Witnessing this dramatic scene, everyone was left speechless and stunned.Byron felt his heart almost jump out of his chest.Damn! This was more thrilling than a movie!Indeed, art imitated life, but reality always surpassed art!Felix was furious to the point of exploding. "Scoundrels! Throw them into the river!"His men effortlessly carried Gus away despite the latter’s protests, and silenced him with a slap that shattered his teeth. Then, they proceeded to mutilate him, breaking his limbs and even cutting off his tongue. The once formidable Gus was instantly reduced to a helpless wreck.Wendy was now truly frightened. She crawled desperately to Felix's feet, crying pitifully, "Felix, I was just confused! I still love you! Can't we talk this over? It was all Gus's fault! He violated me!"This seemingly affectionate couple was now faced with a terrifying ordeal.Felix's eyes blazed with rage. With a sudden, forceful motion, he threw her to the ground. "You damn bitch! Is it
"Mr. Gold, what's going on?" Frederick couldn't help but ask when he saw Felix raging.Felix's face was grim. "One of the livestreamers we've been long cooperating with suddenly backed out and went to promote for our competitor. This not only wastes the upfront promotional costs, but also will cast a negative shadow on our company. The estimated loss is probably in the tens of millions!"Money didn't grow on trees for anyone. Even though Felix was extremely wealthy, losing tens of millions was never good news."Go! Get a lawyer! I'll bankrupt that livestreamer!" Felix fumed with rage.Byron couldn't help but advise, "Felix, isn't that livestreamer one of the top anchors in Aston? They have millions of followers. It could become a huge headache for you if they decide to turn against you and mobilize their fans! Besides, lawsuits are complicated and involve greasing a lot of palms. They're time-consuming, costly, and draining. By the time it's over, who knows how long it'll take!"S
"Also, I can advance 30% of the deposit to you first. We can sign a collaboration for up to ten years. I just want your company's exclusive representation and priority cooperation rights," Felix said convincingly.However, Frederick shook his head with a smile. "Is it too little?" Felix suddenly felt embarrassed. Upon careful consideration, he realized he had been a bit stingy.Although Frederick's company was just starting out in the livestreaming industry, with its current momentum, it was destined to become a giant in e-commerce in the future.Yet here Felix was, trying to secure a ten-year exclusivity deal based on the conditions they had made with a ten-million-fan livestreamer.Frederick would be a fool to agree."If you think it's too little, we can continue negotiating, Mr. Lester. We can temporarily offer you 1.5 million for the pit fee, and double it later!" Felix said earnestly. It was their first collaboration, after all, and he had some reservations.But Frederic
"Ahem! That won't be necessary. We're just a startup, and don't quite have that capability..." Frederick declined politely, coughing. Although Aerowind Enterprise was growing rapidly, it was ultimately still a small-scale company. Even with so many orders, they didn't have the capacity to handle such a large load.Felix chuckled heartily, patting his belly. "There's no rush! Rome wasn't built in a day! I believe Aerowind Enterprise will grow into that capability someday."Byron added cheerfully, "Here's to our partnership!" The three raised their glasses in unison.After a few rounds of drinks, Felix and Frederick agreed to sign the contract early the next morning. As a gesture of goodwill, Felix promised substantial support from his industries under his name to Aerowind Enterprise.Despite earlier support from Prospera Corporation, which was based in a third-tier city, it paled in comparison to the resources Felix could offer as a titan in the industry.Frederick wasted no ti
"The vice captain of the Dragon Brigade?!"Upon hearing these words, everyone present turned pale with shock. Even their souls were trembling in fear."Hayden Stone was once the strongest in Aston State! He's the second most powerful figure in the Dragon Brigade!""I heard he single-handedly annihilated the Four Terror Kings who tried to ambush him! Each Terror King had the strength of an Emeritus Grandmaster!""Last year, at the Nine Great Ascension Clans' banquet, almost all the major clans and powers of the state attended, including the state governor himself!"But Hayden arrived half an hour late wearing slippers! He didn't even bring a gift!"And you know what? The Nine Great Ascension Clans didn't dare to make a peep! They postponed the banquet for him by half an hour!"The crowd was astonished and horrified. Hayden was indeed a legendary figure in Aston State! Rumors had it that he had never been defeated in thousands of battles."Hayden, why...have you returned here?" B
Hayden laughed again, but this time without anger. "Impressive indeed! The first time I've seen a young man like you!"There was a hint of admiration in his eyes."Proud, domineering, and powerful," Hayden remarked leisurely. "To kill someone like you would actually be a bit regretful for me."Frederick signaled with his eyes. Byron, clutching his chest, quickly left the scene. Then, Frederick turned to Hayden."I've already told your people before. I won't stay in Centropolis. I'll leave within a month. If you agree to this, everyone will be happy. If not, then we'll just have to fight."Hayden smiled knowingly. "Although the order from above is to expel you from Centropolis, there's room for negotiation.""I won't join the Dragon Brigade, as I've said before," Frederick said expressionlessly. If compromising meant joining the Dragon Brigade to avoid conflict, it would be better to go all out."Besides joining the Dragon Brigade, there's another way to save yourself," Hayden
