All Chapters of The King Of War Returns : Chapter 571
- Chapter 580
847 chapters
Chapter 571
By the time Jaden reached home, the city had already quieted into its midnight hush. It was past eleven, the streets around their neighborhood lit only by the occasional pool of pale yellow from a streetlamp. He eased open the front door, careful not to make a sound.Inside, the apartment was still. The faint nightlight in the hallway cast a soft glow on the walls. Selena and Mia had long since fallen asleep.Ever since the accident at the Greyfield construction site, Selena’s nerves had been frayed to the breaking point. She had paced the house through both nights, unable to close her eyes for more than a few minutes. Every time Jaden left, she carried the weight of dread on her shoulders. Tonight, though, exhaustion had finally won. With the investigation in motion, and nothing else she could do but wait, she had slipped into much-needed rest.Jaden stepped into their bedroom as quietly as his training allowed, unbuttoning his shirt without so much as a creak from the floorboards. H
Chapter 572
In truth, Selena and her executive staff had already braced themselves for the worst. Ever since the accident, the whispers hadn’t stopped. Responsibility, everyone said, would inevitably land on her shoulders. After all, she was the one overseeing the Greyfield project.She forced herself to sit straighter, shoulders squared, chin raised. Authority had to be projected even if her chest felt tight under the crushing weight of expectation. Facing the man across from her—Luke Harper, the MEM inspector whose name alone could sink corporations—she spoke with steady clarity.“Mr. Harper, I won’t shirk responsibility. Rift Corporation has already prepared a plan to reimburse every injured worker. We intend to handle this properly and move forward. We hope matters can blow over soon so construction may continue.”Her voice was calm, reasonable. Too reasonable.Luke’s lips twisted into a sneer, the expression of a man who had been waiting for her to say exactly that. His eyes, cold and sharp
Chapter 573
The conference room was thick with despair. Selena’s executives slumped in their chairs, their faces drained of color as if the walls themselves had closed in. Selena sat stiffly at the head of the table, her knuckles white from how tightly she clutched the edge. It felt like the world had just collapsed on her shoulders, and no one knew where to turn.The door opened.Jaden stepped inside, his sharp gaze sweeping the room. The despondent atmosphere hit him instantly. He frowned. “What happened?”All eyes turned to Selena. Her voice was strained as she relayed everything — Luke Harper’s accusations, the indefinite hiatus, and the threat to strip Rift Corporation of the Greyfield project. By the time she finished, even repeating the words made her chest ache.Jaden’s brows drew together, his expression darkening with every sentence. “Nobody died in this incident,” he said flatly. “It was a workplace accident, not negligence on the scale they’re painting. MEM is being abnormally harsh.”
Chapter 574
He was one of the very few people in Ironvale City who knew Jaden’s real identity. To most, he was the quiet son-in-law of a struggling family business. But Larry Vugan knew the truth: Jaden Rift was the General of the North Army. To share tea with such a man was, on paper, an incredible honor.The poor fool would soon realize it wasn’t necessarily a blessing.Jaden had just slipped his phone back into his pocket when the door to his office knocked softly. Selena stepped inside, her expression taut with worry. Her delicate features, usually calm, were pinched tight, and her voice carried a tremor she couldn’t hide.“Jaden,” she began, shutting the door behind her. “I know what you’re thinking. But please, don’t do anything reckless. If you start an argument with the director of MEM, things will spiral further out of control. Luke Harper is already gunning for Rift Corporation. If you antagonize the director too, the company will be cornered.”Jaden leaned back in his chair, unfazed, a
Chapter 575
Selena hurried forward, forcing a professional smile as she greeted, “Good day, Director Vugan. What a surprise to see you here!”Larry’s lips pulled into a wide grin, his round face glowing with enthusiasm. “President Verrick, where’s Mr. Rift?”Selena hesitated, her palms beginning to sweat. Her instincts screamed at her that this man had not come all the way here simply to share tea. She fidgeted slightly, lowering her voice in a rushed apology. “Director Vugan, I hope my husband didn’t say anything earlier that offended you. If he did, please don’t take it to heart. I’ll personally apologize on his behalf.”Larry blinked in bewilderment, then suddenly burst into booming laughter. “Offend me? Apologize? Hahaha, President Verrick, you must be mistaken! I’m honored, not offended. I’m here because Mr. Rift invited me. Look here—” he held up the ornate wooden box in his pudgy hands, “—I even brought the finest tea leaves from my collection. A meeting with him deserves no less.”Gasps r
