"What's wrong?" Eric looked at Sylvia and asked. "Are you afraid of Irvin?"Sylvia pursed her lips and replied, "I'm not afraid of him. It's just that Willams Corp. and Sonnex Corp. are currently in conflict, and I don't want to meet him."In reality, she was afraid of being exposed. If Irvin saw her, he would surely be furious. But more importantly, she didn't want to put Eric in a difficult position.Eric nodded, saying, "It won't be good for Salt City if the two largest conglomerates are at odds."Sylvia sighed, understanding why Josh had been trying to bring harmony between their families. However, with Irvin in charge of Sonnex Corp., changing his mind seemed impossible."Are you still going to protect me tonight?" Eric asked.Sylvia pursed her lips and replied, "It's not about protecting you. It's for my own good. Don't even think about anything else. I'm telling you again. It's for my own good!""I'm afraid I'll lose something if something happens to you, you know?" Eric
Elly understood that people rarely changed their fundamental nature, so she couldn't forgive Craig. Once something like this happened, it would likely repeat itself.The following day, Sylvia instructed her driver to wait at the hospital and notify her immediately if Irvin showed up. She wanted to avoid any interaction with him.After Elly picked up the boys from school, they both went to the hospital. The two women got along well, and Elly's bond with Sylvia seemed stronger than her bond with Eric.Eric wanted to get out of bed and take a walk, but Sylvia stopped him as soon as she saw him move a leg."What are you trying to do?" Sylvia glared at him. "Do you want to stay in the hospital longer?"Eric shook his head."Then just lie quietly in bed!" Sylvia said angrily.Eric was speechless. Why couldn't he even get out of bed? The pain from his wound had significantly subsided. It had already been a few days, yet he still couldn't move freely?Fortunately, a nurse arrived short
Irvin chatted with Eric until the afternoon, and this made Sylvia so angry that she returned to her family for dinner. The Williams family was confused by her sudden return."Why did you come back from the hospital, Sylvia? Who is taking care of Eric?" Amelia, her mother, asked.Sylvia's three elder brothers all looked at her, waiting for an explanation."Why is everyone looking at me?" Sylvia was at a loss for words."Of course, you are welcome to have a meal at home," Henry said. "But Eric is still in the hospital, and you should go back and take care of him."Sylvia's appetite diminished as she listened to her father's words, and the dishes on the table no longer seemed appetizing.Pouting, she replied, "Irvin is still at the hospital. I don't want to encounter him in this situation."As she spoke, she received a message from her chauffeur. Her third elder brother, Connor, leaned over to take a look."Alright, Irvin is gone. You can go back to the hospital now," Connor said.
Eric breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted Sylvia. After all, a woman like Jasmine was no match for Sylvia.On the other hand, Jasmine was momentarily stunned when she saw Sylvia again.Not her again!How did Eric end up getting involved with such a stunning woman?It was simply outrageous!However, Jasmine wasn't one to back down easily. Upon discovering that Eric's company had secured projects worth tens of millions, she had been searching all over the city for him. She had even spent hours waiting outside the rental house where Eric used to live but found nothing.Eventually, Jasmine found out about Innova Tech and learned from Andy that Eric was injured and hospitalized. That's why she rushed to the hospital immediately. After going through so much trouble, she wasn't about to give up easily. Reconciling with Eric meant living a life of luxury in the future."Why is it you again!?" Jasmine frowned, clearly displeased with Sylvia's presence.Little did she know that Sylv
However, Sylvia remained indifferent, unaffected by the situation unfolding before her. The police arrived shortly, displaying their efficiency."Who called the police?" asked the officer, curious about the reason for their presence.Jasmine hurried over to the officer, her face filled with anger, and pointed at Sylvia."Officer! It's her! Look at my face!" Jasmine gritted her teeth. "She's the one who hit me! Arrest her immediately! I won't settle this privately anymore!"Jasmine no longer cared about the money. She wanted Sylvia to face legal consequences.The officer furrowed his brow and turned his attention to Sylvia."Why did you resort to violence?" he inquired.Sylvia smiled and replied, "Good question. Why did I resort to violence? My husband is hospitalized, and she barged in, harassing him. How could I not defend him?"The officer's frown deepened as he looked between Sylvia and Jasmine."Is that what happened?" he asked, seeking confirmation."Yes!" Jasmine protes
Jasmine's actions left Eric speechless, as he no longer had any feelings for her. A broken heart could not be easily repaired. Thankfully, Eric had been keeping busy and living a fulfilling life during this time. It seemed that Jasmine's affair and their breakup did not affect him much.Perhaps he had grown indifferent.Elly's appearance was becoming more refined. Apart from a slightly bulky figure, there was nothing inappropriate about her. The Johnson siblings had similar experiences but led different lives.In the following days, Eric gradually started to recover. Sylvia was devoted and responsible, staying overnight at the hospital to take care of him. This touched Eric deeply.Despite being aloof and a stickler for cleanliness, Sylvia persisted in caring for him. This gave Eric a new understanding of Sylvia's character.Irvin visited daily, bringing a bunch of supplements each time.Since Eric couldn't consume them all, he asked Elly to take them home and give them to their
Although Craig lacked money, he continued to accompany Jocelyn to the company every day without any changes. Lying on the bed, Eric felt puzzled. He had noticed something unusual about Sylvia in the past few days. Whenever Irvin came, she would always be absent. If it was just a coincidence, it seemed to happen too often.As an employee of Williams Corp., it didn't make sense for her to avoid meeting Irvin because of this. After all, she was only a mid-level manager in the company. It shouldn't be a disadvantage for her to know Irvin. "Your wife isn't here again?" Irvin wondered when he arrived in the evening. Why couldn't he meet her every time he came?He even started to doubt whether Eric's wife actually existed. Eric smiled wryly and replied, "She just went out." Irvin nodded and said, "Eric, is she purposely avoiding me? Could it be that she knows me!?" It was a casual remark, but surprisingly, he hit the mark. Eric smiled and said, "I don't think so. She's just a
"Why is it that you always have something to do whenever Big Bro comes around?" Eric couldn't help but voice his doubts. The coincidences seemed too uncanny.Sylvia had already prepared an explanation. "Irvin Sonnex is the CEO of Sonnex Corp., and I'm a mid-level manager at Williams Corp. It's best for us not to meet to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."Her explanation somehow convinced Eric. "You don't want to meet Big Bro, but he has considered a lot on your behalf. He asked me to ask you if you're willing to join Sonnex Corp. If you are, he will arrange a high-level position for you."Sylvia pursed her lips and stared at Eric. "You... I don't know whether to call you lucky or unfortunate.""You're unfortunate because you've been in a relationship for almost years and have only held hands. You're lucky because you've become sworn brothers with Irvin, and he really treats you as a brother."From what I know, you are the next person Irvin treats so well apart from his family m
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