Aria's words struck deep, though her mention and praise of Malric was quite perfunctory. But she had achieved her goal by turning their own tactics against them. The family connections who had come to watch Aria's downfall now stared at Ian. Their eyes held suspicion instead of respect. They all believed in fortune-telling, so there could be no misunderstanding. Malric could not be wrong. Ian had indeed been manipulating things behind the scenes! To break a seemingly unshakeable alliance, all she had to do was simply destroy their common interests. Ian had been confident that these allies he had cultivated would always stand with him. On the surface, he seemed uninvolved, but in reality, he had backed the majority of the Carvers' minor shareholders. The family connections were part of a larger plan to eventually split the Carver fortune, each representing their own family's interests.But now, he had become their common enemy! Ian finally witnessed firsthand how the legendar
Aria was trying to destroy the influence Ian built for himself in Janovin for 70 years. Aria locked eyes with Ian. "Saving Grandpa's life once earned you a lifetime of comfort. If the Carver family didn't genuinely care for you, they would have sent you away with a couple of dollars."After all, there were plenty of beggars who couldn't afford to eat at the time. Great-great-Grandpa couldn't bear to see a child begging in that era. That's why he decided to adopt you."Grandpa has never revealed your identity to anyone all these years. He has always treated you as if you were his elder brother."Aria's gaze darkened. "The Carver family owes you nothing, yet they have always been protecting you. Despite this, we're still the bad guys in your eyes."Aria stared at him with an icy gaze. "You know, you really remind me of a sayingโsome people will always be ungrateful, no matter what's done for them.""How dare you!" No one had dared to talk to Ian like this since he was a child. I
After Aria finished speaking, everyone was in an uproar."Ashes? What ashes?""What is Ms. Carver talking about?"The relatives weren't the only ones who were puzzled. Even Warren and Fergus looked over. Aria had never mentioned anything about ashes to them.Ian never expected her to know about the ashes. An unprecedented panic crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure.Ian had been to Mount Dracotigris and had studied fortune-telling. He would have known if someone had tampered with the layout. Thus, the only explanation he could fathom was Aria bluffing.Ian sneered. "This is getting more and more ridiculous. Everyone knows how skillful Mr. Veyrith is. If there were something unusual here, he would have sensed it by now."Malric lifted his chin when his name was mentioned. Moving his fingers thoughtfully, he stated firmly, "There's nothing supernatural or evil here. Ms. Carver, please watch what you're saying."Aria smiled. "There's a crow, isn't there? I don't
Ian's unease had reached its peak. He couldn't let the situation spiral out of control. He thought of his so-called family member who always claimed to value family ties.Ian looked toward the side. "Warren, how could I possibly be in charge of the company's matters? I don't even have the right to attend shareholders' meetings, let alone lead anyone on."Do you perhaps have some misunderstandings about me? I only helped Owen because he came to me. I don't wish to see you two falling apart."Owen, oblivious as always, blurted out, "Dad, don't blame Uncle Ianโit's my fault! You've always handled the company alone. Besides, I've always been useless to you."Since you never give me a chance to prove myself, I had no choice but to ask Uncle Ian for help. The shareholders were just following my instructions."Warren didn't even bother to look at him. Owen seemed to have inherited none of his genes."Mr. Owen, you're overestimating yourself," Aria interjected, stepping in as Warren rema
Malric had his fair share of experience in expelling evil beings. Logically, he should fear nothing. Yet, he couldn't suppress the unease that gnawed at him as he faced the crow before him.His mentor had once advised him to always remain polite when encountering such creatures. Clasping his hands together, Malric bowed to the crow. "My apologies.""Mr. Veyrith, what are you doing?" someone asked, their confusion mirrored by others in the group. Malric couldn't fully grasp the peculiar sensation he felt, so he could only explain, "This crow is no ordinary crow.""Not an ordinary crow?" The group trusted Malric's judgment and followed his lead, bowing to the crow.To their astonishment, the crow accepted their gesture. Puffing out its chest, it strutted a few steps forward with a distinct air of importance.Fergus was baffled. "Aria, thisโฆ"Aria stroked her chin thoughtfully. "The crow is indeed special. It's proving to be quite effective," she said cryptically as if referring t
A strong gust of wind howled, scattering leaves to the ground as the crow cawed ominously. The sky was eerily clear, not a single cloud in sight. The crowd was absolutely stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief."It's really a cremation urn!"Why is there a cremation urn here?""Isn't this layout supposed to bring fortune?"As questions were hurled one after another, Ian's expression darkened.Warren reacted swiftly, staggering forward with his walking cane to take a closer look. "T-This cremation urn...""It was taken from the Carver family's memorial hall," Aria said, stepping forward to support Warren. Although she had warned him not to get too upset or angry, she was still concerned. She tapped on Warren's life-saving pressure point and raised her voice so everyone could hear. "These are Great-great-Grandpa's ashes."Warren froze for a moment before lifting his reddened eyes. "How could this be? You're lying to me, aren't you? Your great-great-grandfather's ashes should
