From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75 A Night to Remember

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The battle atop Mount Lurvale ended in a resounding triumph for Leander, as he utterly overpowered Mason. From that moment, the martial arts world in Mornwick gained a new legend: Jeff Ashcroft.

His name soon spread beyond the boundaries of Mornwick, resonating across the martial arts circles of Astria. Jeff became one of the most celebrated masters, known far and wide.

In the opulent lakeside villa belonging to Tommy in Southridge, Leander sat back on a plush couch, leisurely sipping a cup of exquisite tea.

Several young maids hovered nearby, stealing glances at him. Their cheeks reddened as their hearts fluttered in their chests. They had been in Tommy’s service for some time, but none of them had ever seen their boss act so deferentially. In front of this young man, Tommy looked more like a nervous servant than the powerful figure they had known.

The room was filled with notable figures from Southridge. Among them were Frankie and Gumus from Northridge, along with a host of prominent leaders from major cities, all gathered in the grand hall of the villa.

The scene resembled an ancient court, where ministers stood in reverence before their emperor a spectacle of awe and power. Yet, of all those present, the only one seated was Leander, his striking appearance drawing every gaze.

“Mr. Ashcroft, all the major leaders from Southridge are here,” Tommy spoke in a low, respectful tone, bowing slightly. Behind him, the once–commanding tyrants of Southridge stood in submission, their heads bowed as they awaited Leander’s words. To them, his every command was law; defying him was unthinkable.

Leander nodded slightly, his tone commanding as he addressed the room. “Since you’re all here, I want you to listen closely.”

His voice carried the weight of authority as he continued, “I’ve gathered you today to propose a business venture–one with unimaginable profits.”

He lifted a single finger, pausing for emphasis. “If the leaders of Southridge and Northridge are willing to collaborate, I guarantee each of you will earn this amount in pure profit every year— and that’s a conservative estimate.”

A hushed silence fell over the room as the leaders exchanged bewildered glances.

Gumus, ever the skeptic, spoke first, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Mr. Ashcroft, are you saying we could each earn ten million a year?”

Though the other leaders remained outwardly composed, they internally scoffed at the notion.

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Each was already incredibly wealthy, with monthly profits climbing into the millions. The promise of a mere ten million in annual earnings was hardly enticing.

Leander, sensing their skepticism, remained calm as he corrected them. “It’s not ten million,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “It’s one billion.”

“What?”

In an instant, the faces of the Southern and Northridge tycoons changed, their stunned expressions betraying their disbelief. Even Frankie, who knew Leander better than anyone else, found himself taken aback. He had known that Leander was aiming for something grand—a plan to build a global business empire. But he had never imagined that Leander would speak with such bold confidence, guaranteeing each of them a net profit of one billion per year.

If Frankie hadn’t seen Leander deliver on impossible promises before, he might have thought him mad.

“Mr. Ashcroft, what kind of venture could generate such profits?” Tommy stammered, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.

The men gathered in the hall were no strangers to wealth. They understood the limits of their combined resources and knew that even with their collective might, they could only hope to generate one or two billion annually at best. Yet here was Leander, calmly stating that each of them could earn a personal profit of one billion–a figure only imaginable for the world’s top ten corporations.

Leander’s sharp gaze swept across the room, his expression hardening. “Do you doubt my word?”

His voice carried an undercurrent of authority as he continued, “When I make a promise, I keep it. If I have told you that you will earn one billion, I will see that you do.”

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Leander’s words hung in the air. “Of course, I won’t force anyone. Those who wish to stay and collaborate may do so. Those who do not are free to leave at once.”

With that, Leander closed his eyes, reclining into the couch with an air of complete indifference, waiting for the leaders to make their decision.

A thick silence filled the grand living room, each person weighing the gravity of the offer. Moments passed, the tension palpable, until finally, a voice broke through.

“We will follow your lead.”

The voice belonged to Tommy. Though he had been forced to submit to Leander’s authority, the promise of a billion in pure profit was simply too tempting to resist.

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As the most influential figure in Southridge, Tommy’s decision set the tone for the others. One by one, the other Southridge tycoons nodded in agreement, eager to fall in line.

“I am willing to join this collaboration,” another chimed in.

“I agree as well, unconditionally. We’ll follow your arrangements,” came another voice.

