"Damn you. It's a surprise seeing you here, but you're not escaping me this time." A venomous smile curled Silas' lips.He had nothing but hatred for Queenie. Ever since Nox brutalized him, Silas had carried a grudge, but his men were no match for Nox, so he'd been holding the grudge in and letting it fester.Now, he finally saw his chance. And then, honks ripped through the air. A trio of military Hummers were charging over to the pier.The tourists gasped."Those are Zone: Draco's cars.""Zone: Draco's soldiers are joining the ball too? Whoa."The Hummers stopped, and a dozen armed soldiers in uniform leaped out of the vehicles. And then, a lieutenant colonel came out. He was burly and tanned. His face was almost purplish-bronze.A terrifying aura swirled around him. This man was Rivera Joshton, the representative of Zone: Draco for the ball.Gold, Silas, and his bodyguards approached him. Gold, especially, was excited. "Rivera, you're finally back."Rivera called out to his
Zone: Draco was an important part of Riverton. Silas was basking in the glory, thanks to his uncle as well.But too many guests were around, so the path ahead was blocked. Silas noticed a passage on the left side of the deck, but there was a red carpet draped on the ground, and a big group of bodyguards were standing sentry.Since there was barely anyone using that passage, Silas pointed at it. "Uncle, Dad, there's too many people here. Why don't we take that passage?"Gold and Rivera looked at the passage and nodded. They were approaching the passage, but before they could use it, a few bodyguards stepped forth."Good evening. This is a special passage, and it is not open to anyone."Silas' face fell. "Who are you to get in my uncle's way? Do you know who he is? Move."Silas wanted to barge in, but the bodyguards did not budge. "Sorry, but it's Mr. Weeks' orders. No one but our VIP is allowed entrance through this passage.""You think you have the right to stop my uncle, you cu
While Queenie was seething, a yacht was quickly zooming closer to the ship. Within the yacht were Alexander and Nox."We are here, milord." Alexander waved at the bodyguards on the SS Empire.The bodyguards saw him and opened up the secret compartment. The yacht slowed down and entered the SS Empire. A while later, Alexander, Nox, and the bodyguards came up to the special passage."Milord, I must apologize. We have confirmed the identities of all the guests at this event. General Fort did not make an appearance. Instead, he sent a lieutenant general."Nox grunted, but he didn't complain. He knew Draco all too well. The man was obsessed with the military. He'd never take his precious time to join boring events like this. And then Nox followed Alexander into the fifth floor.But Nox didn't like balls like this either, so he requested to stay in his private parlor. Alexander could understand where he was coming from. "I shall stay with you, milord."Nox waved him down. "There is no
The ball was going to officially begin. Being the organizer, Alexander had to make a speech, of course. He went onstage and took the mic.With a smile, he said, "Thank you for joining this event, friends. This ball is held with the improvement of Riverton's business world in mind. It is a platform for all of you to socialize and connect. Most importantly, it's for me to express my gratitude to my king."The guests gasped. The mention of a king surprised them."Someone has Alexander's respect and gratitude? Who could it be?""Yeah. Who's important enough for Alexander to dub him king?"The guests broke out into a discussion. Even Queenie got curious."Mr. Weeks, who is this king you speak of? Can you ask him to come out here?" some rich guy suggested.Alexander waved him down. "Sorry, but my lord is in no state to see any guests." He held up a glass of champagne and loudly announced, "He is my everything. I swear my loyalty to the king for this life and forevermore! I raise a toa
Yes, it was Queenie. The attention everyone was suddenly giving her numbed Queenie. Her eyes went wide, and she was at a loss.A beautiful usher came up to Queenie, smiling. "Ms. Sanders, please go onstage.""Me? This must be a mistake." Queenie was in stunned disbelief."You jest, Ms. Sanders. You're the top guest of Mr. Weeks tonight. This is no mistake." The usher smiled.'I am his top guest?' Queenie wondered in confusion. 'But I'm supposed to just show up, talk things out with the old git, and scoot. Why is he asking me to go onstage? In front of Riverton's rich and famous, no less? And he has a present for me? What is going on?'"Ms. Sanders, please come with me," the usher said. "Mr. Weeks is waiting."Queenie snapped out of it, but she was still at a loss. Everyone was staring at her, and she panicked. Still, she was invited, so she had to go up there.Her mind still a mush, Queenie ascended the stairs. The guests were curious, wondering who this woman was. They started