"When a soul lingers in the present world or harbors unresolved regrets, it may develop resentments. Over time, the soul could become an earthbound spirit, endlessly repeating its final moments or the actions it regrets," Malric explained."You're right, Mr. Veyrith. When I dreamt of Great-great-Grandpa, he looked troubled. He must have something he regrets about." The crow, perched on a nearby tree, almost cawed aloud in disbelief. Aria was laying it on too thick, and the bird could hardly bear to watch.Noticing the crow's reaction, Aria glanced in its direction and continued, "Based on what Mr. Veyrith said, this cremation urn must belong to my great-great-grandpa. He even told me he felt cold. No one had offered him blessings, and it seems he's lost something important."Aria paused for dramatic effect before turning to Malric. "Mr. Veyrith, do you know why my great-great-grandpa would say such a thing?"Malric drew a deep breath, hesitant to feign ignorance. He feared Aria m
"It's funny, Mr. Owen. You've been superstitious for most of your life, yet now you're saying that ghosts can't appear in dreams." Aria turned her gaze toward Owen. "Still, I can't blame you. You've always been nothing more than a pawn. I doubt you're smart enough to figure this out, so I had someone prepare the evidence for you."With a smile, Aria laid out the photos, one by one. "Ian has been collaborating with the Krowonian businessmen for years, and his butler is one of the major shareholders you were hoping to partner with. Quite the schemer, isn't he?"Aria continued, her tone unhurried, "It only took a few compliments to make you see him as a father figure. You fell right into his trap. I'm sure your dear uncle has been stoking the flames of your conflicts with Grandpa from the start.""Shut up!" Owen clutched his chest, feeling faint.Aria tapped her temple, exuding a dignified air. "It seems there's nothing in here," she said, pointing at her head. "And you certainly lack
Landon's sudden appearance wasn't just a coincidence. With Aria's intelligence, she would figure something out soonโhe knew that. He hadn't planned on revealing himself like this. But something that belonged to him was here, and the demonic energy in this placeโฆ Aria couldn't face it alone.She studied him from head to toe, her hand still in his. His grip was firm, protective."There's a lot of mist ahead," he said quietly. "We'll need to tread carefully."Aria tilted her head. "You speak like you know this place well.""I do," Landon replied with a calm honesty. "I was deathly ill once. My soul wandered into a place just like this. Homer pulled me back."His voice made it sound like a distant memory, and Aria gave a soft laugh, tightening her hold on his hand. "You really are full of surprises. I guess it's trueโhandsome men are the most dangerous."But Aria's thoughts were racing. Why had he come after her like this, knowing it would reveal parts of himself he'd tried to keep h
Landon was still handling the stragglers behind Aria when he paused, his gaze flicking upward. Cameras were mounted in every cornerโtoo many eyes. Vanishing without a trace wasn't an option.He glanced in Aria's direction, then lowered his head. His lips moved in a whisper, but the sounds were incomprehensibleโsomething rhythmic, otherworldly. It was less like a speech and more like a chantโan exorcism.Meanwhile, Dave descended into the underground, calm and unrushed. That place reeked of foul energy, dense and suffocating. His master had cast a spell over itโone designed to kill anyone who dared to enter, no matter their strength. Dave wasn't afraid. He had more pressing prioritiesโdestroying documents, erasing traces, minimizing damage.His bodyguard stayed close, watching for anyone who might try to stop them.Aria, moving swiftly, reached the lower floorโonly to halt. Mist curled along the ground, thickening with every step. The air turned icy. And the corridor behind herโฆ
"Why would there be people outside?" asked Dave. He had been disguising himself as a doctor for years, and that was the first time he looked so anxious. After all, if someone did approach their building, the villagers would have informed them about it. However, they received no news this time.Dave wondered what was going on."Dr. Dave, what should we do now? I think we're surrounded!"He was still in his coat as he slightly clenched his fists. "Let's move out. Bring the girls in the basement with us.""T-They're not in the basement."When Dave heard that, he looked furious. "What do you mean they're not in the basement?""Someone took them away, and I'm guessing it was her fault!" The bodyguard pointed at Aria, who was standing on the highest point, showing off her skills. With swift, lethal kicks and a taser turned weapon, no one dared get close.Whoever touched Aria would die, and no one dared to approach her at all.As for Landon, he still had his mask on as he stood behind
