The dining area quieted in an instant, and everyone wore different emotions on their faces: shock, surprise, disbelief, and more.The only one who did not show the slightest change in expression was Elijah Langston. His look remained stoic, but there was a knowing thought in his mind. He didn't expect anything less when the card was swiped.They might not know, but that was a Sovereign Privilege Card, which he obtained as a gift from a powerful world organization for his service to his country some five years ago. He wasn't always on the mountain during the fifteen-year stretch, but pretending to forget the things that happened outside the mountain was better kept that way.This complimentary transaction card automatically reduced all transactions within the country to $0.00 while still marking the payment as successful. Only top military officials are known to have this card due to their lifetime service to the country. Even organizations don't dare complain when such special ca

The five young ladies, Rosalie included, looked in Aria's direction and, as expected, nodded in agreement. Who was this weak bodyguard to think he could stand in their way today?Rosalie didn't even spare Elijah a glance and was fully in line with her friends. What if he agreed to be her bodyguard today? Didn't she warn him to keep his mouth shut and not act up? Now he's gotten into trouble and he expects her to take his side? Hmph! Dream on.Her wealthy colleagues mattered more to her than this useless brother-in-law, who was here to cause trouble for her. She would not hesitate to cut him off and stand by while they had him beaten today. Only she knew that Elijah Langston was not a professional bodyguard like the others and would not be able to defend himself."Rosalie, don't you have a problem with this? He's your bodyguard, right?" Fiona asked, keeping her eyes on Rosalie's reaction.Rosalie waved her off dismissively. "Bodyguard? Hmph! In my mind, I've relieved him of his dut

Manager Rufus crawled to the feet of Old Mr. Carrington and cried like a child, "Brother, you have to help me; these brats dare to bully me in the restaurant. They think they're something."The old man looked down at him and responded casually, "Now that I'm here, no one will touch you, Rufus. Anyone who dares to be reckless in my established District N Dine will face the consequences..." He raised his chin high.The five young ladies could not stop staring at one another, confusion and shock mingling in the air. Was this Manager Rufus really the brother of the patriarch of the Carrington family? Some of them had always heard rumors that he was associated with an aristocratic family, but they hadn't thought much about it.The Carringtons weren't just one of the aristocratic families; they were the bedrock and the root of the other aristocratic families that came to be in Brooklyn Heights.The Carrington aristocratic family was older than all of the great families put together and co

The jaw of the waiter and Manager Rufus almost reached the ground in shock.They could neither believe their eyes nor themselves.This was Mr. Carrington himself, the respectable patriarch of the aristocratic family, crawling like a child in front of this ordinarily dressed, brazen man.Rufus rushed quickly to try to help the patriarch up, saying, “Brother, did you miss a step and fall?”That was definitely it.Why would his great brother crawl before a nobody?What he didn't expect was a responding slap that almost removed the lower set of his teeth.“Brother, you hit me.” His eyes widened in complete confusion.“And I'll hit you again if you talk nonsense,” Mr. Carrington glared furiously at him. “Hurry and apologize to Mr. Langston for offending him. Hurry up before I break your legs myself.”He looked like he could ruthlessly beat up Rufus right now.“Mr. Langston? What are you talking about?” Rufus stammered in confusion, wondering what his brother was talking about.He had never

The Seven-Scale Curse.Elijah wasn't sure at first, but when he looked closer he was certain this was a curse he had once seen and read about in one of his master's ancient journals.A martial curse that embeds itself into the victim's body as a sigil and secretes a corrupting qi that gradually destroys organs or severs the flow of life-energy.Without the specific cure—which could be rare herbs, a counter-ritual, or a bloodline sacrifice—the victim weakens and dies within a defined period of days, months, or at most a year, depending on the curse's potency."Who cursed you?" Elijah looked away from the mark to the old man's face.Sigil curses could be imposed on a victim through many means, but most often by a Hex Master with knowledge of ancient tradition.The old man's eyes widened and he could finally look Elijah in the eye. He spoke hurriedly, "You believe me? You believe me, Young Master..." He thought his words would be taken for nonsense.Seeing that Elijah didn't react, he e