7 hours ago
(CHAPTER CONTD)
RETURN TO SHANGHAI
Michael King returned from Rajasthan changed.
His new relation with Kirti and the future with her sharpened him further. Shanghai noticed it almost immediately. The calm businessman who once preferred negotiation increasingly stepped into the chaos himself whenever Sun On Yee interests came under threat. Rival factions had begun targeting shipments, sabotaging meetings, and ambushing mid-level operations in desperation after months of losses. More than once, Vincent Mao and Ricky Tan found themselves trapped in collapsing deals—buyers switching sides, armed crews arriving uninvited, betrayals unfolding in abandoned warehouses or riverside exchanges.
And every time things turned ugly—Michael King showed up.
Word spread quickly throughout the Triads that the businessman in tailored suits could fight like a war machine when pushed. One night near Pudong, Vincent nearly walked into an ambush disguised as a routine negotiation. By the time Michael arrived, chaos had already broken loose. Vincent later swore he watched Michael walk through flying debris and panic with terrifying focus, pulling him out before the situation turned fatal. Another time, Ricky found himself cornered after a trusted intermediary attempted to flip loyalties during a tense exchange. Michael stepped in—not with anger, but with frightening control—de-escalating the room just enough to keep bloodshed from spiraling while still protecting his people. Those moments mattered. Respect turned into loyalty.
Even Uncle Rey Shen began depending on him more heavily.
One rainy afternoon inside Rey Shen’s tower, the aging chairman sat across from Michael with an unusual expression.
"You’ve become useful to us in ways I never expected" Rey admitted quietly, pouring tea.
"Which is why this next matter concerns you directly"
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"A proposal arrived from London" Rey continued.
"The client specifically requested a meeting with Michael King"
That alone caught his attention. The meeting was arranged two days later in a quiet private lounge overlooking Shanghai’s skyline. Michael expected another aggressive businessman trying to leverage connections.
Instead—The visitor intrigued him instantly. The man introduced himself as Manush Rustom. Older. Measured. Sharp-eyed in a way that suggested decades spent reading dangerous rooms. Long white hair rested neatly over his shoulders, giving him the strange aura of someone who had survived far too much to ever be intimidated again. He carried himself with quiet confidence, the kind built over years of influence rather than displays of force.
"I represent Aesir Corporation!" Rustom said smoothly after the introductions.
Michael remained cautious.
"And why exactly are you here?"
Rustom smiled faintly.
"To discuss expansion"
He placed a folder on the table.
"Your gold logistics network has gained attention" His expression shifted slightly.
"You came highly recommended"
Michael narrowed his eyes.
"By who?"
A knowing smile crossed Rustom’s face.
"A woman named Sachiko!!"
That name landed harder than expected. Of course. Michael understood immediately. Another move from his former partner. Another carefully placed step to expand his reach. Rustom continued, relaxed but deliberate.
"She works with one of my subsidiary firms. Smart woman" He folded his hands.
"She believes Michael King is someone worth building alongside"
Michael almost laughed internally. Sachiko never stopped planning. The conversation stretched for hours. Rustom spoke about trade corridors, shifting global pressures, and opportunities emerging between Europe and Asia. He wanted Michael’s expanding network to support broader financial movement into new regions—using trusted relationships and stable partnerships where others only saw instability.
"You’ve built trust in difficult places" Rustom said.
"That’s rare"
Michael leaned back.
"And what exactly are you expecting from me?"
"Partnership" Rustom replied simply.
No arrogance. No threats. Just opportunity. By the end of the evening, an understanding had begun forming. As they stood near the exit overlooking Shanghai’s glowing skyline, Rustom extended his hand.
"I think" he said calmly.
"We could accomplish meaningful things together"
Michael studied him for a moment. Interesting. Careful. Dangerous in ways that weren’t obvious. The kind of man worth paying attention to. He shook Rustom’s hand.
"We’ll see where this goes"
For the first time in a while, Michael felt genuinely curious.
Because whatever this alliance became—It felt like the beginning of something much bigger. The agreement with Manush Rustom moved faster than Michael expected.
Weeks after their meeting in Shanghai, Michael found himself standing beneath a gray northern sky in Hulunbuir, where cold winds rolled endlessly across open land near the frontier. The landscape felt almost alien compared to Shanghai’s restless energy—vast, quiet, unforgiving. A convoy operation had arrived under heavy discretion, and Michael personally oversaw the exchange from a distance, more curious than cautious. Whatever Rustom was building, it clearly carried weight.
What unsettled him wasn’t the scale. It was the secrecy.The shipment itself carried staggering financial significance, enough to make even experienced operators pause. Michael watched movements unfold with disciplined precision, expecting shadowy intermediaries or criminal enforcers waiting across the border.
![[Image: Hulunbuir-Convoy.png]](https://i.ibb.co/GfTLbk6F/Hulunbuir-Convoy.png)
Instead—Uniformed personnel. Official. Organized. Military. Michael stood silently as the realization settled into place.
"This doesn’t look like a mafia outfit!" he muttered.
