Aspen said, "But you're the CEO. So, what do you think? Should we just make a casual gesture and write a check for a million? Or should we step it up a notch, maybe throw in roughly eight million to try and make a name for our company?" Andrew shook his head and said, "Eight million? That's not enough. It lacks impact." Aspen was stunned. "That's still not enough? Come on, this is just a regular charity event. Even those filthy rich legacy families only drop five million tops, just to show some goodwill. And you think even eight million isn't enough? "If we go too high, we'll end up at the top of the donor list and stand out way too much. That kind of attention might actually backfire." She clearly disagreed with Andrew's idea. However, Andrew waved it off. "Don't overthink it. Just spend the money. I'll deal with the consequences. Screw it, let's just go with 50 million." Aspen froze, completely in disbelief. "50 million? Are you out of your mind? If we go that high, ther
After all the moguls, elites, and legacy families finished flexing their generosity at the charity event, the venue transitioned into a lavish buffet-style dinner. With her stunning looks and classy aura, Aspen turned heads everywhere she went. She held a glass of red wine and chatted gracefully with several older men, most balding and sporting sizable beer bellies. Meanwhile, Andrew looked utterly bored. He had filled a plate with food and was sitting alone, eating away like he had not had a proper meal in days. Aspen caught a glimpse of him across the room and nearly lost it. She was working her tail off trying to network and promote Supreme Capital Group, while this so-called CEO was sitting on the sidelines, stuffing his face and acting like none of it mattered. She could not help but wonder what he was even thinking. Ignoring Andrew's protests, she marched over, grabbed his arm, and dragged him across the room to introduce him to a balding man named Harry Dunham. "Mr. Du
Nowadays, among the wealthy and the ultra-rich, there were barely any whose fortune came from a spotless, clean slate. Aspen stood frozen, utterly shocked. The same legacy heads and well-known moguls she had always looked up to were now casually spitting out crude, foul-mouthed complaints like street punks. Their behavior was downright disappointing—definitely not what she had imagined of the elite. Just then, Andrew cleared his throat with a light cough. The powerful men instantly went quiet and turned toward him, their faces filled with annoyance. "Sorry, this is a private circle. We don't welcome outsiders," one stern-looking middle-aged man said coldly. Andrew smiled and replied, "My apologies for interrupting. I'm Andrew Lloyd from Supreme Capital Group. It's my first time bringing business to the capital, and I was hoping to have a chat with you gentlemen." The group immediately burst out laughing. "Supreme Capital Group? What kind of backwater scam company is that? N
Aspen's legs had already gone numb, and she could not even find the strength to move. She thought Andrew was too bold, too outrageous. Talking to those powerhouses in that tone was practically asking to get smacked down. However, the very next second, her ears caught something completely unexpected—eager voices calling out to stop him. "Hey, young man, hold on! We may have been a bit rude just now!" A man said, "Supreme Capital Group, was it? No hard feelings, alright? The name's impressive—I'll have my secretary reach out first thing tomorrow." "Mr. Lloyd, since you're already here, come chat with us. You mentioned partnering up to make money, right? That's exactly the kind of thing we love to hear!" Another chimed in, "You actually secured Jayrodale's Vitality Pill and the legendary Titan Essence Pill? Mr. Lloyd, clearly you're full of surprises. We're impressed!" Two of the bigwigs even rushed forward and grabbed Andrew's arm, afraid he might slip away. Aspen stood the
Andrew spoke with ease and confidence. "To be honest with you all, the Vitality Pill and Titan Essence Pill are hot commodities around Jayrodale. "From what I know, both miracle supplements came from a medical institute called Moonlit Apothecary. Ever since they hit the market, they've exploded in popularity, and it's no surprise a lot of people have been trying to get their hands on them. "Hidden Dragons was the first to make a move, and as for the capital, those shameless Wrights were the quickest to act—but from the looks of it, they walked away empty-handed." While speaking, Andrew intentionally glanced at Richard, who was smiling politely. Richard immediately nodded. "Mr. Lloyd is right. These two miracle drugs indeed came out of a place called Moonlit Apothecary." The other tycoons chimed in quickly after. "Mr. Lloyd sure knows a lot of behind-the-scenes details. He even knew the Wrights tried to swoop in early on those pills." "Right now, there's no bigger business
It was not that Richard and the others were gullible or easy to fool. It was just that the offer Andrew had laid on the table was simply too tempting to resist. These two miracle supplements were not just on the radar of the Five Apex Families—even the Three Titans of the capital were probably drooling over them. Meanwhile, Andrew was not just a middleman—he was the one holding the cards. If his words did not stir the room, then nobody else's would even matter. "Mr. Golding Senior, transferring funds this early? Isn't that a little too soon?" Andrew said, looking hesitant. Richard waved it off with a generous tone. "What's the problem? Mr. Lloyd, don't worry. This 100 million isn't about the deal—it's simply my way of building friendships. Even if you end up not working with the Golding family, just consider this a goodwill gift between friends." As head of one of the Five Apex Families, Richard's words and actions naturally carried extra weight. Andrew gave a warm smile. "We
