At that moment, Dante and Crystal came out of the two-story building, supporting Whitney as she walked. She looked very weak. "Sebastian!" Whitney looked up and caught sight of Sebastian strangling Tanner with one hand. Her eyes misted over at once. "Why? Why would you do this to me?"If you wanted the formula of the Iceheart facial mask, you could have just told me! If you wanted it, you could have taken it at any time! But… Why did you have to lie to me?" Tears trickled out of her eyes.That night, she had received a call from an unfamiliar number, but it had been Sebastian's voice on the other end.At that moment, Whitney felt as if she had seen the final ray of hope in getting back together with him. Therefore, she hadn't even thought twice before going to the place where "Sebastian" had arranged to meet her. However, the person waiting for her wasn't a tender-eyed Sebastian who wanted to start over. It had been a stranger in a baseball cap who had a rather hoarse voice.
Sebastian huffed and released his grip on Tanner's throat.Tanner finally breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the pressure disappear from around his neck. After panting heavily, he looked up and smiled ingratiatingly at Sebastian.Just when everyone thought that Tanner had submitted to Sebastian, he suddenly reached for the gun around his waist and fired three shots consecutively. "Die!"The sound of gunshots tore through the quiet night air, and the bullets headed straight for Sebastian's chest!They were only a few feet apart, and the bullets would land in Sebastian's chest almost instantly. However, something unbelievable happened!Sebastian raised his hand gently, and the three bullets stopped and hung in midair like a scene from the Matrix. What? Tanner wasn't the only one struck dumb with fear. The men in suits behind him were completely flabbergasted.Before they could recover, Sebastian reached out and grabbed the three bullets that had been suspended in midair. He s
Between staying alive and maintaining his dignity, Tanner chose the former without a second thought.It was important to maintain one's dignity, but one only had one life."I thought that you weren't afraid of death, Captain Northman. However, I hope that this is the first and last time. Otherwise, you won't be so lucky next time." Sebastian laughed coldly as he slowly lifted his foot.Tanner felt the pressure on his back disappear, and the feeling of pain disappeared as well. However, he was still sweating profusely in fear..As the captain of the Alpha Strike Force special ops team, it was the first time that he had been so close to death.At that moment, Tanner felt that his life was as insignificant as a piece of duckweed and that it could be ended at any time.That sensation caused him to feel a deep-rooted terror, but it also caused him to feel an utter hatred for Sebastian. Sebastian had spared his life in the end, but he had also humiliated Tanner in front of his entire
Half an hour later, Sebastian was brought to the Steinberg Alpha Strike Force team base.The base was surrounded by sentries, and numerous people patrolled back and forth on a wall several feet high.There were countless searchlight rays whose beams shone for miles around them. A few ordinary Jeeps drove into the base and headed straight for the interrogation building in the backyard. Before long, Sebastian was taken into an interrogation room that was around 100 square feet in size.Two men in suits uncuffed Sebastian. They pointed to a metal chair beside them and said, "Mr. Ballard, we'll have to trouble you to sit down for a while on that chair."Sebastian's gaze swept over the chair, which was made of welded steel bars, and he sat down on it calmly.The moment Sebastian sat down, he triggered a mechanism, and several iron bars about hands-width in size immediately held him in place on the chair.Seeing that Sebastian had been restrained, the smiles on the faces of the men i
"These tricks for deceiving children are no use against me. I don't mind telling you that the reason I was bold enough to come here with you is because I don't think anything of you at all," Sebastian said. "You'd better not try any tricks with me. Otherwise, there's no telling who will end up suffering," Sebastian continued in a low voice with his eyes still closed."Is that so? I guess that you won't know what you're dealing with unless we let you suffer a little today!"One of the suited men picked up a hollow steel stick and tried to hit Sebastian's shoulder.Sebastian calmly lifted a leg and kicked the man's abdomen. The man was sent flying several feet away, and he fell heavily onto the floor.As dust and smoke rose up around them, some of the suited men surrounding Sebastian pulled out their guns and pointed them at him! "Don't move! If you move, we'll shoot!" Although Sebastian had blocked the three bullets, he was now being restrained on the metal chair. No matter how
"Tanner, why don't we make a bet? I'll be able to leave this place safely within two hours at most. Do you believe that?" Sebastian said, smiling as he looked up at the clock on the wall opposite him.As soon as he finished talking, everyone, including Tanner, burst into laughter."You're still thinking of leaving this place alive? You should ask around to see how many people have left the interrogation room of the Alpha Strike Force while still being able to stand!" Tanner brandished the scimitar he was holding and slashed at Sebastian's forehead.Sebastian lifted his head calmly, and the scimitar practically grazed the tip of his nose as it went whistling past. At the same time, he landed a kick on Tanner's knee.There was a crack and the sound of bone breaking. Tanner yelled in pain and fell to one knee in front of Sebastian.Blood dripped out of Tanner's pants leg, and his features were contorted with pain. "Ballard, how dare you act so recklessly here with the Alpha Strike Fo
Anyone else would've been knocked out by the electricity in an instant.However, Sebastian didn't even let out so much as a whimper. All he did was stare coldly at Tanner."Huh? You're fine, are you?" Tanner stood with his hands behind his back and sneered as he looked at Sebastian. He said to the two suited men, "Let him really enjoy it this time!"The two men pulled the switch once more.This time, they let it continue for almost 20 seconds. When Tanner saw the blue electrical glow travel all over Sebastian's body, there was a look of triumph in his eyes as he felt the satisfaction of getting revenge!He knew better than anyone that the current was affecting Sebastian, and that Sebastian was clenching his teeth in order to endure it!No matter how formidable Sebastian's training was, he was still flesh and blood. Before long, he would experience heart failure and die!No one could blame Tanner for that. It was Sebastian who had failed to recognize what was good for him and had
"You…" Tanner hadn't expected Sebastian to read his mind. He felt as if there was no turning back at this point.Tanner wasn't really to blame for all this.After all, he wasn't part of the main branch of the Northman family, and he was a negligible presence amongst them. If he really did cause trouble, the Northmans would be sure to make him the scapegoat.If it came to that, he would not only have ruined his future, but he would even be in danger of losing his life.Therefore, Tanner had thought of the safest solution—finding out where Sebastian's formula had come from and getting rid of him legally. At the same time, the source of the formula could become a resource that would allow Tanner to elevate his status in the Northman family.He just hadn't imagined that Sebastian could see right through him so easily."I don't understand what you're saying at all. Don't forget, you were the one who killed those three people! Shall I show you the video?" Tanner sneered and pulled ou
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
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