No one answered him directly. That only made him dig deeper. Over the following days, Michael quietly followed threads through trusted contacts, business records, and conversations hidden between carefully chosen words. The picture that emerged surprised him more than he expected. The arrangement wasn’t built around underworld greed.
It was political leverage.
Rustom, appeared to be helping stabilize a sensitive financial problem tied to government interests. In return, pressure would increase against certain criminal networks—particularly factions of the Russian Mafia whose influence had grown inconvenient.
And among the names quietly circulating beneath the surface—AZRAEL.
The coincidence felt too deliberate. Their next meeting happened in Shanghai. Rain tapped softly against the windows of an upscale private lounge overlooking the skyline while the city glowed beneath gray evening skies. Rustom looked exactly the same as before—composed, unreadable, long white hair resting neatly over his shoulders like time itself had forgotten to touch him.
Michael wasted little time.
"You knew what I’d discover" he said calmly.
Rustom stirred his tea.
"I assumed you’d ask eventually"
Michael leaned forward slightly.
"The purpose of the arrangement" he said.
"What are you really trying to do?"
For the first time, Rustom’s expression shifted. Not amusement. Not caution. Something quieter. Measured.
"I’ll be honest with you, Michael"
He set the cup down carefully.
"You’re not the only person bothered by AZRAEL"
The room went still. Michael studied him closely. No performance. No manipulation he could immediately read. Just conviction. Rustom continued.
"Some organizations survive because nobody challenges them properly"
His voice lowered slightly.
"Others become dangerous because too many powerful people benefit from pretending they don’t exist"
Michael said nothing. But internally—Something clicked.
For months, he had been building influence against AZRAEL from the edges, replacing their relevance piece by piece through business and loyalty. Yet here sat someone with reach far beyond Shanghai—someone who also viewed the syndicate as a problem worth dismantling.
Maybe there was common ground after all. Maybe this partnership meant more than profit. Later that night, standing alone outside beneath London’s cold air, Michael watched headlights streak across wet streets while the city moved around him.
He thought about William. Sachiko. Sharon. SENTINEL. Shanghai. Everything he had become. And Manush Rustom. Interesting men were dangerous men. But dangerous men with aligned goals? Those were worth understanding. Michael made his decision quietly.
If he wanted answers—If he truly wanted to understand who Rustom was and what kind of game he was playing—Then London would matter. He would expand his presence there. Grow Great Peng’s reach. Build stronger ties. And get closer to the man standing at the center of it all.
Because something told him this alliance was heading toward consequences far bigger than either of them had admitted aloud.
JUNE 18 2005, LONDON, UK
London greeted Michael King with cold skies and polished glass.
The call from Manush Rustom had arrived without much explanation—only that it was important and better discussed face to face. By now, Michael had learned something about Rustom: when the older man personally requested a meeting, it usually meant something larger was moving beneath the surface.
The car dropped him near the heart of the city. Towering above London’s financial district stood the headquarters of AESIR Corporation.
![[Image: Aesir-Corporation.png]](https://i.ibb.co/R4Z3M003/Aesir-Corporation.png)
Massive.Elegant. The kind of building designed to quietly remind everyone around it that real power rarely needed to announce itself. Michael paused briefly, taking in the steel and mirrored architecture stretching into the gray sky.
Inside, security cleared him immediately.
Executives moved through pristine hallways while digital displays projected infrastructure projects, advanced energy systems, and cutting-edge technological developments operating across continents. Everything about AESIR felt bigger than he expected—less corporation, more empire.
When the elevator doors opened onto the executive suite floor, Manush Rustom stood waiting personally.
And to Michael’s mild surprise—The older man greeted him with an open hug.
"Michael!" Rustom said warmly.
"About time you came to London properly"
"Didn't knew we have upgraded to hugs now!" Michael replied dryly.
Rustom laughed.
"Come on Michael, we are not just business partners at this point. We're definitely more than that!"
The suite itself overlooked much of central London, elegant without feeling flashy. Rustom motioned him toward a seat while tea had already been prepared.
"You’ve been busy" Rustom began.
Michael leaned back slightly. Rustom smiled faintly.
"Our partnership has exceeded expectations" he said,
He slid several reports across the table.
"Trade between China and the UK has expanded faster than projections. New contacts. Better transport chains. And the crazy part is many of these trades are now done in legal command now. You were the right kind of antidote for the crimes to be reduced in China it seems"
His expression sharpened slightly.
"And you have earned the Triad's trust. So much so that even their government officials admires your methods"
Michael skimmed through the documents. Impressive numbers. Fast growth. A level of influence he hadn’t fully realized had accumulated. Then Rustom tilted his head.
"Though I’ve noticed something" he said casually.
Michael looked up.
"You’re not completely comfortable with shipping"
That earned a small laugh.
"If it wasn’t for Howard Tsao, The Great Peng Shipping would’ve buried me alive"
Michael admitted. Rustom nodded knowingly.
"I suspected as much"
He tapped another set of documents.
"But this…"
Fenghuang Energy. SilkRoute Dynamics. Growth projections. Technology expansions. Engineering contracts.
"These are different" Rustom continued,
Michael stayed quiet.
"You’re an engineer at heart, that’s where you thrive" Rustom said plainly.
