I stood my ground despite the housekeeper's urgent tugs on my arm. "I'm not going anywhere until I understand what's happening here."
Fear clouded Kathleen's eyes. She glanced toward the window, then back at . "Please, Liam. This isn't your concern."
"When my friend is terrified in her own ho, it becos my concern." I gently removed the housekeeper's grip from my sleeve. "Who is this Mr. Westwood?"
The sound of carriage wheels on gravel drifted through the open window. Kathleen's face went even paler.
"He's... he's from a prominent family in the region," she explained hastily. "They've helped us through so financial difficulties, and now—"
"Now he thinks he owns you," I finished, my voice hardening. I'd seen this pattern before—wealthy n using debt to trap vulnerable won. The mory of Isabelle's forced engagent to Dashiell Blackthorne flashed through my mind.
The Man with the Mustache moved to peek through the curtains. "Fancy carriage. Two ard n stepping out first." He turned to with a raised eyebrow. "You want to handle this, or should I make us scarce?"
"We're staying," I declared.
Kathleen grabbed my hand. "You don't understand. The Westwoods have connections to the Sky Harmony League. They're powerful cultivators."
I couldn't help but smile at that. "The Sky Harmony League is gone, Kathleen."
Confusion crossed her face, but before she could respond, heavy footsteps approached the door.
The door swung open without a knock. A young man in expensive clothing strode in like he owned the place. His sharp features might have been handso if not for the cruel set of his mouth. Two burly n flanked him, hands resting on their weapons.
His eyes narrowed when he saw . "Who is this?" he demanded, not even looking at Kathleen.
I studied him with deliberate slowness, making no move to introduce myself.
Kathleen stepped forward, her voice slightly trembling. "Mr. Westwood, this is an old friend who ca to visit. He was just leaving."
"Was I?" I asked mildly.
Westwood's gaze snapped to , clearly not accustod to being challenged. "Yes, you were." He flicked his hand dismissively. "I have private business with Miss Hansen."
"I think I'll stay," I replied, settling back into my chair and taking a casual sip of tea.
Rage flashed across Westwood's face. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
"Soone who apparently lacks basic manners," I observed. "Entering without knocking, failing to introduce yourself properly."
One of the bodyguards took a threatening step forward, but Westwood held up his hand. He turned to Kathleen, voice tight with controlled anger.
"My dear, perhaps you should remind your... friend... of your family's current situation."
Kathleen's shoulders slumped. "Liam, please. This isn't worth causing trouble over."
The defeat in her voice ignited sothing inside . I'd heard that sa tone from Isabelle years ago, when she believed she had no choice but to submit to the whims of powerful n.
I set down my teacup with deliberate care. "What exactly is your business with Kathleen?"
Westwood smirked. "Not that it's any of your concern, but the Hansen family owes mine a considerable debt. I've generously offered Miss Hansen a way to settle it—by becoming my companion."
"And if she refuses?"
"Then I'll be forced to seize their remaining assets." His eyes glead with malice. "Including this charming, if sowhat dilapidated, estate."
I looked at Kathleen. "Is this arrangent sothing you want?"
She couldn't et my eyes. "I... I have responsibilities to my family."
"That's not what I asked."
Westwood's patience snapped. He grabbed Kathleen's arm roughly. "Enough of this nonsense. We have dinner plans to discuss our arrangent."
I was on my feet before I realized I'd moved. "Let her go."
The bodyguards imdiately stepped between us, hands on their weapons.
"Or what?" Westwood sneered, his grip tightening on Kathleen's arm.
She winced in pain, and sothing cold settled in my chest. I'd co here as Liam Knight the friend, but perhaps Lord Knight of Heaven Gate needed to make an appearance after all.
"Last warning," I said quietly.
Westwood laughed and raised his hand, striking Kathleen across the face. "Know your place, woman. I won't tolerate disobedience."
The sound of the slap echoed through the room. Kathleen stumbled back, hand to her reddening cheek.
In the next heartbeat, I crossed the space between us. My palm connected with Westwood's face with enough force to send him crashing into the wall. Not enough to kill, but enough to hurt—badly.
"Liam!" Kathleen cried out in horror.
The bodyguards drew their weapons, charging at from both sides. I didn't even turn to look at them. With a casual flick of my fingers, golden energy surged from my body. Both n dropped instantly, their hearts pierced by invisible needles of pure energy.
Westwood pushed himself up from the floor, blood trickling from his mouth and nose. Terror replaced his arrogance as he stared at his fallen guards.
