2024-08-26 19:32:39"Of course not," Oliver replied. "It’s my money. Take it. Pay me back whenever you can—no rush, and definitely no interest."
Nate’s hands trembled as he stared at the stack of bills, unsure whether to accept.
This wasn’t just a loan; it was a life-changing sum.
He hesitated, but thoughts of his son's medical bills tipped the scale.
With a deep breath, he pocketed the cash.
"Thank you, Oliver," Nate said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you."
"Everything will work out, Nate. I promise," Oliver said, sincerity in his eyes.
Nate smiled, a mix of relief and gratitude softening his expression. "I believe it will, buddy."
Somehow, he couldn’t help but replay the image of Anthony trembling in front of Oliver.
Who is this guy really? he wondered, but just as quickly dismissed the thought.
Nah, if he were someone important, he wouldn’t have tolerated Anthony for this long. He’s just another guy trying to get by.
When they reached Nate’s modest house, it showed signs of wear—faded walls, furniture past its prime. But everything was tidy and well-kept.
"Make yourself at home," Nate said, exhausted. "There are some cup noodles if you’re hungry."
While Nate got ready to pick up his son, Chris, from school, Oliver’s gaze wandered to a framed photo of Nate and Chris.
He picked it up, drawn to the boy’s bright smile.
"Can Chris’s illness be cured?" he asked.
“With a lot of money, yeah,” Nate sighed heavily. "A specialist could help, but that's way beyond what I can afford."
Oliver’s heart tightened. "What if money wasn’t an issue?"
Nate shot him a wary look. "What are you suggesting? Something illegal?"
"No, nothing like that," Oliver said softly. "I can help with Chris’s medical bills. Just let me handle it."
Nate shook his head, his tone serious. "We’re just regular guys scraping by. You’ve already done more than enough just by being a friend."
Oliver nodded, respecting Nate’s pride.
After eating some cup noodles, he headed to the shower.
As the hot water hit his skin, a sudden realization struck him.
"Shit. I left the necklace at the Henverton mansion," he muttered, running a hand through his wet hair.
That necklace, a keepsake from his past, had always been by his side.
In the chaos of his divorce, he’d left it behind on the nightstand.
"Looks like I’ll have to face Trisha again," Oliver whispered to himself, his shoulders slumping at the thought.
After dressing, he borrowed Nate’s truck and made his way toward the Henverton mansion.
While driving, his phone rang. It was Rebecca.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, Sir Oliver. I’m calling to inform you that Anthony has been fired from the market,"
Rebecca said on the other end.
"We’re also arranging proper compensation for the employees he mistreated, including your friend."
"That’s great news, Rebecca. Thank you," Oliver said, his voice warm with gratitude.
"Thanks again for all your help, Rebecca. If you ever need anything, let me know."
"You don’t owe me a thing, Sir Oliver. The assistance you received earlier is a privilege for red card holders,"
Rebecca explained, her voice polite yet measured. "But... if it’s not too much trouble, could I ask a personally favor?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of favor?"
"Would you go to a party with me... and pretend to be my boyfriend?"
Oliver blinked, caught off guard. "Pretend to be your boyfriend? What’s going on?"
Rebecca’s voice grew embrassment.
"It’s a complicated situation. I need someone to... help me keep certain people at bay. I know it’s an odd request, but I’m in a bit of a bind. It's okay if you not to, I'm asking too much..."
Oliver chuckled softly.
"I see. Well, it doesn’t sound too difficult. I’ll go, but I need to handle some personal business first."
"That’s perfectly fine," Rebecca replied, relief flooding her tone. "The party isn’t until later. I’ll send you the address. And... thank you."
"No problem," Oliver said before ending the call.
As he neared the Henverton mansion, something felt off.
He tried unlocking the gate with his key, but it wouldn’t turn.
After several attempts, it was clear.
Trisha must’ve changed the locks, he thought bitterly.
And clearly, the house seemed empty. No choice, then.
Relying on the skills he’d picked up from his time in the Legion, Oliver deftly unlocked the door and slipped inside.
He made his way to his room, where he found the necklace sitting on the nightstand.
