Demon's King

Lake Michigan.

The lake surface was gray and gloomy, blending into one with the rainy sky.

By the shore stood a national cemetery scattered with fallen leaves.

A young man stood motionless before a brand new, unmarked tombstone, his face unclear, letting the rain wash over him, head bowed, staring at the photo on the gravestone.

The offerings before him were plentiful - liquor and flowers.

There was even a bottle of collector's edition whiskey and a cigar!

Just then, a tall woman holding a black umbrella emerged from the rain, appearing behind the man and draping a black custom-made trench coat over his shoulders.

"Boss... we've confirmed that Alice Brown is hosting an unprecedented 'charity gala' tonight at 6:30 at the Diamond Palace Hotel."

"It's charity in name only. In reality, she's signing an agreement with Mario Romano, the second son of the Romano family, to completely reorganize and legitimize the foundation that Luke Jennings left behind. All the elites from high society, including your former classmates, will be there. Just say the word, and I'll bring people to level that hotel right now."

The female adjutant wearing the rank of Major General was named Olivia Smith.

"No need. Luke was like a brother to me. I'll avenge him myself."

The young man finally lifted his head, revealing his face.

His features were lean but sharply defined, as if chiseled from stone, with piercing eyes.

He was surprisingly only in his twenties.

No one would imagine that someone so young could command such respect from an experienced intelligence officer.

The young man took a sip of liquor and, after a moment of silence, said: "Charity gala... the Mafia... good, very good! Get the car ready. We're going to the Diamond Palace Hotel now."

His name was Leo Ashford.

Code name: Shadow.

At twenty, he graduated from the FBI National Academy, breaking all the school's combat records.

At twenty-two, he infiltrated the Middle East alone and eliminated three top international terrorists.

At twenty-four, he led a team to wipe out an entire mercenary group in Eastern Europe.

At twenty-five, he executed a classified mission, destroying three major underground forces overseas.

Thirty-seven covert operations, zero failures!

In this era, few could earn the Pentagon's trust, and even fewer could be called "Reaper." Leo was that one and only.

Olivia quickly acknowledged and turned to prepare the car for Leo.

"Luke."

Leo looked at the young man's photo on the tombstone.

Luke was his only friend before enlisting. But a year ago, while leading troops on a classified mission in the Middle East during intense combat, he suddenly received a call from Luke.

"Leo, my family is finished."

"My father was murdered, and now my fiancée Alice has been kidnapped. She's the love of my life - nothing can happen to her."

"I wanted to wait for you to come back and attend my wedding, but it looks like there won't be a chance now."

"This fund I prepared for charity is my last bargaining chip. I'm going to trade it for her safety... Let's be friends again in the next life."

"Take care of Alice for me."

After those few rushed words, the call ended.

By the time Leo sent people to Chicago, Luke's family had been destroyed...

Luke had jumped from the 68th floor of the Empire State Building, his phone shattered along with him.

After his death.

No one claimed his body.

At his funeral, no one came to pay respects.

Alice was nowhere to be seen.

At that time, Leo's mission was urgent, and he couldn't get away.

He could only have someone erect an unmarked tombstone for him.

However, just six months later, Alice resurfaced.

She had transformed into one of Chicago's top businesswomen, with all of Luke's former family assets now in her hands.

Even more ironic was that tonight, Alice was partnering with the Romano family - the very Mafia that drove Luke to his death - hosting a high-profile gala at the Diamond Palace Hotel to divide up Luke's final legacy.

"Luke, it won't be long before that woman and those damned Romanos pay back everything they owe you, one debt at a time."

With that, Leo removed his combat coat, revealing the sharp black suit underneath.

This was his revenge outfit, prepared for Luke.

Over these years, Leo was no longer the by-the-book soldier he once was. Now, he only wanted to honor his friend with blood.

"Let's go!"

Leo lit the cigar, took a deep drag, and turned to leave.

An hour later.

Night had fallen completely, autumn rain drizzling.

Outside the Diamond Palace Hotel, luxury cars lined up like clouds.

The place was decorated magnificently, with countless celebrities and power players gathered here, all to witness this century's grand feast of carving up the spoils disguised as "charity."

Leo kicked open the heavy, carved wooden doors of the hotel lobby and walked in alone.

The gala was scheduled for 6:30, and it was just six o'clock now, but almost everyone had already arrived. As soon as Leo appeared, he immediately caught the attention of many glamorously dressed socialites.

"So handsome! When did we get someone like him around here?"

"Never seen him before. Maybe he's a VIP guest invited by the Romanos or Alice. His eyes are so intense - when he glanced at me just now, my hair stood on end."

"You don't get it. That's real masculine presence."

For a moment, quite a few women looked at him with infatuation.

Having survived countless battles, even when deliberately concealing his presence, Leo stood out in the crowd like a candle in the dark night - impossible to ignore.

However, his aura that kept people at a distance made no one dare approach casually.

Leo paid no attention to these comments.

He scanned the surroundings, his eyes landing on a girl not far away, pausing slightly.

The girl wore a light purple evening gown, her blonde hair cascading like a waterfall.

She wore only light makeup, which only enhanced her delicate beauty.

Just as Leo looked at the girl, as if by telepathy, she also turned to look at him at the same moment.

Their eyes met.

The girl's beautiful eyes lit up, flashing with disbelief.

She quickly excused herself from the person beside her and walked up to Leo, asking tentatively: "...Leo, is that you?"

Leo nodded slightly: "Chloe, long time no see."

The girl's name was Chloe Black, a high school classmate of both Leo and Luke.

After graduation, Leo disappeared, while Chloe stayed in Chicago to continue her studies, and they hadn't been in contact for years.

Who would have thought they'd meet again at such an occasion?

"It really is you! Oh my god, you've changed so much."

Chloe covered her mouth, unable to contain her excitement.

Just then, a sharp, duck-like voice rang out beside them: "Well, well, who do we have here? Leo? I thought you died overseas. What a shame. Now that fool Luke is dead, and from the looks of it, you haven't been doing too well yourself either."

The speaker was a white man wearing a Rolex and designer brands head to toe.

His face was full of mockery.

"Jerald, watch your mouth!"

Seeing the man, a flash of disgust crossed Chloe's eyes as she said coldly.

This Jerald McClellan was also their high school classmate, always giving Leo and Luke a hard time back in school.

Who would have thought that after all these years, he'd be confrontational the moment they met?

"Jerald, I suggest you behave yourself, or you might end up dead."

Leo looked up at him and said calmly.

"You're trying to lecture me?"

Hearing Leo speak, Jerald acted as if he'd heard the biggest joke, his face full of mockery. "Leo, did you go stupid overseas? Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that!"

Several classmates sitting at a nearby table with Jerald immediately stood up and gathered around, all showing sneers.

"Our Jerald is a Wall Street elite now. He came tonight with millions of dollars in investment to offer."

"Leo, you really don't know what's good for you. Disappeared for years, and the moment you're back, you're offending Jerald."

"Better apologize quick, or we'll have someone throw you in the lake to feed the fish."