remembered something significant,” Zen said. “The other night I passed by the university my brother used to attend. Look for details on that school. Get your hands on anything you can find.” Keisha took a deep breath. “I’ll start looking into it right away. I’ll keep you updated if I find anything.” He hung up and took a deep breath, preparing himself for the next step. Zen walked towards Cyrus’ car and got in, driving off to the prestigious university his late brother had attended. Its imposing architecture was a reminder of his late brother's past. He parked and walked towards the library, determined to find any clues related to his brother’s life there. Inside, he wandered through the vast aisles of books. “Yearbook, yearbook,” he muttered as he scanned through shelves. Until he bumped into someone, who was searching through the stacks. He immediately bent down to reach for the book that had fallen. “You?” He heard a female voice. He picked up the book and raised his head. “Who could have thought I would see you out of nowhere. I’m sorry for the way my assistant behaved last time,” she said. “Uhm, who are you?” Zen asked with a straight face. “Rosalia,” she said smiling but her reply was an inexpressive face from Zen. “Oh—“ Rosalia smiled awkwardly, “you mean you don’t remember me?” “I have no idea who you are, Miss,” Zen replied instantly. “At old man Cyrus’ event, we bumped into each other in the hallway,” Rosalia said. “Oh, that Rosalia Albrecht,” Zen said. “I definitely remember who you are, now get out of my face already,” Zen thought to himself. “Uhm—“ Rosalia uttered. “Tom, Tom Diel,” Zen said as he walked past her. Rosalia smiled, “I’m just doing some research for a project. What brings you to the library?” “I’m looking into the past,” Zen explained, trying to sound casual. “I’m trying to figure out if there was anyone who might have had a grudge against me.” “You see— I was involved in an accident that seemed too clean to be natural,” he continued. Rosalia’s expression softened. “I see. How can I help?” Zen hesitated. He turned to her. Rosalia wore an innocent determined face. Zen sighed, “I need to check old yearbooks and records. I’m trying to understand if there were any significant conflicts or issues I might have forgotten.” “Sure,” Rosalia said. “Follow me. The yearbooks and records are kept in the archive section.” As they walked, Zen added, “Are you the librarian or something? How come you know the locations of things in this large library?” Rosalia nodded, leading him to a section filled with dusty old yearbooks and files. She pulled out a large book and began flipping through the pages. “Do you have any specific names or incidents in mind?” Rosalia asked as she worked. “No specific names,” Zen said. “Just looking for anything unusual. I don’t even know if I’ll find something.” Rosalia nodded and continued to flip through the yearbooks. After a few minutes, she stopped on a page and pointed to a group photo. “Here’s a photo from one of the college events,” she said. “Awwn, you looked so young in this picture.” Zen leaned over, scrutinizing the image. In the group photo, his brother was clearly drenched in water, looking uncomfortable and out of place. “Why was I drenched in water,” he muttered. “Maybe, you were playing around before they took the photo?” Rosalia said. Zen looked closer and saw an arrogant-looking student, had his arm around Tom in a way that seemed more taunting than friendly. “This guy, who was he again,” Zen being true to his roleplaying as his late brother. “Who the hell is this!” Zen thought to himself. Rosalia’s eyes widened as she recognized the person Zen pointed. “Oh, that’s Silas Wales. He’s from one of the big 4 families in the country. He was known for causing trouble, but he always managed to stay just under the radar of serious consequences.” Zen’s heart raced. “What kind of trouble?” Rosalia looked thoughtful. “Silas had a reputation for being a bully. He used his family’s influence to avoid serious repercussions for his actions. There were rumors of him being involved in harassment and bullying, but nothing concrete ever stuck.” Zen’s mind raced. “Did he have any specific targets?” Rosalia’s expression darkened. “From what I heard, Silas was particularly cruel to people he thought were beneath him. There were stories about him harassing a few people, but no one could ever prove it.” Zen studied the photo again. “My brother looks… distressed. It’s like he’s begging for help,” Zen said to himself. Rosalia added. “Silas was known for making people’s lives miserable, especially if he had any sort of personal vendetta. That sounds really scary.” Rosalia reached for a file. “There might be more records or incident reports in the university archives. Let’s see if we can find any documented complaints or reports about Silas.” As they sifted through the documents, Rosalia continued to provide insights. “Silas’ family has a lot of influence. Normally, the big 4 families always have several smaller families under them and those smaller families are no joke.” Zen nodded, “It seems like there’s a lot more to uncover. I need to dig deeper into Silas’s activities and see if I can find any direct evidence linking him to