Sebastian had been planning on telling Whitney about what had happened last night, but after thinking about it, he decided not to do so. "No particular reason. You've just been working so hard lately, and I want to give you a little gift. Well? Do you have time?" Sebastian asked impassively.Whitney was delighted. Had Sebastian had a change of heart?She immediately answered, "Okay, wait for me at the convenience store. I'll get ready and be there in half an hour."Although she had said that it would take half an hour, she arrived at the convenience store entrance in less than 20 minutes.Sebastian told the rest of them briefly about where he was going before he grabbed a jacket and got into the car."Sebastian, when are you going to stop looking this unkempt?" Whitney asked, smiling wryly when she saw that Sebastian was wearing a trench coat that he had bought several years ago. With Sebastian's current fortune, it would've been nothing for him to go around laden with jewelry
Sebastian patted Whitney's hand gently to reassure her."Come with me," the sales assistant said. She led them through a pair of moon gates and entered a smaller exhibition hall.There were all kinds of emerald jewelry and pendants under bulletproof glass. There were carved statuettes of gods, as well as round emerald pendants and emerald plates.They were all made of AAA-quality emerald, and any of them would cost at least two million dollars.Most wealthy businessmen who came to the exhibition hall just wanted to browse. There were very few who actually spent money to buy them.It was partly because wealthy businessmen didn't know anything about emeralds, and they only bought emerald articles as a way to follow trends and appear elegant. On the other hand, spending two million to buy an emerald pendant just to toy with it sounded absurdly extravagant.Although the emerald articles were clearly of higher quality than those in the hall outside, there was still no sign of divine e
"Mr. Zucker, these customers want to look at the emerald articles," the sales assistant explained hastily.Zachary Zucker, the store manager, clasped his hands behind his back and went up to Sebastian and Whitney. He looked them up and down and frowned. "Lola, you're a senior staff member here. Can't you judge people at all?" Zachary asked imperiously, looking grim. "These emerald articles cost at least tens of millions. Do you think that just anyone can afford them?"Noticing the anger on Zachary's face, Lola explained quickly. "Mr. Zucker, but—""But what? All of these articles are priceless. How can you take them out for just anyone? If they're damaged, who's going to take responsibility?" Zachary scolded."You're saying that I can't afford them, aren't you?" Sebastian glanced coldly at Zachary. He was never lenient toward people who were contemptuous of others. "Do I even need to say that when you look like that? The cheapest out of all of them are the bangles, which cost 1
"Don't be angry, Whitney. She was a mistress before she was a prostitute, so she's speaking from experience," Sebastian said in a teasing tone.Whitney couldn't help bursting into laughter. She gave Sebastian a light punch on the shoulder. "I never realized how mean you were in the past!""Who the hell are you talking about?" The fat woman screamed shrilly as she pointed at Sebastian, her eyes bulging as she glared at him. "Is there anyone else here?" Sebastian sneered. "However, a man who could keep you around with money or spend money on you has questionable taste."The fat woman hated people calling her ugly. She wasn't actually ugly; she was just average.However, comparison was rarely flattering. When she stood next to Whitney, she immediately looked extraordinarily ugly. "Security! Get over here and toss these two beggars out!" the fat woman yelled angrily, pointing at Sebastian and Whitney.She turned to Zachary and demanded, "Are you the manager? Look at your store! Ho
Zane was startled. Sebastian was at his family's flagship store?He thought for a moment before suddenly remembering that his family had a jewelry store in Steinberg.Sebastian must be there."Seb, if there's anything you want to buy, just notify me," Zane said. "I'll deliver it to you myself. Why would you need to go over there?"Sebastian was a very important person, and Zane would do anything to flatter him. If Sebastian went to their store and some ignoramus offended him, it would cause a huge mess. "Oh, thank you for your kind thoughts, Mr. Northman," Sebastian said. Then, his tone purposely turned cold. "However, it seems that I'm not very welcome in your family's store.""What?"It was exactly what he had been worried about. Zane broke out in a cold sweat at once.Something similar had already happened once before, but Sebastian hadn't pursued the matter. However, if the same thing happened several times, Sebastian might start seeing the Northmans in a different light.
