“We’re going to miss you, Samuel. Can’t you just stay behind? Do you really have to go over there?” Charlotte asked, tears streaming down her face. She already knew this wasn’t one of his usual trips where he would disappear for a month and return as if nothing had happened.“I have to, sis. But don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” he assured her gently.Kimberly was already crying uncontrollably. “You can’t leave us, Brother Sam. It won’t feel the same without you. Please stay. Nova Isle is beautiful, and you built and fortified it yourself. Everything you could ever want is here, money, fame... Why do you have to leave?” she sobbed, clutching his arm tightly as if she could stop him from going.Samuel sighed softly.“I have to. Things are starting to move again, and there are still people out there who shouldn’t be breathing. Right now, this world is peaceful because the evil ones were wiped out, but it won’t stay that way forever.” He smiled faintly, though the weight behind his words

She leaped backward, still clutching Jason tightly in one arm.The pain spread from the wound with terrifying speed, racing through the rest of her body like liquid fire flowing through her veins.Figures emerged from behind nearby rocks.Others stepped out from hidden crevices.One after another, armed men revealed themselves from every direction.They had been waiting.They had never left.Despite the agony coursing through her body, Raven remained calm.Her gaze slowly swept across the ambushers before finally settling on Freya.Freya still held the bloodstained knife.A faint glow radiated from the blade.It was clearly a high-grade weapon, one capable of bypassing her defenses with ease.And the poison coating it was even more terrifying.A single shallow slash had already left her body burning with unbearable pain.For a moment, the mountain seemed to fall silent."Sister... why?" Raven asked, staring at her in disbelief as her grip around Jason tightened.The boy looked even mo

"Yes. He's the prince of Nymera," Raven replied."I see. So what are you both doing outside Nymera?""We went to pick him up from a distant village. He's actually the child of one of the King's affairs with a maid," Raven said with a light blush.After all, she herself had been born from an affair."Let's get down the mountain first and find another place to camp. We've been traveling for days now," Samuel suggested.The group descended the mountain and took the southern road.Along the way, Samuel carefully concealed their tracks and created the illusion that they had traveled in a different direction. As they continued their journey, they asked Raven a few more questions before eventually setting up camp beside a river.Samuel had brought plenty of tents, enough for everyone to sleep comfortably. However, he deliberately ensured there was a shortage of one so he could share a tent with Nina."Kael, you'll stay on guard. You can switch with Mia whenever you want to rest," Samuel inst

"Yes. They promised me two million five hundred thousand, the Thousand Year Fire Seed, and even a chance to become a future Duke in Nymera if I wanted to, all just to hand you over," he replied."Woah! They promised you all that, and you still refused?" Raven exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock."Are you suggesting I should have accepted?" Samuel asked. "I'm sorry I failed your expectations. I'll go back and accept it."He turned around.Raven instantly blurred forward and grabbed his arm."No, please, sir... I mean, Samuel. I misspoke just now. I didn't mean that..."A sudden chill crawled down her spine.She froze and slowly looked back, only to find Nina staring at her with eyes sharp enough to cut flesh.Raven immediately released Samuel's hand."We'll follow the main route. Hopefully, we can handle them." Samuel sighed."Yes, I believe we can. Black Veil won't possibly send all their experts just because of this. They have many other high-paying clients besides my uncle," Raven

"Did they bring my son with them?" he asked the servant who had come to inform him."Yes. Raven was carrying a boy who looked to be around seven years old. But something is strange.""What is it?""I didn't see Freya. Also, she came with some people, and among them were two High Beasts who stood and walked like humans."The king paused at the servant's words, his brows knitting together as he tried to guess who they could be."Dad!" Raven called out happily the moment she saw her father.Carrying the boy in her arms, she hurried over and hugged him."Is he the one?" he asked, unable to hide the anticipation in his voice."Yes. You can go ahead and do the bloodline test to confirm it," Raven replied with a smile.The king barely noticed anyone else in the room. His attention was completely fixed on the child.Without wasting another second, he began the test.He drew a tiny drop of blood from the boy, who stared at him curiously, wondering why this grown man seemed so agitated and emot