Andrew chuckled as he waved at the group. "Mr. Golding Senior, gentlemen—if you'll excuse me, I need to step away for a moment." Richard and the others chuckled and quickly gestured for him to go ahead, assuring him he did not need to be formal. However, the moment Andrew walked away, all their smiles vanished. "Now that kid's taken our money, he better move heaven and earth to get us those miracle pills. I don't care what it takes." "Exactly. Our money doesn't come easy. He better not get cocky." "Relax. From my perspective, Mr. Lloyd actually knows his stuff. Most people wouldn't have such detailed insight into those two pills." That last comment came from Richard himself. He looked calm and confident, completely in control. Since someone as influential as Richard was this certain, the other moguls finally smiled as well. Truth be told, none of them had been willing to hand Andrew money so casually at first. However, because Richard made the first move, they followed. A
"Mr. McCormick would like to see you both. Please come with me," the man said politely. Andrew's smile froze for a second, and he silently cursed, 'Damn it.' Aspen quickly covered her mouth, nearly bursting into laughter. This guy thought he could just pocket the cash and sneak out? Not a chance. Just when one wave had passed, another one hit. Derek himself had extended the invitation, and there was no way Andrew could slip away now. "Well then, if Mr. McCormick is asking, of course we'll go. Please, lead the way," Andrew said with a suave smile, his composure quickly returning. Aspen shot him a sideways glare, part irritated, part amused. She thought, 'Keep pretending, Mr. Calm-and-Collected.' … Inside a spacious and stately conference room, Derek sat at the head of the long table, observing everyone entering. Andrew and Aspen were the last to walk in. Once seated, Derek smiled and said, "There's nothing urgent. I just wanted to speak to you all briefly. The government
Yet, of all the fearless, reckless men they had encountered, neither Aspen nor Chantelle had ever seen anyone as stubbornly arrogant as Andrew. Both women were completely stunned, wondering where he even got the guts to say things like that. In this world, commoners fear officials—but officials? They fear the men with guns—the military. However, here was Andrew, treating a colonel like Xavier as if he were worthless weeds. It was utter madness—like a sparrow challenging an eagle, a lamb taunting a wolf. It was sheer recklessness bordering on suicide. With a thunderous swoosh, Xavier's massive broadsword came crashing down with enough force to split boulders and level trees. Just the murderous pressure from that swing made Chantelle's face go pale. She was starting to doubt if she could even stand up to Xavier herself. After all, Andrew looked like he was about to be torn in half by that blade. What infuriated her even more was that, at the height of danger, Andrew just st
"Colonel Haywood, you know full well that with your rank and position, you can't just go around killing people on a whim," Chantelle warned coldly. She added, "Besides, your friend Andarov used banned weaponry on Holtrien soil, which is a serious offense. You can be sure Mr. McCormick won't just let that slide." Left with no other option, Chantelle had to drop Derek's name to try to rein Xavier in. However, Xavier was not intimidated at all. His voice dripped with venom as he said, "Ms. Garcia, I respect Mr. McCormick—he governs this province, and I'll give him that. But do you think the Haywoods' name should be trampled like dirt? Especially by some no-name punk who doesn't know his place? "I'll chop him into pieces, and if I have to, I'll apologize to Mr. McCormick myself. But with the military accolades I've earned, the Haywood family's backing, and my deep ties in the defense department, killing this bug wouldn't even cause a blip on the radar." Chantelle's stomach twiste
Chantelle sneered, "All in all, you're just an ordinary man, a slave to your desires with a pathetically mediocre mind." She had finally caught an opening to hit Andrew where it hurt, and she was not about to waste it. Andrew chuckled. "Ms. Garcia, you really do live up to your title as a master of psychology. You got most of it right. But you still missed one tiny detail—like the fact that, right now, I've got a very clear image of your naked body in my mind." The bluntness of that line stunned Chantelle, and her expression twisted in outrage. She snapped, "Andrew! That was in the past—how dare you bring it up like it's nothing? Aren't you worried I'll kill you?" The usually cold woman was genuinely furious now. Andrew shrugged lazily. "I'm sitting right here, wounded and unarmed. Go ahead, kill me. But even if you did, you still wouldn't erase the fact that you once stripped bare in front of me." Chantelle raised her hand in fury but forced herself to lower it again with
