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Chapter 697
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 698
Stephen said calmly, "It's not that I've lost my edge or nerve. It's just that sometimes, you need to read the room and know when to pick your battles." He continued, "There's a saying—A wise man adapts to the times. No matter how strong you are, when a true powerhouse shows up, you still have to bow your head if you want to survive." Raymond waved him off with an irritated snort. "Cut the crap. What you're really saying is that you're scared of Andrew, right? You've already given in to him. Either way, it doesn't matter. My stance is crystal clear. "If that kid shows up, kneels, toasts me, and pays for all the damages, I'll be merciful and let him walk away with his life. But if he dares not to show, then tough luck. I'll make sure he learns exactly what regret feels like." Stephen's expression darkened, and he let out a cold chuckle. "Getting Mr. Lloyd to kneel and toast you? That's never going to happen. I can't say much more, but I'm telling you—you're underestimating him.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 699
Stephen left without saying a word, his face dark and grim. Raymond sneered as he watched him go. "Spineless coward. You cave the moment someone shows a bit of strength. That's the difference between you and me, Stephen. You're weak, and I've always been a man of action. Success takes guts and relentless effort. Only those who push through, no matter the odds, can create a bright future." Feeling rather pleased with his own words, Raymond stood up and pushed open the door behind him. The room inside was a lavish, neon-lit paradise, packed with state-of-the-art entertainment systems. A dozen women, barely dressed and practically flaunting their bodies, circled around a scrawny young man, giggling and playfully teasing him. "Come on, Mr. Wright, have a drink with me. Let's share a glass, hmm?" "How about you take me on a date tonight? I promise to make you feel like you're on cloud nine." "Mr. Wright, you're so bad… always grabbing my chest. But if you want, there are plenty
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 700
Bane waved a hand dismissively. "Let me make one thing clear—I'm not helping Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division out of pure goodwill. I expect to get what I want when the time comes. I trust you won't be stingy when that moment arrives." Tiana chuckled softly. "Don't worry. You'll have access to all the resources and funds you need." The meeting room was filled with Rhodes Corporation executives. Besides Bane and Michael, Andrew, Lauren, and Marcus were also present. However, the three of them sat on the sidelines, largely ignored. Nobody came over to chat or engage with them. Meanwhile, Michael stood at the center of attention, surrounded by a crowd of managers, all enthusiastically congratulating him. They were not there just for idle flattery—they were hedging their bets. After all, the ongoing power struggle between Michael and Lauren would decide who got the CEO seat. Judging by the current situation, Michael seemed like a guaranteed winner. And in corporate
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 701
Bane clenched his jaw, forcing himself to suppress his anger. He growled, "Fine. You've got a sharp tongue, I'll give you that. But what makes you so sure my products don't meet the standards you're talking about?" Andrew looked at him like he was the village idiot and let out a mocking chuckle. "I might not have seen your formulas, but I've seen the raw materials you're using." He said, "The recent budget reports from the Pharmaceutical Division? The massive procurement lists? Even just skimming through those documents was enough for me to tell you that your three new products are doomed to fail. "Because the production costs are ridiculously high—even I was shocked when I saw the numbers. You're basically bleeding Rhodes Corporation dry!" Bane gave a dismissive snort. "Cost is not my concern. My job is to produce results." Michael sneered. "Andrew, the Pharmaceutical Division has more than enough capital to handle those costs. Why are you so worried? Feeling jealous already
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 702
Michael beamed with pride at the praise and quickly responded with false humility. "Aunt Tiana, you flatter me. What I shared just now is only the tip of the iceberg. I'll prepare a detailed market analysis for you later—a summary of everything I've learned during my time at the company. It's the least I can do." Lauren shook her head and let out a quiet snort. "Showboating. I bet that 'research' was just copy-pasted off the internet. You're not fooling anyone." Michael, unfazed, grinned smugly. "So what if it was? Everything's on the internet these days. I learn from what I find there, and I think it's brilliant!" Lauren's lips twitched into a cold smile. "Learning? Is that what you call hiding in your office watching Eastonian adult films all day?" Michael's face turned beet red. He clenched his fists and snapped, "Lauren, this is a professional meeting. I'd appreciate it if you stuck to relevant topics!" Tiana's gaze shifted to Andrew, her expression amused. "Mr. Lloyd,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 703
