Novels by J.B.Vale

Liam had no choice but to change the plan for escorting the token.They waited in the dock until nine, gathered everyone, had a hearty meal, and got in peak condition before driving back to Riverside.From the airport to the city, avoiding major traffic routes, there were three national highways and six provincial roads leading to their destination.The enemy was in the dark, while they were in the light, so Liam couldn’t afford to alert anyone or cause any civilian casualties.Otherwise, the enemies might slip away without a trace, while they’d be left dealing with a whole mess of problems.For this reason, Liam chose a provincial road that was relatively close and seldom traveled.But there were two spots along this road that were perfect for ambushes.Before reaching this road, Liam had already spent hours on the national highway. As they neared a three-way intersection by the highway, he suddenly turned onto a mountain path.They passed through a small village and arrived at the p

The plaque was intricately carved with dragon claws, with a large “L” character in seal script at the center, and a smaller “S” underneath. The back of the plaque shimmered, engraved with the words "G.""Yes, that’s it," Chloe said, her eyes gleaming as she nodded to the burly man."Chloe, the mercenary contract is now concluded."The burly man seemed uninterested in the plaque. With a wave, he turned and strutted back to his vehicle.As the cars disappeared from view, Nicolas and the others finally exhaled in relief."Continue to stay alert!" Liam ordered, before turning and walking back toward the dock with Chloe.Chloe carefully toyed with the plaque in her hands, her expression one of deep respect.Liam raised an eyebrow. "Chloe, were the Litsgon ancestors royal guards or something?""You figured it out?" Chloe asked, surprised."I’m no fool," Liam grinned. "I may not have seen the real deal, but I’ve watched enough period dramas. I heard that the real imperial tokens are worth mil

Liam nodded knowingly. "International-level mercenaries aren't always foreign. Mercenaries with our nationality aren't monitored as strictly, as long as they're not doing anything illegal. They can run businesses just like anyone else, as long as they stay within the law." He patted Chloe’s shoulder. "Chloe, don’t worry. Even if things go sideways during the handoff, I’ll make sure you’re safe." "But the token is more important than me, I..." Chloe trailed off. Liam cut her off. "Chloe, if the worst happens, I’ll make sure you're safe and destroy the token in the shortest time possible." Chloe’s eyes widened. "Liam, you mean burn it all down?" "It won’t be that dramatic," Liam waved off the idea. "But you have to promise me you won’t hold it against me, or I won’t do it." "Let... let’s see what happens," Chloe said, her voice wavering slightly. They sat in the corner of the dock, speaking softly for a while. Half an hour later, Nicolas' deep voice crackled through their e

Liam nodded and addressed the rest of the group. "You stay as you are, adapt as needed. Ensure the enemy can’t get close to the target!" "Yes, sir!" The mercenaries shouted together. Nicolas looked concerned. With three snipers now on the team, including Liam, the balance and coordination of their team could be disrupted. Chloe and Jack stood nearby, listening to Liam's commands. Their respect for him had skyrocketed. This guy knew military operations like the back of his hand. He was definitely no ordinary person! There had to be a legendary story behind him. "Alright, Mr. Lee, we're ready to go," Chloe checked her watch. "By 8 PM, my family's token will be arriving at the International Airport." "We’re changing routes?" Liam frowned. "Yeah, we have no choice," Chloe nodded. "Other members of my family are onto me now. I’m not sure who I can trust, so I need to prepare early." "Alright," Liam agreed. He’d done thorough research on the Nightton area, and several covert route

Captain Nicolas looked up and saw Liam lying flat on the ground, his shoulder resting on the PSG rifle, the infrared scope already activated."Still aiming for the left heart.""Damn it!"Jack and Chloe exchanged a look, both filled with excitement."Liam is crushing Captain Nicolas! He's completely dominating!""This is amazing! Looks like Liam is the key factor for tonight's operation!"As the saying goes, amateurs watch for the spectacle, but experts look for the subtleties.The other seven mercenaries stood stunned, speechless with shock.They all knew Captain Nicolas’ skills.Sure, he was bulky, but his reaction time and handling ability were top-notch, otherwise, he wouldn’t have earned the respect of the team.But that scrawny young man had just outperformed Captain Nicolas in both reaction time and skill by a full second—maybe two!In the mercenary world, if you’re even a fraction of a second faster than your opponent, it could decide life or death.Yet here, Captain Nicolas,

