Two days later, Jared's memorial service came to an end.Although Kayden had once been somewhat of a troublemaker, his loyalty to his family was beyond reproach.Kayden sighed. "Life is but a few decades long. Why fight over this and that? Eric, for all the wrongs my parents did to you, I apologize on their behalf."Eric patted Kayden's shoulder. "In the end, we are family. What's past is past. There's no need to bring it up again."He bore grudges, but he also knew that some things had to be let go. How could one live while holding on to old hatreds?Hank also spoke at length, though not about the Johnson family. He lamented the troubled times. "The Dortmund virus was already bad enough, and now we have the Haevon virus."Luckily, we live in the countryside. There's less movement of people, and the air is cleaner. Sometimes, living in the countryside isn't so bad—no need to yearn for those big cities."Eric smiled. "Every place has its advantages. Take care of yourself. Despite
Tiger was the top figure in Salt City's underground scene, and with the recent legalization of underground arenas, his prominence had only increased. Thanks to the earlier restructuring by the Combat Department, figures like Tiger had become more visible and legitimate.While Eric wasn't particularly concerned with the affairs of the underworld, he figured it wouldn't hurt to ask a few questions.Brook sighed and said, "What else can be said? We just aren't as skilled. But there's something strange about it. Those people didn't show up early or late. Could they be associated with the sages and strategists?"The Haevon virus had swept across the world, bringing out all sorts of characters. It wouldn't be surprising if a group of skilled fighters followed the sages and strategists. Maybe, as Brook suggested, those fighters were indeed part of the same faction.Eric shook his head. "I doubt it. They are all out on missions. Their tasks have been exceptionally heavy lately, so it's unl
Tyson had taught the Williams siblings martial arts, with Sylvia achieving the highest accomplishments and earning the title of grandmaster. The three Williams brothers weren't as skilled, but they were more than capable of self-defense.Despite Tyson’s advanced age, the Williams family was still willing to support him financially. Before Eric, Tyson had been the family’s top defense asset. They were one of the wealthiest families in Salt City, so this kind of martial defense was necessary.-Around 10:00 p.m., both men returned.Tyson sat down and took a sip of water. "It's confirmed. They are definitely martial artists from the past! They're all still around!"Maybe not exactly," he corrected himself, "but their legacies certainly are! I just don't understand why they are appearing in major cities. What do they hope to achieve? Are they planning to carve out territory for themselves?"What era is this? What use are martial arts anymore?"Even if they aren't afraid of knives, h
The Williams residence was suddenly ablaze with lights.Brook, Sylvester, Connor, and even Tyson came out to see what was happening.Hearing the commotion, Amelia emerged in her robe. "What's going on? Are you planning to fight? Can't a person get a good night's sleep around here?""It's fine if you wake me, but if you disturb my precious daughter, I won't let it slide! Sylvester, what are you thinking, causing a ruckus in the middle of the night? With Eric here, what's there to worry about?"Sylvester rubbed his nose, feeling singled out. Wasn't this her beloved son-in-law's affair? They were just there to back him up, yet now it seemed they were the main culprits.Brook almost wanted to complain but was held back by Sylvester, who knew Amelia's temperament better than anyone.After venting a bit, Amelia went back inside, thinking, 'Why bother with these men?'The villa's soundproofing was excellent—they wouldn't hear a thunderstorm, let alone a fight. With Eric around, they co
Tiger stood beside Eric. "These few are indeed no match for you, but dealing with a few minor thugs is enough!"The leader said nothing more and merely nodded to those around him.Among them, Connor was the weakest. The attacker zeroed in on Connor and charged at him.In the blink of an eye, the attacker was in front of Connor, who was unable to react in time.However, there was someone faster than the attacker!Tiger didn't even notice that Eric had vanished from his side.Eric arrived ahead of the attacker and delivered a thunderous punch!The blow landed with a resounding thud.The attacker, who had charged in swiftly, was sent flying just as quickly.With a single punch, he crashed heavily in front of his leader, spewing blood from his mouth.The leader looked down, stunned. He hadn't even seen Eric join the fray. And the power behind that punch... was terrifying!"Eric!" Connor was so startled that he broke out in a sweat.Eric nodded slightly. "Tell Sylvester and Broo
"Mr. Johnson always knows how to handle the situation!" Tiger lit a cigarette and said, "But I have a feeling they won't let it go easily. They'll definitely come back to cause more trouble."If they're just targeting the streets, it's not a big deal. But I fear they have bigger plans to create chaos in the entire city and profit from it!"Tiger knew their tactics all too well because he had climbed the ranks using the same methods. They would test the waters and gauge the street's strength. Only after confirming they could take control would they make their move.They undoubtedly had big ambitions!"There's no need for concern, Tiger," Eric said. "If that's the case, then these people indeed have malicious intentions."Let's do this: I'll figure out a way to expose them."Tiger nodded repeatedly. "It seems like that's our best option for now."-The night passed without incident.How despicable were those rogue elements?Eric had thought last night's encounter involved all
Roland sighed with a wry smile. "In an instant, this pond has become completely murky. Who knows how many people will fight tooth and nail for these prizes?"He marveled at Eric's grand gesture of giving away such a vast sum without hesitation.The annual profit of an average listed company was merely in the tens of millions, which was already considered substantial.But billions? It would take many years for a company to earn that much.Eric waved his hand dismissively. "You're joking. My principle is simple: if money can solve a problem, it's not a problem."Alas, many problems can't be solved with money. If I could bring peace to this world by giving away all my wealth, I wouldn't hesitate to do so."He spoke sincerely. Over the years, he had traveled far and wide, experiencing all kinds of events.A person's perspective changed with age.When his monthly salary was 1,000 dollars, Eric dreamed of financial freedom. Now that he had long achieved that goal, he saw the world as
The matches raged on fiercely.After observing for two days, Pierce decided to leave. His days had become more relaxed.The Haevon virus was still rampant, causing many issues to be resolved abruptly. Perhaps it was because there was no suitable environment for those issues to thrive.As the competition progressed, many martial arts styles believed to be lost or forgotten reemerged unexpectedly."These people have hidden themselves very well!" Tyson exclaimed. "I'm quite curious, where have they been hiding all this time? Even though the world is vast, such figures usually can't remain concealed!"And why did they choose this moment to suddenly appear?"He had numerous questions. Mainly, he couldn't understand their backgrounds. They seemed to emerge out of thin air, making it difficult to trace their origins.He said, "Eric, that money shouldn't be given to them for nothing, right? If you continue like this, you'll be left with nothing!"He believed Eric was not someone who wo