Andrew was already starting to feel overwhelmed. He snapped, "Hey, are you out of your mind? Who's your man? Don't go around saying nonsense. You might not care about your reputation, but I still care about mine." Valerie gritted her teeth, her smile sharp as a blade. "Oh, really? You care about your reputation? So, when you were touching me, grabbing my chest, and doing all that stuff, why didn't you think about your so-called reputation then?" Andrew's eyelids twitched, silently cursing at Valerie's aggressiveness. She just said things like that without a second thought, and apparently without even a shred of embarrassment. Mikayla, on the other hand, stood there frozen, her eyes wide. "You two… you've already…" Valerie's voice was cold and cutting. "That's right. We've already been physically intimate. So remember this: next time something like this happens, I won't let you off so easily." Mikayla took a deep breath, and her expression turned ice-cold. "Valerie, I'm rememb

The day of Sheena's departure finally arrived. She was going alone, leaving Chetvine and traveling thousands of miles east to Swordhaven Keep in Holtrien. "I should send a team with you." The head of the Lloyd family's assassination operations department turned out to be a short, stocky man. Despite his small stature, his strength was formidable. He had reached the second level of martial emperor, and he went by the nickname "the Leopard." This man possessed incredible explosive power, making him a force to be reckoned with. Even back when all of the Lloyd family's various operations divisions were under Reginald's command, he had been one of their most capable and powerful fighters. Sheena shook her head. "Uncle Alan, after I leave, I'm putting you in charge of the Lloyd family's morning training sessions. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing when it comes to Swordhaven Keep." His name was Alan Garland, a pretty ordinary name by any standard. However, the nickname "the Leopard

What Andrew did not know was that right after he and Sheena left, Valerie and Luna showed up at the Lloyd family estate. "What? He went to Swordhaven Keep? Andrew went east to Swordhaven Keep?" Valerie demanded, her voice sharp with anger. Luna quickly followed up, asking, "Ms. Stevens, when did they leave?" Aspen rested her chin on her hand, looking curious. "He just left with Sheena. Judging by the time, it's been about half an hour. But Ms. Phelan, why are you so nervous? What's going on?" Luna's lips parted, but she was not good at lying. She stammered for a while and still could not get a proper sentence out. Valerie, on the other hand, said coldly, "That bastard thinks he can run away from me? Not a chance. Swordhaven Keep is all the way in the far east of Holtrien, thousands of miles away. But that's fine. I'll catch a flight right now. Maybe I'll even beat them there." She turned on her heel and stormed out of the place without another word. Luna forced a smile. "

Conrad fell silent. After a long pause, he finally shook his head bitterly and said, "Grandpa, I can't live up to your expectations. Since I was little, you've set the bar too high. Bringing our family into the royal circle? Honestly, I never even dared to dream about that." He continued, "As my martial strength grew over the years, I finally realized how hard the world really was. Even a hero like Mr. Lloyd Senior had to leave his homeland and live in exile. That's why I never once dared to relax, why I joined the organization and followed the path you elders so carefully planned for me. "Grandpa, I'm begging you. Please, stop pushing me. I just want to do one thing, something I actually want for myself. After I kill Andrew, I'll go to the Lloyd family and beg for their forgiveness." He added, "Mr. Lloyd Senior was once my greatest benefactor. He guided me in martial arts, and the organization trained me because of him. And as for Mr. Turman, I know I've already failed to live u

Swordhaven Keep stretched for thousands of acres, its terrain rugged and dangerous. It sat right at the edge of Holtrien's border, where the nation met foreign territory. Beyond the border, you would enter the dangerous wilderness of enemy lands. Though the military had stationed units in the Eastern Stronghold, the defense of Holtrien's entire eastern front relied heavily on the might of Swordhaven Keep. Most families or factions did not have the power or qualification to hold such a post, but Swordhaven Keep did. Every head of Swordhaven Keep had been a top-tier martial powerhouse, the kind whose name alone commanded fear and respect. The current master, Alfredo, was rumored to have mastered the Keep's most powerful sword technique. Now, warriors across the world regarded him as the Sword Saint, the undisputed master of swordsmanship. And since the sword was known as the deadliest of all weapons, no one in their right mind would ever doubt Alfredo's strength. Anyone who did w