"It is Empire Corp's honor to have you here." Alexander smiled at Queenie as he approached her.Queenie was speechless. She thought, 'Is the old git mad? This is going too far, even if he's trying to woo me.'She didn't say that out loud. What she did say was something else. "Hello, Mr. Weeks. I don't think we've met before?"Alexander answered, "We have not, but your reputation precedes you.""Really? And who might be the one to mention my name?" Queenie was surprised."I apologize, but I cannot disclose that information for now," said Alexander.That confused Queenie more."But don't be nervous. As I have mentioned, you are my most esteemed guest for the evening. And to express my joy for your presence, I have prepared a gift for you." Alexander beckoned the usher over.A beautiful lady came up to the stage, holding a mysterious platter. Queenie thought Alexander was mad for giving her a present.Alexander pulled off the silk cloth, revealing a shining blue gemstone to Queen
The guests couldn't hide their envy when they saw Queenie taking Bluetear. And they also had no idea who Queenie was, nor did they know why Alexander was so generous.Rivera growled, "Is he mad? He gave that woman a billion-dollar diamond? That woman is a harlot."Gold was quiet, but there was hatred and jealousy in his eyes. That diamond alone was worth the whole of Centersea, but Alexander gave it away just like that. Of course Gold would be green with envy.Silas' gaze was dripping with venom. "You bitch. Just you wait."Finally, with Alexander giving out the diamond, the ball began. Music started to play, and the guests went back to drinking and chatting.Queenie was a nobody moments ago, but now all the guests couldn't wait to get to know her."Hello, Ms. Sanders. I work at IntegrityEstate. Pleased to meet you.""Hey, I'm from Still Good Inc. Pleased to meet you.""I raise a toast to you on behalf of Rivertonian's Company. Please, put in a good word with Mr. Weeks, Ms. San
Silas saw his father and uncle off. Then, he turned his dark gaze to the SS Empire. "You're not going anywhere, bitch," he hissed. Silas then made a call.…Back in the hall, Queenie was still dealing with all the guests toasting her. She didn't want to drink, but with everyone raising a toast, she had to keep taking sips. Eventually, her cheeks were red, and her mind was fuzzy.She said, "Sorry, everyone. Please excuse me." She ran into the restroom and looked into the mirror. A reflection of her, red as an apple, stared back. Queenie splashed her face with ice-cold water."I can't stay here any longer. Gotta scoot," she said. "But what about Alexander? I don't get to meet him every day. I can't let this misunderstanding go on any longer. He even gave me this diamond."She took out Bluetear, but Queenie wasn't happy at all. A frown furrowed her brows, her eyes still fixed on the gemstone. She sighed. "This doesn't belong to me. I cannot take it."Queenie stuffed the diamond back
Black Tortoise was in a hurry to take the Greenshades back to Imperia, while Daniel thought, 'He's still not perceptive enough. He still doesn't understand why I pleaded for the soldiers.' Sparing these soldiers meant sparing Aphrodite.Daniel knew his son all too well. He was Nox's father, after all. Nox was a loyal man, to his country, to his lover, to his friends, to his family. Nox would save Aphrodite the moment he met her. He couldn't let her die, after all.They were about to leave, but then two balls of powerful auras appeared in Black Tortoise's divine sense. "Someone's here!" The Greenshades noticed the commotion. They wondered if it was an ambush.A feral human came crashing into the cruise ship and tore through the deck until he landed in front of the group. Then, a crimson bird flew all the way down. They were Vermilion Bird and White Tiger."Hello, Daniel!" White Tiger grinned and gave Daniel a bear hug. Decorum was not his strength."White Tiger, that's the lord's f
