Chapter 523
“I’ll give you one last chance,” the guard said coldly. “Hand Miss Silberkreuz the book, or you die right here p>
Alex laughed. It was short and sharp.
“When you threaten someone with death,” he said, “have you already decided how you’ll die p>
“We are Silberkreuz,” the lead guard sneered. “Who here would dare touch us? You think the Duke would ever side with you p>
Klaus nodded, “I think the Duke would ask why his granddaughter started a bloodbath over a book she never owned p>
Leonora’s gaze snapped to Klaus, eyes flashing.
“You would really drag my grandfather into this p>
“Miss Leonora, there’s no need to talk anymore,” the lead guard said impatiently. “Just kill them p>
The other guards activated their laser weapons. A low hum filled the air.
“Wait,” Leonora said sharply.
“There’s nothing to wait for,” the lead guard replied. “We need to show them who we are. Everyone-kill that man and take the book p>
Klaus and his men raised their weapons.
Pauline squeezed her eyes shut and pressed herself behind Alex, her body trembling with fear.
Then something went wrong.
The guards’ weapons didn’t aim at Alex.
They didn’t aim at Klaus either.
They aimed at their own heads.
Panic tore across their faces as they struggled to understand what was happening.
The lead guard and the others went deathly pale, terror freezing them in place as an unseen force seized control of their bodies. Their arms lifted-slow, unwilling-until the barrels of their own weapons were pressed against their heads.
Memories exploded through their minds in a single, blinding rush: childhood, blood, regret, everything at once.
Their fingers moved on their own.
A fraction of a second later, the triggers were pulled.
Light erupted.
Heads were torn open. Bodies collapsed to the floor, lifeless.
Klaus stood frozen, his mind refusing to accept what his eyes were seeing.
Alex stepped past him and stopped beside Leonora. He leaned close and whispered.
“If I hadn’t dragged your grandfather into this, and if I didn’t respect his past kindness, you would already be dead alongside your guards.” His tone hardened.
“Consider this your first warning. If you keep acting like this, your life will become very cheap-even as the Duke’s granddaughter p>
“I I Leonora trembled. “I tried to stop them p>
Alex straightened, his gaze cold and unwavering.
“That,” he said, “is a reason you weren’t hurt p>
He turned and walked away. Pauline hurried after him without looking back.
Klaus stared at the guards’ bodies on the floor. His boss’s words echoed in his mind -Don’t ever mess with that man.
Now he understood.
If he hadn’t listened to his boss, his body would have been the one lying on the ground.
That man wasn’t human.
He was a monster.
“Klaus,” Leonora called, her voice tight. “Who is that man p>
“I’m sorry, Miss Silberkreuz,” Klaus said, bowing deeply. “This is the first time he has come here p>
“Then why did you protect him?” Leonora demanded.
“Because my boss warned me not to mess with him,” Klaus replied honestly. “He said the man is extremely dangerous. Even my boss ran away the moment he crossed paths with him p>
Leonora’s eyes shifted, curiosity flickering beneath the shock. In Winchester, there were very few things left that could truly intrigue the Duke’s granddaughter.
“Miss Silberkreuz… about the guards’ bodies. What would you like us to do?” Klaus asked.
“What do you think?” Leonora asked quietly.
“You can report this to the government or to Duke Silberkreuz,” Klaus replied evenly. “But afterward, I will be required to submit the CCTV footage. It clearly shows your guards starting the violence-attempting to steal an item for you. Once that footage is reviewed, it will destroy your reputation, and it will stain the Duke’s name as well p>
Leonora’s jaw tightened.
“So… you’re telling me to clean this up quietly p>
Klaus bowed again, deeper this time.
“I wouldn’t dare tell you what to do. You have always been known as a kind young lady. But lately, Miss Leonora… your name has begun to sour. Wherever you go, your guards cause trouble. They provoke conflicts. They tarnish your reputation p>
He paused, choosing his words carefully. “If this incident is not handled with extreme caution, your position as a possible heir could be erased p>
Leonora wasn’t foolish. She understood the threat immediately.
“Then clean it up,” she said coldly. “Quietly. Nothing leaves this place p>
“Yes, Miss Leonora p>
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“That man… I need to know who he is p>
Meanwhile, Alex and Pauline were riding a taxi home. Felicia had already fled with their car.
“Pauline,” Alex said calmly. “Don’t tell Sofina. Don’t tell Felicia. Don’t tell your father. Don’t tell anyone about what happened. Do you understand p>
Pauline was still shaken. The image of Silberkreuz guards turning their weapons on themselves replayed in her mind like a nightmare.
