Chapter 290

The ground shook slightly. An army of 1,856 men, clad in black military uniforms and armed with rifles, burst through the iron gate and into the villa garden. Each soldier wore a cold expression and a distinctive black flag on their shoulder—the symbol of the Black Flag Army, Lord Blackheart's personal force.

"Awaiting your orders, Mr. Morgan!" Charles Jordan, the Black Flag Army's leader, stepped forward and bowed.

The army echoed, "Pledging allegiance to Mr. Morgan!" Their thunderous voices shocked everyone present. The Zimmers' arrogant smiles froze.

Max felt his mind reel. He trembled, staring at the army, then at Cameron and Lord Blackheart, who stood beneath a black umbrella. Was the man beside Cameron truly Lord Blackheart?

"Impossible… That's impossible!" Max refused to believe it. Lord Blackheart was the world's richest man, his wealth rivaling that of Leving's eight prestigious families combined. He could obliterate the Zimmers with a single command. How could such a man submit to an abandoned son of the Morgan family?

"You punk! How dare you bring a fake Lord Blackheart and the Black Flag Army!" Max's eyes widened, his disbelief morphing into ferocious anger.

"Fake?" Cameron chuckled.

"Nonsense!" Lord Blackheart roared, angrily lowering his umbrella to reveal his cold, stern face to the Zimmers. This was the real Lord Blackheart! Fear gripped everyone.

One Zimmer collapsed in terror, quickly followed by the others. The law enforcement officers on both sides also knelt, understanding the implications of Lord Blackheart's presence and the Black Flag Army.

"D-dad, what should we do?" Chad, his earlier arrogance replaced by pallor, stammered.

"No… None of this is true…" Max whispered, hunching in the rain like a defeated man.

"Max, didn't you say you wanted to help me teach Mr. Morgan a lesson?" Lord Blackheart's deep voice cut through the air.

Max's eyes darted in fear, flitting between Lord Blackheart and Cameron, who stood in a white shirt. He never imagined Cameron's boasts were true—Lord Blackheart was his subordinate! Max couldn't fathom the terrifying power of a man who commanded the world's richest individual. Nobody in Andura could rival him. Who could stop his wrath if he sought revenge?

Overwhelmed by unprecedented fear, Max considered his options when Cameron's cold voice interrupted his thoughts: "Max Zimmer, I'll ask you one last time. Who was involved in my mother's death?"

(Note: I removed the website plug. I also made some minor stylistic choices to improve the flow and readability.)