Pocketing it, he began gathering a few of his belongings when he heard footsteps from downstairs.
"Who could that be?" His senses sharpened.
Moving quietly, Oliver descended the stairs, only to come face to face with Carolina, his former mother-in-law.
"What are you doing here?" Carolina’s eyes widened in shock.
"Mother," Oliver greeted, offering a polite smile.
She was always nice to Oliver back to the days.
He had always thought of Carolina as a second mother.
But Carolina’s expression now quickly turned to disdain.
"Trisha already changed the locks, and you still managed to break in? Is this how desperate you are to reconcile with my daughter?"
She sneered, her voice dripping with venom.
"No, that’s not my intention," Oliver replied, keeping his voice steady despite the tension.
Carolina scoffed, folding her arms with an air of superiority.
"Who do you think you’re fooling? A broke, pathetic loser like you will say anything to leech off my daughter. You think I’d let you drag her down again? Not a chance!"
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Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 10: The Party
Oliver’s heart sank at Carolina’s words. Once upon a time, he’d cleaned her house, taken her to doctor appointments, cooked meals, and spent hours keeping her company. She’d been warm, kind—even motherly. But now, her eyes held only cold disdain, as if they were strangers.Maybe her kindness only be a mask, just a reflection of Cole’s wealth?“Get out of here now!” she spat, her voice sharp as a knife. “Or do you want to get arrested?”A swirl of anguish rose inside him, but Oliver didn’t respond. He turned to leave, but Carolina stepped in front of him, blocking the way.“Leave everything behind!” she snapped, eyes narrowing.“These are my belongings,” Oliver replied. It was just some old clothes in his bag.Carolina took a step closer, contempt twisting her expression.“Are you out of your mind? You don’t deserve a single thing from this house!”Oliver’s frustration flared. Not worth a thing? I paid for this house. Most of the household bills, too.But he didn’t say it. Instead,
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 11: Facade
Gasps rippled through the crowd, astonished by the exchange between them.Rebecca, known for her beauty and constant refusals, showing up with a “nobody”?“Trash? He’s far better than you,” Rebecca shot back, folding her arms and staring Jay down. “And where are your manners?”Jay sneered. “Manners? I only show those to people who deserve them. Clearly not this poor loser.”He retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “But I’m curious — Why are you even with this guy? Did you find him online and hire him for the night”Laughter echoed from the other guests, nodding in agreement.It made sense; Rebecca would go to such lengths to avoid a real relationship.Jay continued, his tone mocking.“Really, Rebecca if you’re going to hire someone, couldn’t you set your standards a little higher? Even the janitors here are dressed better than him!”“You should have hired me instead of him, Rebecca. I’m the one who truly matches your vibe. This old man couldn't event satisfy you.”But Rebecca didn
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 12: Sudden Fear
As soon as Trisha spotted Oliver, she stormed toward him, Jay and Denver trailing close behind.“I told you to stop following me!” she snapped, her voice loud and hostile. “You pathetic lowlife! How dare you come here and lurk around like some creep?”Oliver blinked by her outburst.“Wait, you know him?” Jay asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.“That’s Trisha’s useless ex-husband,” Denver answered, his teeth clenched with anger. “What’s that nobody doing at a party like this?”“It’s because he’s Rebecca’s boyfriend,” Jay interjected, a smug grin spreading across his face.Trisha paused for a moment when she heard this.She finally noticing the transformation in Oliver’s appearance.He stood there in a sharp, expensive suit, clean-shaven and composed, radiating a powerful presence, made him look like a completely different man.“What? Are you kidding me? There’s no way that bumpkin could snag someone like Rebecca.”Trisha raised an eyebrow, her face twisting in disgust mixed with a s
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 13: Ryan Williams
Rebecca offered a slight smile before quickly hiding it.“The dirty mutt who only knows how to smear someone’s name without any proof…” Oliver remarked, his gaze shifting to them.“…And all the followers who blindly believe her.” His eyes swept over the other guests.As his words settled, the room fell silent.The guests’ faces morphed into expressions of disgust and disbelief.Jay’s face darkened in anger.“You worthless son of a bitch,” he hissed through clenched teeth, “I’m gonna kick your ass out of your mouth.”“This damn bastard!”Denver growled, losing his patience. He lunged forward, grabbing Oliver by the collar.***An elderly man walked along the plush, carpeted hallway outside, furrowing his brow as he approached the door.“What’s going on inside? Why is it so noisy?”One of his subordinates picked up a walkie-talkie to explain,“It seems there’s been a disagreement in the banquet hall, but it hasn’t escalated to the point of needing security yet.”This elderly man was the
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 14: Savior
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Mr. Hunt…” Ryan Williams, one of the wealthiest men in the country, said, his voice trembling. “I owe you my life, and after all these years without being able to repay you… suddenly, you appear at my own banquet. I’d heard that three years ago—”“Enough,” Oliver cut him off.The guests exchanged uneasy glances, confused and on edge. Ryan Williams, a man of untouchable power, was kneeling before Oliver. It was a sight none of them had expected.“What the… Why is Mr. Williams kneeling to someone like him?”“Is this guy some big shot we didn’t know about? Could this be why Rebecca was with him?”“If he’s really a VVIP at Umbrella Bank… we might’ve messed up big time judging him…”Their murmurs filled the room, ranging from annoyance to nervousness. They realized that if Oliver was truly connected to Ryan, they might be in for trouble.Oliver, however, ignored the whispers around him, simply raising an eyebrow as he looked closely at Ryan. There was some
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 15: Stealth
Jay swallowed hard, realizing there was no way out.With no choice but to accept it, he turned and slunk away.He didn’t dare defy Ryan. Sticking around after this would only make things worse, a slap in his own face.As Jay disappeared, Ryan’s usual calm smile returned.“Remember,” he said, “Everyone here is a guest, no matter their status. If something like this happens again, I won’t hesitate to step in.”A murmur rippled through the guests.They exchanged tense glances, the kind of silent, nervous conversation that followed any reminder of Ryan’s influence.He was a force few dared to cross—a single word from him could move mountains, shake governments, and, some said, even trigger strikes at his command.But here he was, exercising his power over… a petty insult?“Please, just enjoy the party.” Ryan continued, a glimmer of lightness in his voice. “Tonight marks the thirtieth gathering I’ve hosted here, and I’d like it to be a night we all remember fondly.”Hearing this, the crowd
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 16: Favor
With the shadowy figure from earlier gone, Oliver gave a slight nod. “Alright.”“Thank you. Please, follow me,” Ryan said, his tone polite but firm.Oliver followed Ryan into a private meeting room.The space was elegant, with marble floors and walls adorned with expensive paintings.It wasn’t overly flashy, but the simplicity only added to its sophistication.Ryan glanced around the room before speaking. “I know this might seem suspicious, but I mean no harm,” he reassured Oliver, locking eyes with him. “I brought you here because what I’m about to say is confidential.”Oliver’s brow furrowed slightly. “What is it?”Without another word, Ryan picked up a brown envelope from the table and handed it to him. “Here.”Oliver opened the envelope and began sifting through the documents inside.His frown deepened as he realized the papers were related to a weapons manufacturing company.“These are the findings from the investigation you asked me to carry out,” Ryan explained, pointing at the
Zero: God Of Mercenary Chapter 17: After Time
Oliver felt his chest tightening. His steps were slow, deliberate, trying to make sense of the tension bubbling inside him. From a distance, he overheard bits of the conversation.“Yes, she’s working hard in the capital,” Zayne was saying, his smile wide and confident. “She’s just as determined and competent as you.”Rebecca smiled softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you, Zayne.”“You’re welcome,” Zayne replied, his eyes drifting toward Oliver as he approached. “I should be going, Rebecca. See you around.”By the time Oliver reached them, Zayne was already walking away. His eyes lingered on the empty space Zayne had occupied, but quickly shifted to Rebecca.“Why were you talking to Zayne?” He asked, his tone sharper than he intended.Rebecca blinked, surprised by the question. “He’s a guest—and an important one at that. He wanted to ask me some questions about the umbrella bank,” She replied, her tone polite but slightly guarded. “Is something wrong?”
