Laga returned to his small apartment in Niran City late in the evening. The streets outside buzzed softly with the usual hum of cars and distant voices, but inside his quiet home, everything was calm — almost too calm.
He sat at the small wooden desk by the window, looking out at the glowing city lights. The divorce papers weighed heavily in his mind, but his thoughts drifted quickly to the old man's request. Marry the granddaughter. The idea was strange, unexpected, yet somehow fitting in a world that had grown so unpredictable around him.
Laga knew what the next days would bring — questions, sneers, confusion — but he was used to this kind of storm. Three years of being ignored, looked down upon, and mistreated had trained him more than any battlefield or company ever could.
Outside the window, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of a nearby tree, and somewhere in the distance, a dog barked sharply.
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, folded letter. It was from his family — the one no one knew he truly belonged to.
"Remember who you are. When the time comes, you will need your full strength."
Laga smiled faintly. The letter was brief but clear. They knew he was alive, and they trusted him. But his true identity remained hidden, even from them.
Just then, his phone buzzed softly on the desk.
It was a message from Mara, his secretary at the investment company. The woman who knew his real self — or at least part of it — more than anyone else in the world.
"We have a situation. Urgent meeting tomorrow morning. Be ready."
Laga typed back a simple reply: "I will be there."
Mara was not just any secretary. She was intelligent, sharp, and fiercely loyal — traits rare in a world full of pretenders. She had known the real Laga from the start but had kept his secret closely guarded. For reasons only she understood, she chose to protect him, even when others did not.
The next morning came quickly.
At the company headquarters — a towering glass building in the heart of Niran — Laga slipped in quietly, unnoticed by most. Few knew he worked there in a low position, a disguise to avoid attracting attention. Yet Mara greeted him at the entrance with a knowing smile.
"We need to talk," she said, pulling him aside.
"What's going on?" Laga asked, eyes scanning the busy lobby.
"There's a competitor company moving aggressively into our territory," Mara said quietly. "They're not just after money; it feels personal."
Laga nodded. Business rivalries were nothing new, but there was something deeper here. Something he could sense but not yet understand.
"We'll face them soon," Mara added, "and I need you sharp."
He glanced at her, understanding the weight behind her words.
Hours later, in a sleek conference room, the board of directors gathered. They were powerful figures in the business world — many of whom owed their success to Laga's secret influence, though they did not know it.
As plans were discussed and strategies mapped out, Laga listened carefully. He knew Mara's instincts were right. This wasn't just a corporate battle — it was the beginning of something much larger.
But he said little.
Outside the glass walls of the room, the city moved on unaware.
After the meeting, Mara approached Laga once more.
"You're different from the others," she said softly. "You see things others miss. You know more than you show."
He smiled faintly. "Experience teaches you."
For a moment, they stood in silence. The weight of the coming storm hung between them.
Suddenly, the door creaked open.
A man entered — tall, imposing, with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through the room.
"Laga," the man said, his voice low but commanding.
Recognition flashed in Mara's eyes.
"This is Kian," she whispered. "One of your disciples."
Laga's gaze met Kian's. Though they had never met in person before, there was an unspoken understanding between them — a bond forged in secret.
Kian was known across continents — a respected leader of a multinational corporation and feared in certain circles. Yet, here he stood, deferential, almost reverent.
The others in the room noticed the exchange but did not understand its significance.
Laga and Kian exchanged a brief nod.
"This is just the beginning," Kian said quietly. "Things will get complicated."
Laga nodded.
The real battle was yet to come.