Aria scrolled through Maverick's phone. She smiled at him and said, "You're too kind, Mr. Blooms. The contacts in your phone are enough to uproot the entire Nymeria. The name you set for them is pretty special too. Respectful Worshipper? You sure know how to label your customers."She casually dialed a number. While waiting for someone to pick up, she turned to a local police officer. "You received a report that one of the suspects is Maverick Blooms. Why didn't you act right away? Were the higher-ups protecting him?"Her grin widened. "If so, you'll need to be investigated too."A few police officers' expressions shifted at her words.When the call went unanswered, Aria dialed another number.By now, Maverick had regained his composure. He had overestimated Aria, believing she might outwit them. But as he reflected, there weren't many in Nymeria who could.The other party must have been tipped off and cleared their tracks. They wouldn't leave evidence, and the kidnapped children
There were a couple of babies inside!Nyx and the twins felt their powers wane upon entering, not due to the many statues of God they feared but because of the overwhelming presence of a powerful evil energy. This forced them to remain in human form, as revealing their true selves would be too dangerous.However, everything changed when Landon arrived.With newfound strength, the first thing Nyx did was cry, causing the other babies to follow suit. As his cries echoed, even the drugged children, who had previously been calm, began to wail.The entire prayer room echoed with their cries.Panic overtook the human traffickers. Pale with fear, they scrambled to cover the children's mouths, but with only two hands each, it was impossible to quiet them all. Nothing worked.They didn't even have time to deal with Landon. Their only thought was to run. But Landon wasn't about to let them escape. "Sam," he called.Before the traffickers could react, one was sent flying to the ground with
This was considered a major crime! The vlogger's supporter online had turned on her. "I get wanting to stand up for your hometown, but you can't post a video just to smear someone because you don't like them. Why didn't you mention the young woman was there because she uncovered something about the church?""I'm at the church now. I can only say—don't put too much trust in it. The young woman even saved the girl the church refused to heal.""What's going on?""To sum it up, someone's here to get rid of evil, but the vlogger used her platform to slander that person." "I was shocked when I saw those seven babies! How could a church become a haven for human traffickers?"At this point, Maverick was speechless. Seeing the concrete evidence and the swarm of tourists present, it was obvious how big the impact was. The mastermind wouldn't be able to save Maverick now, let alone Andy.Maverick glanced at Aria. "You planned this. You could've had your team search the prayer room qu
"They're coming!" Queenie's face drained of color as she instinctively stepped back.Two figures emerged behind her. One was older, distinguished, and handsome, while the younger one affectionately ruffled her hair like a protective older brother. Sam couldn't speak, so he signed for her not to worry.Devon was also there, but no one could see him—except Queenie. Her eyes widened as she turned to Landon and whispered, "It's not just the Krowonian soldiers... the ones who once protected us are here too."As they reached the church, a flood of memories overwhelmed Devon. "I remembered everything!" Devon's eyes were red. "The Krowonian soldiers are still here because we failed to protect everyone. The children and the women of Nymeria suffered horribly."They took Nymeria for themselves, doing whatever they wanted. They even captured Soren for their experiments. Soren, Mr. Shoeman, and I... we all died together."Mr. Shoeman... He taught me how to read and write. He said the only w
Immediately, the officer glanced back, and the Krowonian soldiers snapped into a line, plunging their long knives into one of the worshippers.The group erupted in laughter. "These fools are worshipping us. Hahaha!"They reveled in their cruelty, breaking into a traditional dance. With each step forward, their blades thrust at the praying people.It was absurd how some pro-Krowonians could ever find their dance magnificent. The soldiers, now spirits, made no effort to conceal the malice festering in their hearts."It's this little wench again," one soldier sneered as he danced toward Queenie. "Missed my chance to pierce her last time. This time, I'll make sure. If not, maybe I'll take the old woman next to her to the grave instead. What do you think?"His eyes gleamed with vile intent as he spoke."She kept messing with us in her past life. She may not remember our Krowonian empire, but we remember her. I didn't expect to find her like this after reincarnation. She deserves t
"You can't touch me with so many worshippers on my side," the Krowonian officer said arrogantly.Most fortune tellers would tread carefully, slowly dismantling the web of this deadlock manifestation. Yet, before Aria, such caution was folly. She could take her time to tease apart its intricate layers, but if urgency gnawed at her, she would obliterate it with the force of her dark resolve.She raised her eyebrows, preparing to launch a full-on assault. It would cost her a bit of blood and energy, but she was ready. However, before she could act, someone grabbed her wrist. It was Landon. His gaze fell on the Krowonian soldiers, cold and bottomless. "If your eyes serve no purpose, there's no need for you to keep them."As he spoke, the statues around them seemed to tremble.The Krowonian soldiers suddenly felt their eyes burn, the pain unbearable as they curled up, their bodies on the verge of exploding.The officer's face turned ashen. No one had dared to harm them in the prese
Aria remained vigilant, keenly aware of her surroundings as she listened to him speak. Her fingers tightened into fists, realizing the truth in his words.They had mentioned a mastermind pulling the strings. Stopping worshippers through the internet was a simple task, and if she could unravel the key to this entire situation, she could resolve it effortlessly.Noticing Aria's silence, the Krowonian soldier chuckled mockingly. "Dream on if you think you can win. Even if we vanish, we'll take your filthy ancestors with us!"Devon quickly grasped Aria's hands, understanding the implication behind the soldier's taunt. "Ms. Carver, we cannot let them disappear. Their fate is intertwined with Mr. Shoeman. If they vanish, she and Soren will go with them!"At Devon's words, a ripple of movement surged through the shadows of the Netherrealm. The Krowonian soldiers writhed on the ground, groaning in agony from Landon's brutal assault, their defenses shattered, and the area left unguarded.O
Devon sensed Terry's impending disappearance. Terry had used all his merits to send Devon away from the underground.Initially, Terry was the least likely to fade among them. Even Soven and the others were expected to last longer than Devon. But they had exhausted their accumulated merits and blessings on him, ensuring Devon would survive.After being trapped underground for so many years, they had forgotten the sight of the surface. Their only sustenance came from the church's leftovers, and the Krowonians would even drive nails into their heads if they felt displeased.Terry shielded Devon from that suffering, often smiling and saying, "Devon is the youngest among us. He deserves a chance to see the future."Terry's desperation to locate the Carver family stemmed from the disappearance of Camden Dorado, one of their members.The Krowonian soldiers grew stronger the more they were worshipped. The heroes trapped underground had no means to fight back. While they could use explosiv
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