Andrew was sitting on the lawn outside Serenity Villa, watching the crew from The Sovereign Residences repair his home. After the attack last night, it was a miracle the place was still standing—if the villa had not been built to the highest security standards, it would have been reduced to nothing but ash and rubble by the Srovika Federation mercenaries. Felix Daughtry, the security captain from The Sovereign Residences, a semi-martial king-level fighter, walked over with a grim expression and reported, "Mr. Lloyd, Serenity Villa took quite a hit. Full restoration might be difficult." Andrew glanced at him and said coldly, "I want it restored exactly as it was, and not just that—The Sovereign Residences will need to compensate me for all damages, including emotional distress. If that's too much, then I don't want the house anymore. I'll go to the press and let the world know just how useless your brand really is." Felix's face darkened, turning almost pitch black with anger. H
Since the night before, Xavier had been fully suited in military attire, standing vigilant and sleepless. He gripped a massive broadsword, and when the butler spoke, his voice was ice-cold. "Don't worry. Andarov won't fail me. That bastard Andrew is as good as dead." Though those were his words, doubt lingered in Xavier's mind. After all, Andarov never took this long to finish a kill. Nonetheless, the sun was rising—he should be back any minute now. Andarov, commander of the Blood Wolf Mercenaries, was ruthless and battle-hardened. Xavier met him while stationed overseas, and after several missions together, they became close allies. "With the entire Blood Wolf squad under him, it doesn't matter if Andrew has bodyguards. He won't last five minutes," Xavier sneered, confident. He was already planning the next steps—hold Seth's memorial as soon as Andarov returned, then introduce him to Luna to score even more clout. Having a famous international mercenary as a personal friend? E
At the Golding family estate, Elon exclaimed in disbelief, "What did you just say? Black Wolf is dead?" The butler, face tight with unease, replied, "Yes, sir. Early this morning, his body was found dumped in the sewer. The cause of death matched the last group of assassins perfectly. There's no doubt that it was Andrew who killed him." Elon's expression darkened instantly. "Even Black Wolf failed and ended up dead? Andrew... you've clearly been hiding more strength than we thought." The butler nodded gravely. "Sir, that man is definitely not some pawn on the board. Not only is Black Wolf gone, but the Srovika Federation mercenary commander the Haywoods brought in also died at Serenity Villa." Elon gasped. "Even Xavier's overseas hitman got wiped out? Are you absolutely sure?" The old butler's brow twitched. "Completely sure. This morning, both bodies—Black Wolf and the mercenary captain—were found side by side in the sewer on Blumedale's main street." Elon clenched his ja
On the ground, Black Wolf writhed in pain, howling in disbelief. He finally understood why that last squad of heavily armed mercenaries had vanished without a trace after storming Serenity Villa. This place was not just a house—it was a damn death trap. "Who sent you to kill me?" Andrew asked calmly as he twirled the dagger Black Wolf had dropped. Pinned down by Natasha and Dylan, Black Wolf was drenched in sweat, his shattered legs leaving him gasping in agony. He growled, "Why the hell should I tell you? You should know exactly who you've pissed off. Even if I'm in your hands, kid, if you lay a finger on me, the consequences—" Andrew did not let him finish. Instead, he drove the blade straight into Black Wolf's chest. Whatever threat Black Wolf was about to spit out died on his tongue. His eyes bulged in shock before his head slumped to the side—dead. "If you didn't have the sense to act like a prisoner, then I did you a favor and sent you straight to hell. Next time, try
Aspen could not help leaning closer to see what Andrew was doing. To her surprise, his breathing was steady—he was already asleep. She stared at him, both amused and annoyed as she thought, 'I'm lying right next to him, and he still manages to fall asleep? Am I not attractive enough? Or does this guy just not find me worth the effort?' That split second of realization triggered an unexpected wave of disappointment and frustration in her. … Meanwhile, outside Serenity Villa, a black figure moved silently across the ruined outer wall, climbing with inhuman ease. It was Black Wolf—Elon's secret weapon, a top-tier assassin with a reputation to match. A matte-finished blade dangled from his lips as he surveyed the building, swiftly memorizing the layout of the damaged villa. He was not alone. At least a dozen other men hid in the dark, surrounding the perimeter and lying in wait. Nonetheless, they were not predators, at least not to him. He scoffed, thinking, 'They're the bait,
Through the second half of the night, Serenity Villa remained eerily quiet. Chantelle stepped out from her lookout post and announced, "Looks like no one else is coming tonight. Everyone should get some rest." Andrew stopped her. "Hold up. You all stay on watch—I'll go rest." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "Are you giving me orders like I'm your subordinate?" Andrew responded calmly, "Not at all. I just want to isolate myself and draw the next assassin in alone." Chantelle frowned. "So, you're planning to be alone in a room and give the assassin a shot at you? You're using yourself as bait?" Andrew replied, "Exactly. One mercenary commander from the Srovika Federation is dead, but with the Haywoods and Goldings both after my head, there's no way they'd just send one decent hitter and be done." Chantelle nodded. "That… makes sense. But you're injured. What happens if something unexpected comes up? Can you really handle it?" Before Andrew could answer, Aspen blurted, "It's