“What’s the meaning of what I’m hearing? How could you have allowed them? You three are supposed to be the leading figures among the Grand Elders, yet you still made this decision!” an elderly man roared, glaring at Staten, Brown, and Chu.“So what if we are leading figures? Is there anything wrong with our decision? Didn’t you hear that three out of the ten Division Lords are dead? This is exactly the time you should be taking action, not arguing,” Staten pointed out.“Mind how you speak to me,” the old man said angrily.Staten exhaled heavily but said nothing.“Ancestor Davis, first of all, we didn’t send them. Samuel simply used his authority as a Grand Inquisitor and recruited his friends. Everything they did was voluntary and had nothing to do with us. We only provided the suspected Urgaba hideouts they requested,” Chu said seriously.“That’s right, Ancestor Davis.” Brown nodded.“So this is what you’re telling me?” Davis growled.“Yes, it is. Besides, let’s be honest with oursel

Samuel returned to his island because he wanted to see Nina and deal with a few things weighing on his mind, especially the research team. He already had plans for them.But that night, everything else was forgotten.Nina wanted him, and he wanted her just as badly. They surrendered themselves completely to the moment, the night stretching on, long, heated, and exhausting.When Samuel woke up, she was no longer beside him.He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes.His gaze swept across the room before settling on her standing in front of the mirror, fixing her hair.“You’re awake,” she said without turning around.“Hmm. Why are you up so early though? Come back to bed. Let’s relax a little more,” he said lazily. “Maybe we can go one or two more rounds this morning. What do you think?” He winked.Nina walked toward him.But instead of climbing onto the bed, she pulled out a chair and sat in front of him.“I want to tell you something.”“Ooh.” Samuel studied her face carefully. He could alrea

“Yes, Bruce’s death hurts. Of course it does. But not in the way they think. He died protecting this world. He should be honored as a hero, not used as an excuse to surrender.”Samuel fell silent.The rage inside him slowly settled, but only on the surface. Beneath it, something darker continued to burn.Finally, he nodded.“Alright. I understand your point.”He turned toward the door.“I’m going to the villa.”His eyes narrowed dangerously.“I think someone is waiting for us there.”“Let’s go together.” The rest stood up.Samuel said nothing and continued forward.“Did they tell you anything or try to block your way?” Samuel asked casually.“We were warned not to go to the villa because they believe it’s a trap. They also told us to stop hunting Urgabas for now. According to the one called Davis, they are making a plan,” Dmitry said.“I have a feeling that this plan is related to me,” Samuel said seriously.It was a strong hunch. Samuel had always been like this. At odd moments, his

“Hehehehe…”The Abomination smirked.The expression looked horrifying on its twisted face. Its stretched skin wrinkled unnaturally, while its glowing eyes pulsed with disturbing amusement.“Trade by barter,” it rasped. “That is what it’s called, son. We have practiced it for generations. Even your leaders once made exchanges with us.”Its grin widened grotesquely.“But you people will never hear about that.”Samuel frowned deeply. The words disturbed him more than he wanted to admit.“You are trading something far more valuable than they did…”The creature paused before locking its gaze onto Samuel’s eyes.“Your life.”Samuel chuckled coldly.“I don’t care who you traded with before. And I definitely don’t plan on bartering away the life I fully control.”“You think you do?”WHOOSH!The Abomination suddenly shot out its arm, grabbing Samuel instantly before yanking him into the air.Samuel found himself staring directly into the creature’s horrifying face.“You don’t stand a chance ag

"Where's Bruce?""They took him to the main family mansion to prepare him and keep him in the ice chamber until his burial," a servant replied."When is his burial going to be held?" Dmitry asked."They haven't fixed a date yet, but it most likely won't be more than seven days after his death. That's the family tradition," the maid replied."Alright. Thank you." He nodded."I'll be going," Samuel said."Back to Merika?" Heng Mei asked."Of course. Where else am I supposed to go?""Oh, it's just that I thought you'd stay for Bruce's burial.""That's still four or five days from now, so of course I'll come back. I don't need to stay here to make that happen.""Alright. But Davis and Lady Anabel want to meet you," Carson reminded him."Tell them to come during the burial."*******In the Panya Seas, a lone island stood isolated from the rest of the world. It used to be uninhabited, but now it was occupied by the Eastern Ratels.They were a nation that had been trapped in internal conflic