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Chapter 776
Kaugnay na kabanata
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 777
A storm was brewing in Jayrodale. For Lauren's sake, Andrew knew he could no longer stay confined to this city—he had to extend his reach into Blumedale. Leaving Moonlit Apothecary, he sent a message to Dylan and Natasha, instructing them to meet him in West Side. He needed to strengthen their abilities if they were going to handle the changes ahead. On the drive, his phone rang—Donald was calling. "Mr. Lloyd, I hate to say this, but I failed. I couldn't bring Michael to justice." There was frustration in Donald's voice, thick with unwillingness to accept defeat. Andrew remained calm. "No need to be discouraged, Mr. Warren. Tell me exactly what happened." Donald's tone hardened with anger. "The order came directly from Mr. Thatcher. He commanded Michael's unconditional release. I was furious and demanded to know why, but all Mr. Thatcher said was that Michael had people backing him from above. "I've dealt with plenty of criminals trying to pull strings before, but in the
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 778
Donald sighed in shame. "No, I didn't do anything. I chose to bow my head." Andrew was speechless. "So, in the end, you actually drank it?" There was silence on the other end of the line. After a long pause, Donald muttered, "Mr. Lloyd, goodbye." Andrew had not expected Donald to have such a humiliating past. With a cold chuckle, he said, "Wait a minute. You still remember the name of that Driscoll brat who bullied you, don't you?" Donald gritted his teeth. "Of course, I do. How could I forget? Even now, after climbing my way up to chief commissioner of Jayrodale's police force, I still hate that bastard. But at the same time, I can't shake the fear I felt back then." He continued, "His name is Rafael Driscoll. He was just a spoiled rich kid back then, but now, he's grown into one of the Driscoll family's enforcers." Andrew nodded calmly. "Got it. If the opportunity comes, I'll make sure you get justice." Donald let out an awkward laugh, not taking Andrew's words seriousl
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 779
For martial artists, strength and skill could be enhanced directly through specialized herbal tonics—or even more potent alchemical pills. Nonetheless, whether it was a tonic or a pill, these were luxuries that most people could not afford. Hence, it was often said such a journey was only available to the rich. If one wanted to master martial arts, they needed lots of money. However, having wealth and power was only the foundation. It was not nearly enough to reach the highest levels. Plenty of rich kids trained in combat, but most were nothing more than show-offs. Their skills were shallow, nothing beyond a few flashy moves. When faced with real martial artists, they would not last more than a few strikes. At best, they would get slapped around and humiliated. At worst, they would end up dead. To truly improve, money alone was not enough. One needed someone who could refine and craft the right tonics or enhancement pills. And those alchemists? They were not just rare—they w
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 780
Andrew said, "The two of you already have a solid foundation. This tonic won't do much for you. That's why I've prepared something different—pills, specifically made for you." The moment they heard the word pills, Natasha and Dylan's faces lit up with excitement. They watched eagerly, waiting for Andrew to take them out. However, instead of moving, Andrew simply looked at them and said coldly, "All medicine carries poison to some degree. And pills—especially high-grade ones—are the most dangerous of them all." He continued, "For an ordinary person, swallowing a single high-grade pill could make their blood boil and explode within hours. The reason is simple—these pills contain an overwhelming amount of energy. So don't assume that just because a pill is rare and powerful, it's automatically good for you." Natasha frowned. "Darling, are you saying the ones you made for us are high-grade pills?" Andrew pulled out a small box and placed it on the table. His voice remained indiff
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 781
Andrew hesitated for a moment before saying slowly, "The reason I pushed you to improve your skills across the board is because I have other plans. Very soon, you might face a real test against much stronger opponents." Dylan, completely unfazed, smirked. "Mr. Lloyd, you gave me this life, so whether it's stronger opponents or even Jesus himself, I'll make sure he's running with that cross on his back!" Natasha, more perceptive than Dylan, narrowed her eyes at Andrew. "Darling, you're not about to tell us you've got enemies, are you?" Andrew shrugged. "Wouldn't call them enemies, but chances are, there's gonna be a fight." Natasha chuckled. "In Jayrodale? Please. I doubt there's anyone here who could even try to take you on. The Wellers, the Rhodes—none stand a chance against you. Even Mr. Yates on our side, so who else could you possibly be up against?" Andrew smiled. "Just because I don't have rivals in Jayrodale doesn't mean I don't have them elsewhere. For example, the Go
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 782
There was no way around it—no one in the room could afford to bear the brunt of Tiana's wrath. Yet, at the same time, there was nothing they could do to fix Rhodes Corporation's current crisis. Hence, they could only stand there in silence, listening as she vented her fury. Michael finally lifted his head and could not help but say, "Aunt Tiana, none of us wanted this situation to happen either. Yelling at us won't change anything—we've all done our best!" Tiana's icy gaze snapped to him, and she let out a sharp laugh. "So, you're saying that Rhodes Corporation should just sit back and wait for its downfall? We should just watch as our reputation and profits continue to spiral until there's nothing left?" Michael clenched his jaw. "This is obviously the work of someone orchestrating an online smear campaign against us. But I believe if we keep our heads high and stay firm, public opinion will eventually shift, and this whole mess will blow over." Tiana slammed her hand on the
