Chapter 21: The Silent King’s Move

The grand halls of Crestwood University buzzed with murmurs as Liam walked through the corridors, his steps calm and calculated. His once-ridiculed presence was slowly turning into an enigma—whispers followed him, but no one dared confront him directly. The same classmates who once mocked him now watched him with silent curiosity.

Yet, Liam remained indifferent. He had no interest in their sudden change in behavior. His true focus lay beyond the trivial affairs of campus life—his enemies, the vast empire he had inherited, and the storm brewing in the underworld.

As Liam made his way toward the library, a mocking voice interrupted his steps.

"Well, if it isn't our favorite nobody," Ryan sneered, leaning against the bookshelf. His designer blazer screamed money, but Liam knew better—Ryan was nothing more than a spoiled puppet, playing in a world too deep for him to understand.

Beside him stood Veronica, the girl who once trampled on Liam's heart. Her once-arrogant eyes now held something else—a hint of regret, masked by feigned indifference.

"Liam, it's been a while," Veronica said, her voice laced with forced casualness.

Liam tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "And?"

She flinched slightly at his cold tone. Ryan, noticing the subtle reaction, smirked. "You should be grateful Veronica is even speaking to you, loser. I mean, look at yourself—you think dressing slightly better makes you one of us?"

Liam let out a soft chuckle. It was neither amused nor angry, just an empty sound that sent chills down Ryan's spine.

"I don't need to be 'one of you,'" Liam replied smoothly. "Because soon, you'll realize… you were never even close to my level."

Ryan's expression darkened, but before he could retort, Liam had already walked past them, uninterested in wasting another breath on irrelevant people.

Later that evening, Liam received an unexpected call. It was from Ethan Graves, heir to the Graves Conglomerate and a name feared among elite families.

"Liam," Ethan's deep voice echoed through the receiver. "We need to talk. Tomorrow night, Billionaires' Gala. Be there."

Liam smirked. So, the true players were finally acknowledging him.

"Fine," he said. "But I hope you're prepared, Ethan. Because from tomorrow onwards… the game changes."

Liam leaned back, staring at the invitation on his phone. The Billionaires' Gala was not just an ordinary event—it was a battlefield of power, where only the strongest could survive. It wasn't just about business; it was a statement.

He opened his private vault, revealing the Black Deluxe Card—a card so rare that only a handful of people in the world possessed it. Unlike the Silver, Gold, or even Platinum cards, the Black Deluxe Card granted him unlimited access to elite transactions, underground markets, and private high-stakes negotiations.

"Time to remind them who they're dealing with," he muttered.

Just as he was about to leave his penthouse, a knock echoed through the room.

He narrowed his eyes. No one ever dared to visit him unannounced.

Opening the door, he was met with a woman draped in a crimson coat, her eyes as sharp as daggers. Ava Lancaster.

"You have a lot of enemies, Liam," she said, stepping inside as if she owned the place. "And from what I hear, they don't plan on letting you walk away from tomorrow's event unscathed."

Liam arched a brow, unimpressed. "Let them try."

Ava smirked. "You're either fearless… or a fool."

He leaned in slightly, his voice a whisper that sent shivers down her spine. "I'm neither. I'm the one they should fear."

After Ava left, Liam sat before his custom-built supercomputer, logging into a highly encrypted forum on the dark web. A message awaited him, sent from an anonymous user.

"Tomorrow's gala isn't just about wealth. Assassins have been hired. Watch your back, Black Phoenix."

Liam's expression darkened.

Black Phoenix. His secret underworld alias.

Someone had dug into his past. Someone was watching.

"Let the games begin," he murmured, his fingers tightening into fists.

Tomorrow night, at the Billionaires' Gala, the world would see the real Liam. And he was ready to bury anyone who stood in his way.