Chapter 53: The Shadow King

Back at Edward's mansion, I sat alone in his study, the weight of Cassandra's final gift pressing down on me. A simple flash drive—small, unassuming, yet holding the key to everything she had been fighting against. Everything that had forced her into the path she chose.

I plugged it into my laptop, fingers steady despite the anticipation clawing at my chest. The screen flickered, and a single encrypted folder appeared.

PROJECT CERBERUS

I exhaled sharply. So it really was them.

A few keystrokes later, the decryption process began. Lines of code flashed across the screen before the folder finally opened, revealing countless files, documents, and surveillance reports. It didn't take long to find what I was looking for—the true masterminds behind Cassandra's actions.

The Council.

A shadowy organization embedded within the highest levels of politics, business, and law enforcement. They weren't just backing Cassandra; they had been controlling her. Using her as a disposable pawn to expand their influence.

My eyes scanned through the list of names.

Vincent Langley – CEO of Langley International, a multibillion-dollar conglomerate that had its hands in everything from pharmaceuticals to private military contracts. If there was ever a modern-day kingmaker, it was him.

Elliot Vaughn – Director of the National Security Bureau. The man who ensured the Council's interests were always protected, no matter the cost.

Dr. Sylvia Monroe – Lead scientist for Orion Biotech. A woman rumored to be working on classified human augmentation experiments—likely tied to Project Cerberus.

And finally…

David Lawrence.

I clenched my jaw, my mind racing. Eleanor had been right. David had been working in the shadows all this time, feeding Cassandra false information about our past lives, turning her against me.

Why?

I scrolled further, searching for any hints. One particular document caught my eye—a detailed profile of David Lawrence, filled with surveillance notes, transaction records, and something else.

My stomach twisted as I read it.

Possible System User.

Cassandra had suspected it. She had seen the signs, just like I had. He spoke to himself when he thought no one was watching. He always seemed to know things he shouldn't.

That wasn't just paranoia.

David had a system of his own.

The realization sent a shiver down my spine. I had always assumed I was the only one with this power—aside from John and possibly a few others from our previous life. But if David had a system too…

That changed everything.

I leaned back, exhaling slowly.

Cassandra had been fighting a war she never had a chance of winning. The Council had been pulling the strings all along, using her as a shield while they expanded their influence. And David? He had been working behind the scenes, ensuring that I became their next target.

Not anymore.

I closed the laptop and stood up, my mind already racing with plans.

John, Edward, and now Callum—we had built a formidable team. But if we were going to take down the Council, we needed more. We needed resources, allies, and a strategy that would ensure none of them saw it coming.

And as for David…

I was done playing defense.

It was time to turn the game around.

The air in Edward's private meeting room was thick with tension as we all sat around the long mahogany table. Callum was here for the first time, his expression cautious but resolute, while John, Edward, and Bella sat in their usual spots.

I placed the flash drive on the table, its presence commanding everyone's attention.

"This," I began, my voice even, "is everything Cassandra left behind before she died. And inside, I found exactly what we needed."

John leaned forward, eyes sharp with curiosity. Edward, as always, leaned back with his arms crossed, waiting for something worth his time. Callum, still proving himself, kept quiet, but I could tell he was listening intently.

I continued. "Cassandra wasn't just running her own operation. She was a puppet. A tool for a group known as The Council—a collection of some of the most powerful people in the country."

I tapped the laptop screen, where their profiles were displayed. "Vincent Langley, billionaire industrialist. Elliot Vaughn, head of the National Security Bureau. Dr. Sylvia Monroe, a scientist specializing in human augmentation. And lastly—" I let the tension hang for a moment, "David Lawrence."

Edward scoffed. "A secret shadow organization controlling politicians and crime lords? Sounds like the plot of a bad spy novel."

I ignored him and pressed on. "David is different from the others. Eleanor suspected he had a system like mine, and I believe she was right. He's been manipulating things from the start."

John's fingers drummed against the table. His posture was stiff, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"That's not surprising," he muttered, almost to himself.

I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?"

John exhaled, looking at me like he had been keeping a secret for too long. "Because I have a system too."

Silence.

Edward let out an exasperated sigh and rubbed his temple. "Oh great. Not one, but two teenagers who think they have superpowers."

I ignored him, my focus solely on John. "You have a system?"

He nodded. "I was reincarnated too, just like you. But my system is different." He took a deep breath. "It's called Bond System. Instead of loyalty, it focuses on trust and emotional connections. If someone's bond with me reaches 95%, I can absorb their total stats, gain their complete trust, and even inherit one of their abilities."

My grip on the table tightened slightly. "One of their abilities?"

"Yeah." John hesitated, then added, "But you're the only one I can't steal from. That's how I knew from the start that you had a system too."

I stared at him, the weight of his words settling in.

John had known this whole time.

He had let me think I was the only one, never once telling me the truth.

"I was going to tell you eventually," he said, as if reading my thoughts. "But it never felt like the right time."

I let out a slow breath, my mind processing everything. John having a system changed things. It meant that David wasn't just a fluke—there were other reincarnators out there. Other system users.

Edward, still unimpressed, rolled his eyes. "So, let me get this straight. You two think you have supernatural abilities because of some fantasy reincarnation nonsense?"

Callum, who had been silent this whole time, finally spoke. "You did see what William did to Cassandra and the others, right?"

Edward exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't deny that William is… exceptional. But a system? Magic powers? Reincarnation? That's a leap."

