"Arnie, I love you so much!" Marion exclaimed. She threw her arms around Arnold and kissed him, as though they were the only ones in the room.Arnold felt slightly embarrassed. He glanced over at Matthew and said, "Matthew, go ahead and draft the contract. I need to head to the office and get things ready on my end.""Alright. I'll leave now and come back tomorrow," Matthew replied."Sounds good."…Meanwhile, Xandor and his men arrived at Twilight Bar. With no words exchanged, a fierce battle erupted."Anyone who stands in my way will die!" Xandor bellowed.Blood splattered, and shouts echoed through the chaos.Xandor, as the leader of the Yovarian Guild, was no doubt the top dog of the criminal underworld. He was overwhelmingly powerful and ferocious.Leopold watched grimly as the scene unfolded outside Twilight Bar.Xandor barreled through his men like an unstoppable force. He took down hundreds of Leopold's men within minutes."Boss, we're losing men fast. Xandor's follo
Gideon's face remained expressionless.He stared at Xandor with a calm intensity that was somehow more terrifying than any outburst. A chill crawled down Xandor's spine. His heart raced, and his body went cold."Who are you?" Xandor asked.Gideon replied, "Weren't you asking for me? Well, here I am."Every hair on Xandor's body stood on end at Gideon's words. He stared in disbelief. He hadn't expected the mastermind behind the fall of the Yovarian Guild to be so young.How was it possible?Xandor had prepared himself to face a monster, not a man who looked barely out of his youth. It felt like some sick joke.Gideon's voice cut through his shock, "Any last words? If not, I'll be sending you on your way."Xandor's heart skipped a beat. Despite how arrogant Gideon's words sounded, something about them felt frighteningly real."Kid, you're too full of yourself!""That's all you have to say? In that case, I'll make my move now," Gideon announced.He took a single step forward, a
Xandor still looked bewildered. "Who are you? Who is your cousin?" he questioned. "I'm Gideon," Gideon replied."Gideon?" The name sounded familiar to Xandor, but nothing came to his mind at that moment."Five years ago, the Yovarian Guild insulted the Snow family. You came to my father to apologize and even called me a force to be reckoned with. How could you forget all of that in just five years?" Gideon reminded him.Suddenly, recognition struck Xandor. "You're Gideon from the Snow family? You're alive, and you came back!""That's right," Gideon replied, his voice steady but laced with emotion. "It's been five years. Now, I've returned."Xandor felt an overwhelming wave of fear and despair. He knew exactly what Gregory had done to Qyra. It was clear Gideon had come to seek revenge. Moreover, the Yovarian Guild was one of the main reasons for the downfall of the Snow family.Back then, Gideon's parents had disappeared, and chaos gripped the family. Gideon was forced out when
As Harry issued his command, powerful figures from various states and cities sprang into action. Over in Drammore, however, there was no movement. For the Yelvertons, dealing with a minor figure hardly required the involvement of the main family.…Goldspire, rather than calming down, was seething with an undercurrent of tension. After killing Xandor, Gideon returned to Beaker Island to continue spending time with Qyra. Meanwhile, Leopold and Nino began to divide up the territories of the Yovarian Guild.Their power was steadily growing, and they had become the two dominant forces in Goldspire's underworld, facing off in an uneasy standoff.But Nino felt a twinge of unease, unlike Leopold. He had heard rumors that a major figure behind Xandor was none other than the Yelverton family from Drammore, a formidable family with extensive influence. The Yelverton family was certain to seek revenge. Nino didn't believe that Gideon could stand against the Yelvertons. It was ridiculo
"Don't worry about it. Just go handle your work," Arnold said."Ella, let's meet up when you're free!" Matthew added with a smile."Sure!" Elara replied cheerfully.As Matthew walked out of Marlet Hotel, he could no longer contain his excitement. He practically danced with joy.Patting the briefcase under his arm, he chuckled to himself. "With this contract signed, it'll be a breeze to lure in a few more families. What a bunch of fools, all dancing to my tune!"He murmured, "Soon, all the companies under these families will be working to strengthen the Carter family. The Carters are finally going to be back on top. I really am a genius!"…Soon, the Seymours returned home.Marion said, her face glowing with excitement. "Haha! I'm finally going to be a wealthy lady. Those snobbish women who used to look down on me will be lining up to curry favor. It's such a satisfying feeling!"Arnold gave her an exasperated look. He said, "Nothing's set in stone yet. Stop daydreaming."Mari
Marion shouted at Gideon, "Shut up!" Her face turned ashen with fury as she pointed a trembling finger at him. "Nothing decent ever comes out of your mouth, you disgusting man! You don't want to see the Seymour family succeed, do you? "Let me tell you, Gideon. You'll go to the courthouse and divorce Elara immediately. You're unworthy of being my son-in-law. Who do you think you are?"Gideon's face darkened. Marion's insults had come at him time and time again, and though he'd brushed them off, her relentless disdain was starting to wear on him. If it weren't for Arnold's kindness, he would have left long ago.Turning to Elara, Gideon asked, "What do you think?"Elara hesitated, caught off guard.Marion urged, "Ella, what are you waiting for? Get a divorce. Soon, you'll be the heiress to a respected family name, and there are plenty of eligible young men out there. Besides, you like Matthew, don't you? I know you two would be perfect together."Arnold pounded his fist on the ta