my accident.” Rosalia, “that’s a bold accusation, plus you guys looked like good friends in this group photo.” “Friends? We were definitely not friends,” Zen stood up and walked towards the window. Rosalia gave him a smile. “I’ll help you find whatever we can. If Silas did anything wrong, it’s important that it comes to light.” “Thank you, I guess,” Zen said as he stood up and walked towards the window. “What is this?” Rosalia said from behind. “Isn’t this, Malia Rossi?” she added. Immediately, Zen’s eyes widened and he moved to the table instantly. “Where?” He asked with a serious tone. Rosalia paused for a bit, staring at him as he wore a look on his face that she had not seen since he got there. As Zen took a look at the photo, before him was the ‘Silas Wales,’ holding hands with his ex-wife Malia. “Interesting,” Zen grinned.Related Chapters
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
The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War Chapter 14
Zen gazed out of the car window, the cityscape blurring past as he spoke to himself. “Played doctor, somehow it feels nice to get people out of situations that seem impossible but it’s not fair that only the rich get access to it,” he muttered, shaking his head with a faint smirk. He turned to the lady who sat beside him, her face bright with an unprofessional smile.“You’re Anna, right? Willow’s assistant?”Anna’s smile widened. “Yes, sir. All thanks to you.”Zen gave a curt nod and returned his gaze to the window. Anna, determined to break the ice, cleared her throat and tried again. “So, what are some of your hobbies, Mr. Tom? Any favorite pastimes?”Zen’s expression remained unreadable. “I don’t have many hobbies.”Anna chuckled nervously. “Well, how about your favorite type of music? Do you have a genre you prefer?”Zen’s eyes flicked toward her briefly before returning to the view outside. “The sounds of my enemies collapsing,” he said softly.“What was that?” Anna asked.He sh
The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War Chapter 15
“Sorry!” she cried, barely pausing as she continued running. Zen watched her retreating figure and decided to follow. He tracked her through the busy streets, her pace frantic, until she reached a narrow, dimly lit alley several blocks away. Natasha collapsed against the wall, her sobs cutting through the silence of the alley. Zen approached, holding out her ID card. “You forgot this,” he said gently.Startled, Natasha looked up, tears streaking her makeup. “Oh… thank you.” She took the card and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You can go now.”Zen sat beside her, his demeanor calm and authoritative. “You don’t seem fine. What happened back there?”Natasha shook her head, struggling to maintain her composure. “It’s nothing. Just a rough day.”Zen’s gaze remained steady. “I overheard part of that conversation. It sounded serious. You were being threatened.”Her resolve cracked, and she sighed deeply. “It’s not just threats. The manager here is corrupt. He’s been pressuring
The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War Chapter 16
The rain began to drizzle, so Zen got in his car and started following behind her, keeping a respectful distance. The rain grew heavier, with Natasha walking briskly along the sidewalk, trying to shield herself from the downpour with her arms.Pulling up beside her, Zen rolled down the window. "Natasha, get in. You’ll catch a cold out here."She glanced at him, her hair plastered to her face. She shook her head. "We don’t even know each other, stop calling my name so informally and No, thank you. I can manage."The rain intensified, and Zen persisted. "Just get in the car you stubborn woman."She hesitated, the rain now a relentless torrent, she opened the door and slipped into the passenger seat. She shivered as she settled in, the warmth of the car felt like heaven compared to the cold rain outside.Zen handed her a towel from the back seat. "Here, dry off a bit."Natasha accepted the towel, drying her face and hair. "Thanks. I didn’t think it would rain this hard."Zen turned on th
The Useless Son-In-law is a God of War Chapter 17
As Robert's footsteps receded up the staircase, a heavy silence enveloped the room. Zen and Nia were left in an awkward stillness, both aware of each other but unsure how to break the quiet. Nia fidgeted with the hem of her dress, glancing at Zen from the corner of her eye. “So… Tom?” Nia started, her voice soft.Zen turned his gaze to her, his expression calm and composed as always. “Yes.”Nia bit her lip, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. “I, um, I was just wondering… about you.”Zen raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her nervousness. “What about me?”“Well, I mean… you’re a bit of a mystery,” she admitted, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for a safe spot to land. “Why did you… I mean, why did you marry Malia?”Zen’s expression didn’t change, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor. “It was an arranged marriage.”“Oh,” Nia responded, nodding slowly. She didn’t push further.Zen shrugged slightly. “It’s not something I dwell on.”Nia’s curiosity got the better o
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