"Do you know where she might have gone?" Frederick sensed something was off.Selene hesitated, and said, "She works at a modeling agency. Mostly photoshoots and runway shows. It's not usually dangerous… Oh, but the agency is known for having lots of beautiful models. The owner is a rich playboy who often takes them to parties. But she always messages me if she's doing something like that.""You stay here. I'll go find her!" Frederick said, concern growing as he listened. The agency sounded less than reputable, and the private lives of models could be chaotic.As Frederick put on his coat and prepared to leave, Selene suddenly cried, "Fred! Fred!"Frederick's expression changed, and he immediately asked, "What happened?""I was just scrolling on my phone and saw...people are sharing this online..." Selene's breathing was rapid, and she looked terrified."What are they sharing?" Frederick asked, his concern deepening.With shaking hands, Selene handed over her phone. The s
"So I’m telling you, it’s pointless! Why make such a fuss?" the receptionist grumbled, still shaken.Frederick ignored her complaints. Smiling, he said, "Thank you."Golden Princess? He remembered it was one of Byron's properties. If that was the case, getting Byron involved would make retrieving Laura easier. Whether the video was real or not, ensuring her safety was paramount.As he headed to Golden Princess Paradise, Selene called him."Fred, Laurie’s back! The video is fake! She said someone just edited it! And she said she made an excuse to leave early. No one hurt her." Her voice was filled with relief.Frederick felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "Good. I'll head back now."But after hanging up, he sensed something was wrong. He could tell if a video was edited. That video had real elements, especially certain features of Laura's body, like the two moles on her butt. He had noticed them when he helped clean her up last night, and they matched perfectly.'If that’s tr
"I didn't realize she was saying her last words! It's all my fault! I'm so stupid! So useless!" Selene cried, slapping her own face in anguish and guilt.Frederick grabbed her arms, and tried to calm her down. "Selly, this isn't your fault! It's not your responsibility. It's...those people." His eyes burned with fury at the thought of those who had harmed Laura. The murderous rage he felt was overwhelming, a feeling he had only experienced twice before: once when Jennifer was sold to the Crimson Robe Society, and now.Selene wiped her tears, and said vehemently, "Fred, let's call the police! Let the law punish them!" Frederick smiled bitterly, and gently pinched her cheek. "My naive sister, this is Centropolis. Here, the law doesn't touch the powerful."Determination etched on his face, he declared, "I'm going to handle this my own way."Selene gasped. "What are you planning to do?"Frederick didn't answer. He walked over to Laura's body, gently closed her lifeless eyes, and s
Frederick glanced at Jasmine, remaining unmoved. He reached out, and gave her bottom a firm squeeze."Stop messing around. I have serious matters to discuss," he said sternly.Jasmine's body jolted as if shocked, almost letting out a gasp. Her eyes widened as she glared at Frederick. But then, she saw that his face was darker than usual, and his eyes were as cold as ice.Her expression turned serious, and she followed him into the office."What's going on?" she asked.Frederick got straight to the point. "Do you know Kelvin Thompson?" Being part of the elite circle in Centropolis, Jasmine had a much broader network than an outsider like Phoenix. If there was a breakthrough to be found, it would be through her.Jasmine was surprised. "Kelvin Thompson? Of course I know him! He's a spoiled rich kid and a typical playboy! His private life is a mess. I've heard he's ruined quite a few college girls.""He's been living it up these past few years, using his family money to start a mo
The next evening at eight o'clock, at Golden Princess Paradise, a group of wealthy heirs gathered. They were singing and dancing, surrounded by a blaze of lights and the allure of fine wine."Mr. Thompson’s here!""Mr. Thompson, you're as impressive as ever!""Of course, being a noble, the blood in your veins is different from us commoners!"As Kelvin the earl's son arrived, the suckups quickly stood up to flatter him. He was dressed in a sharp suit, his arms covered in elaborate tattoos, and he was strikingly handsome.He pulled out a box of cigarettes, generously handing them out. "These are a special palace supply my father brought back from the Imperial Capital. You can't buy these anywhere else! Come on, don't be shy. Try the same cigarettes the nobles in the Imperial Capital smoke! And remember—everything tonight, food and drinks, is on me!""Mr. Thompson, you're so generous!" the group cheered, gathering around him as he took the central seat.Kelvin smirked, and declared
"It's not about doubting you. I check everyone who spends time with me. Those people out there were checked as well," Kelvin hurriedly explained. "Better safe than sorry, right? Ms. Smith, why are you so upset? Could it be that...""Could it be what?" Jasmine interrupted with a cold laugh, stretching out her arms. "Go ahead, check. As a noble, it's only right to satisfy your curiosity."Kelvin looked a bit embarrassed, but reluctantly began to pat her down. He quickly skimmed over her body, avoiding only the most private areas. There really was nothing!With a cautious smile, he said, "Ms. Smith, my apologies! I truly misjudged you. How about this: all your expenses within a five-kilometer radius tonight are on me. Even if you max out your card, it's no problem! Consider it my way of making amends."Jasmine smiled sweetly. "Kelvin, do you take me for a gold digger?"With that, she silently moved closer to him, placing her delicate hand on his waist. "Originally, I was thinking..
"Jasmine! You little...!" Kelvin's rage was palpable.Jasmine interrupted calmly, "I'm not interested in your foul language. Right now, I have the recordings and videos."I can accuse you of sexually assaulting young women. Even as a noble, you'd face serious charges! Even if I can't get you prosecuted, what you tried to do to me tonight is already considered assault. If I go public, it'll create a scandal that will rock the entire elite circle!"Her words were sharp and powerful, cutting straight to the point.Kelvin froze for a couple of seconds before bursting into laughter. "Jasmine, do you know what I love most about you? Your fierce spirit! It's so rare! Playing with ordinary women is just a physical thrill, but with you, there's also a mental conquest! That's what I crave the most!"Jasmine's face darkened instantly. "Even when you're cornered, you still put on that smug act? If I expose this, your family will ground you for at least a year, and your reputation will be
"Go ahead then, jump that metaphoric wall!" Kelvin taunted, showing no fear. "You're a young prodigy with a bright future, Jasmine. Would you really dare to die with me?"His words struck a nerve. Jasmine's face turned ashen. She gritted her teeth, and her body shook uncontrollably.Kelvin propped his chin on his hand, smiling slyly. "Still trying to threaten me? If you want to play, I'm game. Don't think I wouldn't dare to touch you just because you're a high-born heiress. Anger me, and I won't show any mercy! Not even your family can protect you then!"Jasmine's features twisted in fury. "I've never seen someone so...""Kneel!" Kelvin interrupted coldly, not wasting any more words.Jasmine felt a chill spread through her body and an overwhelming sense of suffocation. She had no choice but to kneel in humiliation.Kelvin chuckled. "You're so obedient! It wouldn't have come to this if you'd been this compliant earlier. Now, strip!" he commanded, his voice leaving no room for
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