Upon hearing Frederick's mocking words, Hayden's smile froze. His fury erupted like a volcano, and overwhelming anger consumed him."It seems you've chosen your own way to die!" Hayden gritted his teeth, his face darkening. The overwhelming pressure suddenly intensified."Wait!" Frederick said. "If you've changed your mind and want to beg for mercy, it's too late!" Hayden hissed disdainfully.Hayden was already easily offended, and sensitive to criticism. Being provoked like this ultimately ignited the murderous intent in his heart!"I'm not begging for mercy. What I mean is... Let's play a game!" Frederick grinned. "I'll give you twenty minutes. I won't attack during these twenty minutes. If you manage to touch me even once within that time, just once, I'll admit defeat. You can kill or torture me however you want!"Hayden's face turned as cold. He couldn't contain his rage. Frederick had crossed the line!"You think you can survive twenty minutes? I only need a minute to turn
Frederick stared indifferently at Hayden's lifeless body, and sighed softly."You didn't have to die, you know," Fredrick said. He didn't want to fall out with the Dragon Brigade completely, so he spared those two members earlier, hoping to keep things civil for the future. But Hayden pushed his luck, acting arrogant and overstepping his bounds. He had crossed the line!"Do you really think everyone lets you off because they can't beat you and fear you? You're mistaken," Frederick sneered coldly. "It's not you they fear, Hayden, but the Dragon Brigade behind you. Behind the Dragon Brigade is the court. And behind the court is the emperor of Drakonia. It's because you never understood your place that you ended up like this."After reflecting for a moment, Frederick suddenly felt disinterested. He decided not to celebrate with Jasmine, and instead headed home to get some rest. As for whether the Dragon Brigade would seek revenge, he couldn't care less. He was the Dark Monarch. A
Heston was still scoffing when he received a call from Giovanni.He was taken aback, and he nervously glanced at Frederick. 'No way…'The moment he picked up the phone, he got a torrent of scolding.Meanwhile, a bloody power struggle was underway in the Imperial Capital.After the Conservatives took down Woody, their ambition surged. They now aimed to dismantle the entire Radicals faction. Though the Radicals had already compromised in the Woody affair, they were taken aback by the Conservatives' greed and refused to back down any further.A fierce conflict broke out between the two sides, quickly escalating into open warfare. The entire Imperial Capital was placed under lockdown, with martial law in effect. Gunfire and smoke filled the air as both sides clashed, and the violence soon spread across Drakonia. Armies from all regions were mobilized, and a war was about to erupt. At this critical moment, the First Elder woke up.Years ago, after deposing the Dark Monarch of
Senspiras, located in the southeast of Drakonia, was also a neighboring country of Drakonia. It also has the largest population of overseas Drakonians. Many of the wealthy families in Senspiras migrated from Drakonia within the past century or two. The current richest man in Senspiras was one such example."Is Mr. Stone your father?" Frederick raised an eyebrow and asked."Looks like you've got some sense! Name your price!" Heston smirked, and pulled out a checkbook.Frederick's expression darkened."Your dad's assets are not even enough to wipe my shoes. Who do you think you are, pretending to be a big shot? Get lost!"Frederick quickly realized that Heston was just a spoiled brat who would throw money around bullying people. Since he wasn't much of a real threat, Frederick wasn't bothered by dealing with him. Upon hearing Frederick's words, Heston was stunned. "Are you out of your mind? My dad is the richest man in Senspiras! How dare you belittle him?" “So what? Your enti
Sylvia had so many questions. She wanted to know what Frederick had been doing to provoke such dangerous enemies. She wanted to know if Frederick had really killed a hundred people. She wanted to understand how her son had gained such abilities. And most of all, she wondered if Frederick had been living this kind of disturbing life all these years."Mom, we'll talk about it when we get home," Frederick said, gently lifting Sylvia and leaving the company.On the way, Frederick lightly tapped on Sylvia's head, and she quickly fell unconscious. He had used a special method to erase part of her memory.When they arrived home, Sylvia slowly woke up."Fred! Why are you suddenly home?" Sylvia exclaimed in surprise when she saw Frederick."I'm about to go on a long trip, so I came to visit. Why are you sleeping on the couch instead of in your room?" Frederick smiled.Sylvia sat up from the couch, feeling a bit stiff and sore."I was talking to your sister on the phone. How did I
