I stood over Scarface''s lifeless body, watching as thest flicker of life left his eyes. The room fell into a heavy silence punctuated only by the nervous breathing of Caesar and his men. Death never brought me pleasure, but I couldn''t deny the necessity of what I''d done.


    Kneeling beside the corpse, I reached into his inner pocket and retrieved a small wooden box. Opening it carefully, I examined the hundred-year-old Medicine King herb inside – exactly as I''d expected. The herb''s faint luminescence cast a gentle glow on my face as I closed the box and tucked it into my own pocket.


    "Is... is he really dead?" Caesar whispered from behind me, his voice trembling.


    I didn''t bother looking back. "Yes."


    Movement near the door caught my attention. One of Scarface''s followers was attempting to slip away unnoticed, terror etched across his face. He froze when our eyes met.


    "Please," he begged, raising his hands. "I was just following orders. I have a family."


    Caesar stepped forward, his confidence returning now that the immediate threat was eliminated. "Kill him too. He might talk."


    I studied the man''s face – genuine fear, not malice. "Go," I told him. "But remember what happened here today."


    Relief flooded his features as he nodded frantically before bolting through the door.


    "You''re letting him escape?" Caesar questioned, clearly surprised by my decision.


    "He''s no threat," I replied, standing up and dusting off my hands. "And sometimes, a living witness who spreads the right kind of fear is more valuable than a corpse."


    Caesar considered this for a moment before nodding slowly. "I suppose that makes sense." He hesitated, eyeing the pocket where I''d stashed the herb. "About our agreement—"


    "Twenty percent of yourpany shares," I reminded him. "I''ll have mywyer contact you tomorrow to finalize the paperwork."


    Before Caesar could respond, the door burst open again. A group of men in expensive suits rushed in, led by an older man with a sharp face and graying temples. I recognized him immediately – Ellis Mitchell, one of the Nn family elders.


    Ellis surveyed the scene with widening eyes, taking in Scarface''s body before focusing on me. "What happened here?"


    "This young man saved my life," Caesar exined, gesturing toward me. "A Grandmaster was sent to assassinate me, and Mr. Knight intercepted him."


    Ellis''s gaze narrowed as he assessed me. "I see." His tone was dismissive, almost contemptuous. "And who exactly are you to involve yourself in Nn family business?"


    I didn''t answer, merely watching him with a level gaze that made him shift ufortably.


    Ellis cleared his throat, then pointed at my pocket. "I notice you''ve acquired something from the deceased. Aspensation for this unfortunate incident involving our family, that item should rightfully be turned over to us."


    The room temperature seemed to drop several degrees as I slowly turned to face him fully.


    "Elder Mitchell," Caesar began nervously, "perhaps we should—"


    I cut him off with a raised hand. "You believe I owe youpensation?" I asked Ellis, my voice dangerously soft.


    Ellis straightened his tie. "Obviously. Whatever that is, it clearly has value. The Nn family has suffered both property damage and reputational risk because of this incident. Handing over that item would be the appropriate gesture."


    A smile touched my lips, but it didn''t reach my eyes. In one fluid motion, I closed the distance between us. Ellis didn''t even have time to blink before my palm connected with his face in a resounding p that echoed through the room.


    The force sent him stumbling back into hispanions, a bright red handprint already forming on his cheek. Shock and outrage contorted his features as he steadied himself.


    "How dare you!" he sputtered, hand raised to his cheek. "Do you have any idea who I am?"


    "I know exactly who you are," I replied calmly. "A man who just made a terrible mistake."


    Ellis turned to Caesar. "Are you going to allow this?"


    Caesar hesitated, looking between us. I watched the calction in his eyes – weighing family loyalty against the power he''d just witnessed me disy. Finally, he made his choice.


    "Elder Mitchell," Caesar said firmly, "Mr. Knight saved my life when our family''s security failed me. He''s now our business partner and deserves your respect."


    Ellis''s face darkened with rage. "Business partner? Without consulting the family council? This is outrageous!"


