Aloysius sighed heavily and said, "The Sanguis Cult is the kind of entity that we could never reach. Even the Slaughter Gods are wary of them!""However, when one door closes, another opens. Perhaps we can forge a connection with the Sanguis Cult through this incident with Sebastian. That would be a boon for our family too." Aloysius' serious expression softened as he smiled slightly.…That night, Gavin rushed to the hospital as soon as he could. When he saw Sebastian, he asked in concern, "Mr. Ballard, how is Ms. Griffin? If you need me to, I'll transfer the best medical equipment in Janover here right now."Sebastian waved a hand gently and said, "It's alright. Rosalie is out of danger. She'll wake up after resting for three days. However, those assassins didn't seem to be part of the Slaughter Gods."Gavin frowned and asked, "Mr. Ballard, do you mean to say that someone else was trying to assassinate you this time?"Gavin's phone suddenly rang. Seeing that it was his deputy,
The assassin who had disguised himself as a security guard had martial arts skills at the level of a Grandmaster.Even a small bomb would not have been able to injure a Grandmaster expert so severely. Thus, the degree of his injuries would have required tremendous force and impact.That meant Sebastian's kick was at least at Level One of the Celestial level. That was the only way he would have been able to break the man's spine into six pieces with just one move."It's true. You can come and see for yourself if you don't believe me. I heard that Mr. Ballard was even carrying an injured person while he did it," Fred said as he walked over to the wall where the assassin had fallen. When he saw the cracked marble, he couldn't help knocking on it gently.An entire chunk of marble fell, sending up a shower of pebbles. It made Fred dizzy to look at it."T-The wall's cracked too," he said in disbelief. Gavin stared at Sebastian, his eyes bulging. Although he knew that Sebastian had to
"Mr. Ballard, it'll be easy to find out whether the Gullivers were involved or not. We just have to send someone to check their financial transactions. However, before we have irrefutable proof, I would like to ask you not to do anything to the Gullivers," Gavin said to Sebastian, frowning.The Gullivers were very influential among Sartvale's martial arts sects. If they attacked the Gullivers, it would also stir up those of the Martial Arts Association, and they would end up causing a lot of unnecessary trouble.Sebastian nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I'll be waiting for news from you. It's getting late. You should go home."Gavin nodded and bid his farewell. Meanwhile, Zane and Whitney had both been shaken by the assassination attempt, and they both refused to leave the hospital.Sebastian had no choice. He instructed them to find empty beds in the adjacent hospital rooms and stay there temporarily.…After the defeated assassination attempt from the night before, the Gu
Before long, a red-faced man in his 50s walked into the living room with a young man in tow.The ruddy-faced man was obviously Thaddeus.Aloysius hastily got up to greet him. He bowed to Thaddeus slightly and said, "Mr. Verton, I've heard many things about you, and I finally get to meet you today. With your help, I'm sure that we'll avenge my son in no time."Thaddeus bowed back slightly to Aloysius. He had heard about the Gullivers' predicament from Jeffrey. He then comforted Aloysius for Kelvin's death. Noticing Aloysius still looked grim, he smiled and said, "Mr. Gulliver Senior, I've heard about everything. Although Sebastian didn't die, one of the women with him was severely injured and is now at death's door."If there are no unexpected incidents, she'll die from her injuries any time now. That will be like collecting interest from Ballard." Aloysius looked up at Thaddeus. He looked sinister as he said, "I don't care how many of the people around him die. I only want him d
Thaddeus glared coldly at Aloysius."Oh, right, right. You're absolutely right, Mr. Verton." Aloysius finally understood why Jeffrey had said that they would need the Gullivers' connections.However, if he could kill Sebastian and avenge Kelvin, Aloysius would be willing to do anything.…Early the next day, Sebastian had just changed the dressings on Rosalie's wound when someone banged on the door of the convenience store.Sebastian had taken Rosalie back to the convenience store so that he could easily treat her if there were any urgent situations.Additionally, the convenience store was in a comparatively remote location, so it was easier for Gavin and the others to lie in wait. Once their opponent sent assassins to them again, they could catch them all in one fell swoop and find the mastermind behind it."Damn it, who's that? How could they be so uncivilized?" Zane opened the door angrily. There was an old man and a young man standing outside. The old man wore a mink coat,
"Sebastian, did they say that someone is challenging you to a martial arts battle? What kind of era are we living in? We won't go!" Whitney said, looking worried.Zane nodded and said, "That's right, Seb! They chose the place and time. There might be a trap! We'd better not go.""No." Rosalie mustered up the energy to sit up, and she said in a trembling voice, "The Martial Arts Association have come forward. If Sebastian doesn't go, the consequences will be dire.""Rosalie." Whitney hurried over to the bed to help Rosalie sit up."That's right. We can't refuse a challenge from the Martial Arts Association," Liam said seriously. He had rushed over as well. "Seb, as far as I know, they've invited another expert to come. This person is someone our special forces team have been looking for," Liam said to Sebastian as soon as he entered. He looked as if he were facing a formidable enemy."Who is it?" Sebastian asked, frowning."His name is Ricardo, and he's one of the experts of Yut
