Ivan stood on the platform with his arms crossed, letting out a disdainful snort that showed his complete contempt. "Andrew, what the hell are you doing?" Jerry shouted. Andrew gave him a cold glance and replied, "Since you're badly injured and have already embarrassed the Rhodes family, you should stay quiet." Jerry's fury triggered his stomach wound, making him wince in pain. "Andrew, you can't possibly beat this guy," he hissed through clenched teeth. "Once you step into that ring, your life is in your own hands—do you understand that?" He had seen many reckless young men like this before—all courage and no wisdom. In his experience, they usually ended up as corpses. "Andrew, we've warned you multiple times not to throw your life away!" one of the bodyguards shouted. "If you get yourself killed, that's one thing, but you'll be putting Ms. Rhodes in a terrible position! Get lost—you're not as important as you think you are!" The Rhodes family bodyguards were furious, o
In the world of martial arts, following the unspoken rules of the ring meant that even if someone died, it was considered their own fault. And with the Madblade Martial Academy's influence in Jayrodale, the loss of one or two lives was nothing significant—they could easily sweep it under the rug. Ivan lowered his crossed arms, a mocking smile playing on his lips. He gestured at Andrew with a beckoning motion. "Kid, I'll give you the first move. If you can get close to me or even touch my clothes, I'll admit defeat." His arrogance made Jerry seem modest in comparison, but no one dared to laugh. Everyone believed Ivan had the strength to back up his confidence. Jerry coughed twice and muttered, "Mr. Lincoln isn't just some random nobody. It's a shame I can't figure out who he really is. Andrew's chances don't look good." On the platform, Andrew casually strolled toward Ivan, his movements unhurried. "Since you're being so polite, I won't hold back." Andrew's calm response pr
Andrew handled the attacks with remarkable ease. Though seemingly chaotic, his footwork followed an intricate pattern that left observers mesmerized. Despite Ivan's relentless offensive maneuvers, he could not land a single clean hit on Andrew's body. Andrew said calmly, "I think we've played enough. By your founders' standards, Mr. Lincoln, your technique barely made the cut. Perhaps another 20 years of practice would do you some good." With lightning speed, Andrew brought his right hand down, striking Ivan's wrist bone. Ivan let out a painful roar as his wrist trembled violently as if he had been bitten by a venomous snake. Before he could counter, Andrew's knee was already driving upward. Ivan's eyes blazed with fury as he prepared to take the hit head-on, believing his physical prowess would allow him to withstand the impact while simultaneously launching a lethal counterattack to Andrew's head. These thoughts had barely crossed Ivan's mind when he felt a searing pai
By that logic, Rodney was about as formidable as a mere ant compared to Andrew's capabilities. "Mr. Sanford, do we still need your permission to reclaim our 60 million now?" Andrew asked with a subtle smirk. Rodney's face twitched at the question. The thought of someone needing his permission would have been understandable before, but now it made his heart race. He gritted his teeth and said, "Mr. Lloyd, your martial prowess is truly admirable, and the Madblade Martial Academy respects your skill. Dean, return the 60 million we owe to Rhodes Corporation." Dean was already terrified out of his mind. He could not even beat Jerry, who had nearly died at Ivan's hands, and Ivan had just been thoroughly defeated by Andrew. The comparison made Dean realize he was not even in the same league as Andrew. "J-Just a moment… I'll transfer the money right away!" Dean stammered, offering no resistance this time. The hundreds of martial arts students had lost their fighting spirit, too
"Ms. Rhodes, you're amazing! I can't believe you actually got the money back," Eunice exclaimed with admiration. Lauren shook her head and replied, "I didn't get the money back—Dr. Lloyd did." Eunice's excitement froze as she looked at Andrew in disbelief, who was casually sipping tea on the couch. She wondered how this man, whom Tiana had always looked down upon, had not only become Rhodes Corporation's fifth director in minutes but had also helped recover 60 million dollars that seemed impossible to retrieve. Just as doubt began creeping into Eunice's mind, she quickly dismissed it. Tiana was someone she unconditionally admired and respected—if Tiana said Andrew was just a gold digger, then it must be true. "Ms. Rhodes, congratulations! The company really needs you!" "Ms. Rhodes, we old-timers aren't worth a fraction of your talent. Solving this huge problem right after your return—we must report this to the board and get you recognized!" "Ms. Rhodes, we all noticed what
Lauren bit her lip playfully, her voice turning husky as she said, "Really? Then why don't you prove it to me? It's simple—help me take off these stockings. Remember, you won, so they're yours now." Andrew was left speechless, his eyes widening in surprise. … Meanwhile, in another office on the same floor of Rhodes Corporation, Michael violently slapped Cindy's bottom as she rose from his lap. Cindy's face showed a mix of pain and resentment as she complained, "Mr. Rhodes, what's making you so angry? You've been different ever since Ms. Rhodes returned." Michael snarled, "Shut up! Haven't you seen how many people are sucking up to that little bitch since she came back? I'm the CEO and spokesperson of Rhodes Corporation, not Lauren, yet these idiots still flock to her!" Cindy tried to calm him down, saying, "Sir, try to look at the bright side. Ms. Rhodes did manage to recover that 60 million for the company. To be honest, that was quite an achievement—nobody else could hav