"Boring questions." Liam snapped his fingers, swiftly slicing through the air and catching the 92’s trigger guard in his hand.With a smooth motion, he chambered a round and aimed, all in one seamless action.If he had wanted to kill, Captain Nicolas would have already had a bullet hole in the middle of his forehead.The other eight men weren’t rookies; they immediately recognized Liam’s skill, and a flicker of uncertainty passed through their minds.Just that one move was enough to rattle them!Captain Nicolas wasn’t pleased. His voice dropped low, "Brother, I’ve never heard of you before. Where did you train?""Just some nobody, trained on my own at home," Liam said, walking casually over to the long table.The table was lined with some of the most common firearms and gear on the market.Liam glanced over, then pulled a scoped assault rifle from one of the cases. "Who’s got the G3-PSG?""Sir, that would be me," a stocky man stepped forward.Liam nodded and placed his hand on the sco

For a second, something shifted. Alateriel’s voice—usually like untouched snow—cracked with the barest hint of emotion. Bitterness. Like a glacier starting to split.Ethan didn’t respond. The only sound in the room was the faint graze of his thumb tracing the edge of the phone, over and over.“I’ve looked for you, Ethan… for seven years,” she whispered, her voice softening—melting like the first drip of spring snow.He let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that so?”“Ethan… I’ll be in Atlantis tomorrow. Can we meet? Just once?”Her voice was barely a whisper, a feather falling through silence.Ethan’s response cut like glass.“Miss Alateriel, you’re the crown jewel of the Dunphy dynasty now. Me? I’m just the washed-up heir of a forgotten family. I’d hate to taint your vision with my presence.”His words carried a cruel edge—sarcasm, self-loathing, and something darker buried underneath.He didn’t want to revisit the past. Not anymore.“Ethan, did you hear about—”“No need.”He cut her off, tone laced

The dim room was still—until Katherine's text tone pierced through the silence.Ethan glanced down at the screen. The glow lit up his face, and as he swiped to unlock, his brows instinctively furrowed.“Ethan, did you hear? Alateriel is coming to Atlantis City!”Alateriel?Ethan’s thumb froze mid-air. A dull throb pulsed at his temples.What the hell is going on today? Why is everyone suddenly bringing up that name?He rubbed the bridge of his nose, then typed back:“I heard. You seem really excited about her?”The reply came almost instantly:“Of course! Alateriel Dunphy is basically the capital’s goddess! I’m heading to the airport to see her in person!”“So much has happened lately… I need something fun to look forward to.”Ethan stared at that exclamation mark—somehow, he could see Katherine smiling through the screen.He hesitated, then hit Call.“Ethan?”Her soft voice drifted through, along with the faint rustle of magazine pages in the background.“You’re really that eager to

“Vulture was able to operate without fear,” Robert’s voice was low, every word dripping with weight, “because he had The Black Jack backing him.”“What? The Black Jack?!”Madeline’s eyes went wide in disbelief. She looked like she’d just seen a ghost.Everyone knew the truth—The Black Jack ruled this city.In this town, it wasn’t Vulture who was the true power player. He was just a pawn in a much bigger game. The Black Jack? That was the shadow ruler pulling the strings, the one who controlled the city’s heartbeat.The power The Black Jack wielded was untouchable.In business, politics, the military—The Black Jack had influence everywhere.If you crossed him? It was worse than death itself.“Robert, you can’t be telling me that The Black Jack is involved in this too, right?” Madeline swallowed hard, panic creeping into her voice.“It’s hard to say,” Robert muttered as he stood up and walked to the window, pulling the curtains shut with a snap. In the dim light, the veins on his forehea