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 783
Michael felt a deep sense of frustration creeping up and let out a cold laugh. "Aunt Tiana, of all people, Andrew is the last person you should be asking for help. Who does he think he is? Like he could actually save Rhodes Corporation? The moment trouble showed up, he disappeared without a trace!" Tiana smirked. "Oh? So if Andrew isn't capable, does that mean you are?" Tell you what—if you can contain the media backlash and turn the pharmaceutical division around, I'll make you CEO on the spot. How about that?" Michael's face darkened immediately. While Tiana made it sound like she was giving him an opportunity, in reality, she was humiliating him in front of everyone. Her words did not just question his abilities—they made it clear to the entire room that Michael simply was not on Andrew's level. That was the only reason she could afford to make such an offer. Michael clenched his teeth. "Fine, Aunt Tiana. I admit, I can't fix this mess. But Andrew? He's even worse—he doesn
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 784
Before Charlie could even finish his sentence, Tiana cut him off coldly. "Right now, what's more important—the company's future or your pride? I don't think I need to spell it out for you." Charlie's stomach twisted. He knew there was no way out of this—whether he liked it or not, he had to go through with it. At Tiana's signal, Marcus dialed Andrew's number again and then handed the phone to Charlie with a polite smile. Charlie forced out a stiff chuckle. "Mr. Lloyd, it's Charlie Mitchell, one of the senior board members. I was just wondering—when do you plan on returning to the company?" He tried to keep his tone as respectful as possible, swallowing his pride. A second later, Andrew's voice came through, completely indifferent. "Get lost." The call cut off—no hesitation, no explanation. Charlie stood there, gripping the phone, his face turning a deep shade of red. "That little bastard! He actually told me to get lost! Me!" Fuming, he raised the phone, ready to smash it
Pinakabagong kabanata
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1200
With a sickening snap, several bones shattered under Logan's brutal kick, and Archie let out a bloodcurdling scream that made everyone's scalp tingle. "Mr. Keller, please, stop! I'm begging you! I was wrong! I was talking shit! I apologize—I apologize!" Archie flailed on the ground like a dying animal, completely stripped of his earlier arrogance. His body trembled violently, his face twisted in agony, but he did not dare show the slightest bit of temper as he groveled before Logan, crying and pleading. Logan casually strolled over and slapped him twice more across the face, with ruthless, bone-jarring force. Archie's head snapped to the side so hard it almost seemed like his neck would break, and his screams grew even more pitiful. Yet, not a single Hopkins fighter moved to help him. All of them stood frozen, faces pale with fear, too terrified to even breathe loudly. Logan's voice was calm but icy. "Tonight, if Andrew doesn't accept your apology, not a single one of you
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1199
"Andy, I'm here!" In the midst of the tense, frozen atmosphere, only Logan and Andrew seemed relaxed, chatting like old friends without a care in the world. Andrew chuckled. "Logan, you're acting way too friendly!" For once, Logan's face flushed slightly red with embarrassment. Truth be told, he and Andrew were not actually that close. However, orders were orders—George had made it clear that they had to secure Andrew's favor no matter what it took. If Andrew did not show much enthusiasm toward the Keller family, then Logan had no choice but to make up for it by being overly enthusiastic himself. "If you don't like it, how about you be the older brother and I'll be the younger one?" Logan's attitude was ridiculously accommodating as if he had no pride left to defend. No matter how awkward it felt, Andrew was someone the Keller family absolutely had to win over. Watching all this unfold, Tiana, Jameson, and the Hopkins crowd were even more stunned. It almost seemed like Loga
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1198
By some twisted stroke of luck, Archie's manhood—though bruised and swollen—had not been completely destroyed. While he silently thanked the heavens, his hatred for Tiana grew even deeper. That seductive married woman? He was determined to have her tonight, no matter what it took. Just then, Jerry and a dozen of the Rhodes family's top fighters finally arrived on the scene. Jameson, seeing that his people were in place, narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Mr. Hopkins, you really want to keep pushing this?" Archie let out a twisted laugh. "Mr. Rhodes, your wife hit me. That punk by your side hit me too! Do you really think someone like me, who cares this much about his reputation, is just going to let that go?" Tiana scoffed. "So what if we don't let it go? Mr. Hopkins, you're nothing more than a disgusting maggot. What are you going to do about it?" Archie screamed, his face flushed with rage. "Tiana, you filthy bitch! Do you think you're better than me? Tonight, I'll make
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1197
