Chapter 175: Lord of Rizen City

Far away, the Sulivanter Continent had once been a pristine wilderness of dense forests and towering mountains. For centuries, the land remained untouched. That changed when the Rizen Group rose to power. Wielding immense wealth and influence, the corporation laid claim to the territory. Wilderness turned to industry. Machines cleared the trees and carved into the earth, leaving massive factories and tech facilities in their wake. Tourist hubs blossomed next to sprawling industrial zones, making Sulivanter one of the most prosperous regions on the globe.

Then the apocalypse struck. Zombies overran the cities. Governments collapsed. Civilization shattered.

But Sulivanter was different. The Rizen Group had prepared for the worst. At the heart of the continent stood their headquarters: Rizen City. While ruins littered the rest of the world, this metropolis appeared pristine. Pedestrians strolled down the pavement in tailored suits and elegant dresses. Restaurants and boutiques kept their doors open. Crowds gathered on street corners, laughing and gossiping as if the end of the world was a mere rumor. Shoppers carried designer bags. Diners sat at outdoor cafes, enjoying expensive meals while talking business. An outsider would find it hard to believe the planet had descended into a living hell.

A towering reinforced wall encircled the entire city. High-tech watchtowers broke up the perimeter, their surveillance arrays sweeping the barren wasteland beyond. Modified cannons, heavy artillery, and advanced firearms bristled along the battlements, primed to fire at the first sign of movement. The contrast bordered on the absurd. Death ruled outside the gates, while life thrived within.

Only a single gate breached the wall, wide enough for a fleet of heavy transports. The Rizen City militia locked down the area. Guards inspected every soul coming or going. They searched vehicles, checked cargo manifests, and verified IDs. Nothing moved without clearance. Clad in high-tech armor, the militia carried gear that wasteland survivors could only dream of holding. As the metal gates parted to admit an armored convoy, the guards scoured every inch of the trucks before waving them through.

Inside, the citizens paid no mind to the heavy security. Children chased each other across plazas. Street vendors called out to passing crowds. The wealthy enjoyed their peace, pretending the apocalypse was a myth.

At the very center of Rizen City loomed a structure resembling a modern palace. It dwarfed the surrounding buildings. Constructed from advanced alloys and carved with elegant arches, it projected absolute authority. Manicured gardens, flowing fountains, and rings of armed security isolated the estate from the public. No ordinary citizen dared approach. This was the residence of the Lord of Rizen City, the man standing at the peak of the Rizen Group. It belonged to Jasper Rizen.

High above the city on the top floor, a man sat behind a massive mahogany desk. Monitors lined the walls, flashing live feeds of the streets and the wasteland beyond the walls. This was Jasper. In his thirties, with neat blonde hair, sharp features, and calculating blue eyes, he wore a tailored black coat that gave him a refined, commanding air. He carried the presence of a man used to owning his environment. A single piece of paper rested on his desk. He dragged a pen across it, focused entirely on his work.

A heavy knock echoed through the spacious office.

Jasper kept his eyes on the paper. "Come in."

The heavy double doors parted. A gray-haired man stepped inside, his posture rigid and disciplined. He wore a crisp butler’s uniform, but the dense, intimidating aura surrounding him made it clear he was no mere servant. He stopped in front of the desk and bowed.

"Lord."

Seeing his master at work, the butler fell silent and waited.

Jasper let the silence drag out before he spoke.

"What is it, Silas?"

"I’m busy with something right now."

"If it’s not important, you can leave."

Silas met his gaze without hesitation.

"Lord, the matter is of grave importance."

"I believe this cannot wait."

"You need to hear about it right now."

Jasper’s pen stopped moving. He set it down on the wood and raised his head.

"Speak."

Silas took a measured breath.

"Lord..."

"Oshu’s life signal has disappeared."

"I’m afraid he’s dead."

Jasper’s eyes narrowed into thin slits.

"Elaborate."

Silas inclined his head.

"Just a short while ago, the Life Monitoring Department informed us that Oshu’s life signal had completely disappeared."

"Two days ago, Conan—the child with telekinetic abilities—also lost his life signal."

"You specifically ordered everyone not to disturb you during this period, so we kept the matter on hold."

"But now..."

"Even Oshu’s life signal has disappeared."

Silas let the weight of the news settle.

"S-Borg, who was with Oshu, is still registered as alive."

