The smiling man who was standing right in front of Nanako was indeed Charlie, the man whom she had been missing and fallen in love with for a long time!At this moment, a lot of questions sprang up inside her mind at once.‘It’s him?!’‘How could it be?’‘Why is he here?’‘Am I dreaming?’‘Am I dead and this is just an illusion after all?’‘Just a moment ago, I thought that I would have no regrets if I could see Charlie even once more before I died, but never in my wildest dream did I expect that he would suddenly come to save me like an angel from heaven!’Numerous thoughts converged in her mind with mixed emotions of surprise, hesitation, anxiety, and excitement. She shuddered to the point of speechlessness.At this moment, it was Charlie who broke the silence. He looked at Nanako with a smile and asked, “Ito-san, it’s been a while. How have you been?”Hearing Charlie’s voice, Nanako was finally certain that it was not an illusion!Charlie, whom she had been infatuated wit
The four ninjas of the Fujibayashi family were certain that they could kill Charlie with one attack.As for Nanako, her heart was in her mouth as she watched the scene, fearing that something might happen to Charlie. She would rather be the one to die than see Charlie suffer a single injury.Right at this moment, Charlie suddenly retreated a few meters at extreme speed, so fast that the four ninjas were dumbfounded!They were the first to strike, and they were faster than Charlie in initiating their attacks. Moreover, they all had ninja swords that were nearly a meter long, which undoubtedly further strengthened their attack distance, allowing them to gain the upper hand and be one step ahead of the attack.Based on their calculation, it was almost impossible for anyone to escape their attacks in an instant. After all, a normal person couldn’t dodge a bullet that was about to hit him!However, Charlie did it!As he was retreating, he pocketed the Thunder Order. Then, he pulled ou
“Charlie-san…”Sobbing, Nanako whirled the wheels of her wheelchair toward Charlie.Charlie took a few quick steps toward her and asked, “Ito-san, are you okay?”“Yes, I’m okay…” Nanako nodded vigorously, then, she covered her face and cried bitterly as the emotions came rushing toward her.At this moment, she was not sad because of the near-death experience, but she was overwhelmed by Charlie’s sudden appearance, so much so that she couldn’t control her emotions.Seeing her crying uncontrollably, Charlie stretched out his hand, gently stroking the back of her cold hand, and said softly, “It’s okay, Ito-san. Everything’s fine now. Don’t cry.”Nanako wiped away her tears, shook her head, and said, “I’m not crying over what just happened…”With that, she lifted her gaze, which was filled with intense love and passion, and said as she continued sobbing, “Charlie-san, why did you come to Kyoto?”Charlie smiled. “I came to Japan for some business matters, and I just happened to be i
Nanako was stunned upon listening to Charlie’s unwavering remarks. She couldn’t believe that she could recover fully, but when she heard it from Charlie himself, she suddenly felt very confident and assured.She smiled pleasantly and asked, “Can you truly heal me?”Charlie nodded and said, “Yes, but before treating you, let’s dispose of these corpses first.”Nanako quickly said, “I’ll call the housekeeper!”“No need.” Charlie stopped her and said, “I had a little conflict with your father in Tokyo. If you inform the housekeeper about such a big matter, he will surely inform your father immediately, and things may get awkward between us.”Surprised, Nanako asked, “Did you meet my father in Tokyo? What’s the conflict you have with him?”Charlie shrugged and said, “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you all about it when I treat your injuries.”Nanako stuck out her tongue cheekily and said with a smile, “I guess my father must have suffered a lot when he was confronting you…”Charlie re
Nanako asked, “Charlie-san, will I be able to see you again in the future?”Charlie nodded. “Yes. I’m shifting part of my business to Japan now, so I might come here often in the future.”“That’s great!” Nanako shrieked in delight. “Charlie-san, can you promise me one thing?”Charlie nodded. “What is it?”Nanako quickly said, “I hope you’ll let me know every time you come to Japan, and I hope you’ll allow me to meet you if it’s convenient for you!”“Also, if I go to Oskia and you happen to be available, please allow me to meet you as well, okay?”Charlie smiled. “No problem. I promise.”Nanako cheered like a little girl getting her favorite candy. “Then, I’ll be able to see you more often!”Amused by her sweet smile, Charlie’s voice turned gentler as he said with a smile, “Alright, then. Let me send you back to your room first. I’ll help you heal your injuries later.”Under the guidance of Nanako, Charlie pushed her wheelchair and sent her back to her room.Nanako’s room was
The pair of siblings, Jaime and Sophie, had been transported directly to Kyoto ever since they were brought out of Tokyo.At this time, the pair of siblings were imprisoned in a house less than two kilometers away from this place. A few ninjas from the Iga family were in charge of guarding and keeping an eye on them.They were all waiting for Yoshito’s order. If Yoshito gave them the order to take action, then they would kill the brother and sister immediately before secretly transporting their dead bodies to the Ito family mansion.However, before Yoshito issued any orders to them, they would have to keep the pair of siblings alive. Otherwise, it would not be convenient for them to transport and smuggle their dead bodies into the Ito family mansion if their bodies were to turn stiff after they had already died for quite some time.The ninjas from the Iga family were the best at assassination. In their experience, the most convenient time for a person to move a corpse was within
