*****Mistress Ayra shivered from head to toe, feeling the terrifying wave of icy pressure erupting from Xavier like a frozen storm unleashed without warning.The entire chamber seemed to dim in an instant.Even the air itself turned heavy and biting, so cold it felt capable of freezing one’s lungs from the inside out.Frost silently crept across the edges of the desk and marble floor, but Xavier didn’t notice any of it at this moment.His eyes remained locked onto the soul puppets displayed on the tablet screen, and within those usually lazy, half-asleep eyes now surged a murderous fury so intense it made Mistress Ayra’s scalp go numb.It was the first time she had ever seen him genuinely enraged, and somehow, that was infinitely more terrifying than all the previous versions combined.Seeing that expression alone was enough to make Mistress Ayra instinctively swallow every word she had been about to say.Even her breathing unconsciously softened, as though she feared making too much

*****At this moment, Xavier sat in the back seat of a taxi, unusually composed and silent.The lazy air that normally clung to him like a second skin was nowhere to be found.His face was unreadable and calm to the point of eeriness, as he stared through the car window at the passing streets of Riverton City.But despite his gaze being fixed outside, it was obvious he wasn’t truly seeing any of it.His thoughts were elsewhere entirely, completely occupied by the video Mistress Ayra had shown him earlier.The image of those soul puppets replayed repeatedly in his head like a cursed recording that refused to stop.The hollow eyes, lifeless movements, and the remnants of people whose souls had been shredded until nothing human remained.Even now, merely recalling it made a dangerous chill flicker inside Xavier’s eyes.Mistress Ayra had probably assumed he had already placed the matter behind him after calmly giving his verdict earlier.After all, outwardly, he had immediately resumed be

*****Back inside the taxi.The reason the driver became utterly horrified and deathly pale wasn't merely because armed men had blocked the road or because he sensed their intense, murderous intent.No.The true reason was much worse.He recognized them.Just yesterday, he had watched the explosive Anonymous404 report that had thrown the entire city into chaos.He had seen the crimes, the innocent people murdered, and the lives treated as though they were worth less than dirt.The faces of those monsters had been burned into his memory, just like they had nearly everyone who had seen the news.And now... those same people were standing right outside, blocking the road, and waiting.The moment he recognized them, his soul had practically attempted an emergency evacuation.Even though he already realized they weren't targeting him, he knew that people like this didn't care about collateral damage.If a fly happened to be nearby while they killed someone, they would probably kill the fly

*****Beside the third brother, Borgia's fingers slowly clenched, his knuckles cracking audibly."His mere existence is starting to irritate me."The words came out through gritted teeth, Xavier’s complete lack of concern feeling more insulting than a thousand curses.Then suddenly…"I'll go first."The Third Brother stepped forward suddenly, his voice carrying unmistakable excitement.Before either his father or Borgia could react, he raised a hand, and immediately, his subordinates' eyes lit up.They had clearly been waiting for this.And so, without the slightest hesitation, they surged forward, their boots pounding against the road, and their weapons rose.In mere moments, Xavier and the taxi were completely surrounded, a sight that nearly made the driver pass out.'Mother...''Father...''Ancestors...'He cried out internally, his body shivering frantically as he prayed fervently in his mind.Meanwhile, seeing his third brother move first, Borgia's eyes flashed violently."This s

*****Compared to the dozens of armed men surrounding him, Xavier looked almost insignificant.He looks too relaxed… like a pampered young master of a wealthy family who has never done any chore in his life, let alone learned how to fight.His hands remained casually tucked inside his pockets, his posture loose, and his droopy eyes looking as though he hadn't gotten enough sleep.Nothing about him screamed danger or suggested slight power, let alone overwhelming one.And yet…The right-hand man recalled his master’s words, and the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he became.‘He doesn’t look like much,’ he admitted inwardly. His brows furrowed. ‘So why is Master so confident?’The question refused to leave his mind.‘Why is he convinced the boy can defeat both young masters and all their subordinates?’….At the same time, roughly two dozen men… half of them the Third Brother's recruited mercenaries and the other half Borgia's privately trained fighters, stood encirclin