As Aria's hunger grew from her intensive thinking, the food finally arrived.Despite Landon's claims of it being a modest meal, he had actually brought them to a renowned seafood restaurant in Janovin that had been serving exquisite dishes for over a century.Every dish, from the appetizers to the decadent desserts, was a culinary masterpiece. The freshly sliced meat burst with flavor in every bite.Clearly, Landon knew Sam's appetite well, as he'd ordered a perfectly seasoned tomahawk steak. Its tenderness and flavor were evident in every mouthful. Sam's eyes lit up, and he graciously shared with Fiona.Aria had no cause for concern; Landon was attentive, assisting her with food and napkins. His usual obsession with germs seemed to be forgotten as his coat lay loosely nearby.As Landon brushed Aria's hair back, he asked with a smile, "Are you that hungry?""Yup," Aria replied, her physically demanding job requiring ample energy for her plans. Landon tied her hair back, his eyes
The seafood restaurant was a reservation-only establishment with traditional décor, offering little soundproofing.Soon, a manager approached Christian and his group, who were a bit too loud. "Sir, please lower your voice to avoid disturbing the other patrons."Timmy turned beet red from embarrassment. "They have many rules here, don't they?""Of course. It's a public place, after all. If it weren't for Christian, we wouldn't even be here. Let's show some respect," someone retorted.Humiliated, Timmy was about to retaliate, but Christian intervened to calm things down. "Let's drop it, guys. We can continue this over drinks. Don't worry about the bill. It's my treat."He added, "Lily will be here soon. Take the opportunity to find yourselves a girlfriend. Her roommates are coming too. Don't say I didn't give you a heads-up."His male classmates glanced around. "What chance do we have with you around? Half the school has a crush on you."They weren't exaggerating. Christian was ha
"Lily, I think you'd better not bother with that disgusting fake heiress," Myrtle suggested.Lily thought Aria was involved in a scandal. She could barely suppress her joy as she feigned a scowl and said, "Myrtle, don't be so mean.""Lily, don't blame Myrtle. Aria's the one being secretive about her new relationship. I wonder what's there to hide?" Timmy pursed his lips.Was Aria in a relationship?Lily pretended to worry about Aria, "Do you think Aria might have been deceived? Grandma never mentioned anything about a boyfriend."In truth, Lily hadn't been in touch with Georgina lately. Cameron was the one who had informed her that Aria was single."She wouldn't dare. Your grandmother would have informed you if Aria's boyfriend were even remotely as impressive as Christian. But no, Aria settled for a gigolo! How embarrassing."Lily was secretly delighted. She hadn't forgotten the humiliation Aria inflicted on her. At the time, Aria had seemed so superior.Lily could barely hold
After witnessing Lily's behavior today, Christian began to question whether he might be overthinking things.With an arm around Lily, he decided to seek out Aria once the gathering concluded. He hadn't forgotten his father's advice—winning over Aria could potentially open doors to connections with Lucas, the Secretary-General of City Hall. Additionally, Christian had to admit Aria was as stunning as he remembered. He refused to believe she had moved on. If she had, she wouldn't have chosen a gigolo as a boyfriend instead of pursuing a normal relationship.With this in mind, Christian devised a plan. "It's nothing much but why don't I send over a bottle of wine to preserve your dignity, Lily?"Christian's intentions were clear. He wanted Aria to realize how much more generous he was than her boyfriend. Most importantly, he wanted her to know he was in the restaurant.Lily was taken aback. "You want to send wine over?""If you're against it, we can forget it. It's entirely up to y
Landon supported Leon, valuing his business worth and the fact that he was a Carver."Aria, I need to get back to work." Leon continued with a hint of something else in his tone, "We celebrities are at the mercy of our bosses. They have countless ways to make money but choose to exploit us."Realizing the remark was aimed at him, Landon smiled. "Leon, work hard. I'll take care of Aria."Leon might have flipped the table right then if Landon weren't his boss.Listening to their exchange, Aria asked, "Leon, what job did you take on?"She sensed that this was just the beginning of the chaos surrounding "Survival of the Fittest.""My job?" Leon was caught off guard by her question and hesitated before replying, "I'll probably be on another variety show. It hasn't been officially announced yet. I'm still waiting for my manager's arrangements."Aria toyed with her amethyst pendant. "Okay. Let me know once it's confirmed.""Sure!" Leon flashed a triumphant glance at Landon, implying A
Bound by the restaurant's century-old traditions, the owner himself brought the wine to Landon's room. Although unfamiliar with the York family personally, Oliver Richton knew enough about their customs to realize Landon's future brother-in-law should be aware of Landon's limited tolerance for alcohol.Therefore, it was questionable why he would send a bottle of alcohol over to Landon's room.Yet, it was a rare opportunity for Oliver to meet Landon, who was known for avoiding dining out due to health concerns. Accustomed to interacting with the Wagner and Layne families, Oliver knew they would never send alcohol to Landon. Instead, they would respectfully greet him. Given Landon's prestigious background, the other wealthy young men never dared to pressure him to drink when he declined due to health concerns. Holding the bottle of red wine, Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. However, Christian seemed confident in his intentions.Oliver knew that refusing
