The employee breathed a sigh of relief and replied with sign language. This caused everyone watching the live stream to feel baffled."Wait, does anyone know what he's saying? And since when does my idol know sign language? He's so talented!""I'm deaf-mute," one viewer explained in the chat. "Leon asked him how to get to the factory's livestream room. The employee told him to take a right and offered to guide him. He also asked if Leon was from the media and wanted to apologize.""Apologize? What for?""I know about this! I just caught up on the drama. A reporter visited to conduct an undercover investigation and asked the man the same questions."They thought he was impatient because he was signaling urgently, and they edited the video to make it seem like he was being rude.""What the heck? They're just trying to slander him!""They even added sound effects to make it worse.""How could they do this to the deaf-mute community? Do people even have a conscience anymore?"The
Aria hadn't shared the detailed plan for exposing the factory's true nature with Isaiah. So, as the employees worked, he busied himself overseeing and recording the packaging process.Unaware of the online developments, Isaiah handed his notebook to his assistant just as a young man from the live stream production team rushed over, breathless."M-Mr. Katz, Ms. Carver is here! S-She brought a huge celebrity. She said he's our ambassador! We've got over a million viewers on the live stream!"We're finally being seen! They're not here to scold us. They're asking which product tastes best. They're all here to support us!"The young man, overcome with emotion, removed his glasses and clung to Isaiah's sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably.Over the years, they have tried so many ways to promote their products. Even though they didn't know how to write scripts, they tried to record videos. They were desperate for anyone to remember their canned peaches. Yet, no matter their efforts, attentio
In the meantime, over at the Draycott family, several calls from Orion's affiliated companies had gone unanswered. Orion was hosting guests in a private club at the time. The club was lavishly adorned, with bridges arching over streams of flowing water and calligraphy set against painted backdrops. A pianist played softly in the distance. Even the wine was poured into crystal goblets, evoking the elegance of an era when scholars gathered to debate philosophy and poetry.Privacy was the club's most valued feature. The pianist couldn't see the guests in the private rooms, and diners rarely revealed their true identities. They enjoyed exclusive dishes and rare reserve liquors and dressed with understated simplicity.Despite Orion's immense wealth, the guests he entertained held a level of influence that even he couldn't reach. Yet, it didn't matter. If Orion needed something, all he had to do was ask.An assistant at Orion's side began pouring wine for the three men. Just as he was a
"In the end, it all depends on which side we're closer to." Orion's eyes lit up when he heard that. It seemed like Lily was trustworthy. She had to have been reborn—there was no other explanation for how she possessed such crucial knowledge. Even Orion, with all his connections, had only learned about it much later.Orion masked his excitement with difficulty and signaled his assistant, who placed a plain cardboard box on the table.The trio's eyes flickered toward the box. They already knew what was inside—this wasn't their first encounter with it."As usual, I'll be relying on you three," Orion said.One of them replied discreetly, "A businessman like Mr. Draycott is exactly what our district needs. Don't worry."After finishing their drinks, the three left the club separately. Yet none of them went home—they each headed to another destination, accompanied by women Orion had arranged.He understood their desires well, but his gestures carried a deeper message—a reminder of
Orion furrowed his brows. He had orchestrated the entire scheme—blocking their ambassador searches, using fake accounts to slander them, and editing videos to sway public opinion.His goal was simple—push the Katz family into bankruptcy and then acquire their assets at a bargain price.He expected them to cry foul online but never imagined they'd succeed. The Katz family was too old-fashioned, too disconnected from the digital world. Besides, no one ever managed to clear their name after being smeared online.So why had everything shifted when a celebrity got involved?"Who did you say the ambassador was?" Orion asked sharply."Leon. He's a top idol! And now people are slandering our partner companies, accusing us of sabotaging homegrown brands.""Leon?" Orion shot to his feet, the name sparking recognition—Leon Carver.Pain throbbed in Orion's clenched jaw. "How could I have forgotten? He's from the Carver family. I underestimated Aria. I didn't think she could pull off a mov
Orion looked out the window, his jaw clenched. "Aria, I've let you have your way twice already. You've ruined my plans over and over again. This third time, I'll extend to you the highest courtesy Ludwiten has to offer—I'll make sure you regret ever stepping foot here, and you'll witness firsthand how the Grisham family falls from grace."He hadn't planned on triggering the traps he had laid with Jett. His original intent was to make the Grisham family grovel in the future, but Aria was pushing him too far. Wasting a plan years in the making was unthinkable, yet Orion understood he had no other choice. "If we can't clear our name from the incident, leak their address online," he instructed in a low voice over the phone. "And start preparing for the customs."The online discussions were spiraling out of control, and he needed a scapegoat.If he could shift public outrage onto the Grisham family, then the Draycott family wouldn't suffer a true loss.Orion hadn't expected anything
