Oliver, clad in white gloves, handed Christian the wine for inspection. "It's unopened. Here are the details on temperature, origin, and vintage."With that, Oliver expertly uncorked the bottle, ensuring no wood shavings fell into the wine.The wine glasses had been slightly chilled to preserve the wine's delicate texture, and the gold-trimmed decanter had been prepped in advance.As the wine was poured out, its subtle fragrance filled the air. Most had never tasted such a refined red wine, and their experience was limited to nightclubs and overpriced, diluted cocktails.Being served by the restaurant owner and manager, who carefully poured the wine and presented it on a cart, made them feel superior."It's all thanks to Christian that we're able to enjoy such fine wine today. Cheers, everyone!" Timmy exclaimed.The restaurant's manager resisted the urge to laugh.Christian swirled his wine glass with an air of sophistication. "A toast is fine, but red wine should be savored s
Lily stood there with her fists clenched. Heavy taxes on alcohol and tobacco products were commonplace, yet the students couldn't help but be shocked by the sheer magnitude of those levies.Christian, in particular, was deeply distressed. 1.7 million dollars for a bottle of wine? That sum could have bought him a luxurious new car!Christian couldn't bear the thought of paying that amount. Pain shot through his cheeks as he bit down hard. Desperate for a solution, he turned to Timmy, hoping for a lifeline. Unfortunately, Timmy was too overwhelmed to register Christian's silent plea.A surge of contempt washed over Christian. Timmy had been silent despite all the encouragement earlier, making Christian feel like a fool.The room was deathly silent.Oliver prompted, "Sir?"Determined to salvage his dignity, Christian tugged on Oliver's sleeve. "Why is this wine so expensive?""Expensive?" Oliver flashed him a big smile. "Sir, didn't you say it was just a bottle of wine and wouldn
The disdain on Oliver's face dealt a blow to Lily's dignity. Not wanting to be brought down even more just because of a bottle of wine, she said, "That's enough! It's just a misunderstanding. Christian, pay for everything with your credit card."Her gaze, fixated on Christian, was emotional. She and Christian were similar, so he would definitely know that this incident would only harm his family's reputation if he let it snowball further.If word of this were to spread on campus, if everyone else heard about how Christian, the scion of the Short family, couldn't even afford a bottle of wine, he'd never get to join the elite social circles in Janovin. Christian understood what Lily meant. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Hand me the reader."The restaurant manager walked over. Christian gripped his card tightly, which made his reluctance to pay obvious. However, he decided it was fine. He would just have his father give him more money later."I'm sorry, sir, but this card isn't worki
Even when the York family’s bodyguards weren't publicly assigned to their employers, they would still discreetly send experienced men for protection.Before Christian's friends could unleash a torrent of insults, Timmy was already on the floor. Confused, the group of students hesitated before erupting into chaos.Oliver was annoyed and was about to tell them to leave when a cold, deep voice said slowly, "Tell them to come in."The bodyguards stood to the side, and the students finally saw Landon's face in its entirety. He had extremely exquisite features, and he stood lean and tall. His eyes were as dark as the night as he sat on a mahogany chair. He was only wearing a shirt and slacks, but he fit right in with the opulence of this restaurant.He looked as majestic as a king in ancient times, and his gaze alone was full of meaning. His bright red rosary bracelet was especially eye-catching—it seemed to distance him from modern times. He remained striking even in comparison with the
"That was in the past, and I'm not proud of it, so don't mention it." Aria tapped on Landon's wrist. "He's talking to you, so show some respect."What Aria wanted was simple—for Christian to be dismissed as soon as possible. Christian was so ugly that it ruined her mood.Landon complied. He looked up lazily. "I don't know what will happen to me if I antagonize your family, but I know what's going to happen to your family.""Now that's funny! You're just a pretty boy Aria is providing for, and yet you dare boast so arrogantly in front of us!" a young man shouted.Lily no longer thought much about Landon. So what if he was pretty? Could looks be exchanged for money?Her opinion toward him had soured also because he'd embarrassed her in that manner. Aria laughed when she heard those words. "Pretty boy, huh? You're not wrong. You'll probably have to pay 100,000 dollars for him if he were to work in a nightclub. Or maybe double that—it'd still be worth it."Landon wouldn't just let
