Jameson nodded, looking quite pleased with himself. "Now, Joe—he's definitely an exceptional young man. I'm satisfied with him, no doubt. But being satisfied doesn't mean he's to my taste! "Andrew, on the other hand, first of all—he's handsome, just like I was back in my prime. Second, he's got charm. Talking with him is actually fun, and that's rare these days." "But most importantly…" Jameson leaned in like he was about to share a state secret. Tiana scowled. "Let me guess—because he lacks ambition and has no shame?" Jameson grinned shamelessly. "Wrong! That kid gave me a pill that… let's just say it brought my manhood back to life! And the best part? Not only did I benefit, but you did too! "So if we're being honest here, we both ought to be thanking him—and treating him right!" Tiana's face flushed bright red. In the blink of an eye, she stormed over and smacked Jameson across the face. She shouted, "Disgusting! Filthy pig! I have no idea what I was thinking when I agr
Andrew said to the lady, "And don't go looking for a nice, honest man. What did an honest man ever do to deserve you?" As the Rolls-Royce drove off, the woman on the plaza stomped her foot in frustration. "Hmph! Acting all high and mighty. You rich guys walk around in suits like you're so proper, but once the clothes come off, you're worse than animals! "And what's wrong with liking an honest guy, huh? Plenty of them love women like me!" Muttering to herself, she swayed her hips and went off to reel in her next customer. … Inside the Rolls-Royce, the driver was an elderly man dressed simply—plain shirt, cloth shoes, nothing flashy. However, he was impeccably neat and carried an unmistakable air of dignity. This type of low-key appearance was common among the long-established elite. It looked humble, but in reality, it spoke volumes. "You must be Andrew Lloyd, the one from Jayrodale, right?" he asked without turning his head. Andrew nodded. "Yeah, that's me." The old m
"A bit of character?" Francis paused, clearly displeased, and his tone quickly turned sharp. "Listen—if you don't understand something, don't go throwing opinions around. "The Phelans are the pinnacle of prestige in Gabo Creek. And this estate you're looking at? Do you have any idea how far back it goes? During The Solarian Period, it was the residence of a high-ranking statesman!" His words dripped with pride as though he was speaking of sacred history. Andrew replied casually, "The renovation and design definitely have that classic charm. But the layout feels a bit unbalanced, geomancy-wise. And the gardens? A little too flashy, too much Valemonian style. It's missing that Holtrien grace—that quiet, dignified simplicity. It just doesn't flow." Francis' face darkened. He had not expected Andrew to double down—much less critique his work directly. The idea of a kid from Jayrodale thinking he knew anything about geomancy or landscape design was laughable. Francis snapped, "
Luna said, "He's a guest Marvin personally recommended to the family—we can't treat him with disrespect. Francis grumbled as he lowered his hand. He clenched his jaw and said, "You're lucky Miss is composed and gracious. Otherwise, with that arrogant mouth of yours, you'd be in serious trouble by now." Andrew curled his lip. "Save the lecture. Just take me to see Mr. Phelan Senior. I've got more important things to do afterward." Luna's voice came quietly, cool as deep water. "Not so fast. You said my garden lacks elegance and composure. I'm curious—were you just trying to get attention, or do you actually know what you're talking about?" Andrew replied without hesitation. "I was totally bluffing. Don't know a thing, really. So let's not waste time. Take me to Mr. Phelan Senior already." Francis scoffed. "Miss, there's no point arguing with someone so half-baked. Just report back to Mr. Phelan Senior, then toss him out of the estate." Luna narrowed her eyes and said calmly,
Back when Montgomery was in Chetvine, he ran into trouble. In the end, it was Marvin who stepped in to help, and that was how the bond between their families began. Walking ahead, Luna asked, "How is Marvin doing these days?" Andrew replied, "Perfectly fine. He still puts away full plates at every meal. What worries me is his refusal to find a wife and settle down." Luna frowned. "You're his junior, and your flippant attitude displeases me. Moreover, an elder's affairs are none for you to casually judge." Andrew said flatly, "I'm speaking within reason. No issue here." Luna stopped walking and turned, her face icy. "Marvin once saved my grandfather's life. That's why I respect him. But you? All you've done is cause trouble and pick up bad habits. "Out of respect for Marvin, the Phelan family is willing to give you a place in the capital. But if you keep this lazy, hopeless attitude, we don't take in trash." Luna was never one to argue. After all, no one around her was wo
Someone joked, "Let's clear the room. With Dr. Lake here, the rest of us are just background decor." "Once Mr. Phelan Senior takes Dr. Lake's medicine, he'll recover in no time!" The chorus of flattery made Mosby smile. He tried to maintain his dignified image, but the praise still went to his head. He said, "You're all too kind. I just had a few extra years of study. Medicine is a vast field, and I'm sure you'll all reach greatness someday." His humble reply earned another round of admiration. Luna stepped forward, and she was actually smiling for once. "Dr. Lake, thank you for tending to my grandfather." Mosby flushed with pride. "Ms. Luna, it's my honor. Keeping Mr. Phelan Senior healthy is my privilege." The others quickly bowed to Luna as well. After all, she was the Phelan family's prodigy, the capital's undisputed genius—her military rank of major-general at such a young age rivaled even Chetvine's elite. Her status made her the capital's brightest star, outshining
"Apologize?" Andrew sneered, scanning the room of so-called capital experts. "I wasn't wrong, so why should I apologize?" His words ignited the assembled professors and specialists who had been currying favor with the Phelan family. One shouted, "How dare you question Dr. Lake's diagnosis!" Another snapped, "Young man, don't think your superficial knowledge qualifies you to challenge us. Our combined medical expertise would take you lifetimes to learn!" "Young upstarts like you always lack patience," a third added with condescension. "Come back after ten years of serious study if you want to be taken seriously!" The group erupted in mocking laughter, as if debating Andrew was beneath them. Francis growled, "Ms. Luna, let me throw this trash out. He's completely unworthy to examine the Mr. Phelan Senior." Luna barely glanced at Andrew. To her, such mediocrity was not worth her attention. She decided to simply explain to Marvin later how hopeless his recommendation had been.
