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
As Gideon left Goldspire Hotel, his thoughts lingered on the person Damian had mentioned. He knew exactly who he was referring to. Zane Farrell, the eldest son of the Farrell family in Goldspire. Back in the day, Zane was one of the Four Elites of Goldspire, just like Gideon. However, their relationship had been far from friendly. It was marked by tension, even outright animosity. Goldspire wasn't just known for its Four Elites. There were also the Three Beauties of Goldspire. Among them, Waverly Tate of the Tate family was the most stunning. Zane had been infatuated with Waverly, pursuing her relentlessly, but she had always ignored him. Instead, she gravitated toward Gideon—a closeness that planted the seeds of Zane's envy and hostility. The situation escalated when an incident spread like wildfire. Gideon and Waverly had spent a night together on Dragon Peak. Rumors swept through Goldspire, claiming the two had solidified their relationship. The Tate family, catching
Gideon smiled. "It's not that. It's just that five years have passed, and things have changed. I was just asking."At that moment, Anna spoke up, "Mr. Snow, the Tates aren't in a good situation."Gideon raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"His frown deepened as Anna explained, "Over the past three years, the Tates have been hit hard with setbacks and sanctions. Rumor has it that the Farrell family has been pulling the strings behind the scenes."Anna added, "Now, the Tates are on the brink of collapse. It's likely that their conglomerate will go bankrupt soon."Gideon's face hardened, and the temperature in the room dropped with his cold demeanor. He muttered to himself, a fury building up within him, "Zane, that bastard!"Anna continued, "Also, Ms. Tate's reputation is getting bad. There are rumors circulating that she's been living recklessly. On the surface, she pretends to be prim and proper, but behind the scenes, she's been involved in questionable behavior."She added, "
"Sir, it's here." Lysander pointed at a hospital on the map.As he gestured toward the psychiatric hospital ahead, he said, "But Mr. Snow, this place appears to be fully secured. Are you planning to break in directly?"Gideon considered it for a moment. Causing a commotion in broad daylight wasn't ideal. He pulled out his phone and made a call. "Gideon, so you finally remembered me! Where on Earth have you been these past few days?" Rachel's voice came through, laced with irritation. "Rachel, I need you to handle something for me," Gideon said, cutting to the chase. "Oh, I see how it is! You only remember me when you need something. When there's nothing, you vanish like a ghost! You've got some nerve, Gideon!" Rachel's tone was filled with mock frustration.Despite her complaints, Rachel harbored complex feelings toward Gideon. She was still in awe of the man who single-handedly stormed the Yovarian Guild headquarters and wiped out their leaders in just one fateful night
Waverly had once been full of life and beauty, but now, she was locked away in a psychiatric facility.Rachel recognized Waverly by the silhouette even from behind. After all, she herself was one of the Beauties of Goldspire. Though she'd heard rumors of Waverly's stay in the facility, seeing it in person was different.Rachel's emotions swirled in conflict as she stood there. She remembered vividly how years ago, Gideon and Waverly were lovers on the brink of engagement. Now, Gideon was here, searching for Waverly.Was he here to rekindle their relationship?The thought stung. Rachel felt a pang of discomfort, but she quickly pushed it aside. She was a capable businesswoman who was far above petty jealousy.Gideon walked slowly toward the bed.Waverly didn't react. She sat still, her gaze vacant as she stared out the window. Her face was pale."Waverly," Gideon called softly.He knelt by her side and gently held her frail hand. "Waverly, it's me. I'm back."At his words, her
Zane's expression shifted slightly before he sneered dismissively. "I've heard the rumors. He's back, is he? Good. Times have changed. The Snows have fallen, so Gideon's nothing now." "Mr. Farrell, do you want us to act?" the man inquired cautiously. Zane waved his hand dismissively and said, "No need. Instead, intensify the pressure on the Tate family. Within a month, I want Tate Corporation to go bankrupt and out of the picture. Let's see how Gideon feels when that happens." A cold smile spread across Zane's face as he leaned back into his chair. …Meanwhile, at the villa on Beaker Island, Waverly had awakened. Thanks to Gideon's meticulous care, her condition had improved dramatically. Her physical state was much better, and her emotions were finally stabilizing. The moment her gaze fell on Gideon, she became overwhelmed again. Her body trembled uncontrollably as tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry," Gideon said, his voice laden with guilt. He leaned fo
The man sneered, "You know, your wife is quite the beauty. Selling her off might help clear some of that debt."Ronald erupted like a thunderclap, his face contorted with fury. "You bastard! You're courting death!" he roared."That little bastard Zane ruined my daughter, and now, he dares come for my wife? I'll kill you!" Ronald snapped.Ronald lunged at the man, fists flying.But the middle-aged man was no ordinary opponent. He sidestepped Ronald's attack effortlessly, his movements smooth and precise. With a cold smirk, he swung a fist at Ronald's head.Before it could connect, a hand shot out, catching his fist mid-swing."What the—" The man's expression twisted into shock.The next moment, a sickening crack echoed through the room.A sharp, guttural scream filled the air.The man's hand was crushed. His bones were shattered beyond repair. He staggered back, clutching his ruined hand and howling in agony."My hand! My hand! You've destroyed my hand!" he shrieked. His eyes
