His Lordship Alexander Kane by Useless Caesar

Chapter 0657 Half an hour had passed, and the East Sea shore of Coconut Wind Island was quiet except for the grandeur of Cloud Tiger's private villa, its lights shining like a beacon.

Shadowy figures moved within—all employees of Cloud Tiger, tasked with keeping the place spotless and tending to the exotic flowers and rare trees in the garden. No outsiders were allowed.

No need for bodyguards or security here.

On Coconut Wind Island, Cloud Tiger was the top dog, a peak supreme grand martial master whose name alone was enough to keep trouble at bay.

"Cloud Tiger... still as cocky as ever," muttered Quinto from outside the villa.

He and his crew were nestled in five jeeps, hidden by the night. Quinto peered at the villa, a steely glint in his eyes.

"Everyone ready for alittle action?

"This hit's gotta be clean. No room for mistakes! Alexander's just passing through, after all. He's here for the coconuts, and we'll give 'em to him, but first, we take down Cloud Tiger. Then this island's ours for the taking." The men in the jeeps shared a look, their resolve clear as day.

It was time to follow Quinto's lead and get that show on the road.

Silently, the jeeps came to a halt in the shadows. Quinto's gang, all 30- something strong, scaled the wall and crept up to the third floor without a sound.

That was where Cloud Tiger's bedroom was—off-limits to even the staff.

"'So far, so good..." Quinto crept up to the bedroom door, his heart pounding as he listened to the faint sounds of Cloud Tiger's breathing. A

flicker of doubt crossed his face.

All those years of brotherhood weighed on him.

Memories of their wild days, fighting back-to-back, always having each other's backs, flooded his mind. He would not even be in this mess if Cloud Tiger had not decided to hang up his hat and retire to that island paradise.

However, things had changed...

"Quinto?" A hushed voice came from one of his guys, gripping a blade tightly. "Are you having second thoughts? If you are, we can bail. He was our leader, and deep down, none of us really wanted to cross him." Betraying the leader was a low blow, no matter how they sliced it.

Quinto's jaw clenched as his hands balled into fists, then relaxed, and then

clenched again. He shut his eyes and let out a weary sigh. "Let it go, let it go "The boss never did us wrong. We can just leave Coconut Wind Island and start fresh somewhere else." With one last look at the bedroom door, Quinto knelt and bowed his head in a silent tribute, then turned with a heavy heart, signaling his crew to head for the stairs.

That was when...

"Oi " Quinto.

The snoring from the bedroom cut off abruptly, replaced by a voice warm and familiar. "I know you're out there. Come in." What the—?! Frozen in place, Quinto spun around, his gaze locked on the closed door. His breath came in short gasps, his heart racing as if it was trying to escape his chest.

Has Cloud Tiger been faking sleep? He knew everything all along! "Boss!" In that heart-stopping moment, Quinto's nerves were on edge as he hesitantly opened the door. He immediately bent forward, his head bowed, and let out a heart-wrenching sob, "Boss, I'm so sorry. I got blinded by ambition, trying to climb to the top for some glory. It's all on me, not the guys! "If there's a price on my head, I'll take it.

Just, please, Boss, have a heart and let my crew off the hook!" His tears were genuine, his remorse palpable.

The difference in their strength was just too great.

They were both supreme grand martial masters, but he was a novice in the supreme grand martial realm, while

Cloud Tiger was at the peak of supreme grand martial. A sneak attack might give him a slim shot, but face-to-face? He would not stand a chance.

"When did I say you were in for it?" In the bedroom's heart, Cloud Tiger, clad in his night robe, sat serenely on a round meditation cushion. He looked at Quinto, shaking his head with a soft chuckle, "Bet you're wondering why I'm not asleep at this hour, huh? "I've known for a while you were rallying the troops, plotting against me." With that, he eyed Quinto's crew, their faces ghostly white, then rose and stepped up to Quinto, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat and a sigh. "Quinto, you didn't let me down after all. You remembered the bond we shared and pulled back from the brink.

"Why would I take you out if you're not gunning for me? You thought I'd gone

soft, lost my edge, that I wasn't the Cloud Tiger you knew. However, did you ever stop to think that some things matter more than just power?" More than power? Quinto's face was a picture of shock as he looked up, locking eyes with Cloud Tiger, disbelief written all over him, "Boss, are you saying that you..." "That's right." With a smirk of defiance, the Cloud Tiger unleashed a surge of vitality that belied his years, his presence suddenly as formidable as if he had shed a decade in mere moments. "When it comes down to it, true power isn't about the size of your forces—it's about the strength within.

"I've spent a month on that island, healing and honing my skills, and I've finally broken through to the Martial Overlord realm! So, Quinto, do you still see me as an old man? Do you still think 1

lack courage?" Quinto was frozen, his lips quivering without a sound.

Martial Overlord.

Those two words said it all.

The Cloud Tiger had achieved the unthinkable—the Martial Overlord realm.

A single warrior with such spirit energy could command an army to rival the nations of the world.

Consider that—across the entire globe, there might not even be a hundred Martial Overlords! gome matters are beyond the reach of even the supreme grand martial. Only as a Martial Overlord can one grasp the secrets of the higher tiers." With a knowing glance at Quinto, the Cloud Tiger gestured with a flourish, his voice warm with invitation.

"Come out now, gentlemen. Let's give my dear members here a demonstration of what real power looks like."