Francis spoke in a panic. "Ms. Luna, Mr. Phelan Senior isn't some average Joe—how could you let a complete nobody treat him out of nowhere?"Luna did not respond. Instead, her eyes stayed locked on Andrew's hands as he worked the needles. Every single needle landed with incredible precision, striking the right acupoints even through Montgomery's clothes. What really shocked her was how fast Andrew moved. Not only was he fast, but every needle hit exactly where it should. Luna did not know much about medicine, but her martial arts skills were exceptional, and she knew the human body like the back of her hand. To be able to locate such precise pressure points through clothing and do acupuncture quickly took some real skill. 'Maybe this guy actually knows a thing or two about medicine,' she thought to herself. Mosby and the others did not interrupt anymore. Instead, they all stared at Andrew's every move. "Dr. Lake, that acupuncture technique looks familiar, doesn't it?" asked
"He's my sworn brother, then standing up for him—no matter the cost—is only right," Logan said firmly. Elon's face instantly darkened, and deep inside, a gnawing jealousy bubbled up. Despite being the most low-key of the Five Apex Families' younger generation, Logan was arguably the most terrifying. He was about to take over the Keller family, a rising powerhouse. The Haywoods had Xavier—young, sharp, and fierce in combat. The Wrights had Quinton—manipulative, cunning, and notorious for his ruthlessness. But Elon? He was… just Elon. He was overweight, lacked presence, and had just been publicly humiliated when word spread that his wife had cheated on him. His reputation was already slipping, and now he had become the joke of Blumedale's elite circle. Still, no matter how pathetic things seemed, Elon believed he was far better than the man Andrew was. In his eyes, they were not even in the same league. So, it burned him even more to see Logan—someone he had always tried to i
"Logan, don't you know Andrew killed my younger brother?" Xavier shouted furiously. It was understandable for Luna to speak up. After all, the Phelans owed Andrew a small favor—but now even the Keller family was interfering. If this continued, Andrew would not just remain unharmed; he would likely rise to prominence in Blumedale. Andrew's rise would be a direct slap in the face to the Haywoods, humiliating them beyond redemption. Roy spoke grimly, "Logan, you're set to lead the Keller family. You should know better than to blur right and wrong. Andrew repeatedly humiliated the Haywoods and even murdered Seth. Do you expect us to swallow such a huge insult?" Logan replied calmly, "Mr. Haywood Senior, you know exactly why things turned out this way. I hate to say it, but Seth brought his death upon himself. Andrew may be impulsive, but he's done nothing wrong in my eyes." "I'll say this only once: if the Haywoods continue their vendetta against him, the Keller family won't stan
Xavier said, "Uncle Jude, you're in charge of internal discipline. My request is simple—either throw those losers out of the Haywoods and make them manage some backwater branch, or I'll kill them myself. And I doubt anyone in the family would object." Jude's eyelids twitched violently as he cursed the brats under his breath. Out loud, though, he nodded quickly and replied, "Don't worry, Xavier. I'll make sure they're kicked out of the family for good. They won't even get close to the front gate again." Xavier snorted and walked off, leaving Jude staring at his back, shaking his head. Jude muttered to himself, "Xavier… you really are the pride of the Haywoods. But you're spoiled by your status. With your father as the family head and all the elders favoring you, you've always kept the other branches under your heel. "That's understandable since you're the future heir and our strongest fighter among the younger generations. But the fact remains—you made a public promise and faile
Tiana had already been urging Andrew to make a trip to the Rhodes residence. With his current matters finally settled, Andrew made his way there. … Meanwhile, back at the Haywood residence, the funeral was underway. The place was shrouded in white—the last rites for Seth. It should have been a major event, but the atmosphere among the Haywoods was lifeless. No one looked remotely interested, and many of the younger members were outright slacking off, hiding in corners, smoking, drinking, and chatting. Someone whispered, "Xavier's the eldest son of the Haywoods and a damn colonel in the military, yet he couldn't even bring back Andrew's head? What a letdown." Another chimed in, "No kidding. Seth got taken out like that, which is a direct slap to the Haywoods' face." "Honestly, I've never seen our family this humiliated. Xavier even said he'd kill Andrew within three days or take his own life. Big talk for someone who came back empty-handed…" After just a few gulps of alco