"You crazy bastard!" Zane's features were contorted with anger, and he slapped Zachary hard in the face.Zachary was startled by Zane's slap, and he clutched his face as he stared at the man in shock. "Zachary, if you want to die, do it yourself. You can go hang yourself, jump in the river, or jump onto the train tracks, but don't drag our family down with you!" Zane exclaimed as he delivered two more resounding slaps."M-Mr. Northman, I—"Zachary was utterly confused by Zane's slaps."What are you standing there for? Get lost!" Zane yelled furiously at the security guards. The security guards jumped in fright and ran out at once."Seb, you… I… I… This is negligence on my part. Please don't take it to heart."Zane was almost in tears."Of course I won't take it to heart. The actions of this individual have nothing to do with the Northmans. However, I can't just let the fact that he wanted to break my legs go. I hate it when people threaten me," Sebastian said with a stormy exp
Zane turned to look at the middle-aged, wealthy woman. He frowned and asked, "Who are you?""You don't need to bother about who I am, but is this how the Northmans run their business? I already reserved those bangles. What right do you have to give them to him?" the woman screamed shrilly."I would have forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it. Did you say that you're part of the upper class?" Sebastian asked, turning to glance at the middle-aged woman."Well? Are you going to break my legs too? Hmph, as if you're worthy of doing so!" The middle-aged woman glared coldly at Sebastian. She wasn't an ordinary person. A nobody like Zachary couldn't be compared with her. She didn't even think anything of offending the Northmans. Otherwise, she wouldn't have had the guts to question the situation when she already knew that Zane was the Northman heir. "Break your legs?" Sebastian shook his head slightly. That wasn't his style. Sebastian liked giving people a taste of their own medicine.
"Be good. There are so many other articles here. I can give you a pendant too," Sebastian said.Whitney finally smiled sweetly. She didn't care about the gift. She only cared about whom Sebastian loved more."Use this emerald to make four sets of bangles and four pendants, as well as a pendant in the shape of a dragon," Sebastian said, pointing at the emerald piece. "As you wish, Seb. I'll get our family's top craftsmen to start work on it at once," Zane said. He pulled out his phone to make a call.Before long, several emerald craftsmen who worked for the Northmans rushed to the store in the city center and began cutting up the emerald right in front of Sebastian.Hermione smiled coldly as she watched Sebastian. She vowed inwardly that all those emerald articles would soon be hers.At that moment, a bunch of burly men appeared, their chests bare. They wore training clothes, and they walked into Northman Jewelry with a lean, capable-looking man in their midst."Ms. Hermione, wh
Whitney perked up at Sebastian's question. "It's all because you ran into the two monsters that day," she said. "I saw it on the surveillance footage. That was when I realized that the two women living in the store don't have that kind of relationship with you…"Whitney had never asked, and Sebastian hadn't bothered to explain who Nina and Lyanna were. That was why she had mistakenly thought that both of them were Sebastian's lovers as well.Realization had only dawned on her when she heard Nina address Sebastian as her master, even in her dying breath. Whitney had seen how powerful Nina was that day and how she had been willing to die in order to protect Sebastian.Nina and Lyanna weren't Sebastian's lovers. They were his servants. Not only that, Nina was a thousand-year-old giant snake!That had completely changed Whitney's view of the world. Although there had always been legends of mystical beings and ghosts, Whitney was an accomplished businesswoman who believed firmly in sc
Sebastian laughed wryly and shook his head. "I'm not from the Ballard Estate," he said. "My name is Sebastian, and it's better if my cousin weren't seen around me too much.""Oh, you're Sebastian."The two young women breathed a long sigh of relief. They looked him up and down for a long time before exchanging a glance. Then, they covered their faces and giggled.One of them stepped forward and said, "Come with me. Honestly… you seem pretty normal. I don't get why Ms. Sutton is yearning for you so much."Sebastian cleared his throat awkwardly and said nothing.The young woman led Sebastian into the house, where Whitney was sitting and reading a book intently. She said, "Ms. Sutton, look who's here."Whitney put down her book and looked up. When she saw Sebastian behind the young woman, she was both surprised and delighted. She got up and threw herself into Sebastian's arms."Sebastian, is it really you?"The young woman covered her face and chuckled before leaving the room sile
Sebastian watched Andreas leave and exhaled deeply. Preston wasn't the only one he didn't trust. No one in the Ballard Estate was worthy of his trust, including Andreas.Once Andreas had completely disappeared, Sebastian beckoned to the woods in the distance and said, "Come out!"In a flash, Duo appeared at his side. "My lord, why didn't you wipe out those people in the hall today?" he asked.Duo clenched his fists tightly, and there was a murderous look simmering in his eyes. Although he hadn't been in the hall, he had clearly heard everything the Ballards had said.Anyone who disrespected his master deserved death!Besides, neither Sebastian nor Duo would have had to lift a finger to kill them. All they had to do was to crush the Tribulation Avoidance Charm and trigger the divine tribulation. Once it descended, no one in the hall would have lived to tell the tale, including Arnaud."If we become hostile with the Ballards, it'll be almost impossible for us to leave in peace. Now
