The next morning, Harvey woke up earlier than usual. The morning air was still cold, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee immediately filled the room, giving it a little warmth.He carried the cup to the balcony, and sat down to gaze at the expanse of scenery in front of him. The sky was slowly changing color, and the morning sunlight fell softly between the buildings of the city. After a series of dangerous missions that barely gave her a break, this scene felt like a small reward worth savoring."Six Realms..." he murmured softly. "Many victims have fallen because of them. But I guess I don't have to worry about them in NorthVale anymore. For now, NorthVale is safe."For a tourist town, the fact that NorthVale could be infiltrated by Six Realms people clearly showed how fragile its defenses were. Harvey took a deep breath. That shortcoming was inseparable from the fact that none of his military men lived in this town.Harvey's mind was spinning fast. NorthVale needed a trustworthy

“Stay away from Crysta!”Harvey fired again, the sound of the explosion echoing. But the man in black moved as fast as a shadow, his movements difficult to catch with the eye. In an instant, his sharp blade pierced Harvey's stomach.The General's body staggered, then fell to his knees. Pain burned in his stomach, his strength slowly draining away.Harvey staggered, his body shaking violently. Blood continued to seep from his stomach, quickly draining his strength. His vision blurred, the world around him becoming a spinning blur.Through the fog of his consciousness, he caught a glimpse of a long-haired woman stepping to the side of the man in the black robe.“Leave the boy alone,” her voice was cold, piercing Harvey's ears. “He'll bleed to death.”“More importantly, our mission is a success—”“Take... the boy... it's important...”Their words were broken, faint, echoing deep inside his head. Harvey's consciousness slowly drifted into darkness.Finally, Harvey's vision sank into darkn

“But what matters is that I'm here, Brother. I'm safe.” Crysta tried to calm Harvey with a soft voice. “Look at me... I'm still intact. Aren't you happy to see me?”Harvey was silent for a moment. His lips finally curved into a faint smile, as if it were born with a heavy burden. “Of course I'm happy.”Harvey's hand touched the scar on Crysta's neck again. His fingers moved slowly, as if wanting to erase the traces of suffering.“At least, let me make up for my mistake a little.”Ki energy slowly flowed into his palm, radiating warmth as it touched Crysta's skin. The girl flinched slightly, her body tensing as the heat spread across her neck.Reflexively, she grabbed Harvey's wrist, her face grimacing in pain. But Harvey held her steady with a calm voice, his eyes remaining focused.“Relax... it will only be a moment.”Crysta nodded slowly, then closed her eyes. The pain was indeed sharp, but compared to years of torture as a test subject, it was nothing.A few moments later, Harvey l

"What do you mean, bro? Why didn't you eat it? I'm trying to cook the meat exactly the way mom used to make it. Isn't that your favorite food?"Crysta raised both eyebrows. Her gaze was hopeful, as if she wanted to make sure that her efforts were not in vain.Harvey did not answer immediately. His expression remained flat, not showing the slightest enthusiasm. His gaze fell to the piece of barbeque meat that was still puffing out warm steam on the plate. The smell of the marinade was so familiar-but, for some reason, there was something that made him hesitate to touch the food.The thin smoke was still billowing from the surface of the meat, carrying a savory aroma that should have been instantly appetizing. However, Harvey remained silent. Instead of being tempted, his heart was shrouded in an inexplicable suspicion.He lowered his head slightly, tilting his head as he stared at Crysta with narrowed eyes. The faint smile that had been there was now gone."Are you really sure, Crysta?

“Something bigger... what do you mean?”Harvey's voice sounded flat, but his eyes hardened. There was something different about his sister—not just enthusiasm, but a subtle pressure that made the air in the room seem tense. Harvey could feel a mysterious energy emanating from Crysta's body, something he had never felt before.Crysta smiled, but it was a hesitant smile, as if she was hiding something. She stepped closer, her steps light but urgent. Just being a General. You are much greater than that."She stopped right in front of Harvey, staring straight ahead without flinching.“Join us.”Harvey furrowed his brow, his gaze piercing. Every movement Crysta made now felt unfamiliar to him, as if the sister he once knew had changed. From the corner of his eye, he caught Nathan's broad smile—a smile that was too calm, too confident, as if the man had been waiting for Harvey's reaction all along.Harvey shook his head slowly, his tone flat but firm.“No,” he said coldly. “I don't understa