Chapter 185: The Calm After the Storm

Xavier shut the door of his apartment behind him, leaning against it for a breath that came out steady, controlled—the exact opposite of the frantic act he had put on outside. He peeled off his blood-stained jacket, dropped it on the floor, and poured himself a glass of water, sipping like he’d just come back from a long day at the office instead of a staged double-death in a penitentiary.

Outside, though, the world was losing its mind.

Every holo-feed, every broadcast, every underground forum had lit up at once. Breaking news banners blared across the city:

“Alexander Sterling dead inside Celestial Penitentiary.”

“Commissioner Dominic Hart confirmed deceased.”

“Xavier survives assassination attempt.”

The storm hit in waves. Anchors shouted over feeds. Panels of experts argued whether Alexander’s suicide was staged or real. But none of it mattered against the tidal wave of public opinion.

Xavier’s fans, already rabid after the leaked underworld confession, exploded into frenzy. Streets filled with angry mobs demanding Alexander’s body be displayed publicly as proof of his death. Hashtags trended: #JusticeForXavier and #DeathToSterlings. Protesters set up outside government halls with signs screaming for the death penalty—even though Alexander was already gone.

On the flip side, conspiracies bloomed. Anonymous accounts claimed Xavier orchestrated everything, that Dominic’s death was no accident. But these voices were drowned under the tidal roar of support. To the public, Xavier wasn’t just a survivor—he was a hero, a victim of Alexander’s corruption and madness, a symbol of truth standing against decay.

In Xavier’s apartment, the man himself watched the storm build on the screens around him, news feeds cycling from one outraged reaction to the next. He leaned back in his chair, lips curling faintly at the chaos he’d engineered.

“Perfect,” he murmured.

Obviously, the government was the first to scramble.

By morning, the City Council convened an emergency session, their faces pale as they streamed live across every channel. The Council Speaker tried to sound composed, but his voice cracked when he said, “The tragic events within Celestial Penitentiary… mark a dark day for our city. Commissioner Hart gave his life in service. And the death of Alexander Sterling… well, it leaves behind more questions than answers.”

Behind the polished words, everyone could see it: they were terrified. Alexander had been untouchable for decades—his name tied to old money, political families, even off-world trade alliances. If someone like him could be snuffed out inside a maximum-security floating fortress, what did that say about the government’s control?

Meanwhile, in the underworld, chaos cracked open like a fresh wound.

The syndicates that once bent the knee to Alexander suddenly went silent, deleting comm logs and scrubbing ties. Rival crews saw opportunity and began carving up Sterling territory before the body was even cold. Word spread fast: Alexander Sterling was no longer the kingpin—he was a liability, a corpse with no loyalty left to protect him.

In smoke-filled lounges and encrypted channels, leaders of the underworld muttered one name with new reverence.

Xavier.

The man who’d walked into the penitentiary and walked out alive, with Alexander and a high-ranking commissioner dead behind him. Some whispered he had divine luck. Others were certain he had power backing him from above—or below. Whatever the truth, no one dared test him now.

Back at the heart of government, the Prime Chancellor himself issued a call for “unity and calm.” But it sounded hollow against the roar of the public. Xavier wasn’t just a survivor anymore—he was turning into a symbol, one the state could neither silence nor control.

And in the underworld’s shadowy circles, people began shifting allegiances. By killing Alexander, whether he meant to or not, Xavier had just reset the board.

Xavier had woken up and he was taking a shower to start his day. He had just stepped out of the shower, still toweling his hair, when his comm buzzed. Angel’s ID lit the screen.

He sighed, picked it up. “What now?”

Angel’s voice hit him like a whip. “Xavier, what the hell did you do?” Her tone was sharp, but beneath it was a shake—fear, disbelief. “You killed Alexander and Dominic? Do you even understand the storm you’ve kicked up?”

Xavier chuckled softly, leaning back against the counter. “Relax. Alexander shot Dominic. Then Alexander shot himself. That’s what the record shows. That’s what the world believes.”

Angel went quiet for a beat. “…You’re insane.”

“Insane? No. Lucky? Maybe. Smart? You tell me,.” He smirked at his own reflection in the glass wall. “This city needed a purge. I just… nudged the pieces into place.”

“You don’t get it,” she snapped. “The government’s panicking. The underworld’s tearing itself apart. And your name—your name, Xavier—it’s everywhere. You’re playing with fire.”

“I’ve always played with fire,” he said, tone casual, almost amused. “That’s how you burn down the rot.”

Angel exhaled sharply, then muttered, “Just be careful. Meet you at the club,” before the line cut dead.

Xavier tossed the towel aside, and the comm buzzed almost instantly after.

This time, it was Jason.

Xavier answered with a lazy, “Yeah?”

Jason’s laugh rolled through the speaker, deep and warm, like he’d just watched his favorite movie. “Kid… I don’t know whether to congratulate you or warn you.”

“Why not both?” Xavier replied.

Jason chuckled again, but there was weight under it. “You just turned the whole underworld on its head. Half of them are terrified. The other half are ready to pledge loyalty. And the government? They’ll either crown you a hero or paint you as the biggest threat since the last warlord. Depends which way the wind blows.”

Xavier leaned on the counter, voice calm, even cocky. “Then I’ll make sure the wind blows my way.”

Jason was quiet for a second, then sighed. “You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that. Just… be careful. Alexander may be dead, but men like him always leave behind ghosts. And trust me, kid, ghosts have sharp teeth.”

The call ended. Xavier slid the comm onto the table, staring out over the city’s morning skyline. The cuts on his body were almost healed. His reflection in the glass looked less like a man—and more like a storm that had just broken free.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep