Christopher didn’t even flinch. He said calmly, “Leon, I’ll leave the cleanup to you.” Leon lowered his head. “As you command, my lord.” He raised his hand sharply. “Advance.” The thirty Knights moved at once. They spread out in precise formations, footsteps measured, timing flawless. Though surrounded by thousands, none of them showed even a trace of hesitation. Fear did not exist in their eyes. Christopher didn’t spare the battlefield another glance. He retrieved a bottle of bourbon, twisted the cap, and took a slow drink, savoring the burn as if enjoying a quiet evening. Behind him, chaos erupted. Leon and the Knights struck like incarnations of judgment—fast, ruthless, and absolute. Any gangster who tried to draw a weapon was subdued before he could react. Those who rushed forward were intercepted instantly. There was no disorder. No wasted movement. The Knights avoided reckless brawls, neutralizing threats with efficiency honed through years of combat. Aga

At C&A Group in Lisle City. Inside the CEO’s office, Christopher sat casually on the sofa, watching Anna work at her desk. Documents were neatly stacked beside her laptop, while her fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard. After a moment, he spoke with a soft smile. “Darling, you’re the president of the group now. Why don’t you delegate some of this work? You don’t have to exhaust yourself like this.” Anna paused, rubbing her temples lightly. “I want to,” she admitted, “but the company is still in its early stage. Too many key decisions need my personal approval.” Ever since their honeymoon ended, Anna had thrown herself entirely into work. Christopher often visited her office, sometimes chatting, sometimes just sitting quietly beside her. If Anna ever asked, Christopher could manage the entire C&A Group effortlessly. After all, under his command, the multinational giants of the Round Table ran like precision machines. Compared to that, C&A was nothing more than a warm

Hearing this, Lid snatched the box from the butler and tore it open. What he saw inside made his entire body go rigid. It was Sebastien's head. His face was pale, his eyes frozen wide in terror—as if the final thing he had seen before death had been something beyond comprehension. For a moment, Lid couldn’t breathe. Then his hands began to tremble violently. The box slipped from his grasp and hit the floor with a dull thud. He collapsed to his knees. “Ahhh—! My son!” His anguished cry echoed through the hall, raw and broken. Reginald sank heavily into a chair, his mind spinning. “How… how could this happen?” he muttered hoarsely. “Sebastien took over a hundred elite guards to Lisle City… How did it end like this?” Suddenly, he shot to his feet, fury and disbelief mixing in his eyes. “Where is Kael Virex? Where is the guard unit?” The butler lowered his head, voice shaking. “Sir… our people discovered a dozen abandoned SUVs near the Lisle City border. But

“We’re too late again. Reginald and his entire family have been killed.” The young woman frowned as her gaze swept over the bodies scattered across the ground. The elder beside her slowly shook his head. “It’s still unclear who did this. But judging from the wounds, each of them was taken down with a single strike. The killer is certainly no ordinary person.” They were from the Lancaster family headquarters. Not long ago, they had been on a mission at sea when they received a distress signal from the branch family. They immediately diverted and flew in—but even at full speed, they had arrived too late. The young woman remained silent for a moment before speaking again. “Mr. Valerian,” she said calmly, “investigate this thoroughly. We must find the one responsible. Reginald carried the Lancaster name. He cannot be erased without consequence.” The elder bowed slightly. “Yes, my lady. I will uncover the truth.” The next day, news of the Lancaster family massacre swept through the

Alaric bowed his head slightly before speaking, choosing his words with care. “Miss Lancaster, although Gerald’s branch in Lisle City collapsed years ago, I’ve heard his eldest son, Howard, managed to rebuild it. If they’ve learned of Reginald’s misfortune, they may see this as… an opening.” In Alaric’s view, the timing was far too convenient. With Reginald’s line extinguished, the Lancaster Group in Aurethia City stood vulnerable—leaderless, valuable, and exposed. It was exactly the kind of prize an ambitious branch family might attempt to seize. Mr. Black gave a cold, dismissive laugh. “A minor branch sniffing around for scraps. Why disturb my lady over something so trivial? Have security remove them.” Seraphina’s lips curved faintly, though her eyes remained cool. So the Lisle branch believes it can stretch its hand toward headquarters’ assets? How naïve. She rose gracefully from her seat, smoothing the crease of her sleeve. “No,” she said lightly. “Let’s have a look. I