    "What''s outrageous," I interjected, "is your assumption that you were owed anything. I didn''t act for your family''s benefit. I made a deal with Caesar, and that deal didn''t include handouts for disrespectful old men."


    Several of the men behind Ellis stepped forward threateningly, but Caesar raised a hand to stop them. "Enough! The decision is made."


    Turning to me, Caesar bowed his head slightly. "Mr. Knight, I apologize for this disrespect. To demonstrate the sincerity of our partnership, I''d like to offer you the exclusive distribution rights for our pharmaceutical line across the eastern region, in addition to the shares we discussed."


    I nodded, understanding the significance of this offer. The eastern region contract was worth billions – a clear message about where Caesar''s loyalties nowy.


    "Caesar, you can''t!" Ellis protested. "That contract was promised to the Huang family!"


    "The Huang family wasn''t here when I needed protection," Caesar replied coldly. "And neither were you, Elder Mitchell. In fact..." He turned to address all his men. "I want everyone who failed to respond to today''s threat to clear out their desks by tomorrow. The Nn family has no use for fair-weather loyalists."


    Several men paled at this deration. Ellis''s mouth opened and closed wordlessly.


    "Now," Caesar continued, "I believe Mr. Knight and I have business to discuss." He gestured toward the door. "Elder Mitchell, please see to the proper disposal of our uninvited guest." He pointed at Scarface''s body.


    Ellis looked like he wanted to argue further but thought better of it. With a stiff nod, he began directing the others to handle the corpse.


    As we walked out, Caesar leaned closer to me. "That was impressive. Most people wouldn''t dare to challenge an elder like that."


    "I''m not most people," I replied simply.


    "Clearly." He smiled nervously. "The Nn family will honor our agreement to the letter. Your twenty percent, plus the eastern distribution contract. We can formalize everything tomorrow."


    I nodded. "Have the papers ready by noon."


    Later that afternoon, I sat in Eamon Greene''s office, instructing him on mytest acquisition.


    "Twenty percent of Nn Pharmaceuticals, plus exclusive eastern distribution rights?" Eamon whistled. "That''s quite a haul for one day''s work. What exactly did you do for them?"


    "Solved a problem," I said vaguely. "Also, I need you to purchase something for me."


    "What''s that?"


    "An Audi RS7. ck. Fully loaded."


    Eamon raised an eyebrow. "Moving up in the world, I see."


    I shrugged. "I''ve been driving the same car for years. It''s time for an upgrade." <kbd ss="frag-25e94f">Visit<i ss="node-sep"></i>My<i ss="node-sep"></i>Virtual<i ss="node-sep"></i>Library<i ss="node-sep"></i>Empire<i ss="node-sep"></i>(*)<i ss="node-sep"></i>for<i ss="node-sep"></i>more.</kbd>


    As Eamon made the necessary calls, I leaned back in my chair, feeling the wooden box in my pocket. The hundred-year Medicine King herb would significantly boost my cultivation. Already at the early Foundation Establishment stage, I could feel my power growing daily. Soon, even Grandmasters like Scarface would pose no challenge at all.


    That evening, I sat in my apartment flipping through news channels when a familiar face appeared on screen. It was Scarface – or rather, Can Moore, as the newscaster identified him. A fugitive wanted for multiple homicides across three states. The report praised the "mysterious hero" who had finally ended his reign of terror.


    I switched off the TV with a sigh. Hero wasn''t a title I was interested in iming. I had simply done what was necessary.


    My phone buzzed on the coffee table. Unknown number. I almost ignored it but decided to answer at thest moment.


    "Hello?"


    "Is this Liam Knight?" A female voice, vaguely familiar but unceable.


    "Who''s asking?"


    "It''s Selina Burton. We met a few times through Violet Miller."


    My grip tightened on the phone. Violet''s name was thest thing I expected to hear tonight.


    "What do you want?" I asked curtly, memories of my former life threatening to surface.


    The woman on the other end took a deep breath, and I sensed whatever she was about to say wouldplicate the new life I''d built for myself.