CRASH!
A sharp sound of shattering glass pierced through the air, echoing through a grand chamber. A deep red of the wine trickled down the elegant white wall, staining them like blood.
A man with blonde hair and handsome appearance stood amidst the chaos, his chest was heaving, his face has a storm of emotions likely anger, disbelief, and the faintest hint of fear. His usually pristine suit was wrinkled, his tie loosened, his hair falling over his forehead in wild strands.
"How. . .?" Glory's voice cracked as he whispered, his gaze still fixed on the shards of glass which he scattered across the marble floor.
Then, as if the weight of many questions crushed him all at once, his voice finally exploded in the room, shaking with rage.
"HOW DID IT GOT LEAKED?! WHO DID IT?!"
He slammed his fists on the desk, the wood slightly cracked under the force. His breathing was sharp and uneven, as he stood up and paced the room, his mind was racing in a chaotic spiral, connecting each and every dots.
His thoughts were entangled like a mess, like pieces of a puzzle that refused to fit. 'Who the hell betrayed me?' he asked himself the same question again and again, his mind throwing endless possibilities, to find the answers he seek.
His mind raced as he thought everything calmly.
'No one but me knew about the bribes, the assaults. . . all of it. No one. Then who could it be?'
He paused for a moment, his hands trembling as he raked them up through his hair. His usually sharp, calculating mind was clouded with rage, but beneath the rage was a creeping dread—a fear he refused to name, something he refuses to accept.
Someone has outsmarted him, for the very first time, he felt his confidence flicker, his usual overly confident aura finally dimed down. As he fumbled on the possibilities of the person who has outsmarted the Rank – 3 hero.
'Could it be a rival noble house?'
"No."
He dismissed that thought almost instantly.
"No. They wouldn't dare. They know the consequences of crossing me all too well."
His thoughts finally jumped towards the single-rankers.
"Hope?" He shook his head. "No, for some reason, Hope had been unusually quiet lately."
'Then who? Ruby?' The thought lingered for a moment before he scoffed. "No, she couldn't. She wouldn't even have the means to gather all these evidences."
He clenched his jaw tightly, as his frustration was visible as clearly as day, with every dead end his thoughts hit.
His fists clenched tightly as his nails digging deeper into his palms as he muttered under his breath.
The lone silence of the room pressed in on him, amplifying the pounding sound of his heart. Suddenly, his wristwatch buzzed, the sound cutting through his messed up thoughts like a blade.
Glory's eyes snapped to the watch, his heart sinks when he saw the name flashing across the holographic screen:
Markus Bloodstone.
"Fuck, My life!"
For a moment, he just stood their, his breath hitching. He wiped his face with his trembling hands, trying to compose himself, but that name alone gets a shiver ran down his spine.
With a deep breath, he tapped the screen and answered the call.
"Y–Yes sir?"
The silence on the other end was loud, stretching as long enough for Glory's anxiety to claw at his chest. Then, finally, a single word came through the line, sharp cold and cutting.
"Explain."
"!"
Glory flinched as though the word had struck him both mentally and physically. He swallowed hard, and his voice was stammering as he spoke. "S-Sir… I don't know what happened. S–Someone… someone must have gotten their hands on the evidence. I swear I had everything under control!"
He felt fear, extreme fear.
*Sighhhh…*
That long sigh from Markus's end cuts Glory's life in half, it was soft but heavy, like the calm before a storm. When he spoke again, his voice was calm, yet each word dripped with icy fury.
"Didn't I warned you, Glory," Markus said, his tone was sharp enough to draw blood. "I warned you, but you refused to listen. You let yourself drown in money and pleasure, and now look at the mess you've created."
"I'll fix it," Glory said, gritting his teeth. "Just give me one last chance—"
"Fix it? Fix What?" Markus's voice cut him off, sharp and cold. "The news has already spread across all five kingdoms. You're trending at No. 1, Glory. Congratulations Glory. You've finally achieved the Rank 1 position you've always wanted. But it's not the Rank 1 you have dreamed of, is it?"