Michael crossed his arms.
"You didn’t invite me here just to point out my skills aren't you?"
For a moment—Rustom simply smiled.
"I like that about you"
He leaned back.
"Straight to the point"
Then his tone shifted. More serious.
"I’ve been observing you for longer than you realize"
Michael’s expression tightened slightly.
"Ever since Macau" Rustom continued.
"When you saved Father Dominic"
That caught his attention instantly. Rustom folded his hands.
"I know who you are, Michael"
The room grew quieter.
"I know about SENTINEL"
Michael went still. Rustom’s voice remained calm.
"The UN task force compromised from within" He paused.
Michael said nothing.
"I know certain higher-ups became loyal to AZRAEL" Rustom added quietly.
That landed harder. Not because it was impossible. Because very few people should have known.
"You’ve done your homework" Michael said carefully.
"I did" Rustom replied.
Silence lingered. Michael studied him more closely now. Curious. Cautious. Because Rustom clearly had his own motives.
And yet—AZRAEL again. Always AZRAEL.
"You have problems with them too" Michael observed.
Rustom gave a slow nod.
"Deep ones....with deep history!" Rustom stood up.
He walked to the showcase nearby and pointed at a framed photo. Michael was shocked to see the image was of a young Rustom posing with the Mafia Don Haji Mastaan at a party in Mumbai. It had a date , March 14 1985. The picture was taken in one of those famous Haji Mastaan parties. The occasion though was for the time when Mastaan entered politics. As Michael stared at the photo , Rustom revealed.
"I convinced him the evil of AZRAEL which resulted in him blocking their supply chain in Mumbai. He had his own bad stuffs but I admired his zero tolerance for drug trafficking"
He stood and walked toward the massive window overlooking London.
"I spend a lifetime building influence when AZRAEL tried to take over my gold mine in Azarbaijaan. They tortured the poor people there , did all kinds of cruel tactics to stop me. But I silently grew , today I have influence and power to hold my own against them , but I lost my youth in the process. Which is why my attention went to you. You are someone that can use this power and destroy AZRAEL for good!"
he said after a pause.
"But I think you’re limiting yourself"
Michael frowned slightly.
"How?"
"You still think like a soldier"
That word again. Soldier. William had said something similar once. Rustom turned back.
"You’re still operating within someone else’s structure" he continued.
"Triads. SENTINEL. Chains of loyalty"
Michael’s jaw tightened.
"They’re not chains"
"No" Rustom agreed calmly.
"But they are boundaries. And you are limiting yourself. You are finding peace with small victories. Something you should not do with AZRAEL"
Then finally—He revealed what this meeting was truly about.
"I want you to join me"
Michael blinked once. Rustom gestured around the room.
"AESIR"
He said it like it was obvious.
"I want you to run this corporation"
Michael almost laughed from disbelief.
"You cannot be serious"
"I’m completely serious"
Rustom stepped closer.
"You already proved your potential and skills with the success of Fenghuang and SilkRoute. So I have no doubt AESIR can be your next step of evolution with true power"
He paused. Michael stayed silent.
"You’ve built influence underground" Rustom continued.
"Now imagine influence above ground"
He gestured toward the skyline.
"Resources. Technology. Political leverage. Global reach"
His voice sharpened.
"AZRAEL operates like an empire"
He looked directly at Michael.
"You will have your own to face them head on , no more stealth ops , no more shadow wars. Just hurt them head on like a warrior you are meant to be"
Michael felt the weight of the idea settling into the room. Rustom continued.
"AESIR can become your best weapon against AZRAEL. You can be free of all the threads. Fight your own fights. You will have options"
He paused. The word lingered. Options.
"You could target AZRAEL strategically" Rustom said.
"Financially. Technologically. Operationally"
Then came the part Michael hadn’t expected.
"And eventually?"
Rustom’s expression steadied.
"You can remodel and restore SENTINEL to its old glory!!!"
Michael looked up sharply.
"If that task force matters to you" Rustom said quietly.
"Then stop serving it"
He paused.
"Lead it"
The silence afterward felt heavy. Because suddenly—The impossible didn’t sound impossible anymore. On the flight back to Shanghai, Michael barely slept. London’s skyline replayed in his head.
AESIR. SENTINEL. AZRAEL.
For the first time in a long while, he saw a version of the future that didn’t involve hiding between identities. Michael King could become legitimate. A respected global businessman. Someone who built instead of merely survived. And if Rustom was right—Someone powerful enough to fight enemies without standing in the shadows. More than that—London felt different. Cleaner. Quieter. A place where he could imagine something he had almost forgotten mattered.
A home. A future with Kirti. A life where danger didn’t define everything. By the time the plane descended toward Shanghai, one thought had already settled into place:
Maybe Michael King wasn’t the end of his story. Maybe he was only becoming the man Hemant was always meant to be.
The decision weighed on Michael King for days.
Ever since returning from London, the offer from Manush Rustom had lingered in his mind like an unfinished conversation. During meetings, he found himself drifting back to AESIR's towering headquarters. During quiet nights in his villa, he imagined what it would mean to step beyond the world he had built in Shanghai. It wasn't simply a promotion. It was an evolution.