"We can send more people and spread a wide net," Liam said defiantly."It won't be of any use. It will only increase the numbers of injuries and casualties." Sebastian sighed and said, "Besides, I regret to tell you that you'd better not let your men appear tomorrow."Liam looked at Sebastian in surprise. He frowned and said, "Seb, what do you mean by that?""If Ventus and Bianca are experts of the same level, you won't be able to do anything to them. Even I can only reach a tie with Bianca in battle," Sebastian said earnestly."Seb, did you reveal the news to Blake on purpose so that Madam Dragon will intervene again to help you?" Liam asked instinctively. Sebastian shook his head slightly and said, "I want to verify a theory of mine. If she appears again, it'll mean that I've guessed correctly.""What theory?" Liam asked doubtfully.Sebastian shook his head and didn't speak again. Before he could verify his suspicions, he wouldn't reveal anything to anyone.That night, Sebas
"Madam Dragon, those thick-skinned old assholes have no sense of shame." Blake sat in the car and gazed in the direction of the battle arena. He was worried for Sebastian."The mystic sects have always been a place of scheming and plots. Whether Sebastian lives or dies today will depend on whether the other party wants to kill him or not," Belinda said.She looked contemptuously in the direction of the battle arena. She didn't think that Monty and the others were worth her time."Bianca?" Blake blurted out.Belinda nodded slightly and said, "If she joins forces with Ventus, Sebastian will have no chance of survival today."At that moment, countless cherry blossoms drifted through the sky as a cold gust of wind blew in from the river. A person with an umbrella drifted down from the skies. It was as if they had descended from heaven. A beautiful face could be seen under the umbrella, and it entranced everyone who saw her.She was wearing fiery red traditional Yutarian clothes wit
Sebastian threw his head back in laughter. He strode forward, standing in the center of the hall, and said coldly. "Ungrateful? How could you have the audacity to say such a thing?"Even if I'm surrounded by enemies, you Ballards can forget about making me submit! It's just death, after all. If I even blink, then I won't call myself a man!"Everyone there stared at Sebastian."How dare that brat be so cocky? If he's not punished, it'll be a disgrace to our family rules!""He should be given the death penalty!""It'll be a disaster if we just let him be, and it'll only bring trouble for our family. Please give the order, and we'll kill him at once!"The entire hall was in an uproar. Even Preston, who had been speaking up for Sebastian and Samson, sighed in resignation.Since Sebastian had already made his stance clear, Preston couldn't help even if he wanted to.Sebastian had roused the anger of everyone there, and Arnaud had closed his eyes and wasn't saying anything. He was cl
Sebastian was just about to step forward when Samson hastily waved a hand at him and said, "Sebastian, the grudges of the Ballard family from over ten years ago have nothing to do with you. Don't get involved!""But—"Sebastian's gaze sharpened as he turned to look at Milton. There was an icy glint in his eyes. Samson shook his head slightly at Sebastian. The Ballard Estate had at least ten experts at the eighth level of the Eldoria realm. At Sebastian's current level, trying to fight them would only bring him big trouble."Sebastian, one must learn how to adapt to the situation," Samson whispered into his ear using voice projection. "Today, I will exchange my legs for your and Whitney's freedom. Think of it as a payment for what I owe you and your mother."Sebastian clenched his fists tightly. He hated himself for being too weak. He couldn't even protect his own family in a place like the Ballard Estate, where many experts were gathered.However, he would never allow anyone to
"Do you accept it, Samson?" Arnaud asked harshly when he saw that Preston hadn't said anything else. He turned to look directly at Samson.Samson smiled bitterly and turned to look at Sebastian before raising his head to look at Arnaud, who was sitting high above them. He said, "Uncle Arnaud, I was the reason for everything that happened. I wish to ask you not to trouble Sebastian.""What are you talking about?" Preston was agitated. He stood up again and yelled, "There must still be an investigation about who was right and who was wrong. Why should they break your legs?"As he spoke, his eyes blazed with fury. He looked at the thin old man and said furiously, "Milton, you old bastard! How can you be so shameless at your age? Tell me! Did you embellish the story to Arnaud?""Uncle Preston!" Samson stopped him quickly and sighed slightly. "Forget it. It's my fault for bringing such huge trouble upon our family back then."I admit that I have let our family down. Since imprisoning m
