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
However, things didn't turn out as Arnold had hoped. Gideon and Elara remained silent throughout the entire drive, leaving Arnold visibly frustrated. Upon arriving at Goldspire Hotel, Arnold had reserved a modest private dining room and ordered a feast of exquisite dishes—a splurge for the family. Before long, the dishes were served. "Wow, this is amazing! I'm going all in tonight. Forget about dieting for now," Elara exclaimed enthusiastically, her eyes lighting up at the spread before them. Elara wasn't overweight, but like most young women, dieting was an ongoing project for her. Just as they were about to dig in, the doorbell of the private dining room rang. A sharply dressed man—clearly the hotel manager—stepped into the room, his expression apologetic. He said, "I'm terribly sorry to bother you all, but I must ask you to move to a different private room." Arnold frowned slightly and asked, "What do you mean?" The manager adjusted his tie and explained, "A
"Mom, why don't we just switch to another private room? We should at least show Mr. Horne some respect," Elara urged softly.Marion, already hesitant after learning it was the heir of the Horne family, caught the disdainful look on the hotel manager's face. Her temper flared instantly.She snapped, her arms crossing defensively, "No! We're not switching! I don't care if it's the Horne family or even the city mayor. They're not getting this room!"Arnold and Elara stared at her in shock. Had she lost her mind?Marion's voice cut through their disbelief as she pointed toward the door. "Now, get out of here and stop interrupting our meal."Damian's expression darkened. As someone firmly established in Goldspire's upper circles, it was rare for anyone to defy him, especially over something as trivial as a room.He spoke again, his tone restrained but icy, "Switch to the room next door. I'll even cover your bill for tonight's meal. How does that sound?"Marion's voice rose, brimming
Damian immediately understood John's intention.This was a test—a way for John to gauge the Horne family's influence. Damian smiled faintly and said, "I was only worried about keeping you waiting, Mr. Tedd. But if this interests you, then let's see how it plays out."With a wave of his hand, he ordered the guards, "Let them go."Turning to Marion, he added coldly, "You said you wanted to make a call? Go ahead. I'd love to see who you think can stand against me.""Just wait!" Marion sneered, her expression fierce as she dialed Matthew's number.At that moment, Matthew was busy negotiating a deal with another minor family, using his usual underhanded tactics to pressure them into signing a contract.When his phone rang, he answered it casually, "Mrs. Seymour, what's the matter?"Marion's voice was sharp with anger. She said, "Matthew! I've been assaulted. Come to Room 666 of Goldspire Hotel now!"Matthew's eyes gleamed with a mix of greed and opportunity. "What? Someone dared t
Matthew felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. Asking Damian to apologize and pay a million dollars in compensation? That was practically a death sentence for him!Damian's expression was ice cold. He said, "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? She says I should apologize and pay her a million dollars in compensation. What do you think? Should I?" Matthew's forehead was slick with sweat. "Well... This..." Marion interjected, her voice sharp, "Matthew, what are you afraid of? You have the Avila family behind you. Didn't Ms. Avila herself say she values you? Just call her!" Damian raised an eyebrow, his tone curious. "Ms. Avila? Rachel Avila? She values you?" Marion tilted her chin up, pride gleaming in her eyes. "That's right! Ms. Avila has taken a keen interest in him. She even transferred 30 million dollars to his account to support him. She plans to invest in his new company in the future." She crossed her arms smugly. "Damian, the Horne family may be stronger than
