Hogs was pacing around in his room, waiting anxiously for Queenie and her parents' return.Jezebiah said, "Don't worry, Dad. She'll come back."Hogs harrumphed and snatched up a cigarette. He inhaled deeply. "It's odd. They want to buy our company, so why do they ask Queenie to be the one to sign? I don't understand.""Me neither," Jezebiah said. "By all accounts, that girl shouldn't even have the opportunity to get in touch with Alexander. She even made up a lie about that bastard being Alexander's godson.""True, but why did Empire Corp come for her twice, then?"Jezebiah rubbed his chin. "Maybe Alexander took a liking to her, Dad."That thought was ludicrous. "He's taken a liking to her?" Hogs was stunned."Yeah. I've heard some stories. Rich guys love pretty and innocent girls. Especially naive ladies like Queenie. And she's a virgin, too."Hogs' eyes shone. "You have a point. No, wait, that must be it.""Her personality is rotten, but she's a top-tier beauty. I bet Alexan
The Empire Corp's team came in the afternoon. Ferguson was in the lead as usual, and he was followed by Mr. Larson and a team of eight bodyguards.Hogs led his family to welcome Ferguson. Queenie was tailing along. When Ferguson saw her, he smiled. "Ms. Sanders, we meet again."Queenie thought Ferguson was a nice person. She smiled. "Hello, sir."Fearing any sudden change, Hogs quickly said, "Mr. Laws, now that my niece is here, can we proceed with the signing of the contract?"Ferguson nodded. "Naturally." He beckoned at Mr. Larson.Mr. Larson came up to Queenie, bearing the purchase contract. He handed a pen to her. "Sign here, and the contract will come into effect immediately."Queenie took the pen and went through the contract.Hogs urged, "What are you waiting for? Just sign it."Jezebiah's eyes were shining with passion. Queenie's parents were staring at their daughter. Fifteen million for a dying company was something they never thought was possible, but here it was.A
Queenie froze. "There's more?" She wondered what it could be.The Sanderses were terrified. They thought the Empire Corp would go back on their word.Mr. Larson smiled. "This is a takeover contract. Sign it, and you'll be the boss of Sanders Pharmaceuticals."Everyone inhaled sharply. Jezebiah, Hogs, and Queenie's parents were petrified. Even Queenie thought she was hearing things. "I beg your pardon?""Sign it, and you'll be taking over Sanders Pharmaceuticals.""I'm going to do what?" Queenie was close to screaming.Mr. Larson was still smiling. "You'll do exactly what you heard. Mr. Weeks' orders. This purchase is done for your sake. Of course, you'll be handling the company."Hogs, Jezebiah, and Queenie's parents exclaimed. 'What? The Empire Corp is handing over the company to Queenie?' they screamed in their minds.Queenie got the gist of it, and her eyes went wide. "You bought the company just to give it to me?""Yes, it is as you say, Ms. Sanders," Mr. Larson answered.
"Don't just stand there, girl. Sign the papers and thank them!" George gushed. He could feel his heart beating so fast that it could leap out of his chest.Even Yvette said, "Sign the papers, Queenie. Sign them."Jezebiah and Hogs were jealous. They did not expect the Empire Corp to pull this move. Queenie, however, did not sign right away.She held the pen dumbly, staring at the papers before her. Everything felt so unreal, as if it was a dream. Queenie had no idea what to do.Her parents were starting to get fidgety over her indecisive attitude. What they wouldn't give to take her place and sign the papers for her.If the contract went through, they'd get their company back just like that, and they would get Empire Corp's backing, too. Anyone else would've signed the papers right away.Everyone was waiting with bated breath, but Queenie turned her eyes to Nox. "Nono." She had no idea why she would think of him right now.Nox approached her.Queenie blurted, "Should I sign the
They did make a small fortune from the deal, but it was nothing compared to the partnership with Empire Corp and the absolute fortune of a starting fund. Jealousy would bring them nowhere, however. Queenie was the owner of the company now, not them."Congratulations, George. Your daughter got herself a great connection. The richest man in Riverton, no less." It was a lie. Hogs was filled to the brim with dismay and hatred.George knew very well the congratulatory remark was fake. "You can save the congratulatory remarks. I just want our company to get back on its feet." He then turned to Yvette. "Where's Queenie?""In her room with that guy," said Yvette."She's still with that charlatan? Really? After all that's happened? Ridiculous. We're talking to her." And George went to Queenie.…Queenie was in her exquisite room. While everyone else was over the moon, she alone looked brooding. Queenie rested her chin on her hands, staring ahead blankly. By her side were Nox and Blackshar
Once in the study, George closed the door and happily held his daughter's hand. "Queenie, take a seat. Let's have a chat."Queenie sat with her father quietly.George dragged a stool and sat with his daughter. "Tell me, Queenie. How'd you get to know Alexander?""I don't know Alexander," said Queenie honestly."You don't? That's not possible. Tell me the truth, Queenie. How'd you hook up with Empire Corp?" George didn't believe his daughter."Dad, I swear I don't have any connections with Empire Corp. And I don't know Alexander.""Really?""Yeah."Now that befuddled George. "If that's the case, why are they so generous to you? They even made you the owner of Sanders Pharmaceuticals. That company is worth tens of millions."Queenie shook her head. "To be honest, I have no idea why they're doing this."George could see Queenie wasn't lying, and he was at a loss for words. He wondered, 'They bought Sanders Pharmaceuticals at a price far beyond what the market is offering, and th
Queenie argued, "Dad, I'll say this once again. I can fall in love with whoever I want. I can date whoever I want, and it's none of your business. If you're still going to control me like you used to, Nox and I will leave this place right away."Since Queenie was starting to get mad, George had no choice but to hold it in. "Calm down, Queenie. I'm doing this for your own good."Queenie was still displeased. George added, "Fine. If you want to keep him around, keep him around. But before we find out who he really is, you're not taking this relationship any further. Understand?""Yeah, yeah.""Good."And they reached an agreement about Nox's stay."Now that you're the boss of our company, you should check things out tomorrow. We need to assuage the workers," George said.Queenie nodded. "Okay."…Nox stayed in the Sanders Residence that night. His room was near Queenie's, and Queenie had Blackshark stay with him."Just make yourself at home. I'm right next door if you need me."