Charlie turned around before he smiled and said softly, “Don’t worry. I will be back soon.”After he was done speaking, Charlie stepped out of Nanako’s boudoir and disappeared into the snowy night.***The Iga ninja who had come to scout the place was running at full speed in the night under the snowstorm.He moved very quickly and swiftly, almost like an elusive ghost under the cover of night.However, he would never have expected that a super powerful and capable master who was a hundred times stronger than him would be following right behind him. This super powerful and capable master was none other than Charlie.The Iga ninja ran for two kilometers without stopping. After that, he finally stopped in front of the entrance of a courtyard. He subsequently arrived at the courtyard’s simple door before he knocked on the door four times, using two slow knocks and two quick knocks. The door was opened slightly from the inside and the gap was only small enough for one person to pass
Charlie recognized Sophie immediately as soon as the gunny sack was removed.He could not help but curse silently in his heart: “Isn’t this the woman the same woman who was sitting in the Rolls-Royce with Eikichi that night? She had even argued with me when I was teaching Eikichi a lesson. Unexpectedly, she has actually been kidnapped and brought all the way here. Moreover, it seems as though these people are going to kill her before blaming her death on Yahiko. It looks like this woman does not come from an ordinary background!”At this time, Sophie’s mouth was gagged as there was a towel stuff into her mouth. So, even if she continued whimpering for a long time, she could not really say anything at all.So, the ninja in charge stretched out his hand before he pulled the towel out of her mouth. After that, he said coldly, “I will give you one chance. Just say whatever you want to say then.”Sophie was terrified and her eyes were filled with horror. However, she forced herself to c
Elaine may have led a life as if she was above the rules, but beneath that tough exterior lay crippling insecurities and a horrific inferiority complex.She was always afraid of being belittled—but more than that, of being ostracized and betrayed.Over the years, the greatest source of her complexes could all be traced back to Matilda.After all, Matilda had been a star back in their school days. Because Elaine was a close friend of hers, many boys would get chummy with Elaine, but only because they were interested in Matilda.Being from a poor farmer's family, Elaine had been scorned plenty and therefore felt exceedingly inferior around Matilda.It was from that sense of inferiority that Elaine had inadvertently developed a one-sided rivalry against Matilda, and she believed her greatest triumph over Matilda in this life was the moment she had stolen Jacob from her.However, while Elaine presumed that she could hold that victory over Matilda's head, Lady Wilson had soured that v
Moreover, given Elaine's ridiculous temper, Jacob knew she would definitely go overboard and destroy him.He wouldn't even have a place to live at that point, and it would really be game over if she held a grudge and stormed the Calligraphy and Painting Association!Under such circumstances, he couldn't ask for a divorce—hell, he might even refuse a divorce if Elaine asked for one!However, that was when Elaine laughed coldly. "Oh, my… You're really not going to divorce me?""Come on—how long were we married?" Jacob quickly reasoned. "Getting divorced at our age? People would laugh at us."Elaine scoffed. "Now I'm curious… Matilda's quite old too, and she's a divorcee marrying again. Won't people laugh at her?""Technically, she's a widow—"Jacob blurted out, but soon turned pale, tensing up again not a second after he had just calmed down, asking gingerly, "W-Why would you suddenly mention her?'Elaine stopped pretending right then and snapped, "It's actually impressive that y
Horrified, Jacob promptly grasped the steering wheel and brought the Cullinan back under control while not hesitating to snap, "Are you crazy?! We're on the highway—that could have killed the both of us!"However, Elaine ignored him and seized the moment to open the armrest box, pulling out the large white envelope.As she opened it, she muttered, "So, it really was a wedding invitation… You really are a terrible friend, Jacob Wilson, hiding a wedding invitation like this! What's the point? Just look at that nervous face of yours—would I suspect you of having an affair with the bride-to-be?"She flipped open the card and was experienced enough to check the names first while disregarding the usual preamble. She wouldn't care about the venue or the time either, focusing solely on the professor who had somehow made Jacob very nervous.That was how Elaine found the names in less than a second: Yolden Hart and Matilda Hall.Matilda?!The name could well be knives stabbing Elaine in th
