Aria took the Charm Coin back. Purple energy swirled in her palm. "Some parents only want sons but not daughters. To them, daughters can be sold or abandoned as they please. A father would even push his daughters down the stairs because the woman they had an affair with said she wouldn't get together with him unless his two children died."If the Divine Laws are genuinely effective, the gods should see what's unfolding with their own eyes instead of incessantly dictating laws for the mortal world. The sisters only want justice. They shouldn't be called evil spirits. Who do you think has committed evil, Mr. Bond?"The white-haired Homer was rooted on the spot, seemingly deep in thought. If someone could slash open the doors to Heaven with a sword, then it was possible to thoroughly understand the Divine Laws overnight.Homer didn't go downstairs and merely sat on the floor. With that, he'd basically given Aria an answer.โฆAt the same time, Carlos opened his eyes. When he saw two s
The emerald pendant was forged in the image of Maelis, the goddess of mercy. The pendant unleashed a blistering light that seared the twins. They felt as though they had been cast into a vast inferno, the searing heat causing them to instinctively cover their faces with their hands.Aria was faster. She seized Carlos by the scruff of his neck and yanked sharply on his pendant."You refuse to regret your wrongdoings." Aria put her hands around his neck, her gaze dark. Carlos' face turned purple as his feet lifted off the ground. It looked as though he was on the brink of death. He knew that Aria was really serious about killing him, and so he said fearfully, "I'm sorry, Iโ""Too late." As Aria uttered those two words, the cloud of vengefulness in the corridor became more potent.Suddenly, a young girl's voice could be heard. "Let it be, Aria."Aria loosened her grip and looked down, only to see a young girl pulling on the hem of her shirt. "If you kill him, you'll end up going to
Lysander said, "A word of advice, seeing that you're a fellow practitioner. If you always carry spirits with you, you'll be impacted as well.""I'm not a practitioner," Aria said as she dragged Carlos out of the dark corridor.She intended to fulfill the twins' final wish, ensure Carlos faced legal consequences, and use edited footage from the variety show to reveal the truth.Lysander hesitated before jogging after her. "Are you serious? You're a natural! It's a waste not to harness your potential!"He continued, "This is the first time I've seen a spirit willingly choose a human as its master. Also, isn't that a wraithling on your shoulder? Why didn't it hurt you? Hello?"Aria didn't want to answer his question, so she prodded on his acupoints to shut him up.Lysander was amazed. He planned to tell Homer about meeting an acupuncture expert. โฆLandon was right outside. He knew what Aria had done but did nothing to stop her. He was managing the aftermath, preparing explanation
Just as Leon was about to say something, a group of reporters swarmed toward him, asking, "All the other guests told us that they witnessed some phenomena they had no scientific explanation for. What can you tell us about this?""The screen faded to black several times during the filming. What happened?"After that, the reporters flocked toward somewhere behind Leon, seeming to have set their sights on a more valuable target."Player No. 5, congratulations on winning Best Player this episode. You did amazing!""You tackled all those riddles so efficiently, and you were so accurate!""Do the twins really exist? The NPC actress seemed out of sorts.""All the other guests were spooked. I heard that arcane seekers from Mount Dracotigris have also come here. Is this true?"The cameras weren't just pointed toward Aria but also Landon, who gave the reporters a sweeping glance. "All of youโ" he started."Compared to other rumors, shouldn't you focus on the truth?" Aria fiddled with her
Homer rose from his seat, deep in thought. Lysander said in shock, "Mr. Bond, that'sโฆ That'sโ""The Grand Pilgrimage," Homer interjected, a sudden smile lighting his face as he glanced downstairs. "The malevolent spirits have been transformed into holy ones capable of saving humanity in crucial moments. Excellent, excellent! This apprentice of mine is truly a prodigy in the arcane arts, as expected!"Lysander, still confused, responded, "Your apprentice? But she said she isn't a practitioner, Mr. Bond."Homer paid no heed to that. If he were determined to make someone his apprentice, nothing would stand in his way.โฆTo maintain order, the HOU had already asked the reporters to leave.The celebrities, who had been revived by the chilly wind, began waking up one by one. As soon as Lulu opened her eyes, she grabbed her assistant's arm. "Issue a statement denying my abortion and make it public. Do whatever it takes, no matter the cost."The assistant hesitated. "The show was alread
Lily's mind whirled. This couldn't be the end. She decided to call Evelyn to confirm everything. Lily then dialed Evelyn's number but was met with the disheartening sound of a signal toneโEvelyn's phone was off.โฆMeanwhile, Evelyn was still reeling from the shock of the day's events. She glanced at Lulu, who was verging on hysteria and regretted ever participating in the show. She had tried to tell everyone that the ghosts were real and that Aria could genuinely communicate with them, but no one believed her.The crew insisted that everything was scripted; they had to maintain this narrative, or the show would be done for. Anthony and Chandler trembled whenever they saw Aria, and Evelyn was no exception. Beside her was Helen, who had a coat draped around her shoulders. She looked pale when the HOU came over to ask her some questions.Just when they thought everything was over, they were faced with the prospect of further interrogation.Aria spotted Chandler. Her lips parted i
