Their acceptance of Adrian was not founded solely on Nora Simpson’s declaration, but on the strength he had demonstrated.Before true power, people were naturally inclined to yield—to admire it, to follow it.Nora summoned Vermilion Bird and instructed calmly, “Bring me the Dragon Emblem.”Vermilion Bird bowed respectfully and withdrew, returning shortly thereafter.In her hands she carried a small, square box.It appeared unremarkable, yet no one dared regard it lightly; on the contrary, a hush of reverence settled over the room.The Dragon Emblem signified Lord Buddha’s personal authority. Wherever it appeared within the Novaland Republic, its bearer wielded her power.For Lord Buddha to bestow it upon Adrian was proof beyond doubt of her trust and esteem.Had he not truly been her junior disciple, such a gesture would have been inconceivable.Quentin Newman shot Drew Morvek a sidelong glare, silently grateful he had stopped him from speaking earlier.Nora accepted the box and withd

Nora Simpson had been looking at Adrian with a gaze of shared suffering, fully expecting him to grasp the torment she had endured earlier.The moment his words fell, however, she went utterly still—then fixed him with an icy stare.Even without turning around, Adrian could feel it.It was no longer mere resentment.It was on the verge of becoming murderous intent.He did not dare look back. With a stiff smile, he escorted Clayton Adams to the door.Unaware of the undercurrent between the two, Clayton beamed like an overgrown child who had just been promised a long-desired gift.“Then I’ll return this afternoon. Thank you—truly, thank you!”Once the mayor had gone, Adrian found himself frozen in place. One step forward meant escaping through the door. One step back meant returning to—A chill ran down his spine.“Senior Sister, I’m full. I should head to work! Don’t worry—I’ll let Daisy know you’re coming to see her!”He bolted before the words had fully left his mouth, only to have No

Only then did Daisy nod in understanding.So she was a formidable businesswoman. That commanding presence suddenly made perfect sense.After all, the marketplace was its own kind of battlefield. Those who thrived in it inevitably carried an uncommon air of authority.Octavia poked her head forward. “Adrian, is your senior sister connected to Lord Buddha?”Adrian paused.“Didn’t you go to see Lord Buddha yesterday?” Octavia continued. “And this morning you brought your senior sister back with you. Doesn’t that mean she’s from Lord Buddha’s side?”Before Adrian could devise a response, Daisy smacked her forehead.Adrian had been taken away by Lord Buddha’s people. Who knew whether there had been conflict?Lord Buddha was not known for her gentleness.“That’s right—you went to see Lord Buddha. How did it go? Did they give you any trouble?”Adrian shook his head with a faint smile.He could hardly tell them that Lord Buddha was his senior sister.That would frighten them—and potentially i

Tabitha Grant swallowed the moisture in her eyes and clasped Director Grant’s hand with a gentle smile.“I brought some daily necessities and snacks for the children this time. There’s more in the car—perhaps the staff could help carry them down and hand them out.”Director Grant sighed, gratitude written all over her face.“You’ve already done so much for them. You bring things every few days without fail. The children will always remember your kindness.”Tabitha shook her head. She had never done any of it to be remembered; she simply wanted, from the bottom of her heart, to help these children.“Director, I brought along the doctor who’s been treating me. I’d like him to examine you later. I hope you’ll stay healthy and safe.”Director Grant had noticed Adrian earlier. He was now surrounded by a few children, patiently playing with toys, and had blended in with them in no time.“It means more than you know that you care so much,” the director said softly. “But this illness of mine

Adrian had already found them distasteful. Staging a charitable visit for show was bad enough—but to carry it to such an extent was nothing short of an insult.Tabitha Grant did not hold back.“As a media company, you arrive with such fanfare, disrupt everyone for hours, and in the end donate two thousand dollars? Aren’t you ashamed to call that generosity?”Peach Blossom cast her a contemptuous glance and let out a cold laugh.“Bringing them gifts is already an act of kindness. If it weren’t for the company’s directive, I wouldn’t have given even that two thousand.”Her words only fanned the flames. Tabitha was so furious she laughed.“If you never intended to donate, why does the banner say two hundred thousand dollars? That’s false advertising—blatant deception.”Peach Blossom looked at her as though she were hopelessly naive.“You’ve clearly never run a company.”“Banners like that are standard practice. Who actually donates that much?”“And who are you, meddling like this? If you