"Wow!" Winston exclaimed with immediate joy. "Congratulations! Finally, your dream has come true!"He remembered the struggles Eric and Sylvia had faced trying to conceive, recalling the couple's consultation with him. The absence of children in their family had always been a regret for Winston. He believed it would have made their family complete. Now, at last, that missing piece had been filled!Winston urged, "Your wife is pregnant, so you shouldn't linger here all day. Go back early this afternoon and spend more time with her."Eric nodded eagerly.However, the overwhelming number of infected people at the stadium made leaving early impossible. The stadium's capacity was limited, and despite distributing medicine to expedite recovery among the infected, their numbers continued to rise.Speeding up their recovery would free up space to accommodate new cases.Later in the afternoon, Eric received a call from Ruth."Eric, have you noticed any suspicious individuals?""Suspicio
However, Eric still harbored doubts. It seemed entirely unnecessary for the Oberdeens to orchestrate such a scheme. If they truly possessed a cure, a modest amount of promotion would guarantee market demand. Not only Dortmund City and Salt City but also other cities would likely vie to procure it.Contemplating this, Eric stumbled upon a dilemma. It occurred to him that perhaps the Oberdeens had foreseen the outbreak and subsequent spread of the virus well in advance. They could be waiting for the number of infected individuals to reach a critical threshold before introducing the cure, thereby maximizing their profits.Eric even dared to entertain the notion that the Oberdeens might have deliberately instigated the virus in Dortmund City, as it would directly benefit them the most.Yet, uncertainties persisted. If indeed the Oberdeens were behind this, why would they risk introducing a cure so hastily? Such actions would undoubtedly arouse suspicion!Eric shook his head and headed
Sylvia sensed that Amelia still had some tricks up her sleeve, especially since she had seen her engrossed in books like "Eight Things to Pay Attention to During Pregnancy.""Just hang tight for now and bear with it. The main issue is that there's nothing appetizing in the stadium cafeteria. But don't worry. I'll sneak some goodies back for you and stash them in the car. We can indulge secretly when everyone else is fast asleep," Eric assured her.Sylvia just sighed. This dinner was truly delicious, and she had devoured all three large chicken legs. It wasn't solely due to her pregnancy—she had always had a big appetite. But what frustrated her most was Amelia's decision to have them sleep in separate rooms.-The next morning, Amelia was puzzled to find two unwashed plates in the kitchen.For some reason, she went to the kitchen early in the morning."Do I still need to sneak in to eat?" Henry grumbled. "Maybe one of the service staff didn't have enough. You should talk to them
Grace put considerable effort into traveling to Salt City under the guise of a business trip.This marked Queenie's first encounter with Eric's family in King City. She had long been familiar with Grace's reputation. Among the major families of King City, Grace held even greater renown than Alexander.Naturally, some individuals looked down on Alexander. Despite being the eldest of the Montgomerys, he allowed a woman to manage the family business. However, Grace had proven herself adept at the task.Under Alexander's leadership, the Montgomerys might have maintained their position as a major family yet struggled to advance to the top-tier echelons.At present, the Montgomerys hovered between major and top-tier status, boasting substantial financial resources.There was also another scenario: had the Montgomerys entrusted Alexander with leadership, they might have descended to a second- or third-tier prominent family.Some admired Alexander's audacity—few among the prominent famil
"Sylvia is pregnant, and you didn't even bother to inform us. We only found out because of your mother-in-law. What? Are you trying to keep me from coming to Salt City?" Grace retorted impatiently.Eric scratched his head and remained quiet.-After dinner, Blake and Melinda sat aside. In fact, over the past few days, the two of them seemed somewhat distant. They simply weren't in the same social circle and couldn't engage in conversation together.Occasionally, Amelia would chat with them, ensuring they didn't feel neglected. When Eric wasn't around, Sylvia often showed concern, making them feel included in the Williams family.Grace was particularly attentive. She always held a grateful heart toward Blake and Melinda. She would call Nutikiville to inquire about their well-being, among other things. Although each call was brief, it demonstrated Grace's genuine care for them.Grace refrained from interfering in their lives, understanding that everyone had their own lifestyle.Bl
Eric headed to the stadium immediately after seeing Grace off.Since the outbreak in Dortmund City, he hadn't experienced a single day of rest. However, a sense of relief washed over him as he recalled Winston's reassuring words from the previous day and the news that Amelia was no longer restricting Sylvia's diet.Around noon, Kirk paid him a visit. He took advantage of the lunch break and discussed matters with Eric as the hospital was sending over some items.During their conversation, the topic of the newly established laboratory at the hospital arose."I've heard that Dortmund City has also set up a laboratory and has made significant progress in virus research," Kirk mentioned, his gaze fixed on Eric. "Hol. Johnson, do you think our two laboratories can collaborate? Our advancements could be substantial with such a partnership."Eric, though amiable, understood the importance of discretion. The Dortmund laboratory, being personally funded by the Combat Department, dealt with
Around 8:00 p.m., Ruth arrived in Salt City and headed directly to the Williams residence."Who do we have here? A lovely visitor," exclaimed Amelia with enthusiasm. "Have you had dinner? If not, let me arrange something for you."Ruth smiled appreciatively and replied, "Thank you, Mrs. Williams. I'm actually here to see Eric. There are some confidential matters I need to discuss with him.""Oh, I understand. Well, you two, go ahead and talk. Once you're finished, we can all have supper together!"Eric and Ruth entered Henry's study. Originally, the Williams had planned to construct a study for Eric, but he had declined the offer. Since he didn't permanently reside there, building a study seemed unnecessary.Accompanied by a few officers from the Combat Department, Ruth's demeanor turned serious as they settled in."Eric, we now have enough evidence to confirm that this is indeed a war."Eric's expression shifted slightly. He was aware that the landscape of warfare had evolved s