"You... you killed them," he whispered.
"Yes," I replied simply.
He scrambled to his feet and backed toward the door. "Do you have any idea what you've done? My father will destroy you for this! The entire Hansen family will pay!"
I walked toward him slowly. "Here's what's going to happen. You have exactly one hour to return with your entire family—on their knees—to apologize to Kathleen."
He gaped at . "You're insane! My father is a high elder of the Sky Harmony League!"
"One hour," I repeated. "Or I will personally ensure the Westwood na is erased from this kingdom."
Fury and fear warred on his face before he turned and fled, stumbling over his own feet in his haste to escape.
Silence fell over the room. The Man with the Mustache whistled low. "Well, that was dramatic."
Kathleen stared at in shock, her gaze darting between and the dead bodyguards. "What have you done? They'll co back with their entire family! They'll kill us all!"
I guided her to a chair. "No, they won't. But I need you to trust , Kathleen."
"Liam..." Her voice trembled. "The Sky Harmony League controls half the kingdom. You can't fight them. No one can."
I exchanged glances with the Man with the Mustache, who shrugged. "Might as well tell her."
"The Sky Harmony League no longer exists," I explained gently. "Neither does the Crimson Fla Sect."
Kathleen looked at like I'd lost my mind. "That's impossible. They've ruled Proseponia for centuries."
"Not anymore." I sat across from her. "I dismantled them three days ago. Heaven Gate is now the only power in Proseponia Kingdom."
Her mouth fell open. "Heaven Gate? What's that?"
"My organization," I said simply.
The Man with the Mustache snorted. "What he ans is, he's now the most powerful man in the kingdom. Possibly the continent." This is a sample from My Virtual Library Empire. Read the rest on *.
Disbelief etched across Kathleen's features. "But you... you were just a live-in son-in-law. How could you possibly...?"
"A lot has changed," I repeated, squeezing her hand gently. "I'm not the sa man you knew."
She pulled her hand back, studying with new eyes. "Clearly. You just killed two n without touching them."
"They drew weapons on ," I pointed out. "And they worked for a man who struck you."
The housekeeper, who had been silent until now, approached timidly. "What should we do with... them?" She gestured to the bodies.
"I'll handle it," the Man with the Mustache offered, producing a small formation disk from his pocket. With a murmured incantation, both bodies dissolved into fine ash that he collected in a pouch. "Never know when human remains might co in handy," he explained to Kathleen's horrified look.
I spent the next hour explaining so of what had happened since we'd last t—omitting the darker details about the golden cores and focusing instead on my rise to power. Kathleen listened with growing amazent, though I could see she still harbored doubts.
"Even if everything you say is true," she said as the hour drew to a close, "the Westwoods won't simply surrender. They're too proud."
I shrugged. "Then they'll die proud."
"Liam!" she exclaid, shocked. "You can't just... execute an entire family!"
"I don't want to," I admitted. "But I won't let them threaten you either."
The sound of multiple carriages drew our attention. I moved to the window and counted three vehicles approaching.
"It seems they've made their choice," I remarked.
The Man with the Mustache joined at the window. "More than I expected, honestly. Thought the kid might just run for the hills."
Kathleen wrung her hands. "Please, Liam. Let's just leave. I can go with you. We can figure sothing out."
I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Stay inside. This won't take long."
I stepped out onto the front steps of the Hansen estate just as the carriages pulled up. The young Westwood erged from the first one, followed by an older man with the sa sharp features but gray at his temples. From the other carriages, several more n appeared—family mbers or allies, I presud.
"That's him, Father!" the young Westwood shouted, pointing at . "He killed Ryan and Dominic!"
The older man—clearly Cassius Westwood—approached slowly, studying with calculating eyes. "You've made a grave mistake today, young man. Do you know who I am?"
"Soone who raised his son to think hitting won is acceptable," I replied coldly.
Anger flashed across his face. "You dare—"
"Your na," I interrupted. "Tell your full na."
He straightened, pride evident in his bearing. "Cassius Westwood, High Elder of the Sky Harmony League's Western Division."
I smiled without warmth. "And I am Liam Knight, Master of Heaven Gate."
The effect was imdiate. Recognition dawned in his eyes, followed by disbelief, then fear. "That's... impossible. You're—"
"The man who destroyed the Sky Harmony League," I finished for him. "I rember clearly that I killed all the people in the Sky Harmony League. How is there still a remnant like you?"
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