"However, we’ve lost the signal from his tracker."

Jasper brought his hands together, steepling his fingers. He leaned back against the leather chair, letting the quiet stretch.

"Have you sent someone to investigate?"

Silas nodded.

"Yes."

"Someone from one of our branch cities on that continent has already been dispatched to the location where S-Borg’s tracker signal disappeared."

Jasper gave a faint nod.

Silas hesitated, the rigid discipline slipping for just a fraction of a second.

"Lord... what should we do now?"

"We’ve been attacked before."

"But this is the first time so many of our top fighters have actually died."

"Should we prepare a strike team and retaliate?"

Jasper shook his head.

"Before, we could suppress everyone with overwhelming power because we were the only organization with superhumans."

"But things are different now."

"Almost every major organization has their own superhumans."

"And they’re becoming stronger every day."

A hard edge crept into Jasper’s features.

"There’s also the threat of the aliens."

"Everyone wants a piece of the pie."

"So they’re all waiting for the right opportunity."

He drummed his fingers against the desk.

"We can no longer solve everything with power alone."

"Pass down the order."

"Tell all of our top fighters who are currently operating outside to return to headquarters."

"They are to guard Rizen City until further notice."

"Those currently outside this continent should remain inside our branch cities and protect them."

Silas bowed his head.

"Understood."

"Next..."

"Release resources to the military and the clans that have been desperate to collaborate with us."

"Sell the defective serums and the serums we no longer need."

"Sell some of our weapons and other equipment as well."

"Collect as many nucleus crystals as possible."

Jasper’s gaze turned cold.

"Let the military and the other organizations deal with the aliens."

"Let them fight among themselves."

"We’ll stay behind and reap the rewards."

A flicker of surprise crossed Silas’s face, but he kept his voice neutral.

"Pass down these orders right away. And increase the security of Rizen City."

"These really are troubled times."

Silas bowed deep.

"Yes, Lord."

He pivoted on his heel and strode toward the exit. Before his hand could grasp the brass doorknob, Jasper’s voice cut through the room.

"Wait."

Silas halted and turned back.

"Is there anything else, Lord?"

"Send a delegation to that Lustful Bastard’s Island."

"Tell him I’ve agreed to his proposal to collaborate."

"Understood."

Jasper held up a finger.

"One more thing."

"Send only men in the delegation."

"Do not send any women."

"I don’t want the other side gaining an advantage and forcing us into a losing position during the negotiations."

Silas caught the meaning without needing further explanation.

"Yes, Lord."

"You can go."

With a final bow, Silas slipped out of the office. The heavy doors clicked shut, leaving Jasper alone.

Jasper sat motionless in the quiet room.

Click.

He pushed a hidden switch under his desk. A low hum vibrated through the floorboards as a transparent energy barrier washed over the walls, sealing the office from the outside world.

The second the lock engaged, the mask shattered.

Jasper’s composed face contorted. Tremors wracked his body. He gasped for air, bringing a hand to his mouth and biting hard into his own knuckles.

"No..."

"No, no..."

"It’s happening again."

Panic stretched his eyes wide.

BANG!

Jasper threw his arm across the mahogany desk, sweeping everything off the edge. Papers fluttered through the air like dead leaves. Glass shattered into jagged fragments against the marble floor. Heavy objects dented the walls.

Yet, beyond the glowing barrier, absolute silence remained.

"Why?!"

Jasper screamed at the empty room.

"Why?!"

"Why, after gaining this much power?!"

"Why does everyone and everything always get in my way?!"

He stood there heaving, his hands shaking beyond control.

"First that Gregory old man..."

"Then this apocalypse..."

"And those damn aliens..."

"And now this..."

The refined, dignified ruler of Rizen City vanished. In his place stood a man hollowed out by fear, rage, and blinding obsession.

"No..."

"No!"

"I won’t let everything be taken away from me again!"

He balled his hands into tight fists.

"I won’t!"

"I will come out on top!"

"I will rule over everything!"

A feverish madness burned in his blue eyes.

"No matter what I have to do..."

"No matter what I have to sacrifice..."

"I’ll do it."

"I’ll do anything."

He paced the ruined floor, muttering the promises over and over. His frantic screams faded into quiet, venomous whispers, heavy with dark resolve. Behind the locked doors and soundproof walls.

Outside the room, Rizen City continued to thrive.

Inside, its ruler was slowly losing control.