Chapter 1 Released

• Deep inside a prison on the outskirts of Granville…
• "Once, no one paid attention to Zephyr Hall. It was just a lone doctor, treating a few patients here and there..."
• "Until, one day, we were everywhere."
• "Dave, from this moment on, you are officially the 101st lord of the Zephyr Hall. Under your command are the four great branches, nine noble families, 108 allied clans, and a core membership of over a million. All await your orders!"
• Taking the Zephyr Token, and slipping the Zephyr Hall ring onto his finger, Dave dropped to his knees, bowing three times to the elderly man before him.
• Five years ago, he had been nothing more than a criminal, a man condemned for drunk driving that caused harm to others. But today, he stood at the pinnacle of power, the revered lord of Zephyr Hall. And it was all because of the man before him, his mentor, who had given him this second chance.
• "Master, I'll be leaving now. I'll return to visit you soon," Dave said softly.
• The old man closed his eyes, simply waving him away without a word.
• Without lingering, Dave rose to his feet and strode purposefully out, his movements resolute.
• "Orion, you're looking even more handsome!"
• "Take care, Orion!"
• "Don't forget to come back and visit us… uh, sometime!"
• The long corridor echoed with sycophantic voices, a mixture of admiration and barely contained excitement. It was as if a collective sigh of relief swept through the place. After all, Dave was finally leaving.
• As he neared the exit, he took a deep breath, preparing to step outside when a voice urgently called out from behind him.
• "Orion, there's trouble! Shadow Reaper and Zyraxor are fighting!"
• In an instant, Dave vanished from where he stood.
• In the open-air yard of the prison, two old men were locked in a fierce brawl, their fists slicing through the air with deadly precision. These were no ordinary inmates as they were the infamous Shadow Reaper and Zyraxor, the fearsome leaders of today's world's two most notorious assassin organizations.
• "You two old fools, itching for another beating?"
• A cold, commanding voice cut through the tense atmosphere, instantly halting the two men mid-swing. Their aggressive postures froze into an almost comical stance as they slowly turned toward the source of the voice. Forcing awkward smiles, they addressed him.
• "Ah, Orion, good morning!"
• "Orion, w-we thought you left already!"
• One minute later, the entire yard watched in stunned silence as Dave dragged both Shadow Reaper and Zyraxor across the ground and unceremoniously hauled them toward the solitary confinement block.
• "I'm warning you," Dave growled, his voice low but seething with authority. "You can annoy me, but don't you dare bother my master!"
• He paused for a moment before continuing, his eyes darkening. "When I'm around and you cause trouble, I might just lock you up for three days. But if you act up after I've left, by the time I return, you're looking at a minimum of three months in solitary!"
• Everyone grew deathly quiet, fear rippling through them. Outside these prison walls, Shadow Reaper and Zyraxor were legends, their names enough to strike terror into anyone's heart. But here, in front of Dave, they dare not act presumptuously.
• Dave's version of solitary confinement was far from ordinary for he was known to administer a few painful acupuncture needles to make the experience truly unforgettable. Anyone who had felt that agony once would do anything to avoid a repeat.
• Without another word, he tossed the two beaten men into the solitary confinement room and strode away, his departure as swift and decisive as his arrival.
• …
• Dave took a deep breath as he stepped out of the prison gates. Five years. After what felt like an eternity, he was finally free.
• His eyes scanned the area instinctively, searching. Not far away, a luxurious wedding car caught his attention. The door opened and out stepped a woman dressed in a stunning white wedding gown.
• She was breathtakingly beautiful—elegant and seductive, exuding a charm that could captivate anyone. His heart surged with uncontrollable excitement. It was his girlfriend, Jessie! She had kept her promise!
• She had waited for him! Just as she had promised when he was first imprisoned five years ago. She had said that the day he walked out of prison would be the day she would marry him. And now, here she was, in her wedding dress, waiting for him as she had vowed.
• "Jessie!" he called out, his voice filled with joy and relief. He dashed toward her, arms wide open, ready to pull her into his embrace.
• "Don't come any closer!" Jessie's sharp voice cut through his happiness as she took a step back.
• "Dave, I'm here to tell you, I'm getting married!"
• Dave froze, his mind unable to process her words. He forced a smile, certain there was a misunderstanding. "Jessie, I know. We're getting married, just like we planned…"
• He had already made all the arrangements for their grand wedding, but her next words shattered his world.
• "The groom isn't you."
• With those words, Dave felt himself plummet into a bottomless abyss.