After supper, Amelia motioned for Sylvia to join her privately."Mom, what's the matter?" Sylvia asked, perplexed by her mother's demeanor.Sylvia sensed that something was awry.Amelia glanced around cautiously, ensuring Eric wasn't within earshot before addressing Sylvia, "Sylvia, can't you be more observant?"Her words left Sylvia even more bewildered. "Mom, what exactly is happening?""You still haven't grasped the issue?!" Amelia responded with irritation."Look at Eric. The scars on his face have been fading lately. I'm certain they'll vanish completely soon."Once they're gone, he'll have his handsome appearance back. A handsome and talented young man is bound to attract many admirers!"That young woman who visited us tonight is quite remarkable. Beautiful, fair-skinned, long-legged, well-endowed... She's not different from you!"Sylvia finally understood Amelia's apprehension. She couldn't help but chuckle. "Mom, Eric isn't that type of person. And regarding Ruth, she'
In terms of innate talent, Eric was unparalleled, having reached the pinnacle of martial arts. With a single punch, he sent the 'God' flying."Good!" Stealthbane shouted with excitement.The ultimate enemy had finally been defeated, bringing peace to the world. Eric sighed in relief.However, in the next moment, the 'God' stood up again. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, he revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "You have successfully enraged me!"Everyone braced for a potential massacre, but instead, the enemy turned and fled.Could Eric let him escape?"Chase him!" Stealthbane commanded.Allowing this foe to escape would spell endless trouble.A group of people pursued the enemy, who soon reappeared clad in iron armor."Not seen this before, have you?" The 'God' seemed to have recovered somewhat. "Did you think I only research viruses? Wrong! I control global resources and global wealth!"This is our newly developed Doomforge Exosuit which amplifies a person's battle prowess tenfol
The sturdy floor lay in utter disarray.In desperation, Ruth shouted, "Eric, don't give him any more chances! Finish him off swiftly, or we'll face endless trouble!"Eric was well aware of this logic. As he fought, he said, "He's incredibly strong. Taking him down quickly isn't possible! We must fight to the death!"Eric had never feared battle. Besides, this might very well be his final fight.Their fists clashed fiercely.The 'God' also noticed that Eric was growing more formidable as the battle progressed."How do you have so much strength? Wouldn't it be better if we joined forces to control the world? We could have anything we desire!"All the world's wealth, women, and resources would be ours to enjoy. Why won't you listen to reason?" he roared.Eric's momentum didn't falter. "I don't share your grand ambitions. I just want a simple life with a job that pays 1,000 dollars a month and a warm home with my wife and kids. But you, you've disturbed my peace!"The 'God' was fu
The 'God' grew more courageous as the battle raged on, causing Stealthbane to worry incessantly.In another high-stakes clash, Eric and his opponent both retreated. Eric sensed his opponent's growing strength, finding it rather peculiar.The 'God' clenched his fist. "I must thank you! My techniques were slightly incomplete, but I've managed to fill the gaps through this battle!"Eric marveled at his opponent's genius. To mend something incomplete was indeed a rare talent.Despite Eric training with the complete manual, he could only match the 'God' blow for blow. This person was terrifying!The opponent's confidence soared. Although Eric had trained with the full manual, the 'God' felt his innate talent far surpassed Eric's. If he could match Eric with an incomplete manual, now that he had perfected it, wouldn't he be unbeatable?"I thought you had potential and considered inviting you to share this world with me," the 'God' said, his tone turning icy. "But now, I see it's unnece
Stealthbane even felt that Eric might not be a match for the "God."The power was overwhelming.The terrifying aura was enough to crush everything. To an ordinary person, this was a real deity—the strength possessed had already transcended human limits.Eric made his move with a burst of speed. The clash of their fists created a thunderous explosion, and the sound was so intense that Stealthbane felt his eardrums might shatter.This was a battle of the highest caliber, one that even a legend like Stealthbane could not hope to join.Seeing the two evenly matched, Stealthbane sighed in relief. At least there was a chance that the strongest combatants were neutralizing each other. The outcome was still uncertain.Eric shook his aching fist, his expression grave. The opponent's strength was as he had anticipated. If the ultimate boss of the Luminous did not possess such combat power, it would be absurd.Clearly, this "God" had also gauged Eric's strength.He extended a hand toward
Stealthbane knew that the figure facing them must be the ultimate leader of the Luminous.Suddenly, he no longer wanted to die. If he could hold on just a little longer, it would all be over."Mr. Johnson, these people don't seem ordinary. Could that leader be the ultimate figure of the Luminous? Are we about to complete the game?" he whispered.To him, this mission to the Ark felt like a game: defeat the final boss, and victory is achieved."If I'm not mistaken, it should be. This person gives me... a sense of danger," Eric said.Upon hearing this, Stealthbane felt reassured.Just a sense? That meant the problem wasn't too grave!The leader on the opposite side turned to Eric. "I didn't expect you to make it this far. I underestimated your strength, believing my Ark was impregnable, that no enemy could breach it. But why are you so persistent? Why such determination?"He suddenly screamed in a fit of hysteria, "I have so many people! Such a grand scheme! It has all succeeded!
