Adrian noticed nothing amiss and bade her farewell with his usual courtesy.“Captain Ophelia, we’ll be heading out now. Let’s talk again sometime.”No sooner had Adrian and the others left than a woman in uniform hurried over in a panic.“Captain Ophelia, something’s happened.”Only then did Ophelia pull her thoughts back and ask briskly, “What is it this time?”“It’s Thunder City. Many karate and judo dojos there have been challenged and shut down—casualties are severe. The hospitals are already overwhelmed. Thunder City has requested reinforcements, and Commander Hamilton has ordered us to assist as well.”Ophelia nodded without hesitation.“If the commander has given the order, then we move immediately.”“What about the kidnapper?”Ophelia glanced toward the station and let out a cold snort.“Didn’t she refuse to cooperate with us? Then let her stay here for a day. We’ll take her away tomorrow.”With that, Ophelia got into a car. Once everyone was assembled, they drove straight tow

Before Adrian could even finish his sentence, Daisy lunged forward and wrapped him in a tight embrace.“An angel! You’re the male angel heaven sent to me!”Adrian was truly at a loss this time. A “male angel”… it didn’t exactly sound like a compliment to him. Still, seeing how excited Daisy was, he decided to let it slide.He patted her back gently, but before he could say anything, he noticed Freya standing frozen in the doorway, her face a picture of shock, unsure whether to advance or retreat.Freya looked as though she’d been struck by a spell—her posture and expression perfectly still, like a lifelike statue.What… exactly had she just witnessed?Adrian and Daisy!Freya suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to find a wall and knock herself unconscious.In broad daylight, and they had absolutely no sense of propriety!Adrian had no idea what kind of internal battle Freya was fighting. He simply waved a hand, signaling for her to leave.A mass of dark lines filled Freya’s mind as she

Only Vincent Wallace recognized the formation Adrian had laid out. Jasper Emerson and Lorenzo Watson stared on in utter confusion.Lorenzo Watson asked, “This Eight Steps Thirteen Needles… is it really that powerful?”He had never heard of the technique before, but when it came to Adrian’s abilities, Lorenzo Watson trusted him a thousand times over.Even the most ordinary acupuncture method, once in Adrian’s hands, would never remain ordinary.Vincent Wallace nodded solemnly.“Powerful doesn’t begin to cover it. This is a technique that has been mythologized.”He paused, then continued, “I only encountered it once in an old book. There was nothing but the name and a rough illustration—no explanation, no details whatsoever.”“It’s said that this technique has not only been lost to time, but that it belongs to the realm of legend.”“That’s why, even in our ancestors’ generation, many people doubted whether it ever truly existed.”At this point, even those with little knowledge of medici

At the sight of this, William Lane’s heart sank. After so many years as fellow disciples, he knew Maxwell North’s poisons all too well.For Maxwell North to have refined his poison arts to such a level was no accident—his reputation was fully earned.William Lane saw that Maxwell North had already produced several silver needles. Using needles to deliver poison directly into the body, straight to the lungs and organs, was faster and far more vicious than any other method.“Dr. Doyle, my senior brother’s poison craft is beyond ordinary measure. You must be extremely careful.”Though William Lane trusted Adrian deeply, at this critical moment his palms were slick with cold sweat.Adrian merely looked at them and broke into a wide grin.“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”Reluctantly, Lorenzo Watson was pulled back a couple of steps by Vincent Wallace so as not to interfere with the duel between Adrian and Maxwell North.“Master, don’t just listen to everything he says!” Lorenzo Watson complain

The moment Maxwell North heard Adrian agree, he hurried toward the rows of medicine cabinets at the back of the Benevolence Clinic’s main hall. With practiced ease, he pulled open drawer after drawer, grabbing precise amounts of herbs without weighing them.After years of handling medicinal ingredients, he no longer needed scales—he knew the exact quantities by instinct.As if eager to prove himself, Maxwell North moved with remarkable speed.Watching him take herb after herb, Vincent Wallace’s expression grew steadily darker.It wasn’t that the ingredients themselves were particularly precious, but that the number of herbs in the clinic suitable for crafting poisons through complementary and opposing properties was extremely limited.The most potent ones had all been taken by Maxwell North. Even if Adrian used the same ingredients, it would be impossible for him to produce a stronger poison.Vincent Wallace let out a quiet sigh. “Maxwell North truly is a master of poison… all the str