Markus's words made Glory's chest burned with anger, his pride screaming and lashing to him, but he forced himself to swallow his fury. Because Markus wasn't someone he could afford to cross.
"I will fix this, I promise," he said, his voice shaking with suppressed rage. "I'll make everything right."
There was a long pause on the other end, the silence was heavy and oppressive, before Markus finally spoke.
"Then first," he said, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper, "finish your damn mission."
Glory nodded rapidly, even though Markus couldn't see him from his end. "Yes, sir. I'll finish it."
The call ended abruptly, the connection was dead, leaving Glory standing alone in the silence of the grand room.
What will he do now? On whom will he unleash his anger? Every thing he planned for his so called 'Master Plan' to eliminate Ruby Olive, was now a far away call for him.
His chest heaved as his emotions played a theatrical play, boiling over—anger, frustration, and the smallest flicker of fear inside him. But above all, hatred burned brightly in his chest, fueling him.
'Ruby Oliver.'
Her name echoed in his mind like a curse. If she truly was behind this—or even if she wasn't—she would pay the price.
A cruel grin spread across his face as he reached for a hand mirror and a comb. He combed his hair back into place, straightening his appearance. He needed to look composed. He needed to look powerful.
"I'll destroy her," he whispered, his voice echoing with malice. "I'll break her until there's nothing left of her mentally, physically… everything."
---
Headmaster office Nova:
The room was dimly lit and sunlight barely streaming through the thick curtains that covers the grand windows of the headmaster's office at Nova Academy. Ruby Olive sat at her desk. Stacks of paperwork filling her desk, reports from students, faculty files, and other administrative documents.
Her crimson eyes blinked over a holographic screen hovering before her, its soft purple glow reflecting off her pale skin. The news anchor's voice filled the room:
"The fall from grace of one of the world's most revered heroes."
"Rank-3 Hero, Glory, accused of treason, assault, bribery, and harassment. Evidence has surfaced that exposes his involvement in countless scandals—an unprecedented event in the history of the Hero Association. Public outcry has reached an all-time high, with demands for a full investigation into Glory's actions…"
Ruby watched the screen with a cold expression, her slender fingers continuing to sort the papers as though the news didn't even concern her. Yet her sharp eyes betrayed her thoughts, absorbing every detail.
After a moment, By flicking her wrist the holographic screen vanished making a soft buzzing sound. She Leaned back in her chair, as she clasped her hands behind her head and stretched it upward, and her eyes for a moment kept staring at the carvings on the ceiling. And suddenly a flash of worry crossed her face, a fleeting emotion she couldn't ignore.
Her lips parted as she muttered softly to herself, "So, it has finally started…"
This was no longer a game, the stakes had risen high above, and the battle was shifting sides.
The world's trust in its heroes, had begun to crack—and she knew that more than anyone.
But before the burden of the situation could engulfed her, Zane's face appeared in her thoughts. His smirking face, the mischievous glint in his eyes, and his unwavering determination brought a faint smile to her lips.
"Hehe."
Her worries melted away, replaced by a warmth that was very comforting. She was an orphan and to her, Zane was more than a friend or an ally—he was family to her. The only family she had ever had.
Ruby rested her chin on her palm, her smile widening.
Her gaze to a small black box resting on her desk. The box was simple in design, its smooth surface reflecting the dim light of the room. Ruby reached for it, as she stood and walked over to the bookshelf beside her desk. Carefully, she placed the box on the shelf, positioning it to a certain direction.
She returned to her chair. Crossing her legs, she leaned back once again, her gaze shifting to her wristwatch. Her eyes sharpened as she stared at the watch, anticipation building. She was waiting.
And then, right on cue, the soft buzz of the watch broke the silence.
A smirk appeared at the corners of Ruby's lips. "Just like he predicted."
The name displayed on the holographic screen was:
Markus Bloodstone.
End of Chapter
[A/N]: The Characters window has been added. It will help you imagine them more clearly. Shower them with your popularity.