Asher stood before the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection with a smirk. "Now that is how you handle arrogant bastards," he muttered.
He was still enjoying the rush of adrenaline from earlier, but he knew he had to take things to the next level. If he wanted to claim absolute power in this life, become a true leader, and build his own empire, he needed to get strong. Not just in his mind, but in his body too.
Asher took off his clothes, and his eyes narrowed at what he saw in the mirror. "This pathetic, skinny body will not cut it... Not if I plan to be a ruler again," he thought, looking at his thin arms and flat chest.
Then, a confident smile formed on his lips as he looked down. At least his manhood hadn't been downgraded. Even soft, it carried a heavy, intimidating weight.
"Well, it looks like I got more than just my memories from my past life," Asher muttered with satisfaction. "This part of me came back too. Good... if it were any smaller, it would be a total disgrace."
Asher flexed his arm a little to test the muscle. It was nothing compared to what he had in his past life, but he was not worried.
Training his body and making it strong was completely possible. It just took time, effort, and willpower. Since he used to lead an army of the strongest warriors, discipline and hard work were nothing new to him.
"I never had to do this in my past life... but it should be interesting. A little bit of hard training is nothing compared to what I have survived," Asher thought. Then, he turned on the shower and stepped under the hot water.
Steam filled the bathroom, and Asher felt his muscles relaxing under the warm spray. His thoughts shifted to Chloe and how she had melted in his hands so easily.
'That girl is going to be fun to play with,' he thought with a wicked grin. 'She might be engaged to Leo, but she clearly wants something else. Once I fully break and tame her, she will never look at another man.'
Asher closed his eyes. He pictured how Leo would feel when he found out his precious fiancée had been fucked senseless by the very man he thought was weak. On top of that, Chloe choosing him and leaving Leo would be such a satisfying slap in the face.
'It is going to be glorious... just thinking about it gets me excited. It will take some time, but I am a patient man... well, Emperor. Haha...'
***
Once Asher finished his shower, he quickly dried off and wrapped a towel around his waist. He went back to his room and opened his wardrobe.
Looking through the options, he found an outfit that would work for what he planned to do. He chose slim-fit dark gray jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black leather jacket. Then, he pulled the clothes on with ease and looked at himself in the mirror again.
The clothes fit well and made him look stylish and confident. "Good... looking sharp is the first step to getting respect," he said, checking himself one last time. "And now... time to find a place where I can start my new training."
After that, he put on a pair of black running shoes and grabbed a gym bag filled with workout clothes. Then he left his room, ignoring any surprised looks from the maids who passed by.
Without wasting time, Asher left the mansion and got into one of the family cars.
Once he settled into the back seat, he caught the driver staring at him through the rearview mirror, clearly shocked by his sudden shift in posture.
"What are you staring at? Are you going to sit there or drive me where I ask?"
The driver snapped out of his thoughts and immediately bowed his head. His voice was full of nervousness as he responded, "Yes, young master. My apologies... Right away."
Then he started the engine while waiting for Asher to mention his destination.
"Drive me to the Royal Crown Fitness Center... Do you know where it is?"
"Yes, Young Master, of course. I have taken Young Master Leo there a few times."
The Royal Crown Fitness Center was one of the most exclusive and high-end fitness clubs in the city, with state-of-the-art equipment and professional trainers. It was also one of the most expensive. However, as the second young master of the Vance family, money was not a problem for Asher. His card could handle any expense without breaking a sweat.
Of course, there was a limit to what he could spend since he was still financially controlled by his stepmother. It was not as if he could go around buying sports cars and houses. But for a gym membership or some other things, his card was more than enough.
'If it weren't to maintain the image of the family and prevent anyone from gossiping, that woman wouldn't have given me a card at all,' Asher thought bitterly. Then, his eyes darkened with a cold and calculating glint. 'That bitch better not push her luck... Because this time, I make the rules.'
Asher relaxed in his seat, letting the city's sights pass by outside. It was amazing how this world differed from his past one. Everything seemed to be in motion, fast and efficient, while the magic of his old world had been replaced by science and technology.
'And that means... it is even easier to control people now,' Asher silently thought. 'Information, influence, money... With these three things, a man can bend this world to his will without lifting a fist.'
Soon, the driver took a smooth turn into a large parking lot with a sign displaying the name of the fitness center in big golden letters.
"Here we are, Young Master," the driver announced as he parked in front of the main entrance.