Elijah—the man who ran The Black Jack syndicate in Atlantis City—stirred his coffee slowly.The silver spoon tapping gently against the fine bone china cup with a crisp, delicate clink.Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, landing on his manicured hands. The gleam on his nails was cold, sharp—like polished steel under a surgeon’s scalpel.Across from him, the old man known only as The Night Owl sat as calm as a still lake. His thin, wrinkled fingers methodically dropped sugar cubes into his black tea, each movement steady, almost ritualistic.“Mr. Elijah, about the shipment from Colombia—”But The Night Owl was cut off mid-sentence.A massive bodyguard—easily pushing six-foot-six—strode up, leaned down, and whispered urgently into Elijah’s ear. His breath brushed warm against Elijah’s skin.“What?”Elijah’s voice cracked through the quiet like a whip. “Vulture’s dead?”The spoon slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the saucer with a metallic clang. Black coffee

“What did you just say?”Noah’s smile froze. For a second, he thought he must’ve misheard.“I said, I have zero interest in a company that's about to go bankrupt,” Ethan repeated calmly.“Bankrupt?”The word hung in the air like a thunderclap. Everyone froze, struggling to process what they just heard.“You’re full of it!”Noah jolted upright, his voice rising in panic. “Hudson Pharmaceuticals is raking in money! We’re thriving! Why the hell would we go bankrupt? Quit fear-mongering!”Ethan leaned back, voice cool and steady. “Whether I’m fear-mongering or not, you know better than anyone. I just got word—Hudson Pharmaceuticals has been completely shut down for selling counterfeit meds. It’s only a matter of time before the bankruptcy paperwork hits.”“Fake meds? Shut down?”Everyone turned, stunned, their eyes locking onto Noah.“Bullshit! That’s complete bullshit!” Noah snapped. “Ethan, you better shut your damn mouth. Hudson runs a clean business! We play by the rules! One more word

And Lewis Parker, of all people, in that photo?Yeah right. Had to be fake.Sarah let out a cold laugh. “You? Know Lewis freaking Parker? Come on. A guy like you probably can’t even spell sommelier.”She crossed her arms, chin raised in disdain. “Let’s be real—you probably stole that wine.”“Exactly!” Luke jumped in, eyes lighting up like he just cracked the case. “No way you could afford something like that. You swiped it, didn’t you?”Noah’s face lit up with smug satisfaction, like a cat who’d cornered a mouse.“That makes perfect sense,” he sneered. “Of all the things to steal, you went and grabbed a $3.4 million bottle? You realize if the owner presses charges, you’re looking at ten years minimum behind bars?”In Noah’s mind, this was checkmate. No way someone like Ethan could ever own something that valuable.Ethan didn’t flinch. He just set his napkin down, the soft rustle of fabric against wood loud in the sudden tension.First, they said his wine was cheap.Then they claimed it

Time ticked by as the rich and powerful began to trickle into the Holiday Auction House, each one more important than the last.Holiday Auction House was world-famous, always offering treasures beyond imagination.It wasn’t just an auction; it was the event to attend if you had money and influence.The hall was split into two levels.The first floor was the main area, buzzing with chatter.It was bright and spacious, with wooden tables piled high with drinks and snacks, where guests mingled casually.The second floor, though, was where the real action was.Reserved for VIPs, the suites up here were private and luxurious, offering a perfect view of the entire hall.It was quiet, secluded, and absolutely the most exclusive place to be.Peter had already heard that the Phoenix Herb would be up for auction tonight.He’d spared no expense, securing the best suite on the second floor just for this moment.Arthur sat back in their private suite, cool and calm, while Peter stood by, eyes lock

That night, Daniel led a small team of armed soldiers, quietly closing in on the Selune house.The air felt thick with tension, the cold night wrapping the street in a quiet, oppressive silence.Edward Wells stood at the doorstep.The doorbell rang out, sharp and clear, cutting through the silence like a gunshot, its echo lingering in the still night air.Harold stepped forward with an easy smile, his hand already reaching for the door to pull it wider, expecting another normal evening.But when his eyes locked with Daniel’s, the smile faded as if it had been wiped away.Daniel stood tall and imposing—his broad shoulders and muscular frame silhouetted against the dim porch light.In his hand, he gripped a gun with an ease that spoke volumes about his deadly precision.His cold, hard eyes locked onto Harold, and the smile vanished entirely from Harold’s face."Mr. Wells, what’s going on?" Harold stammered, his voice shaky, a faint tremor betraying his confusion and fear."Cut the crap!