Aspen and Chantelle both gasped in disbelief. They could not believe that Andrew had just toyed with Luna like she was some puppy. He offered her a treat, dangled it right in front of her face, and then yanked it back when she reached for it. Anyone with an ounce of pride would have snapped—and Luna Phelan was not just anyone. "Playing games on a razor's edge… Andrew, I'll be watching," Luna said coldly. "I'll watch how you destroy yourself." Her expression turned colder than it had been even when confronting Xavier.With one sharp step, she kicked up a gust of wind and vanished into the air. It was a clear sign that she was not just leaving, she was unleashing her fury. "That footwork was terrifying," Chantelle muttered. Even Aspen looked shaken. "Keep acting like this, Andrew, and someone's gonna hack you into pieces one day!" Chantelle snapped. After one last angry glare, she stormed off too. Aspen did not have quite the same fire in her. This demon of a man was hear
Luna turned around, clearly reluctant to even look at Andrew, and said flatly, "I can save you once, maybe even twice—but not a third time. To be precise, the only reason I stepped in at all was because you've done favors for the Phelans… and for Marvin. "But next time? Your life or death will have nothing to do with me. So, here's my advice—tone it down. This is Blumedale, not Jayrodale. You could show off back there, and no one cared, but here? Power and politics clash every second. Dying young might be the only fate you're headed for." Andrew frowned. "Luna, are you sick or something? Did I ask you to save me?" That one line did not just offend Luna—it also lit a fire in Chantelle. "Andrew, what the hell is wrong with you? General Phelan just saved your damn life. You didn't even say thank you, and now you're blaming her? Are you even a man?" She was speechless, thinking the guy was seriously unbelievable. Andrew shot her a cold glare. "Shut your mouth. No one asked for
Yet, of all the fearless, reckless men they had encountered, neither Aspen nor Chantelle had ever seen anyone as stubbornly arrogant as Andrew. Both women were completely stunned, wondering where he even got the guts to say things like that. In this world, commoners fear officials—but officials? They fear the men with guns—the military. However, here was Andrew, treating a colonel like Xavier as if he were worthless weeds. It was utter madness—like a sparrow challenging an eagle, a lamb taunting a wolf. It was sheer recklessness bordering on suicide. With a thunderous swoosh, Xavier's massive broadsword came crashing down with enough force to split boulders and level trees. Just the murderous pressure from that swing made Chantelle's face go pale. She was starting to doubt if she could even stand up to Xavier herself. After all, Andrew looked like he was about to be torn in half by that blade. What infuriated her even more was that, at the height of danger, Andrew just st
"Colonel Haywood, you know full well that with your rank and position, you can't just go around killing people on a whim," Chantelle warned coldly. She added, "Besides, your friend Andarov used banned weaponry on Holtrien soil, which is a serious offense. You can be sure Mr. McCormick won't just let that slide." Left with no other option, Chantelle had to drop Derek's name to try to rein Xavier in. However, Xavier was not intimidated at all. His voice dripped with venom as he said, "Ms. Garcia, I respect Mr. McCormick—he governs this province, and I'll give him that. But do you think the Haywoods' name should be trampled like dirt? Especially by some no-name punk who doesn't know his place? "I'll chop him into pieces, and if I have to, I'll apologize to Mr. McCormick myself. But with the military accolades I've earned, the Haywood family's backing, and my deep ties in the defense department, killing this bug wouldn't even cause a blip on the radar." Chantelle's stomach twiste
Chantelle sneered, "All in all, you're just an ordinary man, a slave to your desires with a pathetically mediocre mind." She had finally caught an opening to hit Andrew where it hurt, and she was not about to waste it. Andrew chuckled. "Ms. Garcia, you really do live up to your title as a master of psychology. You got most of it right. But you still missed one tiny detail—like the fact that, right now, I've got a very clear image of your naked body in my mind." The bluntness of that line stunned Chantelle, and her expression twisted in outrage. She snapped, "Andrew! That was in the past—how dare you bring it up like it's nothing? Aren't you worried I'll kill you?" The usually cold woman was genuinely furious now. Andrew shrugged lazily. "I'm sitting right here, wounded and unarmed. Go ahead, kill me. But even if you did, you still wouldn't erase the fact that you once stripped bare in front of me." Chantelle raised her hand in fury but forced herself to lower it again with