"How did the man look like?" Terry took a puff of the cigar as he said coldly."H-he was too far away and there wasn't much time. That man's face was full of blood. All I know is that it's a man…"Hearing that, Terry narrowed his eyes. So they had missed someone out!"T-that's all I know. P-please let me go. I won't tell anyone…" The man spat out another mouthful of blood.Before he could finish speaking, Vonn stepped on his chest with a crack."Vonn, are you sure the person at the hotel that day isn't from the Ziegler family?" Terry looked at the man on the ground before he asked that."I'm certain!" Vonn nodded emphatically."I know every single person from that family. That person's definitely a stranger!""It looks like the remnant of the Ziegler family must have tied himself to someone!" Terry nodded slightly."Yes!" Vonn said, "Terry, this is actually very simple. I'll just have someone go capture Holden's daughter. We'll know after we question her!""Make sure no one fro
At that moment, Albert's phone rang. When he picked up, it was from his secretary."Don't you know I'm having a meeting?" After he answered the call, he said, "What is it?""Mr. Jenkins, someone from Mendorra Tower called. They want to sign the contract with our company, but they specifically mentioned they would only sign the contract with Ms. Jenkins," The secretary sounded a bit excited."Really?!" When he heard that, Albert almost jumped up in excitement."Yes, I just brought them to the main meeting room," The secretary said."Alright, tell them that she'll be right there!" Albert said happily."Dad, why are you so happy?" Kenneth asked with a smile after Albert hung up. It had been a long time since he saw Albert being so excited."Haha, it's a good thing. It's a brilliant thing!" Albert laughed before he looked at Tasha, "Tasha, you are our family's lucky star!""Grandpa, what happened?" Tasha said in surprise."Mendorra Tower's people are already at the company. They w
Five minutes had passed when Albert, guided by his secretary, entered the spacious conference room alongside Kenneth and Tasha. Their eyes swept across the room, landing on a line of four individuals seated with poise, a man in his forties at the center."Mr. Getson, it is a pleasure to meet you. These gentlemen are our esteemed chairman and general manager," the secretary introduced, gesturing toward Albert and his son. She then turned to Tasha. "And this is Ms. Jenkins, the one you've been eager to meet.""Mr. Getson, it's great to see you. I'm sorry to have you make the trip out here," Albert said warmly, extending his hand."Mr. Albert Jenkins, the pleasure is all mine. Your company is a valued partner of ours, it's the least we can do," Felix Getson replied with a friendly smile.He then rose to his feet, faced Tasha with a respectful bow, and said with genuine enthusiasm, "Ms. Jenkins, good to meet you. I'm Felix Getson, director of the Mendorra Tower's investment department.
"Mr. Getson, hold on, please. Have a glass of water. I'll get Talia here immediately!" Albert interjected quickly. Howard's words from yesterday echoed in his mind as he spoke. Could it really have been Howard's influence? However, that did not make sense. It was the Beech family who had lent a hand."I've got a meeting back at my company soon, so hurry up and get Ms. Talia Jenkins to come over!" Felix said icily before sitting back down. Felix would not dare just storm off, if he did, he might as well not bother returning to his own company."Okay, okay, I'm on it," Albert said, nodding before turning to Tasha. "What are you waiting for? Call her now!""I get it!" Tasha's face darkened, her expression sour. She had convinced herself that from today onward, she would be calling the shots at the company. However, in a matter of minutes, her bubble burst. The emotional whiplash was maddening.Then she got it—Mendorra Company's eager beeline to the Jenkins Group had nothing to do with
At Yuffie's exclamation, Holden and Kaylee snapped to attention and turned to Howard."I made a promise to Riley, and I always keep my promises!" Howard said, gently patting Riley's cheek. "Isn't that right, kiddo?""Yep!" Riley piped up confidently. "Dad always keeps his word, I trust him!""Howard, you seriously pulled it off?" Holden asked, his voice tinged with awe."If my hunch is right, Tasha's call was to get Talia to the office to ink the deal with the people from Mendorra Tower," Howard said with a knowing grin.The Holdens all let out a collective gasp of astonishment. The phone continued to ring insistently."Howard, shouldn't we let Talia answer it?" Holden suggested, glancing at Howard. "If they're really waiting for her to sign the contract, we shouldn't keep them hanging. What if they lose patience...""Don't worry, Mr. Holden Jenkins, they'll wait," Howard reassured with another smile, turning his gaze to Talia. "Talia, make it clear to her that you're open to si
Taking a long, calming drag of his cigarette, Kenneth broke the silence. "The Mendorra folks are still waiting. Should I send them away for now?""Get the car ready!" Albert snapped, his anger sending a vase crashing to join the teacup's fate."Dad, you're not seriously going?" Kenneth's surprise was evident."And what's your bright idea?" Albert snapped back. "We have to lock down that contract with Mendorra Tower. Once it's done, we'll deal with her.""And their demand for a bonus?" Kenneth probed further."We haven't signed anything yet. Forget the bonus!" Albert's voice was ice. "We'll talk about that after the ink dries.""Got it!" A spark of resolve lit up Kenneth's eyes. He got the message loud and clear. Once they had the contract, they would call the shots. As for the bonus, well, that would be their call too."Grandpa, should I try calling Mr. Beech again? Maybe he's got some news?" Tasha suggested after a brief pause."No need for more calls. I've already made some d