The head chef turned to Oliver in surprise, astonished by the sight of a child with such a voracious appetite.Aria smiled. "Go ahead and roast one for him. He's a big eater."Landon fiddled with his rosary bracelet. "One leg might not be enough. If Mrs. Carver heads to Ludwiten alone, Aria will be worried. Let Sam accompany her. He can bring a leg of lamb to eat on the way."Sam studied Landon as if trying to understand him, but he eventually gave up. Landon still seemed dangerous to him.Upon seeing this, Oliver instructed the head chef to prepare the leg. Sam wasn't a picky eater. After gathering the meat from the table, he approached Fiona happily. They were bound to get hungry during the walk, so he might as well bring some food.Fiona found his innocence endearing and led him away with a smile.Now that Fiona was gone, Landon changed his demeanor. He tugged on his collar with one hand and tousled Aria's hair with another.Then, he whispered in her ear, "I have too many r
"They want to flaunt their wealth?" Aria couldn't understand the logic behind using wine to show off their riches. Seeing her disgusted expression, Landon leaned on her shoulder with a smile.Aria didn't understand why he was so amused. She tilted his chin to meet her gaze, her eyes filled with confusion. "Could you explain how sending a bottle of wine shows off their wealth?"Oliver wished he could disappear. Even though Aria was a Carver, Oliver doubted anyone would dare to treat Landon like this. In fact, it felt like Landon was a handsome gigolo Aria kept around.Oliver shook his head to dismiss his absurd thoughts.As a man, Landon understood Christian's intentions. That's why he'd reacted so strongly."They sent the wine to taunt us for not opening a bottle. Hence, as your brother-in-law, he gave one to us as a gesture." Although Landon's tone carried a touch of amusement, his gaze was cold. Aria raised an eyebrow. "That's all?""That's all." Landon chuckled, twirling h
"I'll ask Boss if she needs a bellboy!"Harry hadn't changed a bit. With his flashy gold chains and oversized watch, he was always quick to jump at any opportunity to make money. If Aria invited him to meet other businessmen, he'd be on board without hesitation.Everyone who did business with Aria shared a common trait—they would get addicted. Every entrepreneur dreamed of growth. The longer they toil in the market, the stronger their desire to expand. It was a universal truth among business leaders.For these dreamers, an investor like Aria was a godsend. She thrived on improvement, making her an ideal partner.Harry, as enthusiastic as ever, bombarded Aria with messages. Aria had planned to visit Ludwiten before, but things kept happening, delaying her trip. Her frequent nightmares and the unresolved tension between her mother and uncles weighed on her mind. Now, with Barron leaving some important items for her in Ludwiten, she had no choice but to go. Sneaking there was neve
"Honestly, you shouldn't let Boss go to Ludwiten. If she insists on going, at least send me along! It's not as if you're unaware of how messy their business circle can be. This isn't Janovin we're talking about!"Harry's voice rang loud and clear as he slammed his palm on the CEO's desk, a bold move no one else at Grand Construction Corp would dare attempt. The employees outside exchanged curious glances, whispering among themselves. What could have dragged Harry back from his vacation in such a state?Harry was worried. "We have plenty of employees. How could you let a lady like her go over there by herself? What if she gets harassed? At least here, our influence can protect her. People would think twice once they know who she is. Stop sipping that coffee and answer me already!"Tavian Montague, the vice-CEO, sighed and powered off his computer. He removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Harry, calm down. Do you really think Aria got this far on luck? Don't let her lo
The eight figures sat together, ostensibly discussing Aria's arrival. In truth, their agenda was far less noble—they were determined to keep the items they had long appropriated, refusing to return what rightfully belonged to others. After holding onto these possessions for so long, they had convinced themselves they were entitled to them.Their plan was to maintain a façade of respect toward the Carver family to avoid public scrutiny. However, they were equally resolute in protecting their own interests. They intended to demonstrate the influence of Ludwiten's business elite on Aria. It would be much better if she could be persuaded to invest billions in their ventures.It was a strategy they'd employed before, notably with Owen, and found it amusing.Yet Percy, despite his youth, was not so easily deceived. His calm demeanor and precise legal arguments left little room for manipulation. The Carver family's resilience, after all, stemmed largely from their grandchildren.Sti