When Queenie woke up the next morning, she found her room to be freezing. "It's just October. What's with the cold snap?" She flinched a little and got out of bed.The sun was glaring overhead, but for some reason, she found a layer of frost sticking to her window. "The weather's certainly going haywire," Queenie muttered, though she was unperturbed.She approached Nox's room and knocked on his door, but no one took it. A smile curled her lips. "He's sleeping well." She decided to leave Nox alone.Queenie freshened herself up and got changed. Her parents, Hogs, and Jezebiah were in the great hall, waiting for her. When she showed up, George quickly approached her."Finally awake. We've been waiting.""You could've slept in." Queenie entered the great hall."Did you forget? It's your first day taking over the company. We're taking you there to check things out."Queenie grunted."It's getting late. We should move out now," suggested George.Queenie wanted to bring Nox along, bu
"Tell them to eat shit, guys! We're taking this for ourselves, and if they pull anything funny, we're taking them out!" one of the swordsmen's leaders shouted, and his comrades agreed."Dammit, the bastards. We're going in as well! We got orders from the Shadow Division. If they attack us, they're traitors!" The sects' cultivators gnashed their teeth. The soldiers were stunned. Their people were fighting among themselves even when the mission hadn't begun.It was ridiculous to fight over who would get the credit. Then, someone inside the governor's estate came out with their hands held high. The swordsmen and cultivators were about to move, but a general said, "Hold it! I'm the commanding officer here! I'll talk to him!"He strode ahead. At the same time, hundreds of guns were trained on the alleged remnant of the Olympians. The general looked at the man and asked solemnly, "You don't look like an Olympian. Are you a Faeast citizen?"The man nodded. The general asked, "The Mousses?
At the same time, the captain of the squad that arrived first on the scene asked his chief, "Chief, the governor's still in there. Should we—"The general shot him with a glare. "Governor? He is no longer a Faeastian governor, and we don't negotiate with foreign enemies. He has a duty to protect his nation and sacrifice for it!"The captain nodded. Faeast's rise to power could not be stopped, especially now. The remnants thought they could threaten Faeast just because they got one hostage. It was a joke. Then, the swordsmen came on their flying swords. The soldiers couldn't believe what they were seeing."I can sense them. They're inside, and they only have one hostage. Probably the governor." The swordsmen came down and greeted the generals. The generals greeted back."We're counting on you."The swordsmen were about to go inside, but then they sensed more aura coming in. "More? No, they're Faeast's cultivators. Finally revealing themselves?" The swordsmen looked around, their w
"I'll mobilize the Shadow Division. We are to take them down," said Keith. They had some Magic Mountain swordsmen nearby. These people demanded to come to Imperia to fight, and now they could be used for this operation.The swordsmen were drinking away at a barbecue shop and complaining about the situation when the news hit them. "The guys who fought in Imperia got a lecture from the founder and got more power from that, but we get nothing at all?"They were a little frustrated, and then through the news, they saw news about the attack on the governor's estate. Just when they were wondering if it might be the work of the Olympians' remnants, Keith's call came."I need you to take out the bastards at the governor's estate. Take no prisoners! If you can save the governor, save him. If you can't, too bad. But if they have taken any civilian hostage, don't act hastily."The swordsmen were excited. "Don't worry about it, kid. Unless they have a Pinnacle Legend Realm with them, they're n
That was blasphemy. They were both Saints, and he was more powerful than Voltaic, yet he was insulted. "You bastard! Don't look down on me! I'm the leader of the Sect Alliance! I'll make you pay!"Tremeus had never been insulted before. He was one of the best cultivators in the world, after all. Flames erupted from his soul, and they crashed into Voltaic. Towering waves flew high into the air. The battle between a saintly swordsman and a powerhouse of the path of the martial was underway."Tremeus is putting in his all. If Voltaic hadn't won in his earlier fight, he might be defeated, but he did win, and his understanding of swordsmanship deepened. His aura's never been stronger. He might not be able to defeat Tremeus, but at least he won't fall." Dominic narrowed his eyes.Still, the outcome of this situation depended on Nox. If Nox could come out victorious, then all would be fine. If he couldn't, then not even killing Tremeus could change anything. Nox had cast all Eight Saintly