Eventually, he found himself sitting across from Uncle Rey Shen in the chairman's private office.
The old man listened patiently as Michael explained everything—the proposal, AESIR, Rustom's ambitions, and the possibility of eventually reclaiming influence over SENTINEL itself. When he finished, Rey Shen remained silent for several moments. Then he smiled.
"You should take it"
Michael blinked.
"That quickly?"
Rey chuckled.
"You expected me to fight you?"
Michael shrugged.
"Maybe"
The chairman shook his head.
"Your association with the Triads was never meant to be forever"
He poured himself tea before continuing.
"You came to us when you needed a place to grow. Now you've outgrown the place that sheltered you."
Michael looked away thoughtfully. Rey continued.
"You've strengthened Sun On Yee."
"You've expanded our businesses."
"You have earned the trust of our people who rarely trust anyone."
The old man's eyes softened.
"And now an opportunity has appeared that benefits all of us."
Michael looked back at him.
"How?"
Rey smiled knowingly.
"Because if the head of AESIR Corporation remains a friend of the Triads, then our influence grows alongside yours."
The logic was impossible to ignore.
"You've already shown the right path for the Triads through the SunOnYee, Michael. A Path where less violence and more structure and progress is involved. You're showed us the core values of the Triads was always meant to be the safeguard of our people, not ruling by bloodshed"
The chairman raised his teacup.
"To Michael King and a new beginning!"
A few days later, Michael met Jiu Mey inside the executive conference room of Fenghuang Energy. The city skyline stretched beyond the windows while employees moved through the building below them.
"I suppose you've heard already" Michael said.
Jiu smirked.
"About London?"
"News travels fast."
"Among people like us? Always" she replied.
Michael handed her a folder.
"I wanted to discuss succession"
Jiu opened it. Inside were transfer plans, executive structures, and operational documents for both Fenghuang Energy and SilkRoute Dynamics.
"I'd like you to take over"
Jiu studied the papers quietly. Then laughed.
"You really haven't heard?"
Michael frowned.
"Heard what?"
She leaned back in her chair.
"I'm already moving up."
His eyebrows rose.
"How far?"
A proud smile crossed her face.
"Very soon, I'll become the first vice chairwoman of the Triads."
For a moment, Michael simply stared. Then a genuine smile appeared.
"That's huge."
"I know"
"You earned it."
Jiu nodded once.
"I did"
Michael laughed softly.
"Then who's replacing you as Red Pole?"
Her answer came immediately.
"Ricky"
Michael paused. Then slowly smiled.
"That's actually perfect."
"I thought so too."
Jiu looked toward the city below.
"He already treats everyone like family."
Michael couldn't argue with that. Nobody bled harder for Sun On Yee than Ricky Tan. Nobody protected their people more fiercely. The promotion felt inevitable. A week later, the Golden Yang Hotel hosted a private dinner. No business. No politics. No strategy meetings. Just family. Or at least the closest thing Michael had found to one outside of SENTINEL. The private dining room overlooked Shanghai's evening skyline while a massive banquet filled the center table.
Vincent Ma arrived first and immediately began complaining about everything.
"You know London food is terrible, right?"
Michael rolled his eyes.
"You've never even been there."
"Don't need to"
Howard Tsao laughed into his drink. Conroy Wu started making jokes about Michael becoming some rich corporate billionaire while Sam Lin insisted he expected free vacations in England. For the first hour, the room was filled almost entirely with laughter. Nobody wanted to acknowledge why they were really there. Eventually, though, reality caught up.
Ricky stood first. The newly appointed Red Pole raised his glass. The room fell quiet.
"To Michael"
Everyone followed suit. Ricky looked directly at him.
"When you first showed up, I thought you were just another fighter"
Vincent nodded immediately.
"Same."
Howard chuckled.
"Honestly, I thought you'd quit shipping within a month."
That earned laughter. Then Ricky's expression softened.
"But somewhere along the way..." he continued
"...you became one of us"
Silence settled over the room. No jokes this time. No sarcasm. Just truth.
"You saved our lives."
"You built opportunities for us."
"You gave this organization a future."
Ricky raised his glass higher.
"And no matter where you go next..."
His voice steadied.
"You'll always be family."
For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Vincent stood and hugged him first.
"Don't get all emotional on us, Mr. King."
Michael laughed despite himself.
"You're literally crying"
"I am not"
"You absolutely are"
Howard joined next. Then Conroy. Then Sam. Even Jiu eventually stepped forward. The evening stretched long into the night as old stories resurfaced, embarrassing memories were weaponized against one another, and countless drinks were shared. For the first time since arriving in Shanghai, Michael truly understood what he was leaving behind. Not an organization. Not a business. Not even a city. A family.
Much later, as the dinner finally came to an end, Michael stood near the hotel window overlooking Shanghai. The city lights reflected across the glass. The same city that had transformed Hemant into Michael King. The same city that had given him purpose when his old life collapsed. And now—The city was preparing to let him go.