Upon seeing who called, Christian complained, "You must help me out here, Dad. Someone's looking down on our family—"Before Christian could finish his sentence, Norman roared, "Where are you?"Christian's hands started to shake. "Dad—""Don't call me that! Answer my question! Where are you?" Norman was going mad.Christian realized that something had gone wrong. "I-I'm at this place serving baked seafood—""Bastard!" Norman clutched at his chest. "Why did I give birth to you when you do nothing but give me trouble? All thanks to you, our family is done for!"Norman's voice was so loud that Christian's friends heard him. "Who did you cross? Tell me, you useless good-for-nothing!"Norman suddenly received countless calls on his phone. The family's business dealings in the gray area were under investigation. Everything had happened within minutes, and Norman hadn't even had time to enlist someone else's services. The authorities had directly issued an order suspending the family
The other students asked hoarsely, "What does that mean? Is he—""The exact amount of wealth amassed by the Yorks have yet to be fully calculated. The antiques the family donated to museums alone are worth 10 billion dollars." Mary turned to Landon. "You're Landon York."Landon didn't deny that, which made Christian even more fearful. He said, his lips trembling, "I didn't know it was you, Mr. York. If I'd known, I wouldn't have come over here no matter what.""This is all a misunderstanding!" Christian grabbed Timmy's arm. "It's because of him! He kept on egging me on!"Christian no longer cared about his dignity. "Can you spare my family, seeing as we have achieved countless feats in the medical field? Please, this is just a misunderstanding!""A misunderstanding, you say?" Landon glanced at him, his gaze cold. "You didn't know who I was, but I know about you."He said icily, "You were my fiancée's ex-boyfriend."Fiancée? Everyone turned to Aria.Landon said slowly, half-smil
Christian crumpled to the floor. No one dared step forward after they knew who Landon was. Landon made to leave the room with Aria; his bodyguards would deal with everything else that followed.Upon seeing how protective he was of Aria, Lily was consumed by flames of jealousy, which eventually morphed into a burning hatred. Why did Aria, of all people, get to have this man as beautiful as an angel? Lily gripped the straps of her backpack hard as her gaze fell on Landon's face. Her lips were almost bruised from how hard she was biting on them, and her eyes burned hotly. "This fine man should have been mine," Lily thought. Despite coming from a wealthy family in Southbury, Christian was cowardly in the face of difficulty, unlike Landon, who was so powerful he could bring upon the Short family's downfall with just one sentence.Lily decided to try attracting Landon's attention. Although they didn't have a good start, she was greatly advantaged in a way other people weren't—she k
No matter the cost, Soreta was willing to grant any authority to someone who accepted it. At first, Soreta hadn't thought this way. She had always considered the Farshyans to be naïve and foolish, much like the portrayal on TV. It wasn't until she met them that she realized they were among the world's most astute investors. Farshya was definitely not to be underestimated. Soreta could no longer look down on them as she once did. This was why she treated Lily with such politeness and respect.However, Lily thought it was her own achievements that had impressed Soreta, which only inflated her pride. She began speaking loudly, reveling in the attention of the crowd. In truth, Lily wasn't entirely confident when Soreta discussed her investment plans. She barely understood the book Georgina had given her. While Lily could foresee major events, it was only because of her memories from a past life. She had no grasp of the details or any business strategies.Still, Lily was confident t
At this moment, Lily's vanity was gratified like never before. She raised her glass, clinking it with the lady's. "There are many incredible things in Farshya, such as our Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. If you're interested, I'd be happy to explain them to you anytime.""You're so knowledgeable, Lily. I've heard of your talents—saving critically ill patients, fortune telling… Am I right? I'm fascinated by how you can predict what will happen to someone. Even in the grand scheme of things, it's incredible. Do you perhaps have a witch in your family?"Foreigners were often more inclined to believe in witches and spells. The King of Nobeeta was a firm believer, and so was the woman before her.The key was, who wouldn't believe in the power that theology brought? It was something that could make people a fortune."Now that we have you, our project is bound to succeed. Mr. Wagner has truly found a gem this time."The lady, Soreta Barclay, was referring to Kenny. Unlike Lily, he kept
"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