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Oliver remained on his seat, pondering.‘Pushing her harder would just make her babble nonsense,’ he thought, his brows furrowing deeply. ‘But letting her go now could mean losing the lead he needed.’And he’s not the type to let go of the opportunity, especially if it was already in front of him.He needed a plan, quickly. And he knew just how to bait her. Which is to let her want more, and he just knew what she wanted: Him.His money, to be exact.With a slow, deliberate smile, Oliver poured another drink and pushed it toward her. Although he already has an idea that Trisha was almost on the edge, he won’t stop.Because his gut was telling him that something was fishy, but he just didn’t know what exactly that was.“Alright, Trisha," Oliver said smoothly, agreeing with her condition. "You want a dance? Finish this first."If she wanted to play, he’d play.But only until she gave him everything.Trisha’s eyes gleamed with joy at the offered drink and the dance they’ll do later, as if
Chapter 196: Covering Tracks
Trisha shrugged exaggeratedly.“It’s business. Everyone’s dirty if you dig deep enough,” Trisha answered, her shoulders already sluggish as she leaned on the chair.“But Denver and Jay? They’re survivors. Smart ones. They know how to cover their tracks.”Those words caught Oliver’s attention. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “And?” he asked, but based on Trisha’s expression, it seemed like she was hesitating to tell Oliver more, even despite the alcohol running through her veins.His voice dropped to a coaxing whisper, his lips almost brushing her ear, “Come on, Trisha. You can tell me more than that. It’s just us here.”With that movement, Trisha swayed slightly in her seat, giggling drunkenly.However, she was more clever and cunning, more than Oliver expected him to be.Trisha sat properly, now looking Oliver in the eye.“Maybe I could,” she teased, running a finger down his arm. “But... what's in it for me? If I tell you everything I know, what can I get in re
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Oliver stayed behind for a second, finishing his drink in one gulp before slowly standing up.He glanced down at Trisha, who was doing her best to maintain calm, yet her expression barely contained fury.“You should leave too, Trisha,” Oliver said, his voice cold and emotionless. “Before you embarrass yourself even more.”Without waiting for her response, he turned and followed after Nate and Rebecca, leaving Trisha to stew in the humiliation she brought upon herself.Trisha sat frozen for a moment, anger burning beneath her forced smile.However, as she spotted Oliver’s back disappearing into the crowd, panic flashed in her eyes. He’s the main reason why she was here. She can’t just let her leave!She jumped up from her seat and hurried after him."Oliver! Oliver, wait!" she called out, catching some of the customers’ attention, especially when she pushed some of them just to weave through the bar’s crowd. “Excuse me!”One of the women she pushed stumbled on the ground, and she looke
Chapter 194: Leech
Just when Oliver was about to pour himself another drink, an unwelcome voice pierced through their bubble of laughter.It was Trisha, someone he didn’t expect to see at this place."Mind if I join?" Trisha's sickly sweet tone interrupted, though she didn’t wait for an answer. She sat beside Oliver, so close that their shoulders brushed. But she didn’t even move. Instead, her smile widened as this was her plan all along.To act like it was a coincidence seeing Oliver in the bar, although it was not.The sudden intrusion made Rebecca stiffen immediately. Her giggle disappeared like it had been cut by a knife. She exchanged a sharp glance with Nate, who was also silent, and the tension was evident on his shoulders.‘This isn’t good,’ Nate thought, mentally shaking his head. ‘I smell chaos.Oliver’s relaxed posture also tensed for a second, but he quickly masked it with a nonchalant sip of his beer. “What are you doing here?” Oliver asked dryly, not even glancing at her.Trisha rolled
Chapter 193: Not For Long
