Silence.
An oppressive, dead silence gripped the entire antique chamber.
Mr. Harris's face drained of color. With a trembling thud, he dropped to his knees, staring in complete disbelief at what had just occurred.
The president... had been slapped.
Damian Langford, the legendary founder of the Antique City Club, slapped across the face by a mere follower?
Julia Grant stood frozen in place, eyes wide in absolute shock. Her lips parted, but no words came. She stared at Damian Langford, who stood stunned, head slightly tilted, blinking as if trying to wake up from a nightmare. Then her gaze shifted to Leo—still smacking his lips nonchalantly, completely unbothered.
Her thoughts spiraled.
Was this real? Was she dreaming?
How could a mere subordinate of Ava Carter, the eldest daughter of the Carter family, dare to slap the president of the Antique City Club—a man who could converse as an equal with Ava's own father?!
Was the world turning upside down?
On the floor, Dr. Victor Hale lay coughing up blood, his mouth still twitching in pain. Though he didn't know Damian personally, he could tell from the reactions and tone of those around him that Damian Langford was someone important—a man of great power and influence.
And yet, Leo had just struck him.
Victor thought grimly, This guy is finished. No matter how strong the Carter family is, there's no way they'll protect someone who dared to slap Damian Langford.
Or so he thought.
But then...
Damian didn't retaliate.
Though his face was bruised, and his pride shattered, Damian Langford didn't lash out. He took a deep breath, clenched his fists at his sides, and looked directly at Leo.
Then he spoke:
"How... how did you find out?"
A ripple went through the room.
Everyone had missed it—but Damian had latched onto something far more dangerous than a slap.
Leo had called him out for being a discarded illegitimate son—cast out by the prestigious Langford family of Westcrest.
And it was true.
Though many believed Damian had powerful ties to the Langford family, few knew the real story. In truth, Damian was the illegitimate child of the Langford patriarch, born of a servant woman, cast away because he had no ability to cultivate. Long ago, his father had abandoned both Damian and his mother in Riverdale to protect the family's image.
And now—Leo had exposed it effortlessly.
Still standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Leo's posture remained unshaken. His gaze was sharp, calm, and commanding.
"My lady's influence spans across continents," Leo said coolly.
"No one escapes her scrutiny."
Then he added, almost casually, "Damian Langford, do you know why I came here today? To your antique market?"
He called Damian by his full name... without hesitation.
Julia blinked in disbelief. Was this all orchestrated? Was Ava Carter really behind this?
Damian's pupils shrank.
"Miss Ava...?" he muttered.
So all of this—the vase, the confrontation, the slap—had been staged to lure him out?
"This was all her plan?"
His legs almost gave way from the weight of realization. He couldn't believe it—Ava Carter, the so-called 'demon heiress' of Riverdale, had orchestrated every step.
From the beginning of the encounter to this exact moment... she had led him into a trap.
Damian Langford was frightened. Terrified.
Julia watched Damian's expression twist with shock and couldn't help but ask hesitantly, "Brother Damian…?"
But before she could finish, Damian raised a hand.
"Julia," he said, composed but firm, "I'm sorry. I have private business to discuss with this gentleman. Please take Victor and leave."
He offered a weak smile and added, "I'll make sure you get an even finer antique later."
Julia's face darkened. Her pride wounded. But seeing the gravity in Damian's expression, she swallowed her frustration and nodded.
"I understand," she muttered bitterly.
She glanced once at Victor Hale, who still lay on the ground groaning, and then to Mr. Harris.
"Help me carry him to the car," she ordered coldly.
Mr. Harris, still dazed, quickly sprang to his feet. "O-Of course!"
He dragged Victor up by his collar and awkwardly hauled him out the door.
"Brother Leo, I'll wait outside and keep guard. No one will disturb you."
Ryan—still recovering from the spectacle—nodded and bowed respectfully before stepping out and shutting the door behind him.
Only Leo and Damian Langford remained.
Damian exhaled slowly and raised his head. His eyes were calm now, his pride tucked away.
"Let's be direct. What does the person behind you want?"
Leo's expression shifted. He straightened up slightly, allowing a flicker of his real presence to seep through.
The aura of a true strategist emerged.
"My lady believes you are a rare talent," he said.
"She wishes to bring you under her wing."
"Before you met Victor Hale, I was instructed to create a scenario that would force you to step out from the shadows. That slap—was part of the plan."
Damian's heart stopped.
"You... you even knew about my meeting with Victor?" he whispered.
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly. "Of course."
"There are two reasons you sought him out," he continued.
"One—your inability to cultivate. You hoped Victor could diagnose and cure your condition."
"Two—you wanted him to accompany you to Westcrest... to treat your father, Langford's patriarch."
"You hoped that by curing him, you'd earn your way back into the family and reclaim your position."
"Am I wrong?"
Damian staggered. His throat dried. His knees nearly buckled.
Those thoughts... no one else knew. Not even Victor. They were buried deep in his heart.
"Who is this woman..." he muttered.
"She knows your body better than you do," Leo added with a cold smile.
"She calls your condition 'blocked meridian syndrome.' A rare affliction that renders you unable to harness qi."
"But," he said, eyes gleaming, "there's a method to cleanse it. A special technique. And I—her personal enforcer—have used that technique on you."
"That slap earlier? It wasn't just punishment. It was treatment."
Damian blinked. And then, he felt it.
The air around him felt different. It was easier to breathe.
No—more than that. He could feel it.
His meridians... had opened.
Energy trickled into his body like gentle rain. For the first time in his life, the flow of qi danced beneath his skin.
"...It's working," he whispered, tears stinging the corners of his eyes.
"It's actually working."
He turned to Leo, dropping to his knees without hesitation. "Master—no—Sir! Please, can your lady heal me completely?"
Leo shook his head lightly. "This was just the first step. True healing takes time. Repetition. Control."
"But before that—"
He stepped forward. "You still haven't answered."
Leo's tone grew colder.
"Will you pledge yourself to Ava Carter or not? I must report back. Your answer determines whether we proceed."
Damian's joy dulled for a second. Doubt returned. If he accepted Ava's hand, he'd essentially become her subordinate.
He would betray Riverdale's traditional families. He'd make enemies—perhaps powerful ones.
But...
Was there really a choice?
No one else had helped him. No one else could. Ava had done the impossible—and hadn't even asked for gratitude.
She had offered power. Healing. Revenge.
And perhaps... redemption.
Damian lowered his head. His decision made.
"Damian Langford pledges his loyalty to Lady Ava Carter," he said with gravity.
"From this day forward, the Antique City Club belongs to her cause."
"I will personally deliver my pledge and a gift to her tomorrow."
> [Random lackey event completed!]
[Congratulations! You have successfully recruited Damian Langford, a key support character from the original protagonist's camp!]
[Reward: Stooge Heart Sutra x1.]
[You are now an elite-class lackey! (*≧▽≦)]
Leo's lips twitched.
"Then welcome to the team, Brother Damian."
He stepped forward, offering a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"Oh—and one more thing. My lady says that when the time is right, she'll help you reclaim your birthright and rise as head of the Langford family."
"After all... it's time the ones who abandoned you learned what regret tastes like."
Damian Langford's eyes widened. His breath caught in his chest.
She knows that too...?
This Ava Carter... is terrifying. And yet—he had never felt more certain in his life.
He made the right choice.
--