London waited. AESIR waited. A future with Kirti waited. For the first time in a very long while, the road ahead wasn't defined by survival. It was defined by choice. And as Michael looked out over Shanghai one final time, he silently thanked the city that had changed him forever.
END OF CHAPTER 35
Michael King returned from Rajasthan changed.
His new relation with Kirti and the future with her sharpened him further. Shanghai noticed it almost immediately. The calm businessman who once preferred negotiation increasingly stepped into the chaos himself whenever Sun On Yee interests came under threat. Rival factions had begun targeting shipments, sabotaging meetings, and ambushing mid-level operations in desperation after months of losses. More than once, Vincent Mao and Ricky Tan found themselves trapped in collapsing deals—buyers switching sides, armed crews arriving uninvited, betrayals unfolding in abandoned warehouses or riverside exchanges.
And every time things turned ugly—Michael King showed up.
Word spread quickly throughout the Triads that the businessman in tailored suits could fight like a war machine when pushed. One night near Pudong, Vincent nearly walked into an ambush disguised as a routine negotiation. By the time Michael arrived, chaos had already broken loose. Vincent later swore he watched Michael walk through flying debris and panic with terrifying focus, pulling him out before the situation turned fatal. Another time, Ricky found himself cornered after a trusted intermediary attempted to flip loyalties during a tense exchange. Michael stepped in—not with anger, but with frightening control—de-escalating the room just enough to keep bloodshed from spiraling while still protecting his people. Those moments mattered. Respect turned into loyalty.
Even Uncle Rey Shen began depending on him more heavily.
One rainy afternoon inside Rey Shen’s tower, the aging chairman sat across from Michael with an unusual expression.
"You’ve become useful to us in ways I never expected" Rey admitted quietly, pouring tea.
"Which is why this next matter concerns you directly"
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"A proposal arrived from London" Rey continued.
"The client specifically requested a meeting with Michael King"
That alone caught his attention. The meeting was arranged two days later in a quiet private lounge overlooking Shanghai’s skyline. Michael expected another aggressive businessman trying to leverage connections.
Instead—The visitor intrigued him instantly. The man introduced himself as Manush Rustom. Older. Measured. Sharp-eyed in a way that suggested decades spent reading dangerous rooms. Long white hair rested neatly over his shoulders, giving him the strange aura of someone who had survived far too much to ever be intimidated again. He carried himself with quiet confidence, the kind built over years of influence rather than displays of force.
"I represent Aesir Corporation!" Rustom said smoothly after the introductions.
Michael remained cautious.
"And why exactly are you here?"
Rustom smiled faintly.
"To discuss expansion"
He placed a folder on the table.
"Your gold logistics network has gained attention" His expression shifted slightly.
"You came highly recommended"
Michael narrowed his eyes.
"By who?"
A knowing smile crossed Rustom’s face.
"A woman named Sachiko!!"
That name landed harder than expected. Of course. Michael understood immediately. Another move from his former partner. Another carefully placed step to expand his reach. Rustom continued, relaxed but deliberate.
"She works with one of my subsidiary firms. Smart woman" He folded his hands.
"She believes Michael King is someone worth building alongside"
Michael almost laughed internally. Sachiko never stopped planning. The conversation stretched for hours. Rustom spoke about trade corridors, shifting global pressures, and opportunities emerging between Europe and Asia. He wanted Michael’s expanding network to support broader financial movement into new regions—using trusted relationships and stable partnerships where others only saw instability.
"You’ve built trust in difficult places" Rustom said.
"That’s rare"
Michael leaned back.
"And what exactly are you expecting from me?"
"Partnership" Rustom replied simply.
No arrogance. No threats. Just opportunity. By the end of the evening, an understanding had begun forming. As they stood near the exit overlooking Shanghai’s glowing skyline, Rustom extended his hand.
"I think" he said calmly.
"We could accomplish meaningful things together"
Michael studied him for a moment. Interesting. Careful. Dangerous in ways that weren’t obvious. The kind of man worth paying attention to. He shook Rustom’s hand.
"We’ll see where this goes"
For the first time in a while, Michael felt genuinely curious.
Because whatever this alliance became—It felt like the beginning of something much bigger. The agreement with Manush Rustom moved faster than Michael expected.
Weeks after their meeting in Shanghai, Michael found himself standing beneath a gray northern sky in Hulunbuir, where cold winds rolled endlessly across open land near the frontier. The landscape felt almost alien compared to Shanghai’s restless energy—vast, quiet, unforgiving. A convoy operation had arrived under heavy discretion, and Michael personally oversaw the exchange from a distance, more curious than cautious. Whatever Rustom was building, it clearly carried weight.
What unsettled him wasn’t the scale. It was the secrecy.The shipment itself carried staggering financial significance, enough to make even experienced operators pause. Michael watched movements unfold with disciplined precision, expecting shadowy intermediaries or criminal enforcers waiting across the border.
Instead—Uniformed personnel. Official. Organized. Military. Michael stood silently as the realization settled into place.
"This doesn’t look like a mafia outfit!" he muttered.
No one answered him directly. That only made him dig deeper. Over the following days, Michael quietly followed threads through trusted contacts, business records, and conversations hidden between carefully chosen words. The picture that emerged surprised him more than he expected. The arrangement wasn’t built around underworld greed.