With his tone firm, Matthew said to Marion, "Here's the deal. Either you apologize or our partnership ends. I'll retrieve the contract and tear it up right in front of you. The choice is yours." Marion was at a loss. If the deal fell through, her dream of living as a wealthy socialite would vanish into thin air.Arnold's face darkened, his frustration barely contained. It was Elara who finally spoke, her tone soft but persuasive, "Mom, honestly, you were being arrogant and overbearing. Matthew is right. You should apologize to Mr. Horne. It's not that big of a deal." Not that big of a deal? Marion's face burned with humiliation as the hotel manager barely suppressed a smirk in the background. Still, she had no choice. No matter how much she loathed the idea, she had to swallow her pride. "Mr. Horne, I'm sorry," she muttered, her voice low. Damian asked, stepping back, "What was that? You called yourself a woman of high status. I'm not sure I can bear the weight of you
"Eye Technique! Phantom's Serenade!" Martin yelled.The eerie glow bursting from his eyes shot into Humphrey's gaze. Instantly, Humphrey seemed frozen in place, as if bound by an immobilization spell. It was like his very soul had been taken."What?" In the distance, Bertram, who was about to slaughter Martin's subordinates, was filled with disbelief. "The Eye Technique! Good Lord, he actually knows the Eye Technique!"Bertram was shaken. Everyone in the martial world knew that the Eye Technique was incredibly rare and extremely difficult to master.A single misstep, and at best, one could go blind. If things turned for the worse, the backlash could destroy the brain beyond salvation. Even a deity wouldn't be able to save them.Yet, Martin had succeeded in mastering it!"This is bad!" Bertram's expression changed drastically.Sure enough, Martin didn't hesitate. He charged forward with the ferocity of a mountain tiger and the speed of a lightning panther, rushing straight at Hum
"My apologies!"Out of nowhere, two words came from behind Bertram, making his hair stand on end.Martin had somehow appeared behind him.Bertram's face changed drastically, but it was too late. Before the attack even landed, the terrifying force had already torn through his red robe."Judgment Spear! Slash!" At the brink of life and death, a long spear tore through the air, carrying an explosive roar, ferocious beyond measure. It locked onto Martin.A chill ran down Martin's spine. Without a moment's hesitation, he abandoned his strike against Bertram and dodged immediately.With a thud, the spear struck the ground. It landed horizontally in front of Bertram, saving his life. Bertram was completely drained, as if he had just walked out of the gates of hell.Meanwhile, Martin fixed his gaze on the man approaching from the distance. The man was clad in white battle armor and rode a white unicorn.He was like a streak of flowing light. He closed the distance in just a few breat
"Martin, surrender. You can't halt our progression on your own. The Pope and King Franco have commanded the destruction of the 39 cities held by the rebel forces within a single day. "In fact, it won't even take that long. Once we capture you—the key figure of the rebellion—the other cities will fall without resistance. "You are a skilled individual, reaching the pinnacle of the sixth rank in transcendence. Even within The Light Council, you would be significant. If you choose to surrender, I can introduce you to the Council," Bertram spoke with immense arrogance. His tone implied he was offering Martin a favor. Yet, Martin felt nothing but contempt. "The Light Council? Ha! There are only a few members there worth acknowledging. The Pope and the commander of the ten elite legions are among them. But you, Bertram, are the last person I would respect!" "Hmm?" Bertram's expression grew grim. Fury overtook him. "You're so obstinate! It appears you're intent on resisting to the end.