Within moments, the hall was filled with declarations of loyalty, the Southern leaders swayed by the allure of Leander’s promise.

The Northridge leaders, long accustomed to working under Leander’s command, were quick to voice their enthusiastic support, sealing the unity between the two regions.

After resolving the matters atop Mount Lurvale, Leander spent two more days in Southridge, securing the final pieces of his plan, before at last returning to Ravenridge.

“Where have you been these past couple of days, Leander?”

Madeline voiced her complaints as soon as she arrived at school, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and frustration.

“Tonight’s the tenth–anniversary celebration. I was worried you wouldn’t come back. I’m a little nervous about singing on stage by myself. I was hoping you’d accompany me. Will you?”

She clung to his arm, her tone soft, almost pleading.

“Is the celebration tonight?”

Leander frowned slightly, surprised by the news. He then shook his head, his expression turning more serious than usual.

“Madeline, I won’t go on stage with you.”

“You’ve got to understand, that your dream is to be a singer. If that dream comes true, you’ll be the one standing in the spotlight. I can’t always be there beside you.”

“So, starting now, you need to learn how to face that spotlight on your own. Do you get what I

mean?”

His sudden seriousness caught her off guard. For a moment, she stood there, thoughtful, as his words began to sink in.

“Alright, stop overthinking it. Just focus on tonight. You’re going to be amazing.”

Leander gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, flashing her a warm, encouraging smile. The tension lifted, and Madeline finally snapped back to reality, the worry fading from her face.

As evening approached, the student council of Ravenridge Senior High was busy organizing the final details for the celebration. Madeline, along with her friends Ginny and Yvette, found a spot to do their makeup, while Leander leaned back against the railing of the playground, phone in hand. He dialed Frankie’s number.

“I just wanted to check in on what I asked you about. Everything’s ready. The tenth–anniversary celebration’s happening tonight at Ravenridge. Make sure someone’s there as soon as it ends.”

After hanging up, Leander gazed off toward the horizon. The sky was painted in soft shades of red as the sun began to set, casting a peaceful glow over the campus.

“Ms. Shire, after tonight, Madeline will begin her journey toward fulfilling her dreams. Don’t worry–she’s bound to succeed.”

At seven–thirty that evening, Ravenridge Senior High burst into life as a dazzling array of fireworks lit up the sky. Inside the auditorium, students crowded around the windows, their excited cheers filling the air.

The tenth–anniversary celebration had officially begun.

The principal stepped onto the stage, delivering a brief but warm speech. As he neared the end, his voice suddenly rose with excitement.

“Students, tonight we have a very special guest joining us for our anniversary celebration.”

“I’m honored to introduce the top achiever among the city’s ten outstanding youths–Mr. Colin Bright!”

As the principal’s announcement echoed through the auditorium, the spotlight swung over to a sharply dressed young man confidently striding toward the stage. It was none other than Colin Bright himself.

A chorus of excited squeals erupted from the female students, their eyes brimming with admiration. Colin, with his striking good looks and effortless charisma, was exactly the type to capture the hearts of girls at that age. His fame in Ravenridge had spread far and wide, with many of the girls recognizing his face from the covers of fashion and business magazines.

The moment Colin appeared, the atmosphere shifted to a fever pitch, with the crowd buzzing in excitement.

He ascended the stage with ease, offering the principal a polite nod before turning to face the students of Ravenridge. A single wave and a charming smile were all it took to send the girls into a daze, their admiration palpable.

“Yvette, you’re so lucky,” Ginny said, her gaze locked on Colin, who was now the center of attention. “He’s incredible—like a prince straight out of a fairy tale. If you marry him, you’ll be the one–in–a–million princess everyone dreams of being.”

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Ginny’s voice was filled with envy as she glanced at Yvette beside her.

Yvette smiled but said nothing. Colin was undoubtedly the finest among the younger generation in Ravenridge, an exceptional figure who stood head and shoulders above the rest. Compared to him, people like Victor and Shiloh seemed insignificant, barely worth mentioning.

Yet, for reasons she couldn’t quite explain, a fleeting image flickered through her mind. Turning her head, she spotted Leander sitting calmly in the far corner of Class Four, his eyes. closed in quiet reflection, completely undisturbed by the buzz around him.

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