The Four Great Generals were Nox's brothers, so they were also like family to the Greenshades."You could've been less blunt about it. Even if he doesn't have long to live, Nox can give him enough elixirs to prolong his life by a few decades," said Claude."Besides, the elixirs we took had sacred beast essence in them. You guys have the Yang sacred beast essence. Your blood can dispel the elixir's power and prolong our lives a little," added Winston."Sorry," said Black Tortoise, and he was about to kneel."Hold it right there. It wasn't meant to be an admonishment. You're a Great General and Faeast's guardian. You are the hope of the current generation. I will not allow you to kneel to anyone, not even me." Daniel was really mad this time. He thought, 'He's a Great General. At least have some dignity.'Black Tortoise was confused. 'What do they want me to do?'"None can stop Faeast's rise to power. Even Aphrodite knows that, so you must as well. She has repaid her family for rai
Daniel's body was filled with ice energy, and it couldn't be released. The energy was buried deep in his body. Divine sense couldn't even see it. Daniel wasn't the only one. The other Greenshades were suffering the same symptoms as well.The squad leader answered, "We do not know, General. The mistress didn't tell us anything about this." The other members teared up, and they bowed to the furious Black Tortoise.Daniel stirred and chided, "Black Tortoise, you are a Great General and the calmest among the quartet. Even if we and your lord are dead, you must remain calm, do you hear me? This is nothing!""But Mr. Greenshade…""You do not know Aphrodite at all. She wishes to be a legendary tactician and a modern legend. Even if she is evil, she knows there's a line she shouldn't cross!" said Daniel. He then explained the truth to Black tortoise.Aphrodite captured the Greenshades, so Daniel gave up his resistance. Though he was already a Supreme, Aphrodite could still get him killed
"Though you have committed the crime of treason, as long as you safely escort your charge and make enough noise, Faeast will not punish you. They need to make sure their image is upheld, after all," said Black Tortoise. That was why he was annoyed. Aphrodite no longer had the advantage, yet she still pulled one last gambit."What about the mistress, General? She said she has a plan. She no longer needs our protection, so does that mean…" The leader realized something. Their mistress was going to die, so she didn't need them anymore."She finally did one thing right, and it was right before her death. Pity it's too late for regrets." Black Tortoise snorted. He had no idea that Nox was risking his life to save Aphrodite. He thought Nox was going to kill the witch.And now the other suicide squad members realized that their mistress was dying. She sent them back home and set up one final play so they could survive. The members cried for their mistress, and the leader bawled. He pulled
Nox told Black Tortoise about how Aphrodite has sent her men to escort the Greenshades back to Imperia. Black Tortoise had just taken out Poseidon's troops on Eropa's coast. His wounds were all thanks to Poseidon. After killing him, Black Tortoise went back to Faeast and traveled to Seacoast as fast as he could.And now he was facing these suicide squad members. Aphrodite's most loyal men were her bodyguards, and they were all ex-Nox Army people. Nox ordered them to remain perfectly loyal to Aphrodite and carry out all her orders.Back then, he and Aphrodite were the perfect match, but then she betrayed him, much to everyone's shock. Even after she betrayed the country, these people still thought she did it on purpose, so they followed her lead. And then they realized that Aphrodite had betrayed the nation for real.The bodyguards couldn't turn back anymore. The only thing they could do was follow Nox's orders. After the incident of Nox's apparent death and Aphrodite's own exile, th
Then, a voice boomed, "If anything happens, I'll handle it!"Everyone looked shocked, and they turned their attention to the newcomer. It was a wounded man, and he was slowly approaching them. The air around him was thick with bloodlust, as if he'd just returned from a bloody battlefield. Everyone bowed to him, and the fanaticism in their eyes was almost palpable. The air was electric.The people captured videos of this scene and posted them online. Some of the sharper guys recognized the newcomer immediately. The generals were bowing to the man, including the one talking to the Mousses' guy. He quickly approached the newcomer.Even the Mousses' guy was looking at the newcomer fervently. Out of habit, he bowed to the incoming man. "General Black Tortoise."The soldiers were stunned. They might not be part of the Nox Army, but they were the military, so they had the right to bow to Black Tortoise. 'But you're just a traitor. You're insulting the Great General!'Black Tortoise seeme
"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