While Warlord Tiger’s northern syndicate network collapsed in total disgrace on Dragon Mountain, Seraphina’s mobile phone rang frantically on her desk. The chief legal officer of Vanguard’s department in the Imperial Capital sounded completely panicked over the phone line. He reported that an emergency national injunction had just been placed on Vanguard's flagship restorative tonic without any prior warning.The legal officer explained that Lord Sterling had personally signed the federal freeze order using his supreme government power. Lord Sterling was the arrogant, influential Chief of the Federal Patent Bureau and the maternal uncle of Julian Sterling. He falsely alleged that Vanguard had plagiarized the Sterling family's ancestral medical patents to create their famous formula.Seraphina’s hand shivered violently as she held her smartphone tightly against her pale, cold cheek in utter shock. She argued back that her father had spent ten hard years developing the formula from scrat

Panic erupted across the massive floor of the Imperial Expo Center as the dark green mist rose from the broken beaker. High-tech environmental sensors mounted around the auditorium flashed bright red, emitting sharp, piercing alarm sirens that echoed off the high ceiling. Foreign delegates covered their faces with silk handkerchiefs, scrambling away from the stage in complete and utter terror."The air is poisoned! Get us out of this building right now!" a senior trade delegate from the Western Alliance screamed frantically. The three hundred international pharmaceutical buyers pushed past one another in the crowded aisles, knocking over heavy leather chairs in their desperate rush for the exit doors. On the central stage, the four laboratory test mice lay completely motionless inside their cage, their small bodies paralyzed by the toxic chemical fumes.Julian Sterling stood frozen beside the demonstration table, his face as pale as a fresh bedsheet as dark green sludge dripped onto hi

The tactical radio blared Supreme Marshal Vance’s roaring voice across the silent checkpoint, shattering the cold midnight air. "Captain, listen to me very carefully right now!" Supreme Marshal Vance bellowed through the radio speaker. "Shine your light on the medallion in that man's hand immediately!" Vance commanded in a furious tone.The captain’s hands began to tremble violently as he pulled out his tactical flashlight with shaking fingers. He clicked the bright beam on, aiming the white light directly onto the tarnished silver seal in Dustin's open palm. The moment the flashlight illuminated the dragon crest, the captain felt his blood run completely cold inside his chest.He recognized the highest military honor crest in the entire nation, a legendary seal that outranked every general in the High Command. The captain's face drained of all color as a wave of pure terror washed over his shivering body. He dropped the fake quarantine folder into a deep mud puddle, completely unable

The heavy oak doors of Lord Sterling’s private study swung open without making a single sound. Lord Sterling and the Shadow Lotus Guild Leader froze instantly, their crystal wine glasses hovering mid-air in total shock. Dustin Grey stepped smoothly into the warm room, flanked by Commander Jones holding a heavy black leather briefcase."How did you bypass my armed security guards and enter my private home?!" Lord Sterling shrieked out in sudden, hysterical panic. "Your guards are all sleeping peacefully on the floor outside, Lord Sterling," Commander Jones answered in a calm, steady voice. "Did you really think a few ordinary security men could keep us out of your estate?" Jones added with a cold look.Lord Sterling’s face turned completely ghost-white as his hand trembled violently above his expensive wine glass on the desk. He frantically reached his right hand beneath the polished mahogany desk, trying desperately to press a hidden emergency alarm button. "You are trespassing on priv

The grand ballroom of the Imperial Grand Hotel gleamed brilliantly under the soft light of massive crystal chandeliers. Fifty of the country's wealthiest tycoons, industrial barons, and medical directors stood gathered around the central stage. Julian and Chloe Sterling stood proudly behind Patriarch Alistair Sterling, wearing expensive silk clothes and arrogant smirks.Patriarch Alistair held a gold fountain pen above the heavy leather document titled the Anti-Vanguard National Commercial Covenant. He looked out over the crowd of billionaire executives with a cold, commanding expression on his wrinkled face. "Tonight, we make sure that no company in this country ever works with Vanguard Capitals again," Alistair announced."Any corporation that dares to conduct business with Dustin Grey will be permanently blacklisted by our banking network," Alistair declared. His deep, booming voice echoed through the high speakers, making the surrounding business leaders murmur among themselves in