Rebirth Of The Tycoon: I Shall Dominate The World

The next morning, I stood in what looked like a private training hall inside Edward Olani's mansion. It was massive, with high ceilings, padded walls, and reinforced floors. A rack of weapons lined one side, ranging from batons to firearms, though none of them were within reach.

Edward leaned casually against the railing on the second floor, looking down at me like a hawk surveying its prey. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, the slash scar under his chin accentuating his intimidating aura.

"So," he began, his voice carrying easily across the room. "You've got a silver tongue, boy. But words alone won't earn my respect. I need to see if you can back them up."

I stood in the center of the training area, my hands at my sides, my senses sharp. "Let me guess. You're not going to make this easy."

Edward smirked, the kind of smirk that said he'd seen men twice my size crumble under pressure. "I wouldn't want to insult your intelligence by making it easy. This is a test—of your skill, your strategy, and your resolve. If you want my army, you'll have to prove you can handle it."

He snapped his fingers, and a heavy door slid open. Ten men marched in, each built like a tank and bristling with confidence. They were armed with padded batons, but their stances made it clear they wouldn't be holding back.

"First wave," Edward announced. "Let's see how long you can last."

I took a deep breath, assessing the situation. Ten on one wasn't just about skill—it was about strategy. I didn't have time to waste on drawn-out fights.

The first man lunged, his baton swinging toward my head. I sidestepped, grabbing his wrist and twisting it just enough to disarm him before shoving him into another attacker. Two down, eight to go.

The next two came at me together, one aiming for my legs while the other went for my torso. I jumped, using the first man's baton as leverage to vault over him. Landing behind him, I delivered a swift kick to his knee, sending him sprawling. The other swung wildly, and I ducked, countering with an elbow to his ribs.

The room echoed with the sounds of grunts and impacts, Edward's men shouting commands to each other as they tried to coordinate. But I stayed ahead, using their size and momentum against them.

By the time the last man hit the mat, I was breathing hard but still standing. I glanced up at Edward, whose expression remained unreadable.

"Next wave," he called out.

The door opened again, and another ten men entered, these ones clearly more skilled than the first group. They spread out, circling me like wolves around prey.

This time, they didn't charge blindly. They tested my defenses, feinting attacks to gauge my reaction time. I adapted, staying mobile and making sure no one got behind me. When one finally committed to a strike, I capitalized on his overextension, grabbing his arm and using him as a human shield against the others.

It was a grueling fight, my movements a blend of precision and improvisation. I couldn't afford to waste energy, so every attack was calculated, every dodge purposeful.

As the last man went down, I staggered slightly, wiping sweat from my brow. Edward clapped slowly, his smirk widening.

"Impressive," he said. "But we're not done yet."

The door opened a third time. Another wave. My muscles screamed in protest, but I couldn't show weakness—not now.

These men were faster, their coordination tighter. They attacked in groups of three or four, forcing me to think several moves ahead. I used the environment to my advantage, dodging strikes and leading them into each other's paths.

One man managed to grab me, locking me in a bear hug. I gritted my teeth, slamming my head back into his face before twisting free and sweeping his legs out from under him.

By the time I finished this wave, my vision blurred slightly from exhaustion. Edward descended the stairs, slow and deliberate, as his men groaned and picked themselves up.

"You've got guts, kid," he said, standing a few feet away. "But this isn't just about brute strength. I want to know how you think under pressure."

I straightened, forcing myself to look him in the eye. "You've already seen how I think. I didn't just fight them—I used their strengths and weaknesses against them. That's what I'll do to the Syndicate."

Edward studied me for a long moment, his dark eyes piercing. Then he chuckled, the sound low and almost menacing.

"You've got something most people don't," he said. "The ability to see ten steps ahead. I like that. But remember, boy—trust is earned, not given."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," I replied, keeping my tone steady despite the exhaustion.

Edward signaled to one of his men, who handed me a bottle of water. "Rest up. We've got more to discuss, but you've passed the first test. Welcome to the game."

As I sipped the water, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The road ahead was far from easy, but I was one step closer to building the army I needed.

Edward Olani didn't waste time. As soon as I wiped the sweat from my face and caught my breath, he motioned for one of his lieutenants to step forward.

"This next test will determine whether you're just a brute with fast reflexes or someone who can actually lead," Edward said, his voice low but commanding. "A leader doesn't just fight; he learns, adapts, and exploits his enemies' weaknesses."

I leaned back against the wall, still catching my breath. "So what's the plan? Another round of ten-on-one?"

Edward smirked. "Not quite. This test is different. It's not about surviving—it's about breaking them before they break you."

Two large men stepped into the training hall. They were both taller than me by at least half a foot, with arms like tree trunks. Their expressions were cold and calculating, clearly more experienced than the grunts I'd faced earlier.

