Aria read the messages calmly among the crowd. She was not worried about being targeted. The club incident showed that going after the Draycotts meant hitting some powerful people's interests. This wasn't like Janovin—the connections ran deeper than just business. She needed to smoke out everyone hiding in the shadows. As long as the Draycotts stayed standing, these people would sleep easy at night.In all these years, this was the first time the Special Missions Unit expressed fear for her safety. That meant the powerful one lurking behind the scenes was really formidable. If it were simple, a deputy chief like Clifford would not just jump to his death. Suicide from guilt? What a joke. Aria raised an eyebrow and opened her messaging app. If the local authorities were too powerful, she'd go deal with those at the top directly. She would certainly not allow them to use Clifford's death to cover up years of misconduct. Were all those legacy enterprises ruined by those people s
Isaiah's decision was not just because Aria had helped the Katz family. His family had reached its limit. Though his son was decent, he lacked business acumen and could not sustain the family legacy. Isaiah knew what would happen to Katz Cannery after he was gone. He had always worried about the factory workers, but now he had nothing to fear. Aria had not only inherited Barron's business sense but also his integrity. He felt at peace leaving the factory in Aria's hands. He was also eager to see their products reach international markets. The members of the Katz family were indeed loyal—no one opposed Isaiah's decision. Instead, cheers erupted. Even his descendants looked at Aria with gratitude. They knew how close the Draycotts had pushed them to the edge. If not for Aria, bankruptcy would have been their only option within days. The Draycotts had always thrown their weight around. They would show up again and again, pretending to do them a favor while refusing to keep the "
Aria could win the test easily, but she did not want to do it this way. The rise of Katz Cannery had left everyone restless, and the Draycott faction was already showing cracks. Those who had been on the fence started secretly reaching out to the Grishams. Orion knew about this, but he could not spare the energy to worry about loyalty now. The Draycotts were not completely clear of this mess yet. He needed to maintain his connections with the more powerful ones! Orion was not worried about other things; he just feared his insider information pipeline would be affected. These people never hesitated to take what was offered, but they turned cowardly at the first sign of trouble. Sure enough, someone had already returned their previous gifts. "Mr. Draycott, given the circumstances, we should keep our distance. You should lay low for a while." Orion laughed. Keep their distance? "Mr. Cortez, you might be fine, but my company can't afford to lay low. "I hear your wife might be exp
These people had watched the Draycotts rise to power. The Draycotts had surpassed the Grishams in such a short time, which was something impossible to achieve just by absorbing factories. Besides, the Draycotts had never even run actual factories; they would always convert them to other uses after acquisition. Their real profits came from the shadows. No one knew exactly how much money Orion had, but it surely exceeded even the Grishams at their peak. The Draycott Group's funding seemed endless. They held shares in nearly every successful company in Ludwiten, especially in construction, finance, and entertainment. In Ludwiten, the Draycotts were like a predator that fed on others' blood. Others were not foolish. They could all tell that someone powerful backed him. As for Aria, besides her fiancé from the York family, she could not have any other meaningful connections. Even the Yorks had to play by Ludwiten's rules. Yet these clever people forgot one thing—desperation leads to
Someone in the Foundation texted. "You know what needs to be done." Seeing this, Orion quickly replied. "Rest assured, the supply remains steady. I'll make the Carvers regret coming to Ludwiten." Clearly, these powerful figures weren't easily fooled. "She won't be easy to handle. Be careful and cut your losses if needed." Orion replied with a simple "Yes." Logically, someone of his status who commanded such influence in business circles shouldn't show such deference to anyone. Yet he acted like the lowest-ranking member of their group. The powerful figures seemed unconcerned with his plans, only caring about their supply. "The last batch wasn't good enough. They're too old." "Find a way to select a few more soon." "Don't focus solely on profit. Remember to give back when necessary." Orion had an epiphany. Yes, if Aria could build her reputation by supporting domestic brands, he could polish his image by "supporting" schoolchildren. There had been fewer activities this
"Haven't you seen him too?" Cassian pondered. "What do you think?" The butler struggled to answer. In both his character and appearance, Landon was practically identical to that person. At first glance, he almost thought they were the same person. But thinking carefully, how could that be possible? No one could avoid ageing, even with the most advanced medical technology. He and Cassian were practically at death's door, having lived through everything. Yet seeing someone who looked like a ghost from the past almost made him rush to reconnect. He had also asked at the Royal Hotel but had gotten no response. If it really was that person, he should be extremely old or no longer alive after all these years. "Mr. Merrick, would you like to meet him yourself?" the butler asked softly, refilling the tea. Cassian glanced at the documents handed to him. "Yes, but approaching through the Yorks would be too obvious." "Does that mean…" The butler's eyes lit up with joy. Cassian's age
The shareholders at the Carver Group did not understand what had happened at first. After watching the video, their expressions changed. Warren did not hold back anymore. "Is anyone here from overseas marketing?" "Mr. Carver Senior, I'm here." Aria's actions would have excited everyone in the overseas department. Warren turned to him. "I remember you saying our consumer goods weren't very popular overseas since even the domestic market preferred foreign brands. What about now?" "I believe it's time to try!" The director's voice trembled with excitement. Warren nodded with satisfaction. "Then do it. I want you to capture 50% of the market share first. Money isn't an issue." "Understood!" The meeting had everyone's blood pumping. The professionals could see what Warren was planning. Aria's move to Ludwiten wasn't coincidental. The Carvers had never limited themselves to the domestic market. It had always been difficult to achieve before, and people thought it was just t
Aria knew what she was facing long before the nightclub incident came to light. It was not just about business interests but the entire profit chain that existed behind it. Why had such a nightclub existed for so long without anyone investigating thoroughly? Was she the only one who could see the problems with it? That certainly was not the case. The truth was that those working for the powerful ones simply lacked the ability or courage to investigate further. Any matter connected to the Draycott family was quietly swept under the rug. Aria was not foolish. The subtle comments made by the veteran cops were filled with hidden meanings. She observed the commotion from afar, contemplating how to break the stalemate. If she remained in her current position, even if the Draycott family fell, the people behind them would emerge unscathed. In reality, the situation had already progressed to the point where a deputy chief had committed suicide to escape punishment. Aria already had
Landon's sudden appearance wasn't just a coincidence. With Aria's intelligence, she would figure something out soon—he 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 place… 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 true—handsome 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 corner—too 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 incomprehensible—something rhythmic, otherworldly. It was less like a speech and more like a chant—an 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 it—one designed to kill anyone who dared to enter, no matter their strength. Dave wasn't afraid. He had more pressing priorities—destroying documents, erasing traces, minimizing damage.His bodyguard stayed close, watching for anyone who might try to stop them.Aria, moving swiftly, reached the lower floor—only to halt. Mist curled along the ground, thickening with every step. The air turned icy. And the corridor behind her…
"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 town—it'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. Please—carry 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 saying—but 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 bidding—congratulations to our newest member, Mr. Tiger—""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 could—but 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 tough—it 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 her—her bodyguard—who 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 resist—he'd seen what she was capable of.And she'd made her warning crystal clear—if 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 her—fresh, 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 class—but 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's—""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 Murray—the new secr