It was political leverage.
Rustom, appeared to be helping stabilize a sensitive financial problem tied to government interests. In return, pressure would increase against certain criminal networks—particularly factions of the Russian Mafia whose influence had grown inconvenient.
And among the names quietly circulating beneath the surface—AZRAEL.
The coincidence felt too deliberate. Their next meeting happened in Shanghai. Rain tapped softly against the windows of an upscale private lounge overlooking the skyline while the city glowed beneath gray evening skies. Rustom looked exactly the same as before—composed, unreadable, long white hair resting neatly over his shoulders like time itself had forgotten to touch him.
Michael wasted little time.
"You knew what I’d discover" he said calmly.
Rustom stirred his tea.
"I assumed you’d ask eventually"
Michael leaned forward slightly.
"The purpose of the arrangement" he said.
"What are you really trying to do?"
For the first time, Rustom’s expression shifted. Not amusement. Not caution. Something quieter. Measured.
"I’ll be honest with you, Michael"
He set the cup down carefully.
"You’re not the only person bothered by AZRAEL"
The room went still. Michael studied him closely. No performance. No manipulation he could immediately read. Just conviction. Rustom continued.
"Some organizations survive because nobody challenges them properly"
His voice lowered slightly.
"Others become dangerous because too many powerful people benefit from pretending they don’t exist"
Michael said nothing. But internally—Something clicked.
For months, he had been building influence against AZRAEL from the edges, replacing their relevance piece by piece through business and loyalty. Yet here sat someone with reach far beyond Shanghai—someone who also viewed the syndicate as a problem worth dismantling.
Maybe there was common ground after all. Maybe this partnership meant more than profit. Later that night, standing alone outside beneath London’s cold air, Michael watched headlights streak across wet streets while the city moved around him.
He thought about William. Sachiko. Sharon. SENTINEL. Shanghai. Everything he had become. And Manush Rustom. Interesting men were dangerous men. But dangerous men with aligned goals? Those were worth understanding. Michael made his decision quietly.
If he wanted answers—If he truly wanted to understand who Rustom was and what kind of game he was playing—Then London would matter. He would expand his presence there. Grow Great Peng’s reach. Build stronger ties. And get closer to the man standing at the center of it all.
Because something told him this alliance was heading toward consequences far bigger than either of them had admitted aloud.
JUNE 18 2005, LONDON, UK
London greeted Michael King with cold skies and polished glass.
The call from Manush Rustom had arrived without much explanation—only that it was important and better discussed face to face. By now, Michael had learned something about Rustom: when the older man personally requested a meeting, it usually meant something larger was moving beneath the surface.
The car dropped him near the heart of the city. Towering above London’s financial district stood the headquarters of AESIR Corporation.
Massive.Elegant. The kind of building designed to quietly remind everyone around it that real power rarely needed to announce itself. Michael paused briefly, taking in the steel and mirrored architecture stretching into the gray sky.
Inside, security cleared him immediately.
Executives moved through pristine hallways while digital displays projected infrastructure projects, advanced energy systems, and cutting-edge technological developments operating across continents. Everything about AESIR felt bigger than he expected—less corporation, more empire.
When the elevator doors opened onto the executive suite floor, Manush Rustom stood waiting personally.
And to Michael’s mild surprise—The older man greeted him with an open hug.
"Michael!" Rustom said warmly.
"About time you came to London properly"
"Didn't knew we have upgraded to hugs now!" Michael replied dryly.
Rustom laughed.
"Come on Michael, we are not just business partners at this point. We're definitely more than that!"
The suite itself overlooked much of central London, elegant without feeling flashy. Rustom motioned him toward a seat while tea had already been prepared.
"You’ve been busy" Rustom began.
Michael leaned back slightly. Rustom smiled faintly.
"Our partnership has exceeded expectations" he said,
He slid several reports across the table.
"Trade between China and the UK has expanded faster than projections. New contacts. Better transport chains. And the crazy part is many of these trades are now done in legal command now. You were the right kind of antidote for the crimes to be reduced in China it seems"
His expression sharpened slightly.
"And you have earned the Triad's trust. So much so that even their government officials admires your methods"
Michael skimmed through the documents. Impressive numbers. Fast growth. A level of influence he hadn’t fully realized had accumulated. Then Rustom tilted his head.
"Though I’ve noticed something" he said casually.
Michael looked up.
"You’re not completely comfortable with shipping"
That earned a small laugh.
"If it wasn’t for Howard Tsao, The Great Peng Shipping would’ve buried me alive"
Michael admitted. Rustom nodded knowingly.
"I suspected as much"
He tapped another set of documents.
"But this…"
Fenghuang Energy. SilkRoute Dynamics. Growth projections. Technology expansions. Engineering contracts.
"These are different" Rustom continued,
Michael stayed quiet.
"You’re an engineer at heart, that’s where you thrive" Rustom said plainly.
Michael crossed his arms.
"You didn’t invite me here just to point out my skills aren't you?"
For a moment—Rustom simply smiled.