Gideon cautioned, "There are still some small cracks. Be careful. You need more treatment." As he spoke, the other champions began to regain consciousness one by one. While their injuries were no longer life-threatening, they remained very weak and required time to recover. "What happened to us?" "Are we dead?" Timmy exclaimed, "What are you talking about? You're all alive and fine. Gideon saved you from the brink of death, and even the Grim Reaper wouldn't dare argue!" "Sir!" The group was thrilled. Gideon comforted them, "You've all endured a lot. From now on, just focus on recovering." "Can you still contact Ian and the others? I need to find out where they are." "Sir, when we parted ways, we agreed to meet at the Great Rift of Death in southeastern Tylland. We can only head there and hope for the best!" "The Great Rift of Death," Gideon repeated to himself. "Then, that's where we'll go."As everyone boarded the aircraft, Gideon turned to Siward, asking, "Aren't y
Siward was born with an enchanting allure, which was the source of her strength. Now, with just one look, Gideon could see that her enchanting allure was compromised. For her, this was a profoundly severe injury. At that point, Siward became earnest. "Ian and the others are in trouble." "What do you mean?" "Come with me. I'll explain everything." Siward took hold of Gideon, and they left the grand hall immediately. Martin and the other generals were left behind. However, they bore no resentment. Still, a trace of disappointment appeared in Martin's eyes.… In the backyard, Siward shared some details. After the champions arrived in Tylland, they began conducting covert investigations. They had indeed found evidence of The Light Council. Furthermore, it seemed they were close to uncovering some critical information. The Light Council was engaged in some unknown and mysterious activities. "Genetic engineering?""Yes."Siward's expression was grave. "The secret we unco
"Who are they?" he asked in a frosty tone. "I don't know," came the reply. "Mr. Hager mentioned they're quite distinguished and requested you to receive them." "Very well. Let them in," Martin Hadler agreed with a nod. Moments later, Gideon led the way into the grand hall, with Umbra and Lysander trailing behind. His focus was unwavering as he ignored everyone else and locked eyes with Martin. "Are you the leader of the rebel army?" he inquired. "How dare you!" a general immediately shouted in outrage. "We are the legitimate force here. What do you mean by 'rebel army'? Choose your words carefully, young man. This is your only warning." "Kneel down!" The command was as compelling as a divine decree. The words had an instant effect. The general, who possessed transcendent abilities, found himself unable to resist, as if immense weights were placed upon his shoulders. He collapsed to his knees with a loud crash, his kneecaps shattering on impact. A piercing scream res
Shock gripped them. It was an utter shock. Benedict and his three companions were utterly dumbfounded. They gaped at Gideon, who stood at the plane's cabin door, their minds reeling and struggling to process what they had just seen. The onlookers, including the other kings, felt an even deeper sense of dread. Unbelievable! A single punch to defeat four kings! What did that signify? It was akin to single-handedly overpowering the continent's mightiest forces. Only Franco was absent. Had Franco been present and all five powerful kings subdued, it would truly signify dominion over the entire continent. Such power! In that instant, everyone looked at Gideon with admiration and awe. Some instinctively fell to their knees. Once one person kneeled, a wave of onlookers followed suit, bowing in reverence. Gideon surveyed the scene and said calmly, "I'm merely passing through. I have no other intentions. Let this matter rest here. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Wi
Gideon's brows furrowed, and he replied icily, "Enough. I'm merely passing through and mean no harm. If I've bothered you, I apologize, but I'm pressed for time. Keep this up and more innocents might get hurt—I don't believe that's what you want." "Silence!" Benedict snarled, gritting his teeth. He saw Gideon's words as a facade, an attempt to shame him rather than any genuine kindness. Gideon sighed, glancing around quickly. "Are all these people royalty, judging by their attire? I wonder if King Franco is present." Just then, Camila, Jorge, and Carmelo Madron, King of Naporia, hurried over. "What do you mean? Why are you asking about Franco? Are you looking for him?" Camila inquired. "Indeed, I am looking for King Franco." "He is not here. Word is that there's internal strife in Tylland, and he's occupied with those matters." "Thank you," Gideon said, preparing to close the cabin door. But Benedict shouted, "You think you can leave after embarrassing me? I can't let y
"Sir, we've entered the airspace of the Kingdom of Lullin," Lysander warned with concern. "Lullin is the most powerful kingdom on this continent. We might face serious trouble if we cross through it directly." Gideon responded, "I can't worry about that now. We need to reach Tylland as quickly as possible." No sooner had he spoken than streaks of fire erupted into the sky with a loud boom, unleashing a barrage of overwhelming firepower. The intensity surpassed what they had faced at the northern border pass, yet Lysander remained calm. He trusted Gideon completely. "Prepare for action!" Gideon reopened the cabin door. Here it came! Lysander's anticipation grew as he watched Gideon's tall and commanding figure, awaiting the "miracle". The Solar Titan Physique activated. A brilliant light and a powerful, searing presence spread out, obliterating the incoming firepower from afar."What?" The ground strike combat troops were filled with fear. What was happening? They cou