Fortunately, Marna was well-prepared. "Ever since the trouble we had in Southbury, they've been hunting us down. I can't continue to use the same women. The cameras would catch them easily. I've been searching for other women throughout the year. They're all in this for the money."The man glanced at the middle-aged women, their faces partially obscured by scarves. Aria had expertly applied enough makeup to enhance their appearances."It's good that you're all here for the money. The best part of our line of work is the quick cash! Just be obedient and follow our rules. Don't look at what you're not supposed to see, and don't ask about anything out of line. If you do that, the money will be in your account by tonight."Aria said after the man finished speaking, "How much can I get? Marna mentioned we earn extra for performing well.""Don't worry. I won't underpay you."The man would be more worried if they didn't ask any questions. He only started the car after Aria's inquiry. Nat
Aria threw open the car door, her excitement bubbling over. "Marna, the perks you arranged are incredible! We even get to travel for free!""Huh? Oh, you're right. It's all on us," Marna replied with a forced smile. The two men in charge of the delivery were satisfied with Aria's reaction. Dumb country bumpkins like her were easy to manipulate.If they stayed in the car, the men would get suspicious.As such, the female police officers stepped out, their enthusiasm palpable, seemingly unconcerned about the fate of the babies.Once they were out, the men swiftly exited the tourist area through the back.The officers opened their mouths to speak, but Aria raised her gaze, silently indicating the surveillance cameras nearby.She then checked her watch, signaling for them to stay calm, as a tracker had been installed in the car. With Nyx and the twins nearby, no one could harm the babies.Aria redirected her focus to the tourist site, pulling out her phone for a selfie while subtl
Marna felt a wave of guilt wash over her, leaving her particularly anxious. "I do. I've sent goods here before, but I've never actually been inside."She lowered her gaze, feigning a search for something. In reality, she was avoiding Aria's eyes, terrified of revealing her true feelings.Upon hearing that, Aria raised her eyebrows and grinned. "You're a firm believer, yet you're telling me you didn't go inside and pray. Marna, don't you think it sounds illogical?"Seeing Marna stiffening, Aria said slowly, "Did you get the pendant from there?""I told you I got it from a fortune-teller on the train," Marna insisted. Aria nodded. "So, you still come here to express your gratitude. I wonder which god you prayed to."Marna's face drained of color at that question.The other female officers had initially been puzzled by Aria's fixation on the pendant; after all, the children's safety was their priority. But as they observed Marna's reaction, realization struck. The human trafficker
The voice coming from the little girl didn't sound like hers at all. It was as if she had been possessed.Aria's eyes darkened as she studied the girl's face. How could this be? The child was supposed to be the reincarnation of a heroic figure destined for greatness, at least according to her features.The crowd quickly gathered around, murmuring, "Sir, let Mr. Blooms take a look at her."The man mumbled a short prayer before replying, "Mr. Blooms is preparing for a class now. Everyone can remain outside and pray for this little girl."If she doesn't improve after the prayers, it means the gods above have not blessed her. She must atone for her past life's sins. Please do not make this difficult for us."With that, the man clasped his hands together and shut the hall doors. Though it seemed like advice, he was clearly leaving the girl to fend for herself.The old woman stumbled forward, tears streaming down her face. "My granddaughter is kind-hearted. Her parents are useless, so
"Leave if you're not here to pray!" the bodyguard snapped impatiently, ready to throw Aria out.But Aria wasn't about to let that happen. She swiftly grabbed his wrist and pressed a pressure point.With that, the bodyguard could no longer speak. He opened his mouth but nothing came out."How noisy," Aria muttered lazily, digging a finger into her ear. Causing a scene would make her mission easier, and this was the perfect chance to confirm her suspicions about the church.Another priest walked over and mumbled a prayer. "Your mouth is a tool of both blessing and karma. Stop what you're doing right now. You have already sinned, so please stop causing any trouble."Upon hearing that, Aria raised her eyebrows. "I'm causing trouble? Didn't you see the sick little girl right there?""If she's sick, she can rest in the backyard. We need to conduct our class," the priest said in a matter of factly.Aria chuckled. "Are you saying that praying to you all is useless?"Her words riled u
Aria had only asked because she noticed signs of fortune on Queenie's face and a noble air between her brows. Her eyes were filled with determination and purity, which caught Aria's attention.Tobias had once told her that some reincarnated heroic figures often acted differently from ordinary children. For instance, a child might suddenly tell their mother they'd been to a particular place before, but it had been in ruins, and they'd fought in straw shoes. Time was multidimensional, and it wasn't unusual for fragments of memories to linger.Most parents, however, would dismiss such claims as mere jokes. But in truth, there was a chance these children were carrying memories from past lives.Aria silently hoped they could return. Her expression softened as she lowered her gaze.Queenie looked at the woman before her. There was indeed something she didn't dare to say. She was afraid it would affect her grandmother if she said it. After all, they were at a holy church where people cl
Queenie looked at the priests before beckoning Aria to come closer."When I came here last, I saw something underneath the church. It scared me."Queenie looked worried. "They saw me too. I got sick after returning home. Miss, didn't they say nobody would hurt children in a place protected by God?"Queenie raised her head. She spoke softly, but it was still loud enough for those nearby to hear. "Then why are there Krowonian soldiers eating the offerings?"Queenie pointed her finger at the table not far away, where fresh fruits were arranged as offerings. Blood drained out of the crowd's faces when they heard her, and even Aria's eyes flickered.The crowd was in an uproar."Krowonian soldiers? How could that be?""What nonsense is this child saying?""How could there be Krowonian soldiers here? Did she mistook them as foreign tourists?""I doubt tourists would go and eat the offerings. I bet she's just lying."The vlogger also pursed her lips. "This is nonsense. If you want to
It was an unforgivable crime.The church was a sacred place where people from all across the country came to worship. Each prayer and act of devotion strengthened the spirits, giving them power.Before entering, Aria noticed the church was packed with tourists. It was no surprise that the heroic spirits had been trapped in the Netherrealm for nearly a century—Krowonian soldiers had been worshipped on Farshyan soil.No wonder Devon kept saying he wanted to return and save everyone. No heroic spirit could thrive in such a corrupted environment.Warren, Fergus, and the others had been struggling to identify the traitors mentioned in the letter. They never expected the culprits to be the priests.The vlogger taunted Aria. "Wow. You're so scary. I'm just recording my life. Go and sue me, then.""Expect a lawyer's letter then. Queenie is right. You guys can't see it because what she's seeing isn't a spirit," Aria replied calmly."What does that mean?"Just as someone wanted to ask, a
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