Joseph quickly reassured, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "Mr. Seymour, please don't be upset. I mean no harm. I'm here to bring you some gifts."Arnold narrowed his eyes, suspicion lacing his tone. "Gift? What kind of trick are you trying to pull?"Flashing an apologetic smile, Joseph insisted, "Mr. Seymour, you really misunderstood me. I just wanted to make up for my previous offense to Ms. Seymour. Although I've already apologized, I felt it wasn't enough. So this time, representing my father, I came personally to deliver a grand gift."He gestured with a wave of his hand. "Bring it out!"Two men approached, carrying a bright red chest to the front door. They set it down and opened it, revealing a breathtaking sight.Arnold and his family stood frozen, wide-eyed and speechless.Inside the chest were stacks of cash, a green sea of money exuding the unmistakable allure of wealth.Joseph grinned. "Mr. Seymour, this is 9,999,000 dollars as a little token of our appreciati
"The gifts that Durans gave have nothing to do with Matthew," Gideon said flatly.Marion scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "You idiot, you still don't get it? The Seymour family is about to rise alongside the Carters and might even get the Avila family's favor. We're set to become a major power in Goldspire."She sneered, clearly enjoying herself. "Nino is just scared. That's why he's come bearing gifts, apologizing, and trying to curry favor with us."Shaking her head in disdain, she continued, "Five years ago, you were considered a capable man in Goldspire. But now, it seems those five years of farming have fried your brain. You've let the Snow family slip into your hands, and you're doing a terrible job." Marion scoffed. "I wouldn't be surprised if you ran the whole thing into the ground. It'd have been better off in Cormac's hands."She then sneered. "Here's an idea. Why don't you just merge Snow Corporation into Seymour Corporation?"Gideon's eyes darkened, his patie
The entire Drammore was in chaos. "Lavinia, what are you standing around for? Let's join the fun!" Seanno urged. Maya grabbed Lavinia's hand and dragged her toward the carriage. But Lavinia frowned deeply. In her mind, she kept replaying the High Marshal's furious roar. That voice sounded strangely familiar. Where had she heard it before? Elsewhere, Ronan was also lost in thought. "What's on your mind?" Noel asked. "Come on. Let's get to Cook Manor." "That High Marshal... He feels familiar somehow," Ronan muttered, shaking his head. "Forget it. We'll find out soon enough. Anyway, what did you think of him?" "He's no fraud," Noel said simply, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes. "A true prodigy. Worthy of being my opponent. I'm looking forward to exchanging fists with him." While all the nobles and martial elites rushed toward Cook Manor, the manor remained calm and peaceful. No one from Cook Manor had attended the enfeoffment ceremony. Their entire focus was els
"Silence! The auspicious hour has arrived. The enfeoffment ceremony now begins." At Morgan's booming announcement, the drums and bells roared to life. A dazzling radiance rose from Heaven on Earth, painting the sky in brilliant colors. It was a man-made setup, but under that glow, Heaven on Earth truly looked like a realm of gods—stunning and otherworldly. The Skyward Sanctum itself seemed even more sacred and untouchable. The great gates of Heaven on Earth slowly swung open. All eyes locked onto the entrance. Meanwhile, inside Heaven on Earth, Gideon stood tall. His long hair was tied neatly back. He wore black and gold ceremonial robes embroidered with soaring swallows, golden cloud-patterned boots on his feet, and at his waist was the printing of Lothian Mt. and River. His bearing alone convinced the handmaidens serving him—this was the High Marshal. Who else could it be?"Marshal Snow, the time has come. You may now step out and ascend to the Skyward Sanctum,"
"The High Marshal secured a great treasure for His Majesty and rendered extraordinary service to the empire," Morgan continued, his voice echoing over the plaza. "Moreover, the High Marshal commands an extensive network of influence across the globe. He is Dasovia's most reliable ally!" That was another bombshell. Influence spread across the world? The crowd was reeling. The shock was almost too much to process. At that moment, everyone was buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Who exactly was the High Marshal? What kind of person could possibly live up to all this hype? "No more words," Morgan said. "The time has come. The High Marshal has already entered Heaven on Earth."Heaven on Earth was a palace located behind the Skyward Sanctum. In a few moments, Gideon would walk out from Heaven on Earth, following the ornate, dragon-carved pathway and stepping onto the Skyward Sanctum's altar to stand before the entire nation as a newly crowned star. The plaza erupted