All the HOU officers looked at Aria, who smiled and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Bond, but I already have a mentor."Homer's dramatic demeanor faltered, replaced by a deep frown. His voice, tinged with a child's stubbornness, responded, "A mentor, you say? Your haphazard dismantling of the formation speaks otherwise. You barely grasp the Divine Laws! I question the existence of such a mentor!"Aria's fingers brushed the surface of her Charm Coin. "This isn't my passion. I merely recall snippets of what my mentor once shared."Homer deflated like a punctured balloon. "Do you really have a mentor?"His eyes snapped up with sudden intensity. "Where is he? I wish to challenge him to a debate!""I've been looking for him as well," Aria replied, her smile enigmatic. "When the time is right, you'll meet him."Homer still couldn't handle such a blow. "Give me a moment, my apprentice."This was his first encounter with the gnawing regret of lost potential."I'll return for you!" Homer vowed, h
Leon froze in the middle of his tirade as if struck by a bolt of lightning. His mouth opened and closed, yet no sound emerged, the words trapped in his throat. Landon's revelation echoed in his mind, "She's Rainbow, your sister."The screen displayed the scene where he had admonished Aria to be mindful of her words. Leon realized he had just rejected his own sister in front of a national audience.He gripped his hair in frustration, his usually composed visage cracking. His handsome features, often idolized, now appeared disheveled and human, a stark contrast to his public persona as a popular celebrity.Leon paced the room, his thoughts a chaotic storm. How could he have told Aria not to harbor feelings for him, dismissing her so thoughtlessly?Why hadn't Warren mentioned anything about Aria filming the show alongside him?Leon wanted to go to Aria but was uncertain how to face her after his careless behavior. He continued pacing around aimlessly, but his heart was bursting with
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
Durand's expression darkened; Eamon was right. Amos and the official from the state had originally wanted to work with the Grishams, especially Eamon. That was why they used the Fitzroys as a bridge to approach him. Unfortunately, Magdalene had failed to establish any rapport with the Grishams.Instead, she kept criticizing Eamon, claiming he followed Laura's every word, and insisted they had plenty of ways to manipulate the Grishams. In the end, the divorce erupted into a scandal, and the entire Fitzroy family was imprisoned.Ironically, Eamon's actions only impressed the state official more. Durand had even heard Amos say that their leader hoped Eamon would continue working with them as his involvement would ensure their plans progressed smoothly.That knowledge burned Durand with frustration. No matter what he did, he could never measure up to Eamon."It looks like you still haven't grasped the situation, Mr. Grishman. Mr. Grisham Senior has begged everyone, but where did it le
"I'm happy to take over the Grishams' responsibilities," Durand said.Waymond scoffed coldly. "You're not worthy of it.""Mr. Lincoln, it seems someone's not too happy with you."Durand, dressed like a gentleman as always, adjusted his glasses and replied calmly, "Waymond, you've been in this business long enough to know how things work. The Grishams have gained a lot over the years. It's not up to you to decide whether to hold on to it."Leonardo stood, trying to ease the tension. "There's no point in arguing. Let's settle this the traditional wayโwith an anonymous vote. Everyone, write down whether you think the Grishams should step down. Let the vote speak for itself. That way, it'll be fair."He instructed someone to bring in a box, paper, and pens. Each member was handed a set. It was more for show than anything else; everyone already knew how the vote would go.Eamon saw right through their performance, his gaze turning cold as he sat silently. The votes were quickly cast an
"Mr. Grisham, how long your niece stays locked up isn't up to usโit depends on the severity of her crime," Durand said. "As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, you should understand how serious the situation she's stirred up really is. Haven't you read any of the online news?"People are now hoping the Grisham family goes bankrupt. They're even demanding that we, the Chamber, investigate this matter ourselves!"His words made those who had previously wanted to side with the Grishams start to hesitate. With the Draycotts and Fitzroys already doomed, the Grishams had seemed like the next best option. But no one had expected Aria to make such a critical mistake.Public sentiment had turned sharply. The Chamber of Commerce was now being blamed for enabling an economic disaster. What angered the public most was Aria's carefully crafted image. If she'd shown her true colors from the start, they might have ignored her. But pretending to be righteous, only to betray the common peopleโthat w