Voltaic arrived at a critical junction. Dominic suspected that he would be the powerhouse arranged for this plan. Voltaic stopped a distance away. He looked confused, and then he shouted telepathically, "Get out here, you bastard! Damn you, Aphrodite! You lured me out so you could attack Faeast? That's my homeland, you witch!"Dominic wasn't expecting this at all. "Wait, so there's someone else?" He was musing over the matter when he sensed another person's aura in the seas. "He's in the sea!" Dominic unsheathed his weapon. At the same time, Voltaic's divine sense noticed the person as well.He leaped into the seas, and then a hundred-yard ravine split open the waters a moment later. Voltaic's sword energy created a vacuum on the surface of the sea. Before him was a warrior in black, holding up the sword energy with his hand."Tremeus Lifenstein, leader of the Sect Alliance. He's a Saint too, but only his soul is intact. His life must be coming to an end, so he couldn't wait any l
"Yeah, this one's not as powerful as the ones in his tribulation, but it's no pushover either. Endure it, and she lives. Fail, and both of you die." Dominic looked at Aphrodite. "Look at her. She's smiling."Aphrodite had gotten over herself. She'd have stopped Nox if he hadn't tried to take the backlash, but now that he'd gotten himself into it, it was too late to do anything. When she'd freed herself from her chains, Aphrodite could finally be herself again.This was what she'd been waiting for. No matter the outcome, Nox had fought with her. Another lightning bolt fell out of the skies, and Nox took it head on. Only two bolts had fallen thus far, but Nox was starting to feel his strength fail.It was almost as if there was something watching from behind the vortex. It could feel Nox's strength fail, and it quickly dropped another lightning bolt."Eight Saintly Techniques!" Nox knew his body alone couldn't stop the bolts, so he quickly used his spells. However, that enraged the v
Nox dispeled the death energy and pulled Aphrodite back from the abyss."Nox!""Don't say anything. Death is easy, but living on isn't. You still owe the nation, and before you clear your debt, you are not allowed to die. Eight Saintly Techniques, Holy Revival!"That was Holy Revival. Once it became a Saintly technique, it could change fate itself. If Nox could handle the backlash, Aphrodite could survive.Dominic had been watching nearby, and he quickly flew into the Dao. "So he's made his move."Nox could save Aphrodite, but she'd run out of her lifespan. Not even he could tether that kind of person to life. It was time for the Master of Swords to make his move. "If you can handle the backlash for her, I'll use my power to prolong her life, Nox!" said Dominic telepathically.Nox glared at him. He knew the old man would save Aphrodite. That was why he came along. Aphrodite couldn't die. It would be a great loss for Faeast."Be careful, Nox. If you fail, you'll die too!" Domini
Nox nodded. "That battle was dangerous. I only got out alive through sheer luck, but to be honest, the traps after that were mediocre. I didn't even feel anything in the last few ones."After the Heaven's Cage trap, the threats from the northern battlefront, Mount Prison, and Sect Alliance did nothing for him. Aphrodite answered, "Because I relented. I hurt you and myself at the same time. Every time I tried to hit you where it hurt, I hurt myself too, so every trap after that had flaws in them. I wanted to kill you, but it only made you grow."Aphrodite smiled. She was just a maiden in love when she was dating Nox. Like regular couples, they'd banter and play games together, but those were days she couldn't go back to. Then, Aphrodite trembled, as if she could sense something. With a twisted face, she snarled, "Kill me. I want to die by your hands."It would be an honor to die at Nox's hands. She thought of herself as a warrior, and it was an honor to die in battle. She didn't want
Aphrodite almost felt like she'd found her old self back. It almost felt like she was his tactician again, and she was unstoppable back then. She could have anything she wanted. She thought she had everything under control. Everyone could be controlled, because she was smart enough to do that.And then reality gave her a big, fat slap. Without Nox, she could do nothing. "I've not done a lot of right things in my life, Nox. My grandpa's gone to the path of the martial. He's fully turned his back on Faeast," said Aphrodite. Nox's next enemy would be the path of the martial."They'll come sooner or later anyway." Nox nodded."One more thing. Amass all the power you can. Faeast hasn't survived this long all by itself. Where you stand now, you know the sacrifices of a group of people cannot fight the flow of destiny," said Aphrodite."Yes, it's thanks to the path of the ancient divine. It began in Faeast, and they wouldn't let the path of the martial do anything stupid," said Nox. The p