Michael let out a cold snort. "That's right. This is my top-tier business insight. Short and simple. Quality is found in simplicity." He continued, "Take everyone here, for example. None of you are exactly broke. If you see a car you like, are you really going to sit there crunching numbers? No—you'll sign the papers and drive off. "When you go out to eat, does it really matter if the bill's 1000 dollars or even 5000 dollars? As long as the food's good and you're enjoying yourself, you'll happily pay, right?" One of the executives immediately chimed in, "Mr. Rhodes is absolutely right. These days, I don't even look at price tags. If I like something, I buy it." Another manager eagerly added, "Exactly. Wealthy customers don't stress about prices. The only thing that matters is whether they want it." A third executive even went as far as bragging about their extravagant lifestyle, boasting about how easily they spent money without batting an eye. Andrew shook his head and lau
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 704
Andrew sneered. "I call you an idiot, and you're still trying to argue. Amazing. You've got sky-high production costs, and now you're planning to get into a price war with competitors who can undercut you without breaking a sweat. The moment they lower their prices, your so-called strategy will collapse like a house of cards." Michael opened his mouth to respond but came up empty. His face darkened as he struggled to find a comeback. The other executives exchanged uneasy glances. They wanted to defend Michael's point, but they simply did not have the knowledge to counter Andrew's logic. Even Tiana's eyes narrowed slightly as she mentally reviewed the Pharmaceutical Division's current situation. Andrew's analysis had exposed a glaring flaw she had not fully considered before. "All right, Mr. Lloyd," Tiana said, leaning slightly forward. "Since you see the problem so clearly, what would you suggest we do to gain an advantage?" Andrew stretched and gave a lazy yawn. "The solutio
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 705
Andrew remained unfazed as he continued, "And one more thing—true wisdom has nothing to do with age. If you've lived all these decades and still haven't figured that out, then congratulations—you've basically wasted your entire life. Next time you want to learn something, start by showing a little humility." The elderly executive was livid. He shot up from his chair, turning to Tiana with a furious glare, ready to demand justice. However, the sudden surge of anger proved too much. With a guttural groan, his face contorted, and he collapsed with a loud thud under the table. Michael and the others gasped in shock. "Did… did Andrew just argue him into unconsciousness?" Tiana's face remained stone-cold. "Take him to the medical wing. Don't let this disrupt the meeting." A team of security staff quickly entered the room, lifted the unconscious executive, and carried him away. Lauren discreetly gave Andrew a thumbs-up, her eyes glimmering with amusement. She thought, 'Dr. Lloyd, yo
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1176
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1175
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1174
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1173
Andrew was sitting on the lawn outside Serenity Villa, watching the crew from The Sovereign Residences repair his home. After the attack last night, it was a miracle the place was still standing—if the villa had not been built to the highest security standards, it would have been reduced to nothing but ash and rubble by the Srovika Federation mercenaries. Felix Daughtry, the security captain from The Sovereign Residences, a semi-martial king-level fighter, walked over with a grim expression and reported, "Mr. Lloyd, Serenity Villa took quite a hit. Full restoration might be difficult." Andrew glanced at him and said coldly, "I want it restored exactly as it was, and not just that—The Sovereign Residences will need to compensate me for all damages, including emotional distress. If that's too much, then I don't want the house anymore. I'll go to the press and let the world know just how useless your brand really is." Felix's face darkened, turning almost pitch black with anger. H
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1172