Leon's reaction clearly caught Isaiah off guard, leaving him somewhat at a loss. During the past five years, the Katz family's influence had steadily declined. No one truly respected them anymore. To secure any promotional resources, Isaiah had to approach others with humility. Leon knew Isaiah's granddaughter was a fan who once pleaded with him, "Grandpa, if you could get this celebrity to visit our factory, people would buy our canned goods!" She was too young to understand that the adult world was far more complicated. In their current state, the Katz family couldn't even attract minor celebrities, let alone the A-listers young people talked about. Isaiah opened his mouth, then quickly grasped Leon's hand. This gesture reminded Leon of the past. He remembered that the old man before him was not always like this. Back then, Isaiah had been full of energy. He would occasionally visit Clyde to play chess and share news about acquiring new land where their old colleagues could
Taking action meant more than just making purchases. The products on the live stream links had already sold out. The fans' goal was to spread awareness about this exceptional domestic brand that was facing unjust accusations from mysterious competitors. The claims about poor quality were baseless. The allegations about unsanitary conditions and rude employees were equally absurd. Leon's fans were determined to reveal the whole truth. Young people's ability to spread information online was unmatched. Many content creators and private media accounts voluntarily produced videos, and the story spread like wildfire. What started with a few shares turned into thousands, then millions.The local government account that had conducted the undercover investigation had already disabled comments in fear. Yet countless people still tagged them. "As Westgate officials, shouldn't you review your reports more carefully?" "Who conducted the investigation? Who benefited from it?" "Is this how
The aged voice was filled with indifference. "It seems like she reached a dead end."Amos sneered. "I don't understand why these peasants like staying in the city. Still, it's fortunate for us. Otherwise, it'd be hard to get our hands on them.""Amos," the person cut in sharply, as if reminding him of his place.Amos only dared to speak so harshly when no one was around. If word got out, his image as the perfect secretary would be ruined.He quickly calmed down and fell silent. The caller didn't press the matter, simply saying, "You need to change the way you speak and act from now on."Since she's already agreed, give her the money. Don't treat her requests as a nuisance. The more requests they make, the less likely they are to cause trouble later."After picking her up tomorrow, send a few men to check if her grandparents need any help. Make sure everything is done properly."Amos nodded. "I understand. You always see the bigger picture. We'll continue looking after them."Poo
"I promise it won't happen again!" To an outsider, it might've sounded like Amos was talking about the cafeteria mishap. But the truth was much darker. What Amos really meant was that incidents like this could continue, just never publicly. Once the media's attention died down, they could go back to doing whatever they pleased. But for now, the performance had to be flawless.The man on the other end of the call seemed satisfied. Though his voice was flat and monotonous, there was a noticeable shift; it was now less stern."She's been manipulating the stock market," he said. "It's caused major damage to several of Luwditen's corporations. We can't let her walk free."Amos removed his glasses, a grim look on his face. "That's exactly what I told the Securities Regulatory Department. It doesn't matter who comes to plead on her behalf. Even if she's the late Mr. Barron's heir, she has to face the law."She's confessed. No one's going to let her off the hook now. You know what jail'
At first, Eden didn't understand what Aria meant. But as night fell, Aria lowered her head and started fumbling with something. When she looked up again, Eden was stunned—Aria looked exactly like her.Eden's eyes widened in disbelief. She'd only seen something like this in movies. But now, it was unfolding right in front of her. So there really was such a flawless disguise technique in the world."Aria, you…""Since I'm using your identity, I have to be you," Aria said with a soft tug of her mask, smiling. She had always been bold, yet precise. Working in the Special Missions Unit meant secrecy was second nature to her—this part was routine."Stay home and rest tonight. I'll leave first thing in the morning. Once I'm gone and the coast is clear, take your grandparents and leave."Eden opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond. She didn't even know when the people watching them would leave."My team will come get you," Aria reassured her. "What's important is that your grandparent