"Talia already told us over the phone, remember? Or do you need me to spell it out for you?" Kaylee shot back."We'll get Talia to sign, sure, but not until we see those share certificates and dividends. Otherwise...""Kaylee!" Holden cut in sharply. "It takes time to prepare the share contract and dividends. Dad promised, and he'll deliver. Trust me."Kaylee hesitated, her lips parting as if to speak, but she swallowed her words."Talia, could you head out with Grandpa? We shouldn't keep the people at Mendorra Tower waiting," Holden suggested, turning to Talia."Sure," Talia agreed after a brief pause."I'll go with you, Talia," Howard offered, rising with a gentle smile."Daddy, please don't go. Stay with me. I don't want you to leave," Riley pleaded, clutching Howard's hand and shaking it earnestly."Howard, you should stay and play with Riley. I'll go with my sister, we'll be back before you know it," Yuffie chimed in."Alright, just give me a call if you need anything," H
"Thanks for the praise, Riley." Howard chuckled as he gently ruffled Riley's hair.Fifteen minutes later, Kaylee emerged from the kitchen once more. "Honey, could you give Talia a call and see when they'll be home? I want to get started on dinner.""You got it!" Holden, in high spirits, promptly dialed Talia's number. "Hey Talia, where are you guys, and how long until you're back?""We're in a cab, should be home in about twenty minutes!" came Talia's voice over the line."Great, could you pick up a bottle of wine on your way? I'm planning to share a few drinks with Howard and Yoel at lunch," Holden said, his voice filled with mirth.Then, suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the phone."Talia, what's going on!?" Holden's voice spiked with alarm. Silence was his only answer."Talia? Talia?" he called out again, but the line had gone dead. Frantically, he tried the number once more. That time, it just rang endlessly, unanswered."What happened?" Howard's brow creased with conce
"And look at that bracelet, it's stunning! Oh, and the compact has such a unique charm! Should we get one of each to decorate our homes?""Yuffie, you're still in school. How can you afford all this?" Talia chided gently. "You have a hundred fifty-dollar budget. Spend more, and it's coming out of your allowance.""What? Only a hundred fifty dollars? You're being too tight-fisted, sis!" Yuffie's complaint was lighthearted as she playfully turned to Howard. "Howard...""Don't even think about it. His wallet is in my hands!" Talia cut her off, fully aware of her little sister's ploy."Fine..." Yuffie's pout was all in good fun."Haha! It's not every day we get to do this, honey. If Yuffie finds something she loves, let's get it for her. Who knows if it'll be here next time?" Howard chuckled."Yay! You're the best, bro-in-law!" Yuffie cheered, her face lighting up with joy."You're just making her more spoiled!" Talia gave Howard a playful eye roll and turned her attention away from
Howard's willingness to visit the antique market was not solely to assist the sisters in their quest for a legendary blade. Such weapons were treasures often stumbled upon by chance, rarely found by those who sought them.His real intent was to immerse the sisters in the rich culture of the martial arts clans they were then a part of. More exposure to the ways of the warrior guilds could only benefit them on their chosen path.The following morning, Howard's group of five set off in the direction of Nathanael. Talia and Yuffie buzzed with excitement throughout the journey, their minds alive with wonder.Nathanael, nestled in the mountains to the northeast of Mendorra and a couple hundred kilometers away, awaited them.By 10 a.m., they arrived, parking at the gates of a sprawling estate on the city's outskirts—the site of the famed market.Stepping out, they were greeted by a lively throng at the estate's entrance, many adorned in traditional robes, weapons hanging from their belts
"And that's not all. They might even be a bona fide king-level warrior." Howard's brow furrowed with uncertainty."It looks like The Dark World is a whole lot more tangled than we thought," Yoel mused aloud.Then, turning back to Howard, he inquired, "Sir, did the old man ever share anything with you about The Dark World?""Not a word," Howard replied, shaking his head."Sir, do you think our mystery person could be from one of the elite families or sects, maybe just there on some errand?" Mystical Chubby chimed in.His speculation was not unfounded. Most of the king-level warriors from Rackaham were known to hail from the secretive clans and sects."It's unlikely." Howard dismissed the idea with another shake of his head. "From what Sabertooth described, our guy seems to know The Dark World like the back of his hand.""Who's that supposed to be?" Mystical Chubby scrunched his brow in confusion."Let it go for now. We'll head back to The Dark World in a little while," said Howa
