Right after leaving General Damien Cross, Derek realized he was starving.The morning had been long, and after everything that happened, he needed a good meal.He remembered one of the most expensive restaurants in Riverstone City, The Grand Monarch.It was one of the biggest spots in town, and getting a table there was not simple. You could not just walk through the door.seasonal access cards were required. Only people with valid cards could eat there.Derek reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the cards Blackwood gave him.He looked at it for a second before heading straight to the restaurant.A few minutes later, Derek arrived.The building was tall, with large glass windows and luxury cars parked outside.Derek walked right through the main entrance.The staff spotted the access card in his hand immediately."Welcome, sir," the receptionist greeted politely.Derek gave a simple nod and walked inside.He did not know that someone he knew was already sitting inside.It was

An hour passed.Angelina stood near the back door of The Grand Monarch with her arms folded across her chest. Jacinta stood beside her, checking her phone for the tenth time, while Michael leaned against the wall with a grin on his face.They were waiting for Derek.None of them left.Angelina was sure Derek would come out through the back door after the workers threw him out. She wanted to see his face when he walked out in disgrace.But nothing happened.The door remained shut.Jacinta sighed and dropped her phone into her bag. "Are you sure this guy will pass through here?" she asked. "We have been standing here for almost an hour. Let us just go. Maybe they took him straight to the police station through another door."Michael burst out laughing. "The police station?"Jacinta shrugged her shoulders. "What else do you expect me to think? That restaurant is not a place someone like Derek can just walk into and out of. Maybe he caused trouble, could not pay the bill, and they called

Before Derek could step out of the cab, another car pulled up behind them fast.The vehicle stopped with a sharp screech.Four doors opened at the exact same time.Eight men stepped out into the street.They were dressed in black from head to toe. Their faces were cold, and every single one of them moved like a seasoned street fighter.Derek stayed inside the cab.The moment he saw them, his eyes narrowed.He recognized them immediately.The Black Dragons.The Black Dragons were not a regular gang. They were a dangerous illegal crew operating outside the law, taking money to beat people up and settle debts for wealthy clients. They had no official badge, no legal protection, and no link to the military. Their dark reputation came from the brutal jobs they accepted.When someone wanted a person beaten, kidnapped, or put in the hospital without police getting involved, the Black Dragons were the ones called.They were ruthless.And now eight of them stood in the street.Derek looked thr

Derek stood quietly in front of Sylvia.He did not answer her question. He simply looked at her with a calm face.Sylvia waited, but nothing came.Her eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" she asked again.Still nothing. Derek stayed totally quiet.That silence pissed her off more than any wrong answer.She slammed her hand hard on the wooden table.BANG!"Who are you?" she yelled.Derek did not flinch.Sylvia glared at him. "Why are you like this?" she shouted, hitting the table a second time. "Why are you so difficult? Why do you act like nothing in this world matters to you?"Derek said nothing.Sylvia breathed heavily, her chest moving fast. "Why are you so hard to get?" she asked, taking a step closer. "Do you know I can order my men to finish you right here?"Her voice shook with rage. "I can tell them to kill you, and nobody will ever find your body. Nobody will know where you disappeared to."Derek's expression did not change.Sylvia pointed her finger at his face. "And yet you stand

Derek left Sylvia's private residence without looking back. He had something more important on his mind. Emily. Her legs had been useless for five years, and Derek was determined to find a way to make her walk again. He had searched several places already, but he still hadn't found all the herbs he needed. That was why he headed straight to the healing temple. The moment Derek arrived, he walked through the temple grounds and went straight to the backyard. The backyard was filled with rare plants and herbs. Some grew in wooden boxes, while others were planted directly in the soil. The place was quiet, with only the sound of leaves moving gently in the wind. Derek carefully searched through the plants. He was looking for one particular herb. Moon Vein Grass. It was one of the most important ingredients he needed for Emily's treatment. He moved from one section to another, checking the plants carefully. Nothing. He couldn't find it. Just as he was about to mov