As the man in the black robe yelled, the entire hall fell silent at once. The thin old man threw the black-robed old man a disgruntled look, but he returned obediently to his seat.Once the noise had died down, Preston stepped forward and swept an icy gaze over the crowd who were present. "You call yourself the elders of the family?"The monument of our ancestral dragon is right in front of you. How could you bully two young members of the family in front of it? Don't you feel any shame?"Besides, how dare you speak before Arnaud does?"After the harsh scolding they received from Preston, no one in the crowd dared to protest. Sebastian nodded involuntarily. It appeared that Preston did have influence in the Ballard family. At least no one had interrupted his scolding, including Arnaud and the man in the black robe.Preston huffed angrily and bowed to Arnaud, who sat in the middle. "Arnaud, I've brought Samson and Sebastian!"Preston went over to the chair next to the black-robe
"Sebastian, I won't be going in. Remember, don't say anything without being spoken to, and don't be impulsive!" Andreas said softly in Sebastian's ear when they reached the door to the hall. He then walked over to the crowd, which was packed on both sides of the hall.Samson and Preston walked into the hall without any change in expression. Sebastian hesitated for a moment before hurrying to catch up.When they reached the entrance, the two old men reached out to stop them and said to Preston, who was in the lead, "Preston, I'm afraid that it wouldn't be a good idea for you to go in. Everyone knows that you're biased toward Samson's family. If you get into an argument with Arnaud, then—""Nonsense!" Preston yelled furiously. He spoke in a menacing tone to the two old men. "Don't try those tricks with me. Today, I'm going to be the voice of reason. Who among you can do anything to me?"With that, he pushed them aside and strode into the hall.The two old men gazed after his ret
The Ballard Estate's resources were unfathomable as it was. Could Isabella's family be even more powerful than theirs?Sebastian clearly remembered that both he and Samson were under the Sacred Medicine Society. They even had the same mentor.The Sacred Medicine Society was above all the other mystic martial arts sects. Even the sect leaders of the Nine Sects were very respectful toward his mentor.If Samson really was from the same sect as Sebastian, then his mentor had clearly been unable to save him. Wouldn't that mean that the Sacred Medicine Society was no match for the Ballards?Wouldn't that mean that Isabella's family was an even greater entity?"If my mother's family is really that powerful, why couldn't they rescue my father? There would also be no reason to let me join the Sacred Medicine Society either, right?" Sebastian asked probingly. It seemed as if Andreas had never even thought about such questions. He smiled and shook his head. "You probably don't know about a
As they stepped out of the courtyard gate, Samson suddenly turned and lowered his voice as he said to Sebastian, "I didn't treat you and your mother well. Please don't hold it against me."Sebastian felt even more conflicted. After everything he had been through, he knew very well that there were times when one really had no choice. When Samson saw that Sebastian was looking at him with a conflicted expression, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him a warm smile. Then he took a token from Preston and walked out of the yard.They followed Preston as he walked toward the east, where there was a majestic-looking building."Why are you helping me?" Sebastian suddenly turned and asked Andreas in a low voice. Andreas glanced at him and gave him a long, cryptic smile. "Do you think I'm helping you? I'm helping myself while doing so!""Oh?" Sebastian looked at Andreas in confusion, his brow knitted. Even Rexton had mentioned that Andreas was in Arnaud's favor. Why would he need t
When Rexton and the others had gone, Preston turned to look at Samson and said irritatedly, "You little rascal. Would I ever hurt you?"Besides, you've been here in isolation for ten years. Why hasn't your temper changed at all? Couldn't you show me some respect in front of all those people?"Samson glanced at Preston but didn't answer.Preston huffed and ignored him. He turned and looked Sebastian up and down instead."Hey, kiddo. Over ten years have passed in just the blink of an eye. You've probably forgotten me. I even gave you candy back then! Come over here and call me Great Uncle Preston!"Sebastian looked at him in surprise. It was true that he didn't have much of an impression of what had happened over ten years ago. However, he could tell from what Preston had said and done that his attitude toward Sebastian's family was completely different from Rexton and the others.Beside Sebastian, Andreas kept shooting him meaningful looks. Sebastian finally smiled and said, "Hell
Although the old man looked as if he was over 60 years old, his expression was sharp and lively, and his skin was smooth as a baby's. It gave him a youthful air.Even the severely injured apprentices all scrambled up from the ground when they saw him. They hastily bowed and said, "Greetings, Great Uncle Preston!"Even Rexton had no choice but to suppress his anger. He bowed sullenly to the old man and said, "Greetings, Uncle Preston."Preston Ballard glanced at Rexton and turned to shout angrily at the apprentices, "If I hadn't come, were you planning to tear the Ballard Estate apart? Look at all of you! Get out of here right now!"Despite the scolding they had been subjected to, none of them dared to protest. They all lowered their heads and slunk out of the yard. Preston glared angrily at them as they went and snorted. "What an embarrassment to the family!"Then he smiled slightly and looked at Samson and Sebastian as he asked, "Samson, do you have anything to say?"Samson lo