"Get in the car," Elias Vance said evenly.Harper Sullivan opened the vehicle door. "After you, please."Riley Dawson looked him up and down, chuckled, and climbed into the back seat. Elias followed, settling beside her.On the pavement, Derek Loomis sat paralyzed in terror. His face lacked all color as he scrambled backward. "What did I just say to him?" Derek stammered, trembling as reality set in.A classmate sneered. "You told a general to be a security captain, and accused him of being ungrateful. Offering a man of his stature a transport job is spectacular stupidity."Brody Tate looked equally mortified, every arrogant word he had spoken feeling like a tightening noose. Jessica Collins stared at the departing vehicle in a daze, realizing the aloof teenager from ten years ago was now a high-ranking commander. Remembering Brody's boasts, a profound regret overwhelmed her. She knew her foolish words had earned nothing but Elias's disdain."I need to

Whether Lydia Frost was actually Aria Vance remained unconfirmed, but the conclusive results would be available soon. For now, Elias Vance only needed to wait patiently."Aria is a good person, and heaven always watches over the good," Elena Croft said, offering him a comforting smile. "I know your brother Arthur Vance is protecting her from above. Even if this Lydia is not her, I am certain Aria is safe.""You are right," Elias replied, a faint smile touching his lips. "Aria has always been our lucky star. Nothing bad could possibly happen to her."He turned his gaze toward Gideon. "I want you to personally oversee this investigation. Get me the results as quickly as humanly possible."Gideon thumped his chest hard. "Rest assured, I will not allow a single mistake to occur."Elias nodded approvingly and continued pushing Elena in her wheelchair for their morning stroll. After another half hour of walking, they returned to the villa for breakfast. He decided

"How dare you assault people inside my hospital?"Dr. Simon Nash appeared in the doorway of the ward. The hospital director wore a crisp white coat and adjusted the glasses on his nose, his face twisted in deep displeasure."A hospital is a place for healing and saving lives. Are you completely unaware of this basic fact?" Simon demanded, glaring at everyone inside the room.Miles Lawson immediately tried to de-escalate the situation. "Doctor, we are incredibly sorry about the commotion, but those men were...""I do not care who those men belong to," Simon interrupted sharply. "Absolutely no one is allowed to commit acts of violence and cause trouble in our facility. Our hospital does not welcome violent thugs like you."Elias Vance looked at the director with a perfectly calm expression. "Those men were in this room just a moment ago, physically forcing a patient to sign a contract and sell his land. Why didn't you step in and manage that situation?""

Harper held out her phone, displaying a newly published headline. The article was officially released by Cresthaven News, the primary state-backed media outlet and the largest news organization in Cresthaven.It was a blatant smear campaign claiming that the malicious remnants of the Vanguard Conglomerate were deliberately hoarding prime real estate to obstruct urban development. According to the piece, after learning about the new subway routes, these greedy individuals refused to sell unless paid an astronomical price.The author praised developers from Thorne Properties for trying to reason with them, but lamented that the stubborn villain, a former loyalist who used to commit crimes alongside Arthur, refused to yield. The article forcefully concluded that anyone hindering the city's progress possessed a malicious heart and deserved ruin.The article claimed that if Thorne Properties obtained the land, it could develop the area into a combined commercial and reside

Skyler Stanton marched into the room with an aggressive and overbearing aura. As the director of the Southvale State Propaganda and Oversight Department, he was nearly the highest-ranking official in the state. He could not believe someone dared to show him such a blatant lack of respect. A man in his fifties with a protruding belly, Skyler had a face full of aggressive flesh that made him look like someone who should not be provoked."Are you the kid causing trouble here?" Skyler demanded the moment he spotted Elias Vance sitting calmly in the center of the room, marching straight over and pointing a thick finger right at his nose."Director Stanton!" Alistair Prescott called out, letting out a massive sigh of relief upon seeing the official arrive. With a powerful state leader backing him, this messy situation would be much easier to resolve. Furthermore, Skyler maintained excellent relationships with several influential politicians, giving him immense power and energy t