"Jerry, I need an explanation about what happened at Madblade Martial Academy," Michael demanded as soon as the call connected. "Explanation? I don't have any," Jerry replied, his voice weak. "Ms. Rhodes and Andrew got that money back through their own abilities, fair and square." Michael flew into a rage. "I don't give a damn about their abilities! I want to know why you didn't take the opportunity to eliminate that Lloyd guy!" Jerry let out a bitter laugh and said, "Eliminate him? How exactly was I supposed to do that?" He had barely escaped alive from Madblade Martial Academy. Michael said darkly, "Jerry, your attitude is very concerning. Don't forget that both Rhodes Corporation and the entire Rhodes family might end up in my hands. If you keep wavering like this instead of choosing the right person to follow, how do you expect to achieve that comfortable retirement you've been dreaming of?" Jerry snapped, "Mr. Rhodes, spare me the talk about the future. I don't care w
The news spread like wildfire through Jayrodale. Many unfortunate creditors with outstanding debts with the Northern District rushed to Madblade Martial Academy's doors, demanding their money back. "Dean, pay up!" "Dean, you're Atlas's senior and the Northern District's second-in-command. If you don't pay, you can join him six feet under!" "Give us our money back, you crook!" Large red banners were unfurled at the academy's entrance as angry crowds gathered, hurling insults. The academy remained unfazed as students came and went, completely ignoring the protesters while luxury cars continued pulling up to the entrance. The academy's response was simple. "Want your money? Ask Northern District or the dead Atlas. Madblade Martial Academy never defaults on payments, and we won't tolerate these circus acts." Soon, a Volkswagen Beetle pulled up to the academy's entrance, and two striking figures stepped out—Christina and Aspen. The creditors immediately swarmed around them.
Michael's lackeys stood there, completely stunned. Then, their shock turned into fury. One shouted, "Andrew, you son of a—" Andrew threw another slap, knocking one of them out cold on the spot. "A low-level manager talking back to his superiors—who gave you the courage to bark like a dog?" Without missing a beat, Andrew turned and slapped another man so hard that a tooth flew out. "You think just because I've been quiet, I'm easy to push around? Let me remind you—I'm a board member, not some sickly kitten. If you cross the line, I will make you regret it." Two more slaps rang out, sending the last two executives flying. "A bunch of nobodies daring to insult a department head, a vice CEO, and a board member. I'll let you off this time, but if any of you try this again, I'll make sure you know exactly what it feels like to be paralyzed from the waist down." Andrew moved fast—too fast. In a matter of seconds, Howard and his four high-ranking colleagues were sprawled across th
The man in suspenders lifted his chin arrogantly. "Yeah, I hit her. What are you gonna do about it, Mr. Lloyd?" Andrew's expression remained calm. "Why did you hit her?" The man scoffed. "The Pharmaceutical Division belongs to Mr. Rhodes. Some lowly secretary waltzing in here demanding approval documents? Please. Who does she think she is?" Andrew's eyes narrowed. "Since when did the Pharmaceutical Division become Michael's territory? As far as I know, the director here is still Mr. Chapman, isn't it?" The man let out a mocking laugh. "Does it even matter? Mr. Rhodes is about to become the company's CEO. Once that happens, the entire corporation will be his. "And me? I'm the head of sales for the entire Pharmaceutical Division. Just so you know, that two-million-dollar performance boost? That was all my doing! "So, Mr. Lloyd, my advice? Stop wasting your time. Just step aside and quit dreaming about competing with Mr. Rhodes, or you'll end up with nothing but a mess to cle
Lauren's voice was sharp with anger. "Who hit you? Eunice, tell me—who did this to you?" Tears welled up in Eunice's eyes as she shook her head. "Miss, I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me." Lauren's fury only grew. "I'm asking you—who did this? Tell me, and I promise I'll make sure they pay for it!" Eunice sobbed. "Miss, please don't ask anymore. I don't want to cause you trouble." Just as Lauren was about to explode, Andrew gently pulled her back and reassured her. "Don't get upset. Trust me—I'll make sure Ms. Brooks gets justice." Then, he turned to Marcus. "Mr. Chapman, explain—what happened here?" Marcus let out a sigh before responding. "Ms. Brooks went to the Pharmaceutical Division to get the approval documents, just as you instructed. Michael's lackeys not only refused to process it, but they also ran their mouths and insulted you, Mr. Lloyd. Ms. Brooks couldn't stand it and argued back, but in the end…" Andrew's expression darkened into a cold smirk. "So,