Since the night before, Xavier had been fully suited in military attire, standing vigilant and sleepless. He gripped a massive broadsword, and when the butler spoke, his voice was ice-cold. "Don't worry. Andarov won't fail me. That bastard Andrew is as good as dead." Though those were his words, doubt lingered in Xavier's mind. After all, Andarov never took this long to finish a kill. Nonetheless, the sun was rising—he should be back any minute now. Andarov, commander of the Blood Wolf Mercenaries, was ruthless and battle-hardened. Xavier met him while stationed overseas, and after several missions together, they became close allies. "With the entire Blood Wolf squad under him, it doesn't matter if Andrew has bodyguards. He won't last five minutes," Xavier sneered, confident. He was already planning the next steps—hold Seth's memorial as soon as Andarov returned, then introduce him to Luna to score even more clout. Having a famous international mercenary as a personal friend? E
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1171
At the Golding family estate, Elon exclaimed in disbelief, "What did you just say? Black Wolf is dead?" The butler, face tight with unease, replied, "Yes, sir. Early this morning, his body was found dumped in the sewer. The cause of death matched the last group of assassins perfectly. There's no doubt that it was Andrew who killed him." Elon's expression darkened instantly. "Even Black Wolf failed and ended up dead? Andrew... you've clearly been hiding more strength than we thought." The butler nodded gravely. "Sir, that man is definitely not some pawn on the board. Not only is Black Wolf gone, but the Srovika Federation mercenary commander the Haywoods brought in also died at Serenity Villa." Elon gasped. "Even Xavier's overseas hitman got wiped out? Are you absolutely sure?" The old butler's brow twitched. "Completely sure. This morning, both bodies—Black Wolf and the mercenary captain—were found side by side in the sewer on Blumedale's main street." Elon clenched his ja
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1170
On the ground, Black Wolf writhed in pain, howling in disbelief. He finally understood why that last squad of heavily armed mercenaries had vanished without a trace after storming Serenity Villa. This place was not just a house—it was a damn death trap. "Who sent you to kill me?" Andrew asked calmly as he twirled the dagger Black Wolf had dropped. Pinned down by Natasha and Dylan, Black Wolf was drenched in sweat, his shattered legs leaving him gasping in agony. He growled, "Why the hell should I tell you? You should know exactly who you've pissed off. Even if I'm in your hands, kid, if you lay a finger on me, the consequences—" Andrew did not let him finish. Instead, he drove the blade straight into Black Wolf's chest. Whatever threat Black Wolf was about to spit out died on his tongue. His eyes bulged in shock before his head slumped to the side—dead. "If you didn't have the sense to act like a prisoner, then I did you a favor and sent you straight to hell. Next time, try
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1169
Aspen could not help leaning closer to see what Andrew was doing. To her surprise, his breathing was steady—he was already asleep. She stared at him, both amused and annoyed as she thought, 'I'm lying right next to him, and he still manages to fall asleep? Am I not attractive enough? Or does this guy just not find me worth the effort?' That split second of realization triggered an unexpected wave of disappointment and frustration in her. … Meanwhile, outside Serenity Villa, a black figure moved silently across the ruined outer wall, climbing with inhuman ease. It was Black Wolf—Elon's secret weapon, a top-tier assassin with a reputation to match. A matte-finished blade dangled from his lips as he surveyed the building, swiftly memorizing the layout of the damaged villa. He was not alone. At least a dozen other men hid in the dark, surrounding the perimeter and lying in wait. Nonetheless, they were not predators, at least not to him. He scoffed, thinking, 'They're the bait,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1168
Through the second half of the night, Serenity Villa remained eerily quiet. Chantelle stepped out from her lookout post and announced, "Looks like no one else is coming tonight. Everyone should get some rest." Andrew stopped her. "Hold up. You all stay on watch—I'll go rest." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "Are you giving me orders like I'm your subordinate?" Andrew responded calmly, "Not at all. I just want to isolate myself and draw the next assassin in alone." Chantelle frowned. "So, you're planning to be alone in a room and give the assassin a shot at you? You're using yourself as bait?" Andrew replied, "Exactly. One mercenary commander from the Srovika Federation is dead, but with the Haywoods and Goldings both after my head, there's no way they'd just send one decent hitter and be done." Chantelle nodded. "That… makes sense. But you're injured. What happens if something unexpected comes up? Can you really handle it?" Before Andrew could answer, Aspen blurted, "It's