Tobias once said that Aria was the most gifted person in the Decatorian way. Yet, for all her supposed talent, she couldn't use the Emperor Coins just by casually throwing them on her first attempt. She had to study them before she could wield them effectively.Thankfully, Leon chose the entertainment industry. If he had chosen to be inducted in the Decatorian way, the disciples of Mount Dracotigris would have been disheartened. "Leon, have you ever considered going into another industry?" Aria asked. Leon shook his head, a rebellious smirk on his face. "Aria, look at me. This face was born to be a celebrity. It'd be a crime to waste it."Aria sighed, accustomed to his narcissism. It was hard to argue—Leon's rebellious charm and striking looks had won over both women and men. Yet, his popularity brought challenges of its own."I still have Emperor Coins with me," Aria said, pulling out a beaded bracelet adorned with the coins and securing it around Leon's wrist. "Take it. For yo
Warren's eyes reddened as he gazed at Fergus, the grandson he had once hoped to raise personally. In that moment, he felt his life had been worthwhile. As one grew older, they came to understand a fundamental truth—if their descendants could grasp their thoughts, rather than dismissing the ways of the past as irrelevant, it was something to celebrate. Warren could now pass on everything to his grandchildren, finally feeling worthy within the Carver family.…Meanwhile, Leon furrowed his brows in the second-floor bedroom. "What are they talking about?""It's probably about Ludwiten. They have some business to settle. Why?" Aria had intentionally given Fergus and Warren some time to talk. As for her, she stayed with Leon in his room, playing games and snacking.When she heard his question, she smiled. "Are you interested as well, Leon?""I'm not cut out for business." Leon couldn't sit still and kept pacing back and forth. His silver hair, falling perfectly, made him look like a
That night, Warren stood before the memorial hall and spoke to his ancestors."Aria will be returning to Ludwiten tonight. Things will be different this time. There will be many obstacles ahead of her, but we must return eventually. Aria will finish what I couldn't. Please protect her."The Carver family was forced to shift their business from Ludwiten to Janovin at the time. And back then, they believed they could return at any moment. Yet, over 70 years had passed since then.Both Warren and Stephen were sentimental individuals, always hoping to return to Ludwiten. However, circumstances had shifted over the years. Moreover, the business landscape in Ludwiten had grown increasingly complex, with rising foreign investments. Their commitments in Janovin, especially after Owen married Fiona, kept them from returning.Warren had expected Owen to stay in Ludwiten, as he had promised the Grisham family. But Owen broke that promise.Warren's greatest wish had always been to return to
Although the crow was unsure of its owner's thoughts, it was indeed afraid of the dagger made out of Oracle bones.In fact, it wasn't made of ordinary animal bones. It was from the Oracle, one of the Four Perils. Most importantly, it carried spiritual energy from heaven and earth.Back then, the crow didn't expect the insignificant sect, which was consistently at the bottom of each tournament, to have the purest spiritual energy. Plus, all of their members were not to be underestimated. The crow would have never believed it if it hadn't come to live in the mountains with Landon. After all, Landon was bewitched to become the woman's boy toy. He stayed behind only because he liked the sect's spiritual energy. At that, the crow shifted its body and didn't continue to disturb Landon. Since Landon mentioned he needed the knife sheath, the crow would go and get it. Apart from the curved dagger in the wooden box, there was also a somewhat inconspicuous emerald and a turtle shell-lik
The box included a protective membrane. Carrying bones around would raise questions in modern days. Even Aria worried about inspections. Sometimes, Tobias acted just like those arcane seekers from Mount Dracotigris. When her fingertips touched it, heat surged through her bloodline. The blade felt like it belonged in her hands; even its tassel was exquisitely crafted. But she remembered something when she entered the manifestation and got the Soul-Summoning Plaque. She had been an arcane seeker in her past life, hadn't she? Could an arcane seeker use a blade? She had mostly seen them wielding swords, just like those TV shows with flying swordsmen. Perhaps she had to use a blade because she came from a smaller guild. As Aria traced the bone blade, her initial attraction grew into fascination. Tobias wouldn't leave her just any blade. Since she'd encountered it in the manifestation, it must be connected to her. "Do you like it?" Suddenly, Landon's voice came close. It was low,
Breaking the Eight Trigrams Manifestation required precision instead of force. The path led from the East Gate of Life through the Southwest Gate of Rest, finally striking through the North Gate of Opening. But this was not just about breaking a manifestation. The lock had eight marks—Life, Rest, Harm, Block, Vision, Death, Awakening, and Opening. These were the eight gates within the manifestation. As Aria studied the corresponding numbers, she was suddenly struck with inspiration. Following the sequence, she pressed them. The lock then opened with a click. She raised an eyebrow, recognizing the familiar combination. "0715, my birthday." Aria casually opened the box. "Typical of Mr. Revelare to choose that date." She knew she was born on Twilight Hallows, a day when parents would urge children home early. Owen had always believed Aria's birth signs were not the best, and he thought this was likely because of this day. People considered it the Day of Spirits. On this day, a