Aria was relieved to hear that. Fergus was smarter and more responsible than she expected, which was a relief.Fergus noticed the expressions Aria and Warren were wearing. He didn't see Aria often, but he knew Warren well. His grandfather had been a decisive man his whole life, and he'd never looked so careful and tentative as if he hoped that Fergus wouldn't blame him.Fergus swallowed. His heart ached as he was consumed with guilt. Just by listening to Aria's descriptions alone, he could already feel Warren's helplessness and desperation. He couldn't fathom how difficult things would be for Warren. No matter Poeta's motives when she approached him, he shouldn't have let Warren deal with her. Fergus wasn't brought up by Warren, and a lot of people assumed that they weren't close. However, as the family's oldest son, he knew better than anyone how elated Warren had been at his birth. There were records of that day, and Fiona often told him stories.Fergus still remembered how
Was it really not that terrible? Fergus didn't think so, at least not based on what he'd seen online. He said nothing more as he transferred more money over. The money was more than enough for a few first-class seats; Aria could even have the entire carriage for herself.So this was what it felt like to have a brother indulge her. Aria smiled, her heart warm.Stephen thought that Aria and Devon would at least stay the night, but she looked at Devon and said, "I'm not waiting any longer. I'm leaving overnight."Spirits were more unstable during the day, and Aria would have an increased chance of meeting spirits who could provide her with hints if she journeyed at night.Stephen packed everything Aria would need for her, including a thermos, some sliced fruit, and bread.Aria gave everything to Devon. "We can buy the other stuff I promised you after we arrive at our destination."Devon was stunned. "This is already enough. Everyone can feast on this pile of food for days."Aria
Little Percy used to resent himself for not understanding what Owen was saying. Other kids received impeccable grades, but he couldn't even comprehend what the teachers were saying in class. The words Percy heard most often during childhood were, "Why do I have a son as stupid as you? You embarrass me."He knew that Owen was scolding him because of the high pitch of his father's voice; he'd even found fault in himself for everything. Percy didn't know if every child with developmental delays had the same thoughts as him. He'd think about how Owen wouldn't have been so mad at him if he were more typical. With that, he gradually grew up to become a people-pleaser. No one would believe that Percy Carver, the smiling fox who never lost in court, used to be a people-pleaser in his childhood.Percy only became a new person when he turned 11, and it was because he was the first person little Aria had wanted to hug. Leon had been walking circles around Aria all day, but she'd paid
Poeta had long grown tired of the stagnation in her homeland. Things were much better overseas, as everyone was more open-minded.But unlike what Poeta had envisioned, their open-mindedness often came with strings attached. While life in Farshya had felt restrictive, the lack of enforcement abroad meant her boyfriend often abused her. As a foreigner, she had no protection under local laws, which devastated her. Fortunately, she had an escape plan in the form of Fergus.She hadn't wanted to approach him with ulterior motives, but Owen had promised her that she and Fergus could rekindle their past. This was the approval Poeta longed for—a legitimate marriage sanctioned by the head of the family. However, Fergus was too unenthused, much to her disappointment. Still, Poeta reassured herself that with time and patience, Fergus would come around—he had always been steady in his love. Looking back, Poeta realized her mistake. She never would have known about Fergus' shares in the comp
Aria was speechless. Something was out of sorts with her family, wasn't it?Aria couldn't very well discourage Landon, not when Sam had already gotten a massive sum of money out of him. She bent down and asked Sam, "Did you invite this spoiled heir to come with us? He's not even used to taking the train. You're be in charge of taking care of him, alright?"Aria had worded it so nicely. Sam gestured, his eyes round, "If he passes out because of the smell, I'll carry him. Leave him to me!"Aria raised a brow. Before she could say anything, Landon appeared before them, his melodic voice cutting through the moment. "What? Is the money not enough?"That was why Sam was willing to work for him; it was hard to not like someone so generous and willing to pay. Still, Sam remained wary of Landon, who was nice to him nevertheless. Sam's eyes lit up. He made to ask for more money, but Aria covered his mouth and looked at Landon. "Are you okay with taking the train?""You're here to take
After suppressing his presence, Landon pulled out a jewel necklace and clasped it around Sam's neck.Aria was confused as to what he was doing. Landon smiled. "Homer gave me this. It was kept on Mount Dracotigris until now. It can suppress Chaos' murderous intent."Aria knew that wasn't true. The jewels didn't look like anything from the Dracotigris Order, especially with the emerald carved into a skull—completely unlike their style. This necklace clearly came from the Netherrealm. Nyx and the twins sat up straight. They all rolled their eyes, but none dared to speak the truth. They feared disintegration if Landon so much as raised his hand. Aria looked at the skull for several seconds, raising her brow. "How exquisite."It didn't sound like a compliment.Sam liked the necklace, though. He bit on the emerald and ascertained that it was real.Seeing that, Aria said nothing. However, the necklace was clearly beneficial. Spirits were already beginning to move toward them desp
"He isn't enlightened yet?" Colin exclaimed incredulously before lowering his voice, afraid that someone else would hear. "You mustn't let that happen, young lady. He'll be punished if the Phantom Patrol catch him!"Some spirits, newly severed from their mortal coils, struggled to grasp the finality of their demise. They roamed the veil between worlds in the first seven days after their passing, desperate to reclaim their mortal forms. Those who realized they could not reclaim their own bodies would launch themselves at the living, desperate to merge with the living and seize a second chance at life. Yet they must be wary to avoid the ever-watchful Phantom Patrol.Each life—its beginning and inevitable end—was meticulously chronicled in the grim tomes of the Netherrealm's officials. When mortals breathed their last, the authorities claimed their essence, guiding them to the depths of the Netherrealm, where they would await their enlightenment.An unenlightened spirit was doomed to
The mention of Nymeria reminded Aria of something. Her gaze darkened a few notches. "Nymeria, the city near Ludwiten?"Colin nodded.Aria took out her phone immediately and booked three first-class tickets for the earliest train to Nymeria—three tickets for two adults and a child. Fortunately, it wasn't the travel season now, so Aria didn't need to compete against other people for these tickets. The moment she was about to enter the station with Devon, two men suddenly appeared. They were wearing similar suits, one black and one white, that looked quite dated. They were also wearing strange masks on their faces. Noir was holding a bundle of metal chains while Blanc looked at his tablet. "This is the site of that extraordinary occurrence we're looking for. Why are there so many spirits here?"They walked closer. They usually avoided mortals when they worked, so they didn't give Aria and Landon a second glance. This went on until Noir noticed Devon. "He's a heroic spirit who sho
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
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 way—with 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 us—it 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 people—that w