Gideon had spoken with unwavering confidence, his tone firm and resolute. However, Ronald remained skeptical. He sighed inwardly, disappointed by what he perceived as Gideon's lack of self-awareness. To him, Gideon's words were nothing more than empty bravado—a desperate attempt to maintain pride after the fall of his once-glorious family.Ronald understood. Anyone in Gideon's shoes would struggle to accept such a downfall. "Mr. Tate, you don't believe me?" Gideon asked, his sharp eyes fixed on the older man. Ronald shook his head gently, his expression weary. "Gideon, I understand how you feel. But the Farrells are an unstoppable force. Take your time. For now, you're far from being a match for Zane." After a pause, he added grimly, "This latest move from Zane of sending someone to buy out my company shows that he's eager to crush me completely. And now that you've injured his man, this won't end quietly. Both of us are in danger."Gideon's gaze hardened. "Mr. Tate, wha
Gideon declared coldly, his voice void of any sympathy, "That's not something I can allow. I'm afraid this is the end for you." The instant the young man clad in black stole the inner core, his fate was sealed."No!" The man screamed in desperation, his face contorted with unwillingness.Suddenly, a fighter jet roared into view, and a startled voice called out, "Giles, what are you doing here?"The young man in black, Giles Terrell, looked up to see a figure dressed in purple standing at the jet's cabin door. Hope surged within him, as if he'd found a lifeline.Giles cried out, "Francis! Help me!"However, Francis Hurst's eyes were riveted on the inner core, a greedy gleam flickering within them.Francis thought that it was fate for him to stumble upon the alpha beast's inner core. If he seized it and used it for his cultivation, he'd surely surpass the young leaders of factions like Martialgarde and Warbringer Gate. Giles had truly given him a wonderful opportunity.Wi
"Why are you pursuing me so persistently? Whoever reaches the inner core first should rightfully claim it. You were careless, so consider this a learning experience. Isn't that reasonable? Must we really end in a situation where both of us lose?" the young man taunted. "A learning experience? That's truly amusing. You steal my inner core and have the nerve to call it a lesson. You certainly have a lot to say," Gideon retorted coldly. He extended his hand, and a massive shadow hand materialized from above. It was the Clausum Palm. The alpha beast, ridden by the young man in black, sensed the immense power of the handprint and froze in fear, dropping to the ground. "Blast it!" The young man in black was so furious that he nearly coughed up blood. Forced to leave the alpha beast, he continued fleeing on foot. He retaliated with a punch, smashing the hand. "Oh? You still have the energy to fight back. Impressive. You're quite the young talent. What a shame you chose to seek you
Out of nowhere, a chain shot up from below, snagging the inner core and swiftly dragging it away. "What?" Gideon erupted in fury. Who would dare snatch from a tiger's jaws? This person had some guts. "Stop!" he roared. With a thunderous force, he cut through the toxic miasma, reaching for the chain. But the thief was no ordinary being. They were a formidable opponent, retracting the chain with remarkable speed. Gideon caught a glimpse of a flickering figure in the jungle. "The inner core I captured isn't something just anyone can take. Let's see if you can escape my clutches," Gideon threatened, his voice resonating with intensity. The figure in the jungle hesitated, a chill running down their spine, yet they didn't relent and fled with the inner core.The fighter jet descended rapidly. But with the dense canopy of ancient trees in the jungle, aerial navigation was not possible. Gideon landed a backhand strike on Kori, rendering him unconscious to prevent any interferenc
Jake let out a terrified scream. He quickly adjusted the fighter jet's course, but just then, a tentacle burst forth from the dense, poisonous fog. The tentacle was black and moved with alarming speed, reaching the jet in mere moments as if intent on tearing it apart. "Fire!" Jake activated the attack system, and over a dozen missiles were launched. The attack was successful, as the tentacle was blown into a gruesome mess. In the distance, a thunderous roar echoed, shaking the heavens and earth—the Shadowgnaw Overlord had felt the pain. Suddenly, more than 30 black shadows emerged from the toxic cloud."Damn it!" Jake swore. He struggled to continue operating the fighter jet amid the overwhelming number of tentacles. Their firepower was no longer enough. Desperately, he called out, "Sir!" At that moment, Gideon sprang into action. Rather than destroying the tentacles, he reached out and seized the one lunging at them. With a powerful yell, he unleashed the strength of
Luckily, Gideon's fighter jet was a state-of-the-art model, so flying through the poisonous haze wasn't a significant problem. Suddenly, a piercing scream reverberated inside the jet, making it shake violently. Kori's face went white as he yelled, "This is bad! It must be the Shadowgnaw Bug. They're venomous creatures that can survive in this toxic fog. An adult Shadowgnaw Bug can reach the size of a lion or tiger, and the Shadowgnaw Overlord is even scarier, being as big as an elephant." Just as he finished speaking, another high-pitched cry sounded. The fighter jet shook uncontrollably and began to dive. Jake did everything he could to keep the jet stable. If the jet had been a regular aircraft, it would likely have broken apart by now. Kori looked deeply concerned. "Based on the strength of that cry, it seems we've run into the Shadowgnaw Overlord." "What's the big deal about one bug? Can it really be that dangerous?" Gideon scoffed, signaling Jake to open the cockpit door.
