The bald thug's boot slammed viciously into Philips, who lay motionless on the ground, limp as discarded meat."Pathetic," he sneered, spit flying from his twisted lips. He snapped his head around, locking onto Michael with cold, predatory eyes."And you—you're the smartass who said we don't play by rules here, huh? Step over here, tough guy!"Michael's knees buckled beneath him, fear spreading icy tendrils through his chest.He stammered helplessly, "B-boss, wait! I'm from... I'm from the Dunsmore—""The Dunsmore what?" The bald man's laughter echoed dark and mocking."You think I give a damn about the Dunsmores? Maybe I should ring up Jessica Golden—let's see how long your precious family lasts when she burns them to the ground!" He spat the threat like venom.Michael’s eyes widened in terror, "Wh-what?! No, wait—!"But the bald man had already surged forward, his fist crashing mercilessly into Michael's skull with a sickening crack.A storm of pain exploded inside Michael's head; b

Alex had only been in Haverton a few weeks, but already he’d learned fast.This city was just one small dot in the vast web ruled by the Emperor—yet even this minor outpost dwarfed Miracle City with its staggering tech.Gone were fistfights and the arcane arts; here, battles were settled swiftly with sleek guns and gadgets humming with lethal precision.The rich lorded their power shamelessly, their coins enough to buy freedom or chains alike.A casual stroll revealed airborne carriages weaving lazily through golden clouds, while below, restaurants served sizzling mutant beast steaks to glittering patrons who laughed and schemed as if the world beneath was mere decoration.But Alex thrived here. His mind brimmed with forgotten secrets and futuristic designs. Armed with the hidden might of nano-weapons and knowledge lost to this age, his influence grew rapidly, unnoticed by those too arrogant to see beyond their noses.Recently, his miracle pills—sold discreetly through the Golden Guil

Everyone burst into laughter, mocking Alex openly, their sneers echoing loudly across the street.“Cheap car?”The man beside Vince elbowed him eagerly, nodding toward Alex's car. "Hey Vince, yours is the top-of-the-line model. This clown’s driving a Porchiii, a knock-off Porsche—probably made from leftover scraps! Your ride could run circles around his junk heap!"Vince snorted arrogantly, his eyes rolling with disdain."That heap he's driving? With my cash, I could buy twenty of those pathetic excuses for a car.""You tell him, Vince!" another shouted, jeering wildly. "That loser’s dreaming if he thinks he can match up to you."Alex watched the scene unfold, contempt flickering coldly in his eyes.He glanced at Vince’s gleaming golden ride, barely scratching the surface of luxury yet flaunted like a royal chariot.The irony made him chuckle bitterly to himself.Meanwhile, Ophelia D’Arcy and Julia gracefully exited the vehicle, capturing everyone's attention instantly.The men's laug

Vince felt the scornful eyes of his so-called friends piercing through him, their contempt burning hot beneath shallow smiles.He knew exactly what they thought of him—shameless, a coward, and worse yet, a liar who couldn't hold up his end of a deal.If he backed out now, they'd poison his reputation, spreading their venomous gossip through Haverton like wildfire.Honor was everything here.A noble stripped of dignity was no better than an outcast thrown to the wolves, laughed at openly, mocked behind his back.Vince's mind spiraled into turmoil, heart pounding wildly as he considered his dwindling options."Relax, Vince," Alex Leonhard suddenly broke the tense silence, voice dripping with patronizing calm."We're all friends here, aren't we? Your car's worth twenty times mine—everyone knows that. If you can't handle it, forget it. Nobody takes these stupid bets seriously."Relief swept over Vince momentarily, loosening the knots in his stomach—until murmurs rose sharply around them.