Chaos erupted at the auction. For all their pride and arrogance, the wealthy clients' expressions had twisted into pure panic the moment something went wrong.So, their first reaction was to seek a staff member."The power's unstable!" Dave spoke into the microphone, trying to project calm. "Everyone, stay calm. There's scheduled maintenance in townโit's just affecting the electricity. Nothing's wrong."He genuinely believed that. It was what he'd been told.But Aria knew better. The blackout wasn't random. It was a signal. Sam had tracked down the source of the call. With the exits sealed off, Aria had everything she needed to act.A faint smirk curled on her lips. Without hesitation, she grabbed Landon and swiftly took Aliya hostage. Her movements were sharp, practiced, so fast that no one around her even had time to react.Then came the needles.Aria flicked her wrist, sending a series of acupuncture needles flying. The rich guests closest to her froze in place, locked in stu
Tony's accusation stirred a ripple through the room, and it didn't escape Dave's attention. With a subtle flick of his wrist, he signaled to someone nearby.Aria caught the movement. Her fingers tensed, ready to slip free of the rope she had already loosened. But before she could act, she heard a smooth, composed voice glide through the air."I need her to boost my luck," the man said coolly. "I've done my research. She's the ideal bride for someone like me."Dave stopped in his tracks, and it seemed like he was telling someone else to verify what Landon had said."Sir, it checks out," one of the staff murmured after a brief consultation. "Mr. Crow's fate is complicated. The master said only a spiritual match could extend his life. Otherwise, he won't make it past his next birthday."Dave let out a low chuckle, visibly relaxing. "Well then, Mr. Crow, it seems you've come to the right place. Pleaseโcarry on, everyone."Aria listened in stunned silence. Landon hadn't lied. His life
Aria couldn't tear her eyes away from Dave.He was still quietly speaking to the man on the screen, their exchange shrouded in secrecy. No one nearby could hear what they were sayingโbut Aria could guess. It had to be a deal of some sort, something about her. Everything about Dave's posture, the glint in his eyes, told her this wasn't just business. It was personal.She glanced up at the clock again, nerves coiling in her chest. Something was wrong. Sam was taking longer than usual. That wasn't like him.The auction was nearing its close. They couldn't miss the chance to strike. Sasha, glowing with excitement, clapped her hands and declared, "Six million! It looks like no one else is biddingโcongratulations to our newest member, Mr. Tigerโ""Ten million dollars."The voice sliced clean through the noise, calm, clear, and cold.Everyone turned toward it.A man stood at the edge of the crowd, dressed in a sleek tuxedo dusted with black feathers, his mask intricate and dark.T
Aria had once told Sam to avoid chaos if he couldโbut she'd also said that when desperation knocked, rules could bend.Now was one of those moments.Sam hesitated only briefly before diving in.He had to know who was behind this. Who kept targeting Aria? Who was pulling the strings in the dark? And once Sam decided on something, there was no turning back.Without Aria by his side, he breached the system, knowing full well the other side had already alerted the police.The firewall he faced wasn't just toughโit was nearly impenetrable. It filtered everything, controlling access with surgical precision. But Sam wasn't interested in the broader network. He narrowed his focus and cut straight to the source, filtering out all the noise to lock onto the actual IP.The auction raged on aboveground. The man behind the screen, confident in his usual routine, remained calm and unaware that the mask he'd worn for years was finally slipping. He'd always stayed out of sight, appearing only
While Aria discreetly signaled to move, the auction hall was buzzing with excitement. Laughter echoed, wine glasses clinked, and the room pulsed with greed.Sasha's voice came through the mic, smooth and cheerful. "While everyone's enjoying themselves, let's welcome our latest arrival of the evening."She glanced at the man beside herโher bodyguardโwho immediately stiffened under her gaze.To the crowd, it looked like he was escorting Aria to the stage under control. In truth, Aria's hand was already pressed lightly against his chest, right over a poisoned pressure point. He knew better than to resistโhe'd seen what she was capable of.And she'd made her warning crystal clearโif she was exposed or captured, he wouldn't live to see morning.The guests didn't notice a thing. All eyes were on Aria, their expressions hungry. They saw value in herโfresh, young, healthy. To them, she wasn't a person. She was premium merchandise.She was brought to stand beside a young woman who had alr
Eamon and Waymond had just been thrown out of the Chamber of Commerce. Waymond's face was flushed with fury, his eyes red. "Eamon, why didn't you let me speak earlier? Mr. Lincoln was being unreasonable!"Eamon, ever perceptive, shook his head. "Mr. Lincoln's been bribed. He was never going to take our side."Wise and strategic, Eamon had always been top of his classโbut now, he was even sharper when it came to reading a room."I'm guessing Aria found something during her investigation that made them nervous," he continued. "Durand couldn't have controlled Lincoln on his own. There's more to it."Waymond frowned, still struggling to piece things together. "But who could bribe Mr. Lincoln? Not even the mayor has that kind of sway. He'sโ""What if it's someone from the state?" Eamon cut in, eyes flicking back toward the building. "We need to tell Dad. There's no point in staying here, but there is someone we can talk to.""Who?" Waymond asked quickly. "Lucas Murrayโthe new secr