Jacob's brain blanked out, leaving only a dull hum as soon as Walker mentioned 'Professor Hall'.Already feeling nervous in the first place, he quickly said, "Okay, okay—I got it. Anyway, I'm hanging up if there's nothing else!"With that, he promptly pressed the button to hang up.Nonetheless, Elaine was soon asking in curiosity, "Who's Professor Hall?"If Jacob had any semblance of composure, he would have said 'a colleague at Senior University' as if it was perfectly natural, and the matter would have been forgotten.But the reality was that he didn't—in fact, he was the champion when it came to dropping the ball as a casual question from Elaine left him sweating all over his brow.Even as he slid nervous glances at her face, he stammered uncontrollably, "N-Nobody…"Elaine promptly noticed his strange reaction and frowned. "I'm talking about Professor Hall. What do you mean, nobody? Who are they? And what's this about an invitation? Inviting you for what?"Seeing that he was
Jacob had really had too much to drink and couldn't remember the later parts of what had happened last night—even how he had gotten home was a blur.Naturally, he also forgot that Walker had brought Matilda's wedding invitation, and therefore didn't hesitate to answer the in-car answer button.Over the phone, Walker was positively fawning as he asked, "Mr. Wilson? It's Walker. Why didn't you come in today? Had too much to drink last night?""Uh-huh," Jacob grunted, lethargic. "I did—my head still hurts now… Anyway, what's up? Trouble at the association?""No, of course not," Walker quickly said. "I was just worried you're still hungover, so I called to ask. If you need a driver or anything, you just need to ask!"Then, before Jacob could answer, he continued, "By the way, my wife is somewhat knowledgable in Oskian medicine, and she has recipes for brews that cure hangovers and nourish the liver. I'm sure you'll need the latter since you're always drinking at social events, so I as
Fortunately, Elaine and Jacob's bickering never escalated.Even though Elaine was winning, Jacob found it tolerable.After Jacob finished his lunch and cleaned up, he never looked up as he said, "Charlie sent a text, saying Claire's flight would touch down earlier at three. We will leave at two."Elaine grumbled. "Why leave so early? She's coming back from abroad, and there'd be checkpoints she has to clear—she'd be lucky if she could leave by half past three. I'm sleeping a few winks now, and we'll leave at half past two."As she left the dining room, she didn't even look back as she said, "Clean up for me too."Jacob had a million complaints but said nothing as he kept his head down, throwing Elaine's lunchbox in the trash can as well.With Elaine gone, he sat on the couch as her hangover slowly cleared while his mood soured with the lack of alcohol.In the end, the pleasure of being fawned over at the Diamond Room was but temporary—the pain of his beloved leaving with someone
Vera kept her plan to investigate the identity of the abbess deep in her mind and told Charlie nothing.Instead, she smiled as she said, "It seems that it's both yours and Ms. Ito's good fortune that she has attained enlightenment. You've never had anyone who could attain enlightenment and master Reiki at the same time, so Ms. Ito will definitely be a great help to you in the future."Charlie chuckled and said calmly, "I'm not hoping for her to help. I'm simply happy for her with her enlightenment and excited to have another comrade in my solo ventures into the dark forests."Vera nodded in understanding, and she murmured emotionally, "I've lived for so long, and it's only when I opened my heart to you that I felt that sensation you described."There was a flicker of wistfulness in her eyes.She really did not expect to attain enlightenment before meeting Charlie.Years ago, she thought that she would eventually avenge her father.Now, she no longer hoped to murder Fleur Griffi
Vera was inwardly disappointed to hear that Claire was returning.That meant there were fewer chances of Charlie visiting the Scarlet Pinnacle Manor, as were her chances of seeing him again.Still, she didn't let it show, instead asking casually, "How are things at Champs Elys? Are the warriors improving at a rate to your satisfaction?""Well, most of everyone's improvement is within expectations…" Charlie explained, just as he remembered a certain someone. "By the way, there's something I haven't told you yet. Are you perhaps acquainted with the name Ito Nanako?""Yes," Vera smiled. "The Japanese lady who was with you. What about her?""She attained enlightenment days ago.""Enlightenment?" Vera did a double take and soon pressed, "Enlightenment in what sense? Essential Qi or Reiki?"After all, the former was the path to enlightenment in martial arts, while the latter meant enlightenment in cultivation.But despite the distinction between both domains, enlightenment was a comm
While Charlie had long since gotten used to Elaine and Jacob's bizarre marriage, being near the heart of the storm still took a toll on his senses—to the point that he felt physically sick.Leaving right away was therefore his best solution.Once he left, however, he realized he didn't have anywhere to go. Champs Elys was quite far, and it would take a lot of time.As he started to feel bored stiff, he remembered Vera for some reason and called her.Once Vera answered, she quickly asked in curiosity, "To what do I owe the pleasure? Lunch, perhaps?"Charlie chuckled. "Since you've put it that way… I haven't eaten either, so lunch it is!"Vera giggled. "Come over to my place, then. It's cold outside, and I was just lighting up a hot pot. I'll have Madam Marilyn prepare an additional portion.""Okay!" Charlie agreed to it without hesitation. "I can return her car too. Just wait, I'll be right there!"Once he hung up, he got on the Rolls Roycs he had borrowed from Scarlet Pinnacl