Chapter 576
Jaden picked up the report Luke had arrogantly left behind and handed it across the table. His tone was calm, almost casual, yet it carried an authority that made Larry straighten in his seat.“I’m not in a hurry,” Jaden said. “Take your time. We’ll talk after you’ve looked through it.”Larry accepted the file with both hands, as if it were something sacred. His eyes moved swiftly across the pages, but the further he read, the darker his face became. By the time he reached the section outlining the actions Luke Harper had taken, his jaw dropped.Shock warred with fury, and his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened. Luke Harper, you little shit! Are you insane?His mind roared with curses. Anyone with half a brain can see this was a minor accident. A safety violation at worst, easily handled with a fine or suspension of the site. But you… you deliberately exaggerated it into a catastrophe, throwing the full weight of MEM down on this company. Out of all the companies in
Chapter 577
Jaden nodded once, his calm expression a mask that concealed the storm raging beneath his eyes. He shifted his gaze to Larry, his tone like steel striking stone.“The team Luke Harper led was not only negligent,” Jaden said, every word deliberate, “they abused their authority to trample Rift Corporation. Director Vugan, I want a response today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Today.”The weight of his voice crushed the room into silence.Larry felt his throat tighten, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple. He had assumed this was just another workplace dispute—paperwork, complaints, the usual corporate mess. But this wasn’t a petty quarrel. Negligence, sabotage, and outright abuse of power had converged into something larger, darker.And Luke Harper had stepped directly into the lion’s den.Larry’s lips parted, dry, his voice unsteady. “R-rest assured, Mr. Rift. I’ll… I’ll summon him immediately. He’ll explain himself here and now.”His trembling fingers dug into his pocket, pulling ou
Chapter 578
Jaden’s voice cut like a blade, every word cold and measured.“Such arrogance. You strut around like you’re the only one who can manipulate MEM. Tell me, Harper—does Director Vugan mean nothing to you?”On the other end of the line, Luke barked out a mocking laugh. “Ha! Don’t threaten me with that old man! Let me tell you something. In MEM, even he has to listen to me. I call the shots here!”His tone dripped with scorn, as if the very idea of Larry holding real authority was laughable.The truth was, Larry Vugan was known for his steady leadership and ability to keep people working together. But when it came to technical details or bureaucratic maneuvering, he often relied on senior staff like Luke Harper. Over time, that dependence had let Luke accumulate influence. People buttered him up, sought his approval, and used his words as shields for their own ambitions.It wasn’t long before Luke began to believe his own lies—that he was the true power in MEM, not the director. While he p
Chapter 579
Nora insisted they eat in the main dining hall. She loathed the suffocating silence of private rooms, preferring instead the noisy rhythm of life that came with crowded restaurants. The clatter of chopsticks, the hiss of sizzling pans, the scent of garlic butter and fresh seafood in the air—it calmed her in ways silence never could. So the Rift family settled near the center of Sally’s Seafood, one of the busiest establishments in the district. Their table quickly filled with steamed crab, buttered lobster tails, and shrimp served straight off the skillet, the shells still crackling from the heat. For the first time in weeks, the family allowed themselves to unwind. Smiles were exchanged, lighthearted jokes tossed across the table. Laughter mingled with the noise of strangers, a rare pocket of peace in their turbulent lives. But above them, in a private room cloaked by one-way glass, another scene unfolded. A man in a flawless white suit leaned casually against the tinted window,
Chapter 580
Lazarus had been incredibly touchy about the incident ever since Rift castrated him. The humiliation gnawed at him day and night, a wound to both his pride and his very identity as a man. Retro’s words weren’t meant to stab at that sore spot—Lazarus knew that—but the sting was there all the same.His jaw clenched behind the easy grin he forced onto his face. “Yeah, I miss the days when we’d pick up women together,” he said smoothly, his tone light but his eyes carrying a hidden sharpness. “I might not be able to do it anymore, but I wonder if you still can, Mr. Loverboy.”Retro leaned back, letting out a booming laugh, pride flashing in his eyes. “Don’t you worry, man. I’ve never had any issues when it comes to women. You know me. Still at the top of my game.”Lazarus saw his opening and struck, his words baiting yet casual. “You wanna make a bet?”Retro cocked an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “What bet?”Lazarus turned slightly, pointing through the tinted glass at the bustling dining h