Eden nodded. "Okay. I'll do as you say, Aria."She sent the text just like Aria instructed. Moments later, her teacher replied—everything had been arranged. A car would pick her up from home. There was no need to return to school.A cold shiver ran down Eden's spine. They knew where she lived. They'd been watching all along. Not just the school—they were everywhere.Eden didn't linger at school. Outside the entrance, the main topic of conversation was the officials' arrival for an investigation and the school's public exposure.Everyone knew the cafeteria was a mess. Students had complained countless times, but each time inspectors came, the food improved just long enough to pass the checks. Then it would all revert. It had become the norm—something they were forced to accept.Eden was no different. She just wanted to get home. She needed to see her grandparents. She feared something might happen to them next.Every step on the way home, she stayed alert, scanning her surroundings
Eden listened closely, her brow furrowing. Her teacher wasn't speaking Farshyan. School was no longer a safe place, and Eden didn't know who she could trust. Her classmates were too caught up in mocking Aria to notice anything was wrong, all assuming Eden was lucky to have been chosen.She considered calling the police, picking up her phone, but then paused. What could she even say? That there was a mole at school? Her face turned pale as she remembered how close the principal was to influential people. The authorities might not believe her, or worse, they might be involved.Despite the headlines claiming Aria had been arrested, Eden felt a spark of hope. Aria had promised she'd show up if Eden ever needed her. Taking a deep breath, Eden dialed the number Aria had given her.She didn't expect anyone to answer. But then came a cool, familiar voice. "Eden? What's wrong? Did someone give you trouble again?"Eden's heart soared. "You're not arrested! The news is fake, isn't it? I knew
Lucas gave Amos a sidelong glance. "In that case, let's do as Mr. Lune suggested—punish everyone involved."Announce to the public that Oakvale Academy will be used as a test case. We'll be conducting surprise inspections in all middle and high schools."As for why Mr. Kelsey encountered two completely different scenes during his visits—well, that's easy to explain." Lucas' gaze swept across the room. "Someone tipped off the school before your visit. If any other school received advance notice, every one of you will be under scrutiny."Though Lucas spoke with a smile, none of the seven present—including the three officials—could return it. The smile, in this context, was more chilling than rage. This was a warning. Amos, in particular, felt deeply unsettled. He had come intending to redirect Lucas' attention away from Oakvale Academy. Instead, the incident had blown up. With public attention turning toward the school, transferring Eden would soon become impossible.Still, Amo
Now that Miguel, who was an expert in covering up, was gone, the long-standing issues in the school were exposed.The group stood frozen as they watched a cafeteria worker pour something into a large pot. A closer look revealed it was leftover mushroom soup. But that wasn't the worst of it. The soup reeked, clearly spoiled, yet it was still being reheated for the students.Things only got worse when they entered the kitchen. Hygiene standards were appalling. Not a single chef wore a mask, and some were even smoking while cooking.Amos' expression darkened immediately, even before Lucas could react.One of the chefs noticed them and slammed his ladle onto the counter. "What are you doing in here? Outsiders aren't allowed in the school—don't you know that?"Unlike other schools, Oakvale Academy had somehow always slipped through the cracks during routine inspections. When required to present something, they staged it well enough to fool a camera.So, the staff never expected a surp
Aria understood that this was all the person could offer. The real mastermind would never reveal himself so easily—not even to his most trusted subordinates.Those in power never needed to explain themselves. Those who understood them would earn their favor; those who didn't were destined to remain at the bottom.Her thoughts raced. She needed hard evidence to capture whoever was behind Amos. Baseless accusations would only alert the enemy and push them deeper into hiding.Allowing herself to be arrested had been part of Aria's plan. She needed the mastermind to lower his guard. After all, she had been too visible in Ludwiten lately. With eyes constantly watching her, she couldn't make any real moves. But she couldn't let the incident at Oakvale Academy go unresolved. Her instincts told her it was the key to everything.Before Philip found his family, she had to act—and that meant changing her identity to save Even.Just then, the person's phone buzzed. He turned the screen towa
"Boss!" Weston rushed over the moment he finished dealing with the other officers. Aria arched an eyebrow, flexing her wrists. "He's the mole?""Yes." Weston nodded. The Securities Regulatory Bureau, dispatched by the Securities Regulatory Commission, was tasked with auditing listed companies—particularly sniffing out insider trading and market manipulation.While not everyone in the bureau could be corrupt, it was common for a few to be compromised.The officer who had been interrogating Aria was of a minor rank, but the one Weston had just exposed held real power.Aria looked over at the trembling man. His legs had given out, sending him to the floor. His phone lay discarded beside him as he shook uncontrollably.They had met before—at a Chamber of Commerce meeting. To him, Aria had just been a clever heiress with some market luck, thanks to Landon's influence. No one would have expected her to single-handedly bring down the Draycott family.No one would logically believe