Upon hearing Navine's words, the entire room burst into mocking laughter once again. Richard's friends were practically doubled over, some of them clutching their stomachs, others wiping tears from their eyes from laughing so hard. "Did he really just say that?" "His soldier is weaker than him but still strong enough to beat Elder Harrison?" "This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" "The arrogance is unbelievable!" Richard himself was shaking his head, his expression shifting from amusement to disappointment. "You know," he said, his tone carrying genuine letdown, "when you burst through my doors with such dramatic flair, when you knocked out David with a single slap, I actually thought we were going to witness a good show tonight." He gestured at Navine with mock sadness. "I thought maybe, just maybe, you were someone special, someone worth my time, someone who could provide real entertainment." Richard's smile turned cold. "But instead, you're nothing but an arr

Richard Cross lay pinned beneath Navine's boot, his face pressed against the expensive carpet, his mind reeling from everything that had just happened.He had never encountered such a formidable young man in all of Newton City, never witnessed someone with this level of power and skill, never seen anyone who could defeat Harrison Cross and all his other fighters with such casual ease.But Richard was the heir to one of the three great families, he'd been raised with absolute confidence in his family's name and power, taught from childhood that the Cross Family name was a shield that protected him from all consequences.So even now, even pinned to the floor and surrounded by his defeated allies, Richard's arrogance reasserted itself.He twisted his head as much as Navine's boot would allow and spoke with as much authority as he could muster."Do you have any idea who I am?" Richard demanded, his voice strained but still carrying traces of his usual confidence, "I am Richard Cross, heir

Richard Cross lay pinned beneath Navine's boot, his last hope shattered, his final bargaining chip revealed to be worthless.His mind was spinning with shock and disbelief, unable to process how everything had gone so wrong so quickly.Elena and Lyanna were safe, rescued before Richard's people could even deliver them to the secondary location, his hostages were gone, his leverage was gone, he had nothing left.Navine looked down at Richard with an expression that was almost contemplative, and when he spoke, there was something that might have been amusement in his cold voice."You know," Navine said, his tone conversational, "originally, if you had been a little more cooperative when I first arrived, if you had answered my questions properly and shown some basic intelligence, I wouldn't have had reason to make things particularly unpleasant for you."He paused, letting those words sink in."But given how defiantly you've behaved, how arrogantly you've spoken, how stupidly you've thre

The answer was obvious now.Thomas Caldwell had sent Walter Hayes to rescue Elena Morrison so that Walter could earn her gratitude. And through that gratitude, Walter would have a way to return to the Caldwell Family.It all made perfect sense.Thomas had publicly expelled Walter, making a big show of cutting ties with his prized disciple. Everyone believed it was real. .But it was all part of Thomas's plan.By having Walter save Elena from danger, by making him her hero and protector, Walter would win her trust. He would become someone she relied on, someone she was grateful to.And once Elena welcomed Walter back, Thomas would have the perfect excuse to bring his disciple home.The plan was clever but it had come at a terrible cost.William looked at Richard's shattered hands, his crushed feet, his swollen face.Thomas had beaten his son half to death, all for the sake of his own disciple's return to power.Fury burned through William like wildfire.What right did Thomas Caldwell

He was trying to tell them they had the wrong person but no one could understand him. No one could hear what he was trying to say.William watched his son's agitation and felt vindicated.Yes, Richard wanted revenge. That's why he was so worked up."Begin," William ordered.The first attendant stepped forward and drove his fist into Walter's stomach.Walter's eyes bulged. All the air exploded from his lungs. His broken ribs screamed with fresh agony.Before he could even catch his breath, another fist came down, this one connecting with his face.His nose shattered. Blood sprayed across the dirty floor."Please! Stop! I didn't do it! I'm innocent!" Walter's pleas fell on deaf ears.The attendants worked methodically, professionally.They weren't just hitting randomly. They were targeting specific areas. Just as Walter had supposedly done to Richard.One attendant grabbed Walter's left hand and began bending the fingers backward.CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!Each finger broke in turn. Walter