And Alex-he had acted as if Leonora didn’t even matter.
She swallowed.
“Tell me, Alex. Who are you… really p>
She remembered it clearly-the most feared underground king in Winchester, Count Oskar himself, lowering himself before this man during a phone call.
Alex smiled at her.
“If you know who I am,” he said lightly, “you’ll have to die p>
Pauline’s eyes widened.
“And if I tell someone about you?” she asked cautiously.
Alex spread his hands, his smile gentle and terrifying.
“Poof. You vanish. Understand p>
Pauline nodded rapidly.
“I understand. No one will know anything about you p>
“Good p>
When they reached their house, Alex’s communicator vibrated.
“Sir, this is VÖXEN service,” a professional voice said. “We are delivering your
vehicle. May we confirm your current location p>
“Give me five minutes,” Alex replied. “I’ll send it shortly p>
He didn’t want Felicia—or Pauline—to know he had bought another car. He stepped
back into the taxi and headed to the nearest parking lot.
Once there, he sent his location.
Moments later, the air hummed.
A stunning vehicle descended from the sky and settled beside him with effortless grace, its movements so smooth they felt unreal. The body was sculpted from seamless black alloy, sharp yet elegant, every curve designed with ruthless precision.
Soft lines of faint crimson light traced along its frame like veins, pulsing slowly, as if
the car itself were alive.
The surface reflected the world like a mirror, yet absorbed light at the same time—
luxury and menace fused into a single, perfect form.
No engine roar. No vibration. Just silence and authority.
Vel
The car was impossibly sleek—too beautiful, too. refined-like something meant only for royalty gods. People nearby stopped walking. Conversations died mid-sentence. Bracelet phones rose into the air as heads turned in
Unison, Capedin
the impossiblë
sight hovering before them.
The supercar settled smoothly in front of Alex. Its door lifted on silent hinges.
“Mister Alex Saint-Claire,” the car said in a calm, refined voice. “This is your vehicle.
Please enter p>
“Well then,” Alex muttered as he stepped inside.
The moment the door closed, he froze.
The interior was pure luxury-far beyond the VÖXEN Seraphine. The materials, the interfaces, the seamless blend of glass and light-it was on another level entirely.
Cleaner. Smarter. Deadlier.
The car spoke again.
“Sir, shall we synchronize p>
Alex glanced out through the transparent panels. More people were gathering now. Cameras flashing. Eyes locked on him.
“We’re attracting too much attention,” he said flatly.
“Understood,” the Al replied. “Would you like me to activate stealth mode? They will
see nothing p>
“Please,” Alex said, genuinely impressed.
The world outside reacted instantly.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the car vanished before their eyes—no distortion, no flash. One second it was there. The next, it was gone.
The vehicle lifted soundlessly, gliding through the air without wind, vibration, or resistance. It passed through the space where people stood, leaving no wave, no
noise. Just silence.
Too smooth.
Alex exhaled slowly.
“What’s this car called p>
“This vehicle is designated VÖXEN Lucifer,” the Al answered. “The name means
Light Bringer p>
Alex raised an eyebrow.
“The late King chose the name,” the Al continued. “He wished to bring light to this
country p>
“Is that a good name,” Alex asked, “or a bad one p>
“Sir,” the Al replied evenly, “a knife can save a life or take one. Meaning depends on
the hand that holds it. In this case-yours p>
Alex laughed once.
“You’re a smart Al p>
“Yes, sir,” it replied. “I am directly
connected to the Prussian Artificial Core Intelligence. Access is restricted to the royal family, granted by the latexing himself and permanently authorized to this vehicle by his final directive p>
Alex’s smile faded.
That meant the Prussian Core was now within his reach.
Before he could process it, his bracelet rang.
“Yes, Sofina?” he answered.
Her voice came through strained and shaking.
“Alex… I’m sorry, but I need your help. Something happened to Renata. Her
boyfriend tried to kill her. He failed—but barely p>
Alex’s expression hardened.
“She’s in the emergency room,” Sofina continued, panic breaking through. “She’s p>
half alive. Half gone. I don’t know. She refused to tell her family. She’s alone. Can you go see her p>
She took a breath, forcing herself steady.
“I’m stuck in a meeting with Eden Group. I’ll go as soon as I can p>
Alex didn’t hesitate.
“I’m on my way p>