Andrew rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Just then, his phone buzzed with a message. When he opened it, the words were cold and taunting. [Soon, it'll be the day we settle this once and for all. You'd better train harder and strengthen your power. I don't want you dying too fast.] It was from Conrad. The moment Andrew saw that name, his head started to ache. Conrad used to be his brother-in-arms, so how could it come to this? He could not possibly kill him, could he? No matter what, they had once fought side by side and shared their lives on the line. Still, Andrew had no intention of entertaining Conrad's madness. He turned off his phone and pushed it out of his mind. When he first arrived in Chetvine, Conrad had taken it pretty hard. But the truth was, Andrew's target had never been him in the first place. Over the past two days, there had been no movement from Guillermo either. It seemed that Jaden's death had not led anyone in Holtrien to any clear evidence, or at lea

Philip fell silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. He said, "You're right. The number of royal seats is fixed. In Holtrien, our families have always maintained rankings and classes, a tradition that stretches back for centuries. But only a few ever make it to the royal level. "Originally, things were as you said. If you were strong enough, your power alone determined your rank, your status, and your influence. But ever since Mr. Vazquez came into play, treating the entire world like his personal chessboard, everything changed." He explained, "He personally redefined the number of royal families allowed to exist. Now, the major houses have reached their limits. Every peak is already occupied, every territory already claimed. "So if the Cunningham family wants to rise any higher, their only path is to push someone else off the top and take their place. And unfortunately, the Lloyd family is the unlucky one they've chosen to target." Luna's voice grew firm. "But don't you

The next moment, Luna's voice came, a little tense. "Andrew, don't worry, Ms. Lloyd and I won't stand by and do nothing." Only then did Andrew relax, realizing Luna had run off to fetch Sheena. "Sheena, Ms. Phelan, this is nothing for you to get involved in," Andrew said after a deep breath, his voice steady. Then, he looked back at Wilder. "Mr. Murphy Senior, strike when you're ready. Every grievance has its cause, every debt its debtor. So, let's settle this between us. You can be sure I won't let the rest of the Murphy family get dragged into this. I was not about to harm the innocent." Wilder's eyes flared red. "At first, I only intended to kill you to avenge Benny. But now, I want you to live a life worse than death. That madwoman, Sheena, had to come and aim at my family, so since you're both related, don't expect mercy." With that, he roared and blurred forward, leaving afterimages in his wake as he charged Andrew. Andrew barely raised a hand before a tidal force sla

Elaine had been talking for a while before realizing that Valerie had not heard a single word. She just kept pacing the living room, restless and irritated. Elaine smiled faintly. "Valerie, what's wrong? You look like you're on edge." Valerie stopped abruptly, her tone sharp. "On edge? Of course I am. I can't wait to see Andrew torn apart by Mr. Murphy Senior. If I'm not anxious for that, who would be?" Elaine's smile deepened. "Well then, since you've said it yourself, I'll make sure your wish comes true. Sure, we're technically allies with Andrew and his people right now, but you know how partnerships are; they can end anytime. Whatever investment our family made means nothing compared to your feelings." She added, "You want Andrew dead to reclaim your dignity, and soon enough, you'll have your justice." Valerie's eyes darkened. "But what I really want is to see that bastard die by my own hand." Elaine shook her head. "That's not going to happen. You already admitted you'

Even though Andrew was known as a once-in-a-generation prodigy, Wilder was a martial emperor, a master among masters, not some mindless beast. "You're strong," Wilder said, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth before he spat it out. "Stronger than anyone expected. But Andrew, I'll make you understand that no matter how talented you are, raw power is something you can't bridge with tricks or fancy moves. So accept your fate." As his words fell, Wilder's energy surged upward. The pressure that had faltered from his earlier wounds now roared back to full strength, surrounding him like a storm. Andrew was breathing heavily, his body straining under the immense pressure, dizziness creeping through his mind. Even so, his eyes burned bright and fierce, with a faint, unsettling hint of crimson glowing within them. Just moments ago, he had felt the dragon tattoo on his chest pulse violently, and deep inside his energy core, the final seal had trembled. That confirmed what he susp