They were less than a hundred men, yet the aura they radiated made it feel as though thousands were pressing down on the sawmill yard. The Eighteen Hounds, disciplined and merciless, moved like a single living shadow, their black uniforms swallowing the light of the blazing logs. Behind them, the fifty Rajar elites exuded an air of authority and lethal intent, every step deliberate, every motion measured for maximum impact.Jaden stood alone, arms casually folded behind his back, his expression serene, almost unnervingly so. His gaze swept over the charging mass of black, calculating, unflinching.He glanced at the Elite Eight, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of command. “What do you guys think of the Eighteen Hounds?”Without hesitation, the Elite Eight straightened, chests out, eyes blazing with unyielding pride. In perfect unison, their voices rang out, echoing across the sawmill yard. “Inferior!”A faint smile tugged at Jaden’s lips. It was almost imperceptible, but enough

Hence, Jaden drove off with the Freeman family in his car, leaving the rest of his men behind to erase every trace of what had happened at the sawmill. By the time dawn broke, that place would look as though nothing violent had ever occurred there.Back at the Verrick residence, Vane and Nora had been pacing nonstop.Neither of them had been able to sit still. Nora’s phone never left her hand, her fingers clenched so tightly around it that her knuckles had turned white. Every sound outside made her heart leap into her throat.When the car finally pulled into the driveway and the familiar figures stepped out, Nora’s legs nearly gave way in relief.“Thank God,” she breathed, rushing forward. “Thank God you’re all alright!”Vane followed closely behind, his eyes scanning Morganna and her parents anxiously, as though afraid that if he blinked, they might disappear again.Morganna was still shaken, but the fear that had gripped her earlier was gone. She glanced instinctively toward Jaden,

Carl’s face darkened.Jaden Rift was not bargaining. He was setting a price tag on Carl’s life.Cold, hard cash.And worse, this was not an open negotiation. There would be no second chance, no counteroffers after the fact. If Jaden was satisfied, Carl lived. If not, Ironvale would become his grave.The realization pressed down on Carl’s chest like a stone.He took a slow breath, forcing himself to think. One billion was not a small number. Even for the Rajar family, it was painful. But money could be earned again. A life could not.Finally, he clenched his teeth and blurted out, “One billion. I’ll pay one billion for my life. That should be enough, right?”The hall fell silent.Carl watched Jaden closely, searching his face for any hint of approval.Instead, Jaden smiled.Not warmly. Not kindly.It was the smile of someone who had already decided the outcome.“That’s too little,” Jaden said calmly.Carl’s heart sank.Jaden continued, his tone casual, as though he were discussing a mi

Later that night, Carl arrived at the airport in near silence.He did not bring an entourage. He did not make calls. He did not look back.The moment his private plane lifted off the runway, Ironvale was already behind him. Yet the humiliation burned hotter with every passing second. His defeat replayed in his mind over and over, each scene carving deeper into his pride.He swore silently that this matter was far from over.Almost as if fate itself was mocking him, less than an hour after Carl’s departure, another aircraft descended from the skies.This one was different.A sleek, luxurious private jet touched down at Ironvale International Airport with flawless precision. The moment its wheels hit the runway, a convoy of black luxury sedans rolled into position.Dozens of men in identical black suits poured out, moving with military precision.They unfurled a long, crimson red carpet from the foot of the jet’s stairs, smoothing every wrinkle, ensuring absolute perfection.This was no

Meanwhile, at Indigo’s grand entrance, the atmosphere was anything but welcoming.Larry stood there like a human barricade.Broad shoulders stretched the fabric of his black suit, veins bulging along his forearms. Years of brutal enforcement had carved violence into his posture. Anyone who saw him could tell at a glance that he was not hired to negotiate.The moment Jaden approached, Larry stepped forward and blocked the doorway completely.“I don’t care who invited you,” Larry said coldly. “Mr. Sultan left clear orders. No one else is allowed to enter today.”His eyes swept over Jaden with open contempt.“Turn around and leave. Don’t embarrass yourself here.”Jaden stopped in front of him.His expression did not change. There was no anger, no irritation, not even surprise. Just quiet composure.“I’m here to have lunch with my family,” Jaden replied evenly. “And I’ve never been denied entry anywhere.”He lifted his gaze slightly and met Larry’s eyes.“Today won’t be the first.”With t