"I like that about you"
He leaned back.
"Straight to the point"
Then his tone shifted. More serious.
"I’ve been observing you for longer than you realize"
Michael’s expression tightened slightly.
"Ever since Macau" Rustom continued.
"When you saved Father Dominic"
That caught his attention instantly. Rustom folded his hands.
"I know who you are, Michael"
The room grew quieter.
"I know about SENTINEL"
Michael went still. Rustom’s voice remained calm.
"The UN task force compromised from within" He paused.
Michael said nothing.
"I know certain higher-ups became loyal to AZRAEL" Rustom added quietly.
That landed harder. Not because it was impossible. Because very few people should have known.
"You’ve done your homework" Michael said carefully.
"I did" Rustom replied.
Silence lingered. Michael studied him more closely now. Curious. Cautious. Because Rustom clearly had his own motives.
And yet—AZRAEL again. Always AZRAEL.
"You have problems with them too" Michael observed.
Rustom gave a slow nod.
"Deep ones....with deep history!" Rustom stood up.
He walked to the showcase nearby and pointed at a framed photo. Michael was shocked to see the image was of a young Rustom posing with the Mafia Don Haji Mastaan at a party in Mumbai. It had a date , March 14 1985. The picture was taken in one of those famous Haji Mastaan parties. The occasion though was for the time when Mastaan entered politics. As Michael stared at the photo , Rustom revealed.
"I convinced him the evil of AZRAEL which resulted in him blocking their supply chain in Mumbai. He had his own bad stuffs but I admired his zero tolerance for drug trafficking"
He stood and walked toward the massive window overlooking London.
"I spend a lifetime building influence when AZRAEL tried to take over my gold mine in Azarbaijaan. They tortured the poor people there , did all kinds of cruel tactics to stop me. But I silently grew , today I have influence and power to hold my own against them , but I lost my youth in the process. Which is why my attention went to you. You are someone that can use this power and destroy AZRAEL for good!"
he said after a pause.
"But I think you’re limiting yourself"
Michael frowned slightly.
"How?"
"You still think like a soldier"
That word again. Soldier. William had said something similar once. Rustom turned back.
"You’re still operating within someone else’s structure" he continued.
"Triads. SENTINEL. Chains of loyalty"
Michael’s jaw tightened.
"They’re not chains"
"No" Rustom agreed calmly.
"But they are boundaries. And you are limiting yourself. You are finding peace with small victories. Something you should not do with AZRAEL"
Then finally—He revealed what this meeting was truly about.
"I want you to join me"
Michael blinked once. Rustom gestured around the room.
"AESIR"
He said it like it was obvious.
"I want you to run this corporation"
Michael almost laughed from disbelief.
"You cannot be serious"
"I’m completely serious"
Rustom stepped closer.
"You already proved your potential and skills with the success of Fenghuang and SilkRoute. So I have no doubt AESIR can be your next step of evolution with true power"
He paused. Michael stayed silent.
"You’ve built influence underground" Rustom continued.
"Now imagine influence above ground"
He gestured toward the skyline.
"Resources. Technology. Political leverage. Global reach"
His voice sharpened.
"AZRAEL operates like an empire"
He looked directly at Michael.
"You will have your own to face them head on , no more stealth ops , no more shadow wars. Just hurt them head on like a warrior you are meant to be"
Michael felt the weight of the idea settling into the room. Rustom continued.
"AESIR can become your best weapon against AZRAEL. You can be free of all the threads. Fight your own fights. You will have options"
He paused. The word lingered. Options.
"You could target AZRAEL strategically" Rustom said.
"Financially. Technologically. Operationally"
Then came the part Michael hadn’t expected.
"And eventually?"
Rustom’s expression steadied.
"You can remodel and restore SENTINEL to its old glory!!!"
Michael looked up sharply.
"If that task force matters to you" Rustom said quietly.
"Then stop serving it"
He paused.
"Lead it"
The silence afterward felt heavy. Because suddenly—The impossible didn’t sound impossible anymore. On the flight back to Shanghai, Michael barely slept. London’s skyline replayed in his head.
AESIR. SENTINEL. AZRAEL.
For the first time in a long while, he saw a version of the future that didn’t involve hiding between identities. Michael King could become legitimate. A respected global businessman. Someone who built instead of merely survived. And if Rustom was right—Someone powerful enough to fight enemies without standing in the shadows. More than that—London felt different. Cleaner. Quieter. A place where he could imagine something he had almost forgotten mattered.
A home. A future with Kirti. A life where danger didn’t define everything. By the time the plane descended toward Shanghai, one thought had already settled into place:
Maybe Michael King wasn’t the end of his story. Maybe he was only becoming the man Hemant was always meant to be.
The decision weighed on Michael King for days.
Ever since returning from London, the offer from Manush Rustom had lingered in his mind like an unfinished conversation. During meetings, he found himself drifting back to AESIR's towering headquarters. During quiet nights in his villa, he imagined what it would mean to step beyond the world he had built in Shanghai. It wasn't simply a promotion. It was an evolution.
Eventually, he found himself sitting across from Uncle Rey Shen in the chairman's private office.