Peter Charles’s sleek, luxury car cruised slowly into Arthur’s line of sight, its polished design turning heads and drawing the attention of everyone nearby.“Not bad. Looks like you’ve awakened,” Arthur said with a slight nod.Peter looked full of energy.“It’s all thanks to your guidance! I can’t thank you enough!”“And I have got a good news for you!”Arthur raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp. “What do you mean?”Peter grinned. “Earlier, you told me to keep an eye out for rare herbs. Tonight, there’s Phoenix Herb at the auction!”Peter quickly pulled an auction catalog from his bag and handed it to Arthur.Arthur opened the catalog, and his eyes landed on a stunning, blood-red plant.The fiery color seemed to burn off the page—exactly what Arthur had been searching for.His heart raced.Two-thirds of the ingredients needed for the antidote were already within reach.“This Phoenix Herb has to be mine!”“Of course!” Peter’s excitement matched Arthur’s. “I’ll make sure to get it for yo

“You’ve already caused enough trouble for our daughter, and now you’re hooking up with another woman?!”Ana’s voice was dripping with disdain, and Harold’s tone matched hers, laced with fury.But there was a smug gleam in their eyes, an air of certainty.They had been waiting for this moment.Once Selune saw the undeniable evidence of Arthur’s betrayal, she would finally see the light and toss him out of her life for good.Selune sat motionless on the couch, her body rigid, her hands clasped tightly together in her lap.Her eyes were fixed on the photo on the table in front of her, the image refusing to blur, even as her mind scrambled to process it.In the photo, Arthur was standing uncomfortably close to a woman—a woman she didn’t recognize.They were so close their bodies were practically touching, and the moment was captured just as they were getting into her car.It was like a punch to the gut, each beat of her heart feeling slower, heavier.The shock cut through her in waves, le

Arthur stood at the table, staring down at the broken crystal ball.He knew it wasn’t going to reveal anything more.But he couldn’t figure out why the old woman was so thrilled, or what she meant by "the Chosen One."“Well, let’s call it a day,” he said, his voice calm.“Take the fifth herb from the third row in your garden, mix it with the others in your basket, and simmer it for three hours.”“Drink it in three doses a day. In a week, your leg will be healed.”Arthur offered this advice as a thank you for the old woman’s reading, then turned to leave.Isis’s eyes lit up.Her respect and awe for him deepened.She couldn’t believe Arthur could figure out the exact effects of her herbs just by looking at them!She had been brewing potions with them for years, but the results were always weak.Now she realized she’d been missing one crucial ingredient.It all clicked. Gratitude flooded her heart.She was even more impressed by Arthur now.“Wait, Savior!” she called, rushing forward wit

Mia and Arthur stepped out of the car, their boots sinking into the soft, wet earth.The air smelled fresh, a mix of rich soil and pine.All around them, the forest was alive with vibrant green leaves and the sound of birds chirping.“Don’t get any ideas just because my dad likes you. I’ve met guys like you before, and trust me, you’re not special,”Mia shot Arthur a look that could cut glass.“Hurry up! If you get lost, don’t come crying to me!”Without waiting for him to respond, she marched off into the thick woods.Arthur rolled his eyes. This girl was way too full of herself.But he wasn’t about to argue with her. He had better things to do.Plus, it was easier to follow her than get lost in this dense forest.They trekked through the underbrush, tall grass brushing against their legs, branches rustling as they passed.The air was thick with moisture and the earth beneath their feet was soft, like the whole forest was alive.After what felt like forever, they finally broke throug