"Um..." Blood Rakshasa nodded, the woman's earlier words still ringing in her head."Sir... Sir, was what you said earlier true?" Blood Rakshasa asked Sabertooth, her voice barely above a whisper."What did I say?" Sabertooth looked puzzled for a moment."You said... You said next time, we'd go back home together to get married..." Blood Rakshasa's cheeks turned a soft pink."Hehe, absolutely," Sabertooth chuckled, his smile warm and genuine. "The boss gave me the order, and I've given my word."Blood Rakshasa's smile was shy but filled with joy.Soon after, Qemal strode in."Sabertooth, I've tracked down the hideout of the Slaying Heaven Palace," Qemal announced upon arrival."Is that so?" Sabertooth's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Tell the crew to take a two-hour breather, then we move out!"The Slaying Heaven Palace's goons had nearly wiped out them today. Payback was due.With the Palace's top fighters gone, the rest were hardly a threat. It was time to cross the Slay
"Shadow Demon Shrine?" The woman's brow creased for a moment, but she quickly dropped the subject.She then turned to Sabertooth and observed, "You and your group have the vibe of soldiers. You're not originally from The Dark World, are you?""Speaking to our savior," Sabertooth gave a respectful nod, "we were part of the Rackaham Western Region's military before we came here."He was open with the woman who had saved over a hundred of his comrades."The Western Region's military?" The woman paused, a hint of recognition in her voice, "You're with the Blood Shadow Force?""That's us," Sabertooth confirmed with another bow."Is your leader the King of the West, Master Howard?" she inquired further."You know my boss?" Sabertooth looked surprised."Not personally, but I've heard the name," the woman replied with a shake of her head. "What's he got you doing in The Dark World?""Over the past couple of years, the world's heavy hitters have been funneling their muscle and resource
"You'll live to regret this, Dark Demon Lord!" Blood Rakshasa declared, locking eyes with her adversary. "Kill us, and Master Howard will avenge us by wiping out every last one of you in your cursed palace...""Ha! That Master Howard of yours better think twice before stepping into The Dark World again, or it'll be his grave!" The Dark Demon Lord mocked with an icy laugh."You're the fool!" Sabertooth growled. "No one in The Dark World has been born who can take down our boss. Your time's coming!""Is that so?" The Dark Demon Lord sneered with disdain. "You're clueless, all of you. You have no idea how powerful the Shadow Demon Shrine truly is!""Enough babbling. Time to end this. I'll send you both to join your boss," he declared, his presence intensifying as he prepared to strike them down."I love you," Blood Rakshasa whispered, her eyes closing."No, don't!" Qemal and others shouted in despair.Then there was a thunderous boom.However, the expected tragedy did not unfold.
Sabertooth sneered, watching the man's futile efforts. "You're such a fool!"He then declared solemnly, "Blood Shadow Technique, second form, Sky Slash!"With those words, he summoned all his strength, his saber carving a fierce arc of light through the air, striking like thunder at his foe.The Blood Shadow Technique was known for turning the tides against stronger adversaries.The white-haired elder's eyes narrowed in alarm. Caught mid-leap, he desperately wanted to dodge but could not. The saber's light bore down on him, a chilling aura of death shrouding him completely.In that instant, a wave of energy crashed through the air like a tidal wave, bringing a howling gale with it.Crash!Suddenly, Sabertooth was hurled away like a shell fired from a gun, blood spraying from his mouth as he flew, before he slammed into the earth, leaving a huge crater and falling silent."Sabertooth!" Blood Rakshasa's shout pierced the chaos as she spun and dashed to his side.She barely made
The man in black was sent hurtling through the air, slamming into the ground with such force that he lay there motionlessly, struggling to rise. A gaping wound, carved by the relentless sword, oozed blood profusely from his abdomen."What in the world is that sword technique?" he gasped after a torturous effort to stand, his face ashen.He had underestimated Blood Rakshasa's swordplay. Since her breakthrough to a higher echelon of mastery, her blade's might had surged, utterly dominating her seasoned adversary."The Sword Without a Name," Blood Rakshasa declared icily.Without wasting another second, she launched another assault. Sabertooth was in dire straits, and she was determined to aid him.Her blade danced again, weaving a web of sword energy that shot toward the white-haired elder, ensnaring him in an instant.The old man's eyes narrowed in a flash of panic, realizing he was trapped with no way out."This is it!" he snarled, brandishing his blade and lunging forward.How
With a thunderous explosion of energy, Blood Rakshasa's power surged, forcing the old man before her to stagger back in disbelief."Impossible! Have you broken through?" he gasped, steadying himself, his face a mask of astonishment."You bet I have!" Blood Rakshasa's face lit up with triumph.She had done it, just as the old man had surmised. Amid her swordplay, she felt a dormant core energy within her erupt, catapulting her to the zenith of martial knight at peak mastery stage.Master Howard's words rang in her head. The core energy left in her by a once-mighty warrior was too much to absorb at once. Back in that cave, she only managed a minor mastery in martial knight. However, Howard had predicted further advancements, and he was right."Let's see if you can handle a few more of my strikes!" Blood Rakshasa challenged, her spirit soaring not just from her newfound strength but also from a deeper connection to her swordsmanship."Bring it on!" the old man bellowed, his blade re