The old man listened patiently as Michael explained everything—the proposal, AESIR, Rustom's ambitions, and the possibility of eventually reclaiming influence over SENTINEL itself. When he finished, Rey Shen remained silent for several moments. Then he smiled.
"You should take it"
Michael blinked.
"That quickly?"
Rey chuckled.
"You expected me to fight you?"
Michael shrugged.
"Maybe"
The chairman shook his head.
"Your association with the Triads was never meant to be forever"
He poured himself tea before continuing.
"You came to us when you needed a place to grow. Now you've outgrown the place that sheltered you."
Michael looked away thoughtfully. Rey continued.
"You've strengthened Sun On Yee."
"You've expanded our businesses."
"You have earned the trust of our people who rarely trust anyone."
The old man's eyes softened.
"And now an opportunity has appeared that benefits all of us."
Michael looked back at him.
"How?"
Rey smiled knowingly.
"Because if the head of AESIR Corporation remains a friend of the Triads, then our influence grows alongside yours."
The logic was impossible to ignore.
"You've already shown the right path for the Triads through the SunOnYee, Michael. A Path where less violence and more structure and progress is involved. You're showed us the core values of the Triads was always meant to be the safeguard of our people, not ruling by bloodshed"
The chairman raised his teacup.
"To Michael King and a new beginning!"
A few days later, Michael met Jiu Mey inside the executive conference room of Fenghuang Energy. The city skyline stretched beyond the windows while employees moved through the building below them.
"I suppose you've heard already" Michael said.
Jiu smirked.
"About London?"
"News travels fast."
"Among people like us? Always" she replied.
Michael handed her a folder.
"I wanted to discuss succession"
Jiu opened it. Inside were transfer plans, executive structures, and operational documents for both Fenghuang Energy and SilkRoute Dynamics.
"I'd like you to take over"
Jiu studied the papers quietly. Then laughed.
"You really haven't heard?"
Michael frowned.
"Heard what?"
She leaned back in her chair.
"I'm already moving up."
His eyebrows rose.
"How far?"
A proud smile crossed her face.
"Very soon, I'll become the first vice chairwoman of the Triads."
For a moment, Michael simply stared. Then a genuine smile appeared.
"That's huge."
"I know"
"You earned it."
Jiu nodded once.
"I did"
Michael laughed softly.
"Then who's replacing you as Red Pole?"
Her answer came immediately.
"Ricky"
Michael paused. Then slowly smiled.
"That's actually perfect."
"I thought so too."
Jiu looked toward the city below.
"He already treats everyone like family."
Michael couldn't argue with that. Nobody bled harder for Sun On Yee than Ricky Tan. Nobody protected their people more fiercely. The promotion felt inevitable. A week later, the Golden Yang Hotel hosted a private dinner. No business. No politics. No strategy meetings. Just family. Or at least the closest thing Michael had found to one outside of SENTINEL. The private dining room overlooked Shanghai's evening skyline while a massive banquet filled the center table.
Vincent Ma arrived first and immediately began complaining about everything.
"You know London food is terrible, right?"
Michael rolled his eyes.
"You've never even been there."
"Don't need to"
Howard Tsao laughed into his drink. Conroy Wu started making jokes about Michael becoming some rich corporate billionaire while Sam Lin insisted he expected free vacations in England. For the first hour, the room was filled almost entirely with laughter. Nobody wanted to acknowledge why they were really there. Eventually, though, reality caught up.
Ricky stood first. The newly appointed Red Pole raised his glass. The room fell quiet.
"To Michael"
Everyone followed suit. Ricky looked directly at him.
"When you first showed up, I thought you were just another fighter"
Vincent nodded immediately.
"Same."
Howard chuckled.
"Honestly, I thought you'd quit shipping within a month."
That earned laughter. Then Ricky's expression softened.
"But somewhere along the way..." he continued
"...you became one of us"
Silence settled over the room. No jokes this time. No sarcasm. Just truth.
"You saved our lives."
"You built opportunities for us."
"You gave this organization a future."
Ricky raised his glass higher.
"And no matter where you go next..."
His voice steadied.
"You'll always be family."
For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Vincent stood and hugged him first.
"Don't get all emotional on us, Mr. King."
Michael laughed despite himself.
"You're literally crying"
"I am not"
"You absolutely are"
Howard joined next. Then Conroy. Then Sam. Even Jiu eventually stepped forward. The evening stretched long into the night as old stories resurfaced, embarrassing memories were weaponized against one another, and countless drinks were shared. For the first time since arriving in Shanghai, Michael truly understood what he was leaving behind. Not an organization. Not a business. Not even a city. A family.
Much later, as the dinner finally came to an end, Michael stood near the hotel window overlooking Shanghai. The city lights reflected across the glass. The same city that had transformed Hemant into Michael King. The same city that had given him purpose when his old life collapsed. And now—The city was preparing to let him go.
London waited. AESIR waited. A future with Kirti waited. For the first time in a very long while, the road ahead wasn't defined by survival. It was defined by choice. And as Michael looked out over Shanghai one final time, he silently thanked the city that had changed him forever.
END OF CHAPTER 35
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