Those words piqued Oliver’s curiosity. So, with his brows furrowing, he asked, “How?”Rebecca looked at Nate, as if she was saying that it wasn’t her story to tell.Nate cleared his throat and drank his beer. Unlike what Oliver was expecting, Nate looked smug, feeling proud of what he was about to tell him.“Well, you know that as I climbed the corporate ladder at Williams Corporation, I somehow dealt with the toxic employees there,” Nate stated.Oliver nodded. “Of course. Even when we’re working at the wet market before, we experienced that,” he said.“Right.” Nate agreed. “And one time, I noticed that there were discrepancies with the company’s funds. It wasn’t matching accurately with the statements, which immediately gave me suspicions about something.”He paused, then spoke again, “Someone’s stealing the company funds. And I need to know who it was.”“So, what did you do?” Oliver asked, his interest getting bigger now.Nate didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned on the cha
Chapter 192: Proven and Tested
Rebecca let out a deep sigh. “I just think this is suicide, Oliver.”She added, explaining her words, “You can’t get anything from it. Not brand reputation, money, or influence. Nothing.”Oliver couldn’t help but laugh a little upon hearing her sentence.“No, I’m telling you. It’s not,” Oliver answered, shaking his head although Rebecca couldn’t see him.“Financially, it could look like that. But I have a deeper reason for this acquisition, Rebecca, something that isn’t stupid,” he added, his tone now low and serious.Rebecca blinked in surprise, not expecting the sudden shift in Oliver’s tone.“That’s all I can tell you for now,” Oliver said before Rebecca could even ask a question. “But I promise, you’ll know about all of it soon.”The silence filled their conversation as Rebecca didn’t answer immediately.Her fingers tightened around the pen she hadn’t even realized she was holding, thanks to Oliver for always giving her something to think about.Finally, she exhaled slowly. Oliver
Chapter 191: Vows Of Vengeance
Oliver had booked a penthouse, not to flex his wealth, but because it was the safest, and it was also the room Ryan recommended.Still, he checked every part of that room, whether there were hidden cameras, suspicious things, or even a bomb that could kill him on the spot.“None.” Oliver sighed in relief, seeing that nothing could bring him harm.That was the moment he could finally place his luggage on the side and sit on the edge of the bed, his breath panting.There was still the adrenaline from earlier, and no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn’t get his mind off it, especially with what he shared.Suddenly, his phone rang, which snapped Oliver from his thoughts for a moment.“Ryan,” Oliver spoke upon answering the call.“One of my people informed me that you’re already at the hotel,” Ryan said on the other line, his tone ingratiating yet still authoritative. “How’s the penthouse to your liking?”“It’s great,” Oliver answered, his tone laced with sincerity. “Also safe. The
Chapter 190: Prelude To Destruction
His boss had his brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”“With the intensity of his kick, I almost thought that he wasn’t a human,” the man explained, his voice low.“It’s like he possesses extraordinary strength.”The silence filled the conversation as his boss didn’t answer.However, his boss clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, pondering upon something deeper, something that the man couldn’t decipher.“This is bad. He should be weaker as time went by, not stronger,” his boss said, his voice dangerously low.“What could be triggering him?”“Sir?” the man asked, not being able to follow through his boss’ mumbles.“Nothing.” His boss shook his head. “Is there anything else you noticed about him?”The man didn’t answer immediately as he caressed his chin, his eyes narrowing as he returned to the scenario earlier.“He looks younger,” the man mumbled. “Three years have passed. He should have aged as it was a long time, but he didn’t…”His voice trailed off, not because he didn’t know
Chapter 189: First and Last Warning
Oliver also felt it toward his body, the adrenaline rushing through his veins. But he could still manage it, although he didn’t know exactly what he was controlling.“Seeing your movements, I know that you’re not just some hired thug,” Oliver muttered, his eyes and voice sharp. “Light footwork, fast movements, physical combat skills…”He looked at the man intently, his eyes narrowing as he played with his knife.“A military, or maybe ex-special forces?”Instead of answering, the man smirked, yanking down his face mask, revealing a thin scar slashing across his jawline.“As expected from you, Zero,” the man spoke, his smirk widening. “But do you want to know how I got this scar?”He stood up properly, removing his bonnet this time, as he looked Oliver in the eye.“You did that with your fucking knife, Zero,” he said, his voice edged with something darker. “You slashed my jaw, yet you dared not to remember it?”Hearing those words, Oliver smirked.He pretended to be trying to remember
