The Supreme Overlord

Chapter 2

"Commander-in-Chief of the Meriland Northern Warzone hereby orders that all 120,000 officers and soldiers of the First Army Group are to cancel their leave and return to their posts immediately!"

A resonant voice sounded, "All aircraft, take off! All warships, set sail! All tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and missile carriers, mobilize! Target Caridonia!"

With Tanner's command, the 120,000 elite soldiers of Meriland's most formidable Northern Warzone First Army Group marched southward in a massive, unstoppable wave, surging toward Caridonia like a deluge.

The overwhelming momentum naturally alarmed the leaders of every state and city along the way, prompting them to report the situation. However, when the Meriland Cabinet received the reports, they issued only one directive.

"Do not interfere. Provide logistical support!"

Tanner, as Meriland's top general, had defended the country against a coalition of ten countries and safeguarded its citizens. Yet, he could not even protect his own family.

His entire family had been falsely accused of treason and collaboration with the enemy, brutally executed in cold blood. His pregnant wife had been tragically killed, his father was about to have both kidneys forcibly removed, and his elderly mother had been subjected to unbearable humiliation.

When the truth came to light, every high-ranking official in Meriland was furious beyond measure.

The filthy, insignificant Caridonia needed to be cleansed with the harshest measures.

After gaining worldwide fame three months earlier in a battle that shocked the globe, Tanner had already instilled fear in every country on this planet.

His every action drew the attention of the entire world. So, when he issued this order, the world's major powers were filled with dread.

Tanner mobilized 120,000 soldiers. Was he about to start World War III?

But upon closer investigation, it was discovered that Tanner's target was not a foreign nation but Caridonia, a small city within Meriland's borders.

The entire world was stunned. Who in Caridonia had the audacity to provoke this grim reaper? Did they have a death wish or something?

At Jaxon's villa in Caridonia, a trembling voice sounded.

"Arrgh! Mr. Bennett, please stop hitting me! It hurts so much!"

In the garden, an elderly, frail woman with graying hair lay on the ground, her voice hoarse as she writhed in pain and begged for mercy while being beaten.

Snap! Snap! Snap! The two burly men in suits beside her showed no mercy, lashing her viciously with their whips. Her clothes were torn, and her body was covered in blood.

"Arrgh! Mr. Bennett, I'm sorry! I swear I won't make another phone call ever again!" Laura clutched her body tightly, struggling to crawl forward and beg the tall man in front of her.

"Mr. Bennett, please stop hitting me. I'm old, and I'm in poor health. If you keep hitting me, you'll kill me," she sobbed.

Smack!

Noah Bennett's fury didn't diminish in the slightest. He walked over and slapped Laura hard across the face.

Poof! Blood sprayed from Laura's mouth as her face swelled instantly from the slap.

"Hah! You're just as useless as your husband!"

Noah, Jaxon's trusted subordinate assigned to guard Laura, sneered at her with open disdain. His words dripped with venom as he looked down at her crumpled form.

"Mr. Price is the heir of the wealthiest family in Caridonia—a man of noble status. Asking for your husband's two kidneys was already an act of mercy. Yet your husband dares to refuse, and you have the audacity to come here and beg?"

He continued, "Mr. Price keeping you alive is already a show of respect. Beating you? That's just a lesson. And now you're trying to use a phone behind my back? What, you think you can call the police?"

He let out a mocking laugh. "Stupid. The Price family controls everything in Caridonia. Which police officer would dare interfere?"

"Mr. Bennett, she wasn't calling the police," one of the guards suddenly said. "We heard her calling her son..."

"No... I didn't..." Laura's face went pale. She shook her head frantically, panic flashing in her eyes. "I didn't call my son... I didn't..."

"Hahaha!" Noah threw his head back and laughed, his voice echoing through the garden. Her panicked denial only made him more certain.

"So, that worthless Tanner is still alive? Perfect!" His eyes gleamed with excitement as he turned to his subordinates.

"Track Tanner's phone. Find him and bring him to Mr. Price. This will be my gift to him!"

"No, please don't!" Laura's heart sank. She struggled against the pain wracking her body, crawling to Noah's feet. Tears streamed down her face as she begged, "Mr. Bennett, I'm begging you. My entire family is gone. Please, just spare Tanner's life! I'll do anything, just don't hurt him!"

For five years, she and Gavin had endured endless torment at the hands of the Price family, living worse than animals.

But they held on, clinging to one hope: Tanner, their son was still alive.

It was the only thing that kept them going. She couldn't let him die.

Smack! Noah kicked her hard, sending her sprawling to the ground. He sneered, his face full of contempt.

"Your family offended the wrong people. Did you think we'd let your bloodline continue? Your son is as good as dead! Better worry about yourself first."

Noah crouched down in front of her, his expression suddenly changing.

A lecherous grin spread across his face as he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Heh..." His laugh grew more perverted.

"Mr. Price was right. Even after all these years, you're still quite the beauty," he said, his eyes roaming over her. "You were Caridonia's most beautiful woman five years ago, and it seems time hasn't changed that. You've kept your figure well. Still charming."

"What... what are you trying to do?" Laura's voice trembled as she instinctively covered her chest, her face pale with fear.

"Make a guess." Noah's grin widened as he leaned closer, his breath hot and foul. "This is Mr. Price's order, to show your husband the consequences of not knowing his place."

"He's going to remove her husband's kidneys while forcing him to watch videos of your humiliation. And when we caught Tanner, he'd get to watch too. Get the camera ready! I'm starting now!" Noah exclaimed, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

He rushed over to Laura, pinning her down as he tried to rip off her clothes.

"Stop... ah!!" Laura felt a wave of humiliation wash over her. Being degraded by her enemy was bad enough, but having it filmed for her husband and Tanner to see was unbearable.

She'd rather die than let that happen.

With a surge of adrenaline, she struggled violently and bit down hard on Noah's hand.

"Ouch!" Noah yelped in pain, releasing his grip on her. Laura didn't hesitate. She scrambled to her feet and made a run for a large pillar in the garden, determined to end her life.

"What are you doing? Stop her!" Noah panicked, realizing it wouldn't be fun if she died.

But Laura was too fast. The bodyguards were caught off guard, and she managed to stay ahead of them.

'I'm sorry, Tanner. I'm useless. I couldn't save your dad, and I even exposed that you're alive. Tanner, you have to live well. Mom is going to heaven now. Sorry, I don't deserve to be your mother...'

Boom! Just as she was about to crash into the pillar, a deafening explosion rocked the villa. An armed helicopter came out of nowhere, diving toward the garden.

"What's happening?" Noah looked up, shocked.

"Is this some kind of military training? Are they crazy to do this near the Price family's villa?"

The next instant, the helicopter crashed onto the lawn, creating a massive crater. Five or six bodyguards were killed instantly, their bodies torn apart. Noah was stunned. How dare the military do this?

"Mom!" Laura was about to crash into the stone when a figure appeared out of nowhere, grabbing her and holding her protectively.

"Mom!!!" Tanner's voice was filled with emotion as he looked at the familiar face in his arms. Tears streamed down his face.

'I made it. I finally made it. Five years ago, I was powerless. I watched as my family was slaughtered, and I had to flee in shame. But now, I'm strong enough to protect them.'

"Mom, I'm here!" Tanner exclaimed, his voice filled with determination.