Gideon trusted Kori completely, as Kori's life depended on him, leaving no room for hidden agendas. The fighter jet soared eastward at high altitude. Gideon was immersed in studying the Book of Medicamentum. He vaguely remembered Titus once mentioning the pure-essence physique and other rare physiques, such as the pure solar physique. These were subtly referenced in the Book of Medicamentum. His current task was to uncover information about the pure-essence physique in the latter part of the Book of Medicamentum. If successful, he might learn how to harness the methods concerning the pure-essence physique himself, enabling Elara to fully awaken and transform. Silence enveloped the entire fighter jet.That evening, the jet touched down on the summit of a large mountain. The pilot, Jake Clythe, was weary from hours of flight, was instructed by Gideon to take a one-hour break. Gideon and Kori also disembarked from the aircraft.The landscape was filled with overlapping mountains
Kori was overwhelmed with fear. "What are you doing? What have you done to me?" he exclaimed. Gideon smirked. "Don't worry. I've just set up three 'fuses.' As long as you behave, nothing will happen. But if you try anything funny, I can make your head explode with just a thought. And don't think about removing the golden needles. I won't be responsible for what happens if you do." Kori's expression flickered between anger and resignation. It was deeply humiliating for someone who had traveled the world all his life to be treated as such in his later years. However, he had no other options. Taking a deep breath, Kori calmed himself and dismissed his hostile thoughts, turning his focus to assess Elara's condition. Gideon observed from the side. No one could tell what secret method Kori was using, but gradually, the air temperature rose. This was due to the contraction of pure essence energy. Half an hour later, Kori wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled. "It's done. The
"Do you want me to be honest with you?" Kori prodded. "What? Can't you solve it? Then, you're destined to fail." A fierce, murderous intent flashed in Gideon's eyes. Kori quickly responded, "The pure-essence physique is extremely rare. If it were a martial artist with a robust constitution, I could safely help them awaken it. But your wife is just an ordinary person. Her body is too fragile, and I can't take that risk. "Though your medical skills are impressive, you can't guarantee her safety. The only solution is to find Mr. Ruggeweyn or Mr. Warth. They possess secret techniques that can awaken the pure-essence physique without risk. "However, I'm not entirely helpless. I can use a secret technique right now to suppress the essence, preventing any leakage of pure essence energy. This could safeguard your wife's body and possibly help her regain consciousness. Do you want me to proceed?" Gideon asked, "Where are Mr. Ruggeweyn and Mr. Warth? If you can reach them, do so qu
"Who on earth are you?" Kori asked. His face twisted with fury as he ran desperately, with Gideon relentlessly pursuing him like a hawk after its prey. It was both insulting and disgraceful! "Argh!" Eventually, Kori couldn't bear it any longer. He stopped and bellowed, "I'd rather die than be shamed. Kid, I'll fight you to death!" Kori spat out a mouthful of blood, unleashed a secret technique, and launched a powerful attack. Gideon's expression turned serious at that moment. He calmly extended his fist and declared, "Doombringer Knuckle!" The brilliant glow of his fist surged forward with determination. Kori's attack was instantly destroyed, and he was sent flying, his body nearly breaking apart. He crashed hard into a dirt pit and couldn't rise again. "Sir, watch out!" Harper yelled with all her strength just then. Gideon raised an eyebrow. More and more advanced weapons were being launched. Several missiles sped toward them. In fact, the high-tech weapons had been re