"It all comes back to Uncle Samson," Andreas said. "Great Uncle Arnaud already told you he'd let Uncle Samson have his freedom if you find the other emerald token, but then he brought up the marriage alliance. "It directly affects whether or not Uncle Samson can regain his freedom. So, why don't you think about it?"With a quiet chuckle, Andreas walked toward a grove of peach trees to the west.Realization finally dawned on Sebastian. Arnaud was a shrewd man. He wouldn't slip up like that. Besides, although the Ballards and the Yeomans had established a marriage agreement, they hadn't named specific individuals, only that the Blessed Child of the Ballards would fulfill it.The Blessed Child bore the duty of guiding the Ballards to revival. In other words, the emerald token would be better off falling into the Blessed Child's hands rather than anyone else's.Could it be that the final emerald token was with the Yeomans? If that were true, why hadn't the Ballards used their pow
"I'm sorry, but I have no interest in becoming the head of the Ballard family," Sebastian said impassively. "I only want my father to be freed."Arnaud's expression changed slightly, but his tone remained neutral as he said, "It's Braxton who owes you and your mother, not the entire family. Why must you do this?"Sebastian let out a cold snort. It was true that Braxton had been the one who had kicked them out, but weren't the true culprits the elders of the Ballard Estate?"If there's nothing else, I'd like to see Whitney," Sebastian said, rising slowly to his feet. As soon as he mentioned her name, Arnaud waved a hand at him and said, "Don't be in such a rush, Sebastian. Whitney is safe. The Ballards would never harm a frail woman."He added, "However, there's something I want to ask you. Is Whitney still your wife?"Sebastian frowned. "Whether she is or isn't, what business is that of the Ballards?""Of course it is," Arnaud replied firmly. "The Ballards and the Yeomans of
Arnaud led Sebastian into a secret room deep within the Hall of the Ancestral Dragon. Once inside, Sebastian saw a Cosmic Orbit Diagram. It was exactly the same as the records in the Sacred Medicine Secret Annals.However, the Ballards' Cosmic Orbit Diagram was divided into different sections. It looked even more three-dimensional."This is the Cosmic Orbit Diagram passed down through our family for generations," Arnaud said proudly. "The one that the Sacred Medicine Society has is just a copy."The legacy of the mystic arts in Dramon almost all came from the Ballards.The Ballards had withheld some things back then as well. As a result, all the legacies of the various secular sects only had incomplete Cosmic Orbit Diagrams. It was why there were very few experts at the fifth level of the Eldoria realm and above.Afterward, Arnaud led Sebastian into a library. Thousands of technical legacies lined the shelves. Sebastian flipped through them. The techniques recorded there were
Samson glanced at Sebastian. He took a deep breath and said to Arnaud, "Thank you for sparing me, Uncle Arnaud."He gave Sebastian a few final reminders before leaving the hall with Preston.Once they were gone, Arnaud pointed at Duo and said to Sebastian, "Tell him to leave too."Sebastian waved a hand at Duo."I'll wait for you at the entrance, my lord," Duo said. "If anything happens, I'll be here as soon as you call!"He gave Arnaud a cold look before striding out of the hall.Arnaud watched him leave and smiled approvingly. He beckoned to Sebastian. "Come, sit!"Sebastian didn't hesitate. He crossed the hall and sat in the chair opposite Arnaud."Do you know why I asked Andreas to bring you back here?" Arnaud asked impassively. Sebastian shook his head expressionlessly. He said in a cold voice, "It's probably because of the emerald token in my father's possession."Apart from using him and Whitney as leverage against Samson, he couldn't think of any other reason.Arnau
"The Blessed Child! The Blessed Child has finally come to our family!"The black-robed old man who had been sitting beside Arnaud stood up, looking pleased. He couldn't hide his excitement as he turned to Arnaud and said, "Arnaud, our family is going to prosper!"Only Rexton and Milton looked extremely displeased. Braxton and Roland looked pained, as if they had lost something of great value. They were practically thumping their chests in regret!The Blessed Child had been foretold by one of the heads of the family centuries ago. No matter how far the Ballards declined, the prophecy said that after a few hundred years, a Blessed Child would appear—someone who could lead the family's revival!The only proof of the Blessed Child was for him to enter a master-servant oath with a Devora."Prosper? What a joke!" Hugo scoffed, holding Virtus firmly. "Weren't you all just clamoring about killing the two of them?"At Hugo's words, Arnaud's expression changed slightly. "When did I say tha
"Hugo!"Arnaud, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide. He eyed Hugo with a conflicted expression as he asked, "Have you forgotten the agreement the Thornes made with us ten years ago?"Hugo smiled coldly and put one hand behind his back. "That was the agreement you made with the Thornes. I'm only following Ms. Thorne's orders to protect Samson and find the emerald token. If Samson dies in this battle, how am I supposed to explain that to her?"He pointed at Sebastian and added, "He's Ms. Thorne's flesh and blood. Your family has no right to punish him! If the Ballards insist on killing them today, don't blame me for going on a killing spree!"When Hugo had finished, Sebastian finally realized that Hugo was from Isabella's family and that he had stayed at the Ballard Estate to protect Samson.It was clear that Isabella hadn't held a grudge toward Samson. In fact, she had sent an expert to stay behind to protect him in case anything happened.Arnaud's