"These are my top enforcers," Edward said, introducing them as Gabriel and Victor. "They're strong, fast, and ruthless. You'll have ten minutes to figure out how to beat them—without using brute force."

I frowned. "And if I fail?"

Edward's grin was sharp. "Then you'll be one of the many who tried to earn my respect and failed."

The challenge wasn't just physical. Edward was testing my mind, my ability to adapt and analyze under pressure. Fine. I'd play his game.

Gabriel and Victor didn't waste time. Gabriel came at me with a quick jab, his speed unexpected for a man his size. I dodged, barely avoiding the punch, and backed away as Victor tried to sweep my legs out from under me.

They didn't move like ordinary thugs; their coordination was almost military. I could feel Edward's eyes on me from the balcony above, watching how I handled myself.

I needed time to think. Fighting head-on wasn't an option—these two were stronger and faster. My only advantage was my mind.

Gabriel lunged again, aiming for my chest. I sidestepped, noticing the way he slightly overextended with each punch. Victor, meanwhile, was more cautious, his movements precise and calculated.

I ducked under another swing and rolled across the mat, putting some distance between us. The timer on the wall ticked down: eight minutes left.

"Is that all you've got?" Gabriel taunted, his voice deep and mocking.

I didn't respond. Taunts were a distraction, and I couldn't afford to lose focus.

Over the next few minutes, I played a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Gabriel was aggressive, always charging in with powerful strikes, while Victor stayed back, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

They were trying to corner me, force me into a mistake. But in their eagerness to trap me, they revealed their patterns.

Gabriel's strength was also his weakness—his attacks left him open for counterattacks if timed right. Victor, on the other hand, was too cautious, relying on Gabriel to do the heavy lifting.

Six minutes left.

I pretended to trip, stumbling slightly as Gabriel charged again. His fist came down like a hammer, but I twisted at the last second, grabbing his arm and using his momentum to throw him off balance. He stumbled forward, crashing into Victor.

"That's one," I muttered under my breath.

Edward chuckled from above. "Interesting."

Five minutes left.

Victor helped Gabriel up, and the two of them regrouped. This time, they approached more carefully, clearly trying to adjust their strategy.

I needed to divide them, break their coordination. Spotting a loose baton on the floor from the earlier fight, I grabbed it and hurled it toward Gabriel's head. He ducked instinctively, leaving Victor exposed.

I rushed forward, landing a quick kick to Victor's knee. He grunted, stumbling slightly, but Gabriel was already charging again. I pivoted, dodging his attack, and used the momentary chaos to grab a nearby training mat, swinging it up like a shield.

Gabriel's punch connected with the mat, the force reverberating through my arms, but it gave me enough time to maneuver behind him. I kicked the back of his leg, sending him to one knee.

Three minutes left.

Victor recovered quickly, lunging at me with a speed I hadn't expected. I barely managed to dodge, but the close call gave me an idea.

Gabriel and Victor regrouped again, their breathing heavier but their determination unshaken. I needed to end this before time ran out.

I stepped into the center of the room, deliberately leaving myself open. It was a gamble, but I was counting on their instincts to take over.

Gabriel charged first, just as I'd hoped. As he swung, I ducked low, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back. Victor rushed to help, but I used Gabriel as a human shield, forcing Victor to hesitate.

"You're not as coordinated as you think," I said, tightening my grip on Gabriel's arm. "You rely too much on brute force."

Victor hesitated for a split second, and that was all I needed. I released Gabriel, shoving him toward Victor and sending them both sprawling. Before they could recover, I grabbed the baton from the floor and held it out, pointing it at them like a weapon.

"Time's up," Edward called from above, his voice filled with amusement.

I dropped the baton and turned to face Edward, my chest rising and falling as I caught my breath. Gabriel and Victor sat on the floor, both looking more frustrated than hurt.

Edward descended the stairs slowly, clapping his hands in mock applause. "You're full of surprises, William. Most people would've tried to fight their way through, but you studied them, adapted, and used their own strengths against them. That's the kind of thinking I respect."

I wiped the sweat from my brow. "So, did I pass?"

Edward grinned, his scar pulling slightly. "You did. But don't let it get to your head. There's still a lot you'll need to prove if you want my army."

"I'm ready for whatever comes next," I replied, meeting his gaze.

Edward's grin widened. "Good. Because the next steps will make this test look like a warm-up."

He turned to leave, but before he did, he glanced back over his shoulder. "You've got potential, kid. Don't waste it."

As I stood there, catching my breath, I couldn't help but feel a small surge of satisfaction. The road ahead was still uncertain, but one thing was clear: I was getting closer to building the army I needed. And I wasn't going to stop until Cassandra's Syndicate was nothing but ashes.