Brent shouted desperately, "After you get on your knees, they'll kill you all, and we won't survive either! Kill them! Kill them all!"He understood the situation with stark clarity. Kneeling meant certain death. If they had to die anyway, fighting back would be their only chance of survival.Eric sighed. "Mr. Rogers, in the end, it was we who implicated you. But this place must be eradicated, and the Luminous must be destroyed as well! Everyone, attack!"As the battle commenced, the masked man immediately struck Brent with a punch.Eric charged in. "Die!"He knew that Brent was unlikely to survive. This punch was his way of avenging Brent.The masked man spun around, trying to block Eric's punch. But the speed of the blow was too much—the gust of wind from the punch arrived before the fist did.It was an instant kill.The masked man had no time to react before Eric's punch collided with his chest. The terrifying force shattered the mask on the man's face, revealing an unfamili
Stealthbane was blinded by rage. He was killing anyone in sight, his fury unrelenting. They had ventured deep into enemy territory, where every encounter seemed to be with an adversary.Eric and his team from the Combat Department showed no mercy.Yet even Stealthbane's resolve was wearing thin."I can't kill them all! It feels like every master in the world is concentrated here!" he shouted in frustration.He felt the number of people he had brought was insufficient. If he had brought a few thousand more, he might have been able to overrun the place.Stealthbane was overwhelmed by the sheer horror of their situation. Fortunately, they had arrived. If anyone else had come, they would have met their end here.The numbers of the masters seemed endless."Damn it!" Stealthbane cursed angrily. "There are too many of them, and they're all exceptionally powerful. What kind of game is this?"He was tempted to retreat, but where could he go?Eric sent an enemy flying, pushing forward
"I was opposed to coming in from the start, but as you all know, the Rogers family is extremely complex. If we hadn't entered, I might have ended up dead. At least if the virus isn't a threat, that's something!" Brent poured himself a cup of coffee and continued. "These people are ruthless! They want to kill everyone outside the Ark and establish a new order, managed by a select few. It's insane!"You don't need to tell me—I know you're here to kill them."He then pulled a small token from his pocket. "This is our Rogers family's privilege here. It allows us to move freely between different levels. With this, you can go anywhere!"Stealthbane grabbed it eagerly. "Why didn't you mention this earlier? Things will go much smoother with this!"Brent sighed. "Once you've handled everything, could you take me out with you? I really don't want to stay in this dreadful place any longer.""Sure!" Eric nodded. "We'll definitely call you when we leave. For now, we're heading out."Brent e
Everything was ready, but they couldn't just walk in.Ruth instructed the Combat Department to conduct a three-day intensive training for everyone, focusing on coordinated combat.-After three days, the forces led by Stealthbane moved out, first dismantling the outer defenses of the Ark. This was their specialty!A large group of several hundred arrived in front of the Ark's entrance. At first glance, it resembled a mountain.Jack scratched his head and said, "Is this the gate? I don't see any door."The Holy Templar's people arrived as well. St. Pius said, "Everyone, don't rush. Wait for two minutes. Once the gate opens, we need to get in quickly. I have other plans inside, but once we're in, it's going to be a life-or-death battle! No one should show any mercy!"Stealthbane flexed his fists and replied, "Do I look like a good guy to you? Just watch me deal with them!"No sooner had he spoken than there was a tremendous roar. The ground shook, and the door of the Ark swung