Listening to Ben's cold laughter, Sebastian showed no fear and calmly asked, "Mr. Challer, do you think this will make me succumb to your pressure?""It's not about pressure. I just want to remind you that Zenith has the strength and means to make your life hard here," Ben said ominously. He added, "Mr. Ballard, I'm doing this for your own good. Isn't it nice to earn money while doing nothing?" Sebastian chuckled coldly. He tilted his head back and exhaled deeply. "Since that's the case, I've changed my mind…""Have you come to your senses?" Ben smirked mockingly. He knew that no small company could withstand his tactics."Mr. Ballard, coming to your senses is good. After all, three billion a year is easy money!" Ben chuckled and continued, "So, I'll bring the contract over now, and we can sign it immediately."However, Sebastian interrupted him, his tone cold. "Mr. Challer, you've misunderstood. I meant that the Arctic Snow Mask can collaborate with any pharmaceutical company,
"Clark Hanson, the chairman of Zenith Pharmaceuticals, is quite influential in Steinberg's pharmaceutical industry. He started from nothing and built Zenith Pharmaceuticals into one of the top five pharmaceutical organizations in Steinberg."Rosalie continued, "We Griffins wanted to expand our business in Steinberg, so it's unavoidable for us to have dealings with the leaders in the local pharmaceutical industry. Besides, there's history between Mr. Hanson Senior and my family."Sebastian nodded impassively.Rosalie watched his expression and raised her eyebrows. "What is it, Dr. Ballard? Do you know Mr. Hanson Senior?" she asked. "No." Sebastian shook his head and smiled."But your reaction just now made it seem as if you and Zenith Pharmaceuticals have some kind of conflict with each other," Rosalie said doubtfully.Sebastian smiled but didn't explain further. "Oh right, Dr. Ballard. I brought you here so Mr. Hanson Senior can consult you about his illness." Rosalie tucked h
Brad frowned and said, "Alright, Dad." However, his gaze on Sebastian was still filled with contempt and doubt.Rosalie said firmly, "Mr. Hanson Senior, Mr. Hanson, I can vouch for Dr. Ballard's medical skills. There's no one in Steinberg whose medical skills are as good as his.""Really? It seems that you trust him very much, Ms. Griffin," Brad said, smiling humorlessly.Rosalie paid no attention to Brad's tone. She looked adoringly at Sebastian and smiled as she said, "Yes. I trust him.""Alright. Today, I'd like to see how amazing Dr. Ballard's medical skills are! After all, Ms. Griffin recommends him so highly!" Brad said coldly. He turned a sharp gaze on Sebastian.Sebastian had yet to say anything. He remained in his seat, looking calm. He only spoke when he saw Brad looking at him. "Since you don't trust my medical skills, Mr. Hanson, you may leave."Silence fell at once.Brad's expression contorted, and an icy air seemed to emanate from him!"Young man, do you know what
"You're a bold young man. I'd like to see how you treat my father's illness today," Brad said coldly. There was a hint of threat in his tone.Sebastian chuckled. Clark glared at Brad and said coldly, "Don't be rude, Brad!"Then he looked at Sebastian and asked urgently, "Dr. Ballard, how can my illness be treated?"Sebastian's gaze swept over the old man, and he said impassively, "Mr. Hanson Senior, it's easy to treat your illness."The other doctors were stumped because they didn't know its root cause, and not because they aren't skilled in medicine.""Root cause? Please tell me what it is, Dr. Ballard." Clark lowered his head slightly.Sebastian exhaled and pointed to the walking stick in Clark's hand. He said, "It's in that walking stick."The room fell silent. Everyone followed Sebastian's finger and looked at the walking stick in Clark's hand, which was made of cedarwood.The walking stick was the root cause of his illness?Clark was shocked. He turned the walking stick
Brad's expression changed at once. His brows seemed to quiver as he yelled, "You asshole! What do you mean by that!"It was considered bad luck to use burial objects for the living. Sebastian spoke fearlessly. "Since it's a burial object, then it will definitely be tainted with cursed energy. From the moment Mr. Hanson Senior walked through that door, I sensed a strong, resentful energy accompanying this walking stick!"The prince it belonged to in the past probably didn't have a peaceful death. If Mr. Hanson Senior keeps using this walking stick, I can guarantee he'll be dead within half a month! "Haven't you realized that there's a black-purple stain on the handle of the walking stick? It's probably blood. Not only that, it's blood that carries a strong resentful energy!"Sebastian's words made Clark shudder with fear. He immediately let go and looked closely at the grip of the walking stick. There really was a black-purple bloodstain there!"You asshole! Stop acting all myst
There was chaos at the entrance to the Snow Sea. Clark had fallen to the ground. "Dad, wake up, don't scare me…" Brad shouted relentlessly. "What are you standing there for?" he yelled at the bodyguards. "Call an ambulance!" The bodyguards were frightened as well, and they hurriedly called for an ambulance."Mr. Hanson, we're too far away. The road is completely jammed with traffic, and it'll take them at least half an hour to get here," one of the bodyguards said urgently.Brad turned white at once. He was at his wit's end. "Half an hour or more? Isn't that just making my father wait for death?" he roared. The bodyguards dared not speak, and they lowered their heads.One of the bolder bodyguards suddenly shouted, "Mr. Hanson, there's one person who can probably save Mr. Hanson Senior!""Who? Where? Do you know them? Hurry up and call them here!" Brad was extremely anxious. The bodyguard was tongue-tied at once. He said hesitantly, "Well, Mr. Hanson, you just met him…""
"It's very simple. If you want Mr. Hanson Senior to live, ask Dr. Ballard nicely for help. If you think that Dr. Ballard is incapable, then please leave. "I don't want to have to stare at a corpse while I'm eating! Also, I'm warning you. Don't take any action against Dr. Ballard!" Rosalie retorted. She exuded the imperious, aloof air of an heiress combined with her dominance as a CEO. "Alright! I understand what you're saying, Ms. Griffin." Brad said in a low voice. Then, he looked at Sebastian and suppressed his anger as he bowed and said, "Dr. Ballard, please help my father." It was the first time Brad had ever pleaded with someone for help. He had no other choice. Clark's life was more important. "I won't save him," Sebastian refused bluntly.His abrupt words ignited Brad's anger even more. He yelled, "What is the meaning of this!" Sebastian said in a measured tone, "Kneel and beg me." "You—" Brad was enraged. Sebastian wanted him to kneel? He had to be dreaming!
Brad hurried over when he saw that Clark had suddenly woken up. He helped him up and asked him in concern, "Dad, you're awake? How do you feel? Do you still feel unwell?" Clark turned and slapped Brad across the face. He said sternly, looking furious. "Kneel! Apologize to Dr. Ballard!" Brad was stunned. His father had slapped him right after waking up. "Dad, what are you doing?" He was in disbelief, and his expression turned grim. Clark's frown deepened as he said in a harsh tone, "Don't you understand what I'm saying? Kneel and apologize to Dr. Ballard! If it weren't for him, I'd be dead!" When he saw that Brad wasn't moving, Clark said harshly, "If you won't kneel, I'll remove you from all your duties in the company and revoke your right to the Hanson inheritance!" Brad was anxious at once. He finally realized that Clark was serious. Without hesitation, Brad knelt and apologized to Sebastian. "I'm sorry, Dr. Ballard. I was wrong. I shouldn't have looked down on you and of
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