"Yes, it was me. If no one managed to escape, the entire Steinfields family—except for children under sixteen and elders over seventy—should be dead by now," Frederick said with a smirk.If he didn't deter the Steinfields with a show of force, others might try the same methods against him in the future.Hearing this, Kaizer's face went blank and terror filled his eyes. At that moment, Frederick's phone rang. It was Melanie calling. Frederick answered, and put the call on speaker. "How did it go? Tell me, so Kaizer here can hear," Frederick said."There were a hundred and seventy-three Steinfields. Fifty-two were children and elders. The remaining hundred have all been executed!" Melanie reported. Kaizer spat out a mouthful of blood in shock. "No way! We're the Steinfields! The Steinfields of Imperial Capital! How could this happen?"In a panic, Kaizer fumbled with his phone, trying to call his family. However, every call he made went unanswered."You'll find out for sure onc
"Let her go!"A sharp voice rang out.Kaizer instinctively turned around, and he was stunned by Nella's beauty. He couldn't believe someone like her existed."Nella, why did you come down?" Jasmine called out, her eyes widened in panic. She had specifically told them not to come down.Nella trembled in fear. "Ms. Smith, we were worried about you!"Though she was terrified, she still stepped forward. She couldn't just stand by and watch Jasmine get assaulted."Well, well, Frederick sure is lucky with women. But now, they're all mine. Who would've thought that I'd be blessed with a feast before leaving Drakonia!" Kaizer was practically drooling.He let go of Jasmine, and rushed toward Nella eagerly. Nella backed away step by step, but soon found herself cornered."Haha, come to me!" Kaizer spread his arms wide, lunging toward Nella.Just as he was about to grab her, a thunderous crash shook the room. The outer wall of the building crumbled down.Frederick had burst through it a
Meanwhile, Frederick had just gotten off the plane. As soon as he turned on his phone, he saw a long list of missed calls from Selene.He immediately felt uneasy. Selene would never call him so many times unless something urgent had happened.He was about to call her back when his phone rang again.Frederick answered Selene's call quickly, but before he could ask anything, Selene's tearful voice came through."Fred, Mom's been kidnapped!"Frederick's face darkened instantly, and his killing aura surged."Alright. Don't worry, Mom will be fine."With that, Frederick hung up the phone; he then immediately called Melanie, who was still in the Imperial Capital, lazily lounging in bed."Do you have any intelligence on the Steinfields in the Imperial Capital?" Frederick asked through gritted teeth.He didn't need much thought to figure out who was behind this. There was hardly anyone left in Mirage City bold enough to cross him, except for Kaizer. And now, Sylvia had been kidnapped
When the elevator doors opened, Jasmine stepped out into the lobby.Kaizer's eyes lit up as he eyed her from head to toe. Though he had seen pictures of her before, she was more of an eye candy in person. Kaizer, holding his rifle, approached her. "Ms. Smith, you certainly kept me waiting!""What do you want with me?" Jasmine asked coldly. She knew that showing fear or vulnerability would only embolden these lawless men."Ms. Smith, why don't you take a guess?" Kaizer reached for Jasmine and lifted her chin with the barrel of his gun, forcing her to look at him.Jasmine met his gaze without a hint of fear."Is it money you want? The company has ten million in cash reserves. You can take it, and I guarantee I won't call the police. We can pretend nothing ever happened as long as no one is hurt. As for the funds in the company’s accounts, you wouldn’t be able to take it even if I transfer the money to you with today’s financial systems," Jasmine spoke calmly."Ms. Smith, you're q
Bang!With a loud crash, the door was violently kicked open. Kaizer and his men stormed into Frederick’s place.Sylvia was startled, and she shouted, "What do you guys want?" "We're here to kidnap you!" Kaizer strode toward Sylvia. Then, he snatched away her phone and crushed it."Tie her up and take her away!" Kaizer and his men acted quickly. Selene, on the other end of the video call, was shocked by the strangers. Fortunately, she was still on alert. She quickly tried to call Frederick while shaking with fear. However, Frederick’s phone was off since he was on a flight."How’s everything going on your end?" Kaizer asked his men over the phone."We’ve rigged all four walls of Aerowind Enterprise with high-powered explosives. Once we detonate them, the whole building will turn to ashes," his subordinate reported.A smile finally appeared on Kaizer’s face. "Good, I’m heading over now." Soon, Kaizer arrived at Aerowind Enterprise with a backpack."I want to see Ms. Sm
Upon hearing Frederick’s words, Woody stumbled. "Take him away!" one of the senior officials from the Supervision Department ordered.The respected elder of the Drakonia Royal Court, Woody, was escorted away along with the evidence and witnesses."After today, the Lamberts will cease to exist, and you're finally free." Frederick sighed in relief, and smiled at Easton.Easton looked slightly lost. He wasn’t sure what to do next with his sudden freedom. "What's wrong? Struggling to find a new purpose in life?" Frederick teased.Easton nodded, and replied, "Yeah, my ambitions have been completely worn down these three years. I feel a bit aimless.""Should I find you a job?" Frederick suggested casually."It’s best if I could work for you, Mr. Lester!" Easton’s eyes lit up with excitement."I have a pharmaceutical company under me. If you're interested, you could take the position of Chief of Biomedical Engineering," Frederick said jokingly. To his surprise, Easton was genuinely