I looked him dead in the eyes. "You don't have to believe it, Edward. But you've seen what I can do. You know I didn't get here just by luck."

Edward studied me for a long moment before finally sighing. "Fine. I don't care if you have a 'system' or not. What matters is what's next."

I nodded. "Next, we take down The Council. One by one."

John smirked. "And David?"

I clenched my fists. "David's mine."

John's smirk faded, replaced by something colder. His fingers stopped drumming against the table, and for the first time in a long while, I saw a fire in his eyes that matched my own.

"No," he said firmly. "David isn't just your target. He's our target."

I narrowed my eyes. "John—"

"No," he cut me off. "This isn't just about you, William." He leaned forward, his voice filled with something deeper—something raw. "You're not the only one who wants revenge."

The room went still. Even Edward, who always had something to say, stayed silent.

I studied John's face. He wasn't joking. He wasn't playing games. He meant it.

"John," I said carefully, "I get that you want him dead, but—"

"You don't get it." His voice was sharp, his expression dark. "You think you're the only one who lost everything? The only one who suffered because of him?"

I said nothing.

John let out a slow, shuddering breath. "You don't remember everything from our past life, do you?"

I stiffened. I remembered fragments—moments of war, betrayal, power struggles—but it was still incomplete. Everything in here was what I have to went through to build our business empire! I didn't know anything about David Lawrence until moment before my death!

John gave a bitter chuckle. "Of course you don't. You only remember what he wanted you to remember."

My hands curled into fists. "What are you talking about?"

John's jaw tightened. "David didn't just targeted you, William. He targeted me too. He manipulated us both. You may have been the leader, but I was right there beside you, fighting for the same cause." His eyes darkened. "And in the end, he made sure neither of us won."

I clenched my teeth. "Then why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because I wanted to be sure," John said. "Because I didn't know if you'd even believe me." He leaned back, exhaling sharply. "And because I was waiting for you to remember."

I was silent for a long moment.

John had always been with me. In this life and the last.

I thought about all the times he stood beside me, fought with me, bled with me.

And yet, I had assumed I was the only one carrying this burden.

I looked at him again. Really looked at him.

There was no deception in his eyes. No hidden agenda. Just truth.

Finally, I spoke.

"…Fine," I said, my voice softer this time. "We take him down together."

John exhaled, the tension in his shoulders loosening. "Damn right we do."

Edward, who had been watching our exchange in silence, finally rolled his eyes. "Great. Now that you two have had your dramatic little moment, can we talk about how we're going to take down the most powerful shadow figure in the country?"

I smirked slightly. "We start with the information Eleanor left us."

John nodded, his usual grin returning. "And then? We burn everything he built to the ground."

The air in Edward's mansion felt heavier as the conversation settled. John had made his stance clear—David wasn't just my enemy, but ours. That was fine. I never had a problem sharing my revenge.

But before I could say anything, John leaned forward, placing his hands on the table with a knowing smirk.

"You guys don't actually know who you're following, do you?" he said, glancing at Edward and Callum.

Edward raised an eyebrow. "Enlighten us."

John chuckled, shaking his head. "Everyone always assumed that I was the one in charge in our past life. The powerful, fearsome president of our empire. The one who made all the major decisions."

"That's what the world believed," I said with a smirk, leaning back in my chair.

"Yeah," John agreed. "But it was all a lie."

The room went silent.

John turned to Edward and Callum, amusement dancing in his eyes. "The truth is, I was just a glorified figurehead. The one everyone saw and feared." He then pointed at me. "But the real power? The real mastermind? It was him…The true king!

Callum stiffened, and Edward narrowed his eyes.

John continued. "William didn't need a title. He didn't need people to see him. He controlled everything from the shadows. The global empire we built? The businesses, the underground networks, the political influence—it was all because of him. Every deal, every expansion, every hostile takeover—he planned it all."

Edward glanced at me skeptically. "And you expect me to believe a fifteen-year-old was some kind of kingmaker?"

John laughed. "Believe whatever you want. But let me tell you something—if you think William is dangerous now, you have no idea what he was capable of back then." He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "He didn't just destroy his enemies. He erased them. He didn't just win—he made sure his opponents were so broken they could never challenge him again."

Edward remained silent, clearly processing the information.

John smirked. "The only reason William let me be the face of our empire was because he was too lazy to deal with the public responsibilities. But make no mistake—every single person who bowed to us was actually bowing to him."

Callum swallowed hard. "And now… you're saying he's planning to do the same thing to David Lawrence?"

I finally spoke, my voice calm yet cold. "No."

Callum looked confused.

"I'm going to do something worse."

The tension in the room thickened.

Edward exhaled, rubbing his temple. "You're saying you're going to dismantle everything David built?"

I smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

"We won't just dismantle it. We'll make him suffer. We'll force him to watch as we corrupt and turn his own people against him. We'll steal his resources, dismantle his connections, erase his influence. And when he has nothing left—when he's backed into a corner with nowhere to run—" My voice dropped lower. "We kill him."

Edward let out a low whistle. "Damn… You really are worse than I thought."

"Told you."John grinned. "The shadow king of Orthrus Inc isn't someone you should be messing with!"

Callum, still shaken, hesitated before nodding. "So… where do we start?"

John clapped his hands. "Simple." He turned to me. "Boss?"

I leaned forward, my expression turning cold.

"Let's take back what's ours."

David Lawrence had no idea what was coming for him.