Chapter 21: Flashback
Everyone gathered in Leo's office.
Natasha and Jhosan were sitting on the sofa.
Smith and Nick were searching through documents on the table.
They were all waiting for Leo.
Natasha's stomach growled loudly.
"I'm starving…" she muttered. "When is he coming? It's already 5 a.m."
Her eyes were half closed.
Beside her, Jhosan had already fallen asleep, leaning back carelessly.
Smith and Nick were flipping through papers.
"This one?"
"No."
"What about this?"
"Not that either."
The office door opened.
Leo walked in.
Instantly, everyone tried to gather themselves — though all of them were in half-sleep mode.
Except Leo.
He looked completely awake.
Focused.
Sharp.
"Boss…" Jhosan mumbled, somehow managing to fall asleep while standing.
"Why did you call us at this time?" Smith asked, rubbing his eyes.
Leo ignored the question.
"Where is Jack?"
He gave Jhosan a sharp stare. The four of them were rarely separated — so his absence was noticeable.
"Forget it," Leo said finally.
From today… training begins again."
"What?!"
Everyone froze.
A wave of old memories flashed through their minds.
"No…"
Flashback
In the early days, before the Four Rulers became feared, they were busy building their public image.
But Leo was different.
While others cared about reputation, Leo was being trained personally by his mother.
She didn't just teach him strength.
She taught him control. Strategy. Endurance.
One day, Leo found Smith fighting on the roadside.
Not for pride.
Not for power.
But for a piece of bread.
Leo watched silently for a moment.
Then he stepped forward.
"Come with me."
Smith hesitated — but he followed.
That was how it began.
Later, during a quiet evening walk, Smith brought two boys home.
"Can they stay too?" he asked.
Leo looked at his mother.
She was smiling.
She walked toward the boys and gently asked,
"What are your names?"
Jhosan immediately burst into tears.
Jack narrowed his eyes.
"Are you going to sell us?"
She laughed softly.
"No, dear. I'm going to show you what a prison really looks like."
Her words confused them.
She stood up and looked at all four boys.
"If you stay here, you must be loyal to Leo. Completely. If you don't want that… you may leave now."
None of them moved.
Helena then bent down in front of Leo.
She looked directly into his eyes.
"It's your time," she whispered.
"Create the next generation of Four Rulers."
Leo didn't smile.
But from that day—
He began shaping them.
Not as followers.
But as future rulers.