There were about 20 people from the Carver family standing outside, waiting for Barron to emerge. They were all renowned fighters of Ludwiten. Despite being fresh out of jail and injured, Warren reacted quickly and didn't lag behind. He refused to take any pictures with Krowonians despite being coerced and threatened.The Krowonians planned to publish the photos from this gathering to the public. Their goal was simple—to seize control of Farshya's economic lifelines.The first step was to mislead the Farshyans to misunderstand the Carver family. What they really wanted to do came next.The photographer that came with Viktor tried his best to hide himself.Unbeknownst to him, Aria had ordered Nyx to place something on the photographer.The photographer thought he was safe once he left the Krowonian embassy and arrived at the Krowonian Intelligence Office in the Nobeetan Concession. He never expected Aria to follow him the entire way.Besides planning to destroy his camera, she a
Her stunning face stood out, and the mole under her eyes captivated others even more.Her white shirt was tucked into black jeans, and she wore a pair of women's military boots.She was bound to make a commotion, especially when she shouted, "Do you guys want money?"With a casual flick of her hand, money started raining down from above.Nobody could resist such a scene, and even those foreigners were in disbelief.She was scattering a lot of cash, and in another currency too!In an instant, the Nobeetan Concession exploded in an uproar.Even those usually well-mannered foreigners rushed out of the buildings. People attending parties and business meetings all turned their attention to the scene.An embassy staff member immediately called his superior after noticing something was wrong. Reporters, both local and international, scrambled to get to the scene.Aria tossed the cash casually. The bills mixed with the snowflakes slowly descended before hitting the ground. The entire
People in the Nobeetan Concession couldn't sleep soundly knowing the Krowonian devils in Farshya had done such things in the guise of humanity.It was as if even the heavens were bidding farewell to the young spirits. The snow descended even heavier when the Krowonian Embassy was destroyed.People said they had never seen such huge snowfall in Ludwiten before.On the ground, it was impossible to distinguish whose child's photo was lying there.Those who picked up the money froze in place, horrified by what happened.Human minds need to be awakened. If they were not stimulated, they would never understand that they were simply sheep waiting to be slaughtered if they were too weak.Those holding knives didn't treat them like human beings at all. In their eyes, one's politeness was because they were weak. Being hospitable to them showed how lowly one was.Only when they were strong could their virtues be acknowledged.Aria didn't know if these photos could awaken even a small frac
Amid the first snowfall and dense fog, Landon stood still, his gaze fixed on Aria. His dark pupils shone with a hint of indifference. Snowflakes landed on his shoulders, but he remained upright and proud. The chaos surrounding him did nothing to diminish the innate grace he carried. Instead, countless spirits circled him, drawn to his presence.The pressure he gave off fractured the manifestation, distorting its form as if on the verge of collapse.Sensing his intentions, Nyx was about to speak when he heard a low roar.Aria, astride her BMW Tomahawk, soared between the buildings, her appearance as striking and cool as when she had first arrived. Fearful of being left behind, Nyx quickly ducked into the copper coin and summoned his strength to follow Aria out of the manifestation.Aria found herself back at the Ander residence as her BMW Tomahawk landed. The scene behind her vanished, giving way to the familiar modern décor. A pair of embroidered red shoes fell to the side, but t
The neighbors in the alley said that the family was unlucky. The mother had passed away, while the eldest daughter had been sold off.When the mother passed, her body smelled so foul that her husband refused to pay for a proper burial. Instead, he wrapped her in a mat and disposed of her carelessly.This was Toto's fifth time entering the dream.Initially, he tried to ignore the summons and avoid entering the dream altogether.He often felt drowsy in class and was a bit anemic, prompting his mother to worry about his health.Yet, haunted by the thought of the young girl being alone and neglected, Toto ventured into the dreamscape for the sixth time. This time, he brought snacks, hoping to comfort the girl who might be distressed by her mother's death.But when he saw her again, she was barely alive, dragged into a small, dark room.Toto followed, discovering that this place was not a school but a site for human experiments. He had read about it in children's books.Toto planned
Toto nodded. "Okay!"Verona hugged her son, her heart filled with gratitude.They were so fortunate to have met Aria.However, Toto's curiosity remained. "I still want to ask about the young lady."Verona prompted him to elaborate, and Toto recounted everything he had seen in the yard and his dream.It was then that Verona understood the true danger lurking at their home. Aria was still there! She was about to rush back when she received a text message. "I received word from Mr. Lowe Senior that Toto has already awakened. You should remain at the hospital for a few days; the house needs to be cleansed by professionals." Aria's message was clear and direct.Verona exhaled in relief. "Alright. I'll take your advice."After sending that message, Verona typed another. "I heard everything from Toto. Thank you so much, Aria."From Toto's description, Verona sensed the dream wasn’t ordinary. The more she listened, the more it seemed connected to historical events. Krowonians were in
"No, you're not." The black mist surged, attempting to soothe Landon's ire. Yet, Landon paid it no mind. He spread his arms and reclined in the tranquil depths of the Dark River, the most secluded part of the Netherrealm. He always did what he wanted. No spirit dared to disturb him as he rested.The surge of greed that had emerged upon his entry into the Dark River dissipated before it could even touch him.That day, the evil spirits convened for a meeting."Is Mr. York in a bad mood?""Obviously!""What should we do? Should we still go out?""If you have no wish to remain even as a ghost, feel free to try.""I think I'll just stay here and continue sleeping."The river's surface rippled, its depth seeming boundless.Only Landon, clad in a red robe, appeared to be asleep. His handsome face exuded a grace that seemed naturally at home in the Dark River.…Earthbound Manifestations often left behind fragments of spirits' memories.Aria sought further insights from Nyx abo
The old man was caught off guard. Landon had unearthed a fragment of his soul—an event unpredicted by any divination.The old man was none other than Tobias Revelare. Finding it strange, he decided to pack up his things and delve into the mystery at hand. Tobias pondered if Aria was behind it. Given her well-known love for money, she was unlikely to venture to Janovin for any other reason.How could Homer fail to keep an eye on things when he was well aware of the threat in Janovin? Moreover, as a practitioner of the Decatorian way, it was his responsibility to address the threat. Tobias' anxiety was palpable. The young woman, still poring over her tarot cards, stood up as the lights went out. "Sir, what's happening? You said my relationship would go smoothly. Why is there a problem now?"The young woman feared that Tobias might bolt. Even though the reading cost just 29.90 dollars, it was still a notable expense. Young people cared deeply about getting their money's worth. Fu
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