"Lavinia, you're also back? Things are still tense at the border of the northern wilderness. You can't afford to let your guard down." Seanno frowned slightly.He knew full well—despite Lavinia's status as a five-star war hero, her foundation was still relatively thin. Many were eyeing her, waiting for any slip-up. If she made a mistake, they would pounce and drag her down. "Don't worry, Dad," Lavinia said with a smile. "Bukmond is stable right now." She then looked toward the Skyward Sanctum. "An event as important as the High Marshal enfeoffment—I had to come see for myself. I want to know who won His Majesty's favor!" "No matter how talented they are, they're not better than you, Lavinia," Maya said proudly. "You're the youngest five-star war hero in history, commanding millions of troops and holding military authority. That's way more impressive than some fancy High Marshal title." "Mom, even though the High Marshal doesn't hold military authority, I heard he's allowed
"What?" Maximus' expression turned serious. "Leave it to me. I'll make a call and alert the relevant departments to start searching," he said. Gideon then said, "But the forces of the secular world might not be enough. We'll need to tap into the martial world's resources. My friend has a pure-essence physique but not much strength. If the warriors got their hands on her..." "She has a pure-essence physique?" Maximus asked. He was visibly startled. A pure-essence physique was a priceless treasure—anyone who encountered it wouldn't be able to resist."She's my ex-wife," Gideon added. Maximus' heart skipped a beat as he realized how serious things were. She might have been an ex-wife, but there were still feelings between them."Rest assured, Marshal Snow. Leave it to me." "Alright. Thank you," Gideon said seriously. "Head into Imperial Palace first. Your enfeoffment ceremony is today—you need to bathe and change. As for your ex-wife, I'll personally make sure she's
Faced with Jasiah's Savage Claw strike, Elara's presence instantly turned sharp and icy-cold. Over the past few days, she hadn't been training any techniques. Instead, following Umbra's advice, she had been focusing on adapting to and mastering her pure-essence physique.But even so, at the moment of danger, her pure essence core surged instinctively. Without thinking, Elara struck out toward the claw imprint.The Savage Claw exploded apart.A bone-chilling wave of cold swept forward, making Jasiah's scalp tingle. His face was full of shock."This energy... is the pure essence energy!" Jasiah muttered. His face was full of disbelief, but in the next instant, he burst into excited laughter. "I didn't expect it—you actually have a pure-essence physique. What a priceless treasure you are!"From the way you reacted to my attack just now, I can tell you have the pure-essence physique, but you don't know how to use it. I'm guessing you only recently awakened your constitution."All the
Maximus felt like crying but had no tears left."Alright. I've put it away. You can get up now," Gideon said. He tucked the Imperial Token into his coat and patted Maximus on the shoulder. Then, he added, "Mr. Cook, you've worked hard. You're busy, so I'll take my leave.""Marshal Snow, take care."Maximus nodded repeatedly, only relaxing once Gideon left Imperial Palace. He wiped the cold sweat off his brow, his mind still in a whirlwind."His Majesty actually gave Gideon the Imperial Token. This is a one-of-a-kind thing. That means Gideon is essentially His Majesty's representative. Holy shit…"Maximus was a bit shaken by the weight of it. He dared not speak of this, nor reveal it to anyone, for fear of angering Chase.…After Gideon left Imperial Palace, he returned to the hotel and immediately began studying the Five Emperors Warlord Fist, paying no attention to Elara.In fact, Elara wasn't even in the room. After Gideon left for the palace, Elara, bored out of her mind
Gideon was floored when he heard that he had to gather nine different types of heavenly flames to evolve the Solar Divine Physique. Was that even possible?Then, a memory clicked. Back in the Spirale Clan's city, when he faced off against Pope of Light, he had summoned a white flame called Light's Fire.At the time, Gideon could feel that his Solar Titan Physique core had reacted, like it was hungry for that flame.Now, what Logan said suddenly made perfect sense."Collecting nine different heavenly flames? That's no walk in the park. It's damn near impossible. But if your fate's strong enough, and you manage it, you'll unlock the full Solar Divine Physique. "Once that happens, your control over your own power will be absolute. No outside force could mess with you," Logan said. "Thank you, sir," Gideon said, truly grateful. He gave a deep nod of respect.Logan just went right back to snoring.Gideon didn't waste any more time. He turned, pushed open the door to the old est
"The promise I made to teach you the art of the Triarchs' Codex still stands," Chase said. He continued, "But I warn you that it won't be easy. Morgan has already drafted the royal decree. Tomorrow, I'll announce your appointment publicly. You'll be granted the title of High Marshal. "You'll be independent of court control and are allowed to enter and exit Imperial Palace freely."Then, Chase added, "You will also receive the Imperial Token. With it, you carry my authority. Show it, and it will be as though I stand before them."As soon as the words left his mouth, a token the size of a palm flew through the air, landing in Gideon's hand. It was heavy, black-gold in color, and radiated a supreme energy. Gideon was stunned. Holding the Imperial Token was as good as standing in for Chase himself. It was essentially a free pass to act with full authority in Dasovia. No one outranked it except Chase.Simply put, Gideon now stood just beneath the King of Dasovia and above everyon