"This way, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Rhodes, Mrs. Rhodes, and Ms. Rhodes—please!" Justin had completely changed his attitude, now grinning with over-the-top enthusiasm. He was practically bowing, a world apart from the snobby arrogance he had shown earlier. Tiana smiled faintly and said, "We'll be dining in the Celestial Suite now. That won't be a problem, right?" The manager nodded so fast it looked painful. "No problem at all, Mrs. Rhodes. Please, right this way!" Jameson patted Andrew's shoulder reassuringly and whispered, "Andy, don't worry. I already called our people. Jerry and the others are on their way." Andrew chuckled lightly. "Mr. Rhodes, there's no need to mobilize the whole family.The Hopkins? I can handle them myself." Jameson shook his head, thinking Andrew was just putting on a brave face. He believed Andrew, being new to Blumedale, could not possibly fend off the Hopkins on his own. Meanwhile, Andrew casually excused himself during dinner to make a quick call to
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1196
Everyone could tell Andrew was no ordinary martial artist. After all, he had taken down the Hopkins men like it was nothing. Nonetheless, the fact that he kept going and even dared to lay hands on Archie was pure suicide. "That little bastard is dead meat! Archie's gonna skin him alive!" someone hissed. "Yeah! It's one thing to slap us around, but hitting Mr. Hopkins? Does he think he's untouchable?" "Just wait. This fool's been used like a pawn by Mrs. Rhodes. Once the real Hopkins heavy hitters show up, he's gonna get slaughtered right here at The Palace!" Meanwhile, Archie caught another few brutal slaps from Andrew. Chunks of his thick beard went flying through the air. Archie howled, "You little punk! You've pushed it too far! If I don't kill you tonight, I'll change my damn last name to yours!" Grimacing with rage, Archie pulled out his phone and snarled into it. "I just got attacked at The Palace. Bring the whole crew over—now! "Yeah, you heard me. Tonight, I'm w
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1195
The others around them sneered and snickered. "Kid, you're all skin and bones. Do yourself a favor and get lost." Another chimed in, "Mr. Hopkins doesn't even take the entire Rhodes family seriously. What makes you think you stand a chance, you low-level nobody?" "Heh, did you all hear it earlier? Tiana said they are his in-laws. Damn, this kid hit the jackpot. Tiana and her daughter? Both absolute knockouts." One remarked, "No kidding. That lucky punk, I envy him like hell. If it were me, I'd be laughing in my sleep. Bagging a mother-daughter pair? That's the dream, man… pure heaven." A few filthy-mouthed degenerates let loose with their vulgar fantasies, and the air instantly grew more volatile. The tension between both sides was now on the brink of exploding. Tiana let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Looks like Mr. Hopkins isn't the only one talking shit tonight. Some of you have even more sewage coming out of your mouths." She turned to Andrew, her smile sharp as ice. "Come
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1194
Justin instantly sensed something was about to spiral. He rushed forward and tried to defuse the tension. "Mr. Hopkins, please calm down. We're all just here to have a nice dinner—no need for this." Archie clutched his swollen cheek, his face twisted with rage. "Calm down? Get out of my face! If you say another word, I'll end you too!" Justin flinched and quickly backed off, no longer daring to speak. However, as he glanced toward the Rhodes family, his eyes burned with resentment. He cursed them for being foolish. Despite knowing they could not go up against the Hopkins, they still had to throw punches. He could not help but think they were just asking for it. Lauren's voice rang out cold and firm. "Mr. Hopkins, what are you trying to do? Start a war?" Archie bellowed with laughter. "Big mouth on you, you little bitch! With your trashy Rhodes family, you're not even qualified to go to war with the Hopkins!" He sneered, eyes gleaming. "But don't worry—I'm not just gonna tak
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1193
Justin's face twisted in discomfort, but before he could say anything, a loud voice boomed across the entrance. "Mr. McGrath, you can step back! If Mrs. Rhodes wants to dine in our Celestial Suite, then she's more than welcome!" As the voice faded, a burly man with a thick beard strode over. The giant crystal ring on his hand and the heavy gold chain across his chest made it clear—this man was rich, but absolutely tasteless. Jameson snorted coldly. "The Hopkins family sure has some nerve, snatching up someone else's reservation like it's nothing." Archie Hopkins cracked a wide grin, revealing a mouth full of blackened teeth, and laughed without a care. "Mr. Rhodes, you sound way too naive!" Archie shrugged and said, "In this world, it's all about money and muscle. The Hopkins family's got both. So stealing a little dining room from the Rhodes family? It's nothing." Tiana's voice turned icy. "Since you're admitting it's theft, then do us a favor and get the hell out." Arch
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1192
The place Jameson picked for dinner was one of the most well-known upscale restaurants in Blumedale—The Palace. "Andy, you might not know this, but around here, this spot is top-tier," Jameson said as he adjusted his tailored suit and smiled. He added, "It's not like I'm trying to flaunt my wealth or anything. But sometimes, even if you don't care for appearances, you've still got to show up with style!" Andrew chuckled and replied, "Mr. Rhodes, I get what you're saying." Tiana spoke up coolly, "Jameson, no need to put on this kind of show in front of Andrew. Otherwise, you'll just end up looking ridiculous. This guy probably poops in places you haven't even dreamed of stepping into." Jameson froze for a second, clearly shocked. "Well now, Tiana, you're really singing Andy's praises today. Could it be… the classic case of a mother-in-law who's starting to really like her son-in-law?" Tiana gave a snort. "This has nothing to do with liking him. I'm just telling the truth."