Andrew and Lauren wasted no time. After handling everything at Glorious Pharmaceuticals, they rushed back to Rhodes Corporation. On the drive back, Lauren could not hold back her curiosity. She asked hesitantly, "Dr. Lloyd, I know I shouldn't pry, but I still want to ask… Was it Mr. Yates who helped with the machine?" Andrew nodded. "You could say that. I already realized that Stephen's factory, even though it's the best in Jayrodale, isn't all that impressive. To put it bluntly, they couldn't even get a single advanced piece of equipment. So, I gave Marvin a heads-up in advance and had him figure something out." Lauren fell silent for a moment before whispering, "If Mr. Yates helped you like this, there must be a price, right? For example, maybe he wants to use you to take control of Glorious Pharmaceuticals. And from there, he could monopolize Jayrodale's entire pharmaceutical industry. It's not impossible." Andrew glanced at her, surprised. "Lauren, how did you come up with
Stephen said, "But Mr. Lloyd, you should know that pharmaceutical-grade precision equipment costs a fortune. Most of it is imported, and a single machine alone could easily cost over 100 million!" Andrew nodded. "The equipment has already been taken care of. Once Ms. Rhodes and I leave, you need to head straight to the factory and inspect it." Stephen blinked in disbelief, thinking he must have misheard. "Mr. Lloyd, what did you just say? The equipment is already handled?" Andrew responded calmly, "Yes. It's done. You'll be dealing with a vice CEO from Wealthroller Investments—a major investor in the pharmaceutical industry. He'll be there to assist you and ensure everything runs smoothly." Stephen froze in shock. "Mr. Lloyd, you actually got someone from Mr. Yates' company involved?" Andrew remained indifferent. "No, I didn't ask for help. I gave an order." Stephen's heart skipped a beat. He was smart enough to stop questioning, but internally, his mind was racing. He wond
Grabbing Lauren's delicate hand, Andrew said, "Let's go. We need to make a trip to Glorious Pharmaceuticals and check with Mr. Brunner to see when the first batch of products will be ready for release." Lauren frowned. "The timeline is too tight. I'd say it'll take at least another two weeks." Andrew shook his head. "No, I'm only giving him two days at most." … The two of them quickly drove over to Glorious Pharmaceuticals. As soon as they arrived, Stephen came rushing out with a bright smile as soon as they arrived. "Mr. Lloyd, Ms. Rhodes, welcome!" Lauren returned his smile politely. "Sorry to bother you again, Mr. Brunner." Stephen waved his hands. "Oh, come on, Ms. Rhodes, no need to say that! Being able to work with Mr. Lloyd is an honor. I should be thanking you!" Andrew did not hesitate to walk straight over to Stephen's office chair and sit down, leaving Stephen standing there awkwardly with nowhere to sit. After glancing around helplessly, Stephen finally resigne
Andrew said, "Isn't it obvious? Lauren's biggest support is me!" Marcus' jaw dropped slightly as if he had just been personally attacked. On the other hand, Lauren felt a mix of embarrassment and warmth, her heart fluttering as she looked at Andrew. For the first time, she realized her composed and gentlemanly Andrew had a bit of a rebellious, streetwise streak. Marcus raised his hands in surrender. "Mr. Lloyd, I have to admit—your confidence is actually pretty damn cool!" Andrew shot him a sharp look. "Mr. Chapman, this isn't just confidence. I'm stating facts. Enough sulking. It's time to do something! Let me make this clear—I'll definitely crush Michael!" Lauren and Marcus exchanged glances, unsure of what Andrew had up his sleeve. Nonetheless, neither of them doubted his words. After all, Andrew had proven anything time and time again that no challenge ever seemed to be a real obstacle for him. … Back in Lauren's office, Andrew immediately began assigning tasks. He
Lauren's expression turned ice-cold. "Michael, you're a complete idiot. If you keep running the Pharmaceutical Division like this, you'll ruin Rhodes Corporation's reputation sooner or later!" Michael turned to Tiana, gritting his teeth. "Aunt Tiana, they're still talking down on me even now! It seems not everyone appreciates my contributions to this company. Since that's the case, I might as well step down and let Lauren be CEO instead. I'm done putting up with this disrespect!" Lauren sneered. "Playing the victim now? Michael, you're absolutely shameless." Tiana suddenly slammed the table. "Enough! Have you two argued enough?! Lauren, your time is running out. If you want to prove your products are better, then do it! "If you can't show results, I will hand the CEO's seat to Michael. And if that happens, there's no reason for you to stay in Jayrodale anymore. You should return to Blumedale and focus on preparing for your wedding!" Lauren's eyes burned with frustration and r
Several people in the room who were aware of the senior executive's dirty secrets could not help but chuckle. The man's face flushed with rage as he pointed at Andrew. "You—" However, after sputtering for a while, he did not dare to say another word. The truth was, he already had a deep-seated fear of Andrew. Moreover, Andrew's words hit a little too close to home. He was on the verge of full retirement. With more money than he could ever spend, he had been indulging in his "second youth". Yet, lately, he had been feeling the consequences—blood in his urine was a clear warning sign. He thought maybe it really was time to take it easy. Otherwise, he would end up ruining his reputation in his old age. Tiana scoffed. "Mr. Lloyd, this is a corporate meeting room, not a place for you to run your mouth." Andrew smirked. "Mrs. Rhodes, you're absolutely right. Which is exactly why I don't think it was necessary to hold such a big meeting just to celebrate Bane's three garbage-tier