It was not long after that they arrived at Marcus’s residence.Stephanie stood near the entrance of the property, her sharp gaze scanning the grand estate before her. The questions lingering in her thoughts had grown far too loud to ignore. Despite brushing off her assistant's theories earlier, something about Marcus was bothering her once again. She required clarity, and she was set on getting it directly from him.A short moment later, the front door swung open, revealing Marcus. His expression remained cool and unreadable as his gaze met hers.“Stephanie,” he noted evenly, taking a step to the side to clear the entry. “This is unexpected.”Stephanie crossed the threshold without hesitation, maintaining her usual commanding posture.“I have a few questions for you,” she stated in a clipped tone. “I decided it was best to address them directly.”Marcus motioned toward the living area, his gestures relaxed and deliberate. “Make yourself comfortable,” he offered casually, as if he were

Shortly after, a junior gallery attendant named Ben approached Marcus with a polite smile. Having just been briefed by the main curator, he was eager to assist, though a bit nervous. As a recent hire, Ben had not yet managed a major acquisition, so he did not anticipate much from Marcus."Good afternoon, sir," Ben greeted respectfully. "I understand you are interested in acquiring a piece from our private collection today?"Marcus gave a subtle nod, his focus deliberate. "Yes. Show me your most high-value piece."Ben blinked, caught off guard by his directness. "Certainly. Would you like me to walk you through the provenance and artist details first, or would you prefer to view it in private?""No need for a lengthy tour," Marcus stated firmly. "Let us move straight to the acquisition paperwork."Ben stood momentarily stunned. Most collectors, particularly those looking at high-end masterworks, were cautious and painstaking. They insisted on deep historical breakdowns, authentication

David remained rooted where he stood, his arms pulled tightly across his chest as he replayed the entire encounter in his mind. He had intended to step up, humiliate Marcus, and perhaps even watch security drag him out into the street. Instead, he had been forced to watch the dealership manager practically grovel before Marcus, handing over a luxury automobile far beyond the reach of normal men without collecting a single coin. It made no sense at all.Without anyone pointing it out, it was obvious that Marcus was hiding something massive.Stepping closer to Wesley, David fished his phone out of his pocket and tapped Anita's number. She answered almost on the first ring, her voice dripping with sharp impatience."What is it, David? I am busy.""You are not going to believe what just happened," David blurted, still struggling to make sense of what he had witnessed. "I just ran into Marcus inside the showroom. He picked out one of the most expensive vehicles on the floor, and to top it

The hum of activity at Stephanie's legion base was briefly interrupted by a wave of murmurs and applause from the medical wing. Dr. John, his sleeves rolled up and his focus unwavering, had just completed the successful treatment of a rare and complicated condition that had kept the base's physicians struggling for weeks. The young soldier, who had previously been given little hope of recovery, was now showing promising signs of improvement under John's careful treatment. The medical professionals gathered around him exchanged impressed glances. A senior legion doctor, a grizzled man with decades of experience, stepped forward and nodded respectfully. “I've seen many talented physicians throughout my career,” the doctor remarked. “But your ability to combine different medical disciplines is remarkable. You have given this soldier a chance we never thought possible.” John straightened, a faint flush of pride appearing on his face. “Thank you. I was only doing my duty,” he replied

Not long after John took his leave, Stephanie permitted herself a quiet moment to digest everything that had been said. The sharp, unyielding posture she usually maintained softened as she reflected on the update regarding George. It offered a faint ray of hope, yet the heavy burden of her grandfather’s fragile condition continued to weigh on her mind. She understood that every passing second counted; securing a solution for his declining health remained her utmost priority.Her solitude was cut short when her assistant stepped into the office, holding a sealed dossier marked "Top Priority" with an unmistakable air of urgency."War Goddess," the assistant reported, her tone steady despite the gravity of the situation. "Classified intelligence just came through from central command. You need to review this right away."Stephanie straightened her back instantly, throwing off her lingering thoughts as she reached for the file. She snapped it open and skimmed the pages. As she read throug