When Winda first opened her eyes that day, groggy and battered from the ordeal at Zaros Point, her thoughts immediately turned to Adam. She pieced together the fragments of memory—the chaos, the gunfire, the sudden silence. It wasn’t hard to guess that Adam had been the one who rescued both her and Tessa. That was just like him, throwing himself into danger for others without hesitation.But Winda was a rational woman. She understood the battlefield better than most. Staying behind would not have helped Adam—it would only have slowed him down. So, despite the ache in her chest, she returned to Storm City with Tessa, both of them battered but alive.The first few days were the hardest. Winda waited, expecting Adam to appear at any moment, walking in with that steady, unshakable presence. But each day passed in silence. No calls. No signals. No word. It gnawed at her, and a creeping dread began to settle in her heart. If Adam wasn’t back by now, something had gone very wrong.Unable to

When Winda learned that Adam was seeking century-old dragon roots and white herbs, her expression lit with sudden memory.“Supreme General,” she said, leaning forward slightly, “I know where you might be able to find a century-old white herb.”Adam’s eyes sharpened instantly. “Where?” His voice carried urgency—this wasn’t just idle interest. For him, these herbs were the difference between stagnation and resurgence.Winda explained, “The Zarholts’ residence. Ese’s father was gravely ill in the past. The family spared no expense in gathering rare herbs from across the continent. Among the collection was a century-old white herb. It was their most prized possession. But her father never consumed it… so it should still be in their possession.”Adam fell silent, his mind calculating. The Zarholts were not a simple family. Powerful, resourceful, but also prideful. They would not give up something so rare without exacting their pound of flesh. Still, if the herb was truly in their collectio

With a simple wave of Adam’s hand, Dante understood. He bowed, then briskly ordered everyone out of the pavilion. The guards filed away, the sound of their boots fading until the air grew still.Silence hung heavy, broken only by the soft trickle of water from the pond nearby. Adam leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other, his sharp gaze fixed on Elsie.“Alright,” he said slowly, his tone calm but edged with curiosity. “There’s no one else here now. Let’s see what gift you’ve prepared for me.”Elsie’s lips curled into a faint smile. Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of nervousness and determination. Then, in a voice dripping with seduction, she said, “The finest gift I can offer is myself. My body… I am willing to give it to you, Supreme General. Please… favor me.”Before Adam could react, she reached behind her neck, fingers tugging at the zipper of her gown. The sound of it sliding down echoed faintly, provocative in the quiet night.The snow-white gown slipped off he

Adam leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as memories flickered through his mind. He had to admit, in his own way, he admired Brielle’s persistence. Since his return to the country, she had made waves everywhere she went, gliding effortlessly from one powerful man to the next.First it was Mr. Wood, then Chris, then Trent. And most recently, she had even tried to seduce Julian, one of the most cautious and guarded men in the city. Each “conquest” was more prominent than the last.Adam understood why.Brielle possessed a natural charm that was difficult to ignore. Her smile was enchanting, her gaze electric, and she carried with her a fragrance unlike anything else. It wasn’t a perfume—it was something deeper, a natural scent that worked on men like an aphrodisiac. Weak-willed men would lose themselves the moment she leaned close. Even seasoned warriors had been known to falter under her allure.But Adam was not like most men.“Yes, it’s her,” Dante confirmed, his expression betray

The supreme banquet was not a gathering that ordinary families could dream of attending. The threshold was so high that even many wealthy clans across the continent had to watch from afar, powerless to secure a seat.In Storm City itself, only the four major families held the privilege of invitations. Beyond that, across the entirety of Ray City, only a dozen or so invitations were ever extended.This was not because of wealth, or reputation alone, but because the banquet was being held in Storm City. Were it held elsewhere, the four local families wouldn’t even be considered. They were included only out of convenience, not genuine recognition.The Smith family knew this cruel truth better than anyone. Once, they had stood proudly at the top, their name spoken with respect, their influence unquestioned. But years of decline had reduced them to shadows of their former selves. They were no longer qualified. No seat. No recognition.Which was why an invitation now carried immeasurable we