People in the Nobeetan Concession couldn't sleep soundly knowing the Krowonian devils in Farshya had done such things in the guise of humanity.It was as if even the heavens were bidding farewell to the young spirits. The snow descended even heavier when the Krowonian Embassy was destroyed.People said they had never seen such huge snowfall in Ludwiten before.On the ground, it was impossible to distinguish whose child's photo was lying there.Those who picked up the money froze in place, horrified by what happened.Human minds need to be awakened. If they were not stimulated, they would never understand that they were simply sheep waiting to be slaughtered if they were too weak.Those holding knives didn't treat them like human beings at all. In their eyes, one's politeness was because they were weak. Being hospitable to them showed how lowly one was.Only when they were strong could their virtues be acknowledged.Aria didn't know if these photos could awaken even a small frac
Amid the first snowfall and dense fog, Landon stood still, his gaze fixed on Aria. His dark pupils shone with a hint of indifference. Snowflakes landed on his shoulders, but he remained upright and proud. The chaos surrounding him did nothing to diminish the innate grace he carried. Instead, countless spirits circled him, drawn to his presence.The pressure he gave off fractured the manifestation, distorting its form as if on the verge of collapse.Sensing his intentions, Nyx was about to speak when he heard a low roar.Aria, astride her BMW Tomahawk, soared between the buildings, her appearance as striking and cool as when she had first arrived. Fearful of being left behind, Nyx quickly ducked into the copper coin and summoned his strength to follow Aria out of the manifestation.Aria found herself back at the Ander residence as her BMW Tomahawk landed. The scene behind her vanished, giving way to the familiar modern décor. A pair of embroidered red shoes fell to the side, but t
The neighbors in the alley said that the family was unlucky. The mother had passed away, while the eldest daughter had been sold off.When the mother passed, her body smelled so foul that her husband refused to pay for a proper burial. Instead, he wrapped her in a mat and disposed of her carelessly.This was Toto's fifth time entering the dream.Initially, he tried to ignore the summons and avoid entering the dream altogether.He often felt drowsy in class and was a bit anemic, prompting his mother to worry about his health.Yet, haunted by the thought of the young girl being alone and neglected, Toto ventured into the dreamscape for the sixth time. This time, he brought snacks, hoping to comfort the girl who might be distressed by her mother's death.But when he saw her again, she was barely alive, dragged into a small, dark room.Toto followed, discovering that this place was not a school but a site for human experiments. He had read about it in children's books.Toto planned
Toto nodded. "Okay!"Verona hugged her son, her heart filled with gratitude.They were so fortunate to have met Aria.However, Toto's curiosity remained. "I still want to ask about the young lady."Verona prompted him to elaborate, and Toto recounted everything he had seen in the yard and his dream.It was then that Verona understood the true danger lurking at their home. Aria was still there! She was about to rush back when she received a text message. "I received word from Mr. Lowe Senior that Toto has already awakened. You should remain at the hospital for a few days; the house needs to be cleansed by professionals." Aria's message was clear and direct.Verona exhaled in relief. "Alright. I'll take your advice."After sending that message, Verona typed another. "I heard everything from Toto. Thank you so much, Aria."From Toto's description, Verona sensed the dream wasn’t ordinary. The more she listened, the more it seemed connected to historical events. Krowonians were in
"No, you're not." The black mist surged, attempting to soothe Landon's ire. Yet, Landon paid it no mind. He spread his arms and reclined in the tranquil depths of the Dark River, the most secluded part of the Netherrealm. He always did what he wanted. No spirit dared to disturb him as he rested.The surge of greed that had emerged upon his entry into the Dark River dissipated before it could even touch him.That day, the evil spirits convened for a meeting."Is Mr. York in a bad mood?""Obviously!""What should we do? Should we still go out?""If you have no wish to remain even as a ghost, feel free to try.""I think I'll just stay here and continue sleeping."The river's surface rippled, its depth seeming boundless.Only Landon, clad in a red robe, appeared to be asleep. His handsome face exuded a grace that seemed naturally at home in the Dark River.…Earthbound Manifestations often left behind fragments of spirits' memories.Aria sought further insights from Nyx abo
The old man was caught off guard. Landon had unearthed a fragment of his soul—an event unpredicted by any divination.The old man was none other than Tobias Revelare. Finding it strange, he decided to pack up his things and delve into the mystery at hand. Tobias pondered if Aria was behind it. Given her well-known love for money, she was unlikely to venture to Janovin for any other reason.How could Homer fail to keep an eye on things when he was well aware of the threat in Janovin? Moreover, as a practitioner of the Decatorian way, it was his responsibility to address the threat. Tobias' anxiety was palpable. The young woman, still poring over her tarot cards, stood up as the lights went out. "Sir, what's happening? You said my relationship would go smoothly. Why is there a problem now?"The young woman feared that Tobias might bolt. Even though the reading cost just 29.90 dollars, it was still a notable expense. Young people cared deeply about getting their money's worth. Fu
In the Carver residence's living room, Leon watched as his boss made himself at home. He seemed more accustomed than Leon was.Not only did Landon order the butler to cook pasta, but he also took out some coffee beans to grind.At first, Leon was puzzled by Landon's actions. It wasn't until Aria returned and took a sip of coffee, casting a loving glance at Landon that Leon's confusion was finally cleared. Leon's expression became complicated.Percy was also holding a cup of coffee. He adjusted his glasses and squinted. "I don't remember your boss usually acting like this."Landon, resembling a househusband, presented an unusual sight. Could anyone from the York family picture their patriarch wearing an apron and grinding coffee beans?Aria seemed pleased, particularly by Landon's ever-changing expressions since his return from the Earthbound Manifestation. As she warmed herself, she asked, "Where's Grandpa?""The shareholders had many questions for him after the banquet ended."
Even Percy couldn't help but frown. Was the legendary Landon truly as shameless as the rumors suggested?Meanwhile, Warren had already pieced everything together.Just from the banquet, it was clear that the Carver family had been steadily declining over the years. The York family, on the other hand, was a different story. With Landon's backing, Aria's future would undoubtedly be much smoother.After entering the study, Warren turned around and motioned for Keith to close the door. Then, he strolled over to the bookshelf and moved one of the books. With a click, the bookshelf shifted.It was the first time Leon had ever known that there was something hidden behind Warren's bookshelf.Inside, there was a high-quality leather chest. On the wall were some newspapers from the special period, along with some documents and photos. Among these lay a well-preserved Charm Coin.Aria's eyes flickered when she saw the Charm Coin.Warren walked over and picked up the family portrait from th
Miguel had worked so hard to climb out of being just another underpaid teacher. Most people would have been thrilled to land a principal job, but Miguel got greedy. He never cared about shaping young minds. As he often said, "It's just a paycheck. Only losers pass up money to preach about education." That mentality might fly in small towns, but in the big city, these kids wouldn't stand a chance based on merit alone. Miguel wasn't exactly looking down on his students—he just knew the situation in each class best. Students with or without local residency permits would face different college admissions standards. Rich families already had their children's overseas education lined up, so there was no sweat required. Even if they had bad grades, it wouldn't be a problem. They could still go abroad and buy themselves a fancy degree. Money talked, and that was the harsh reality. Miguel needed that Department of Education position to set his son up right. It was pretty ironic for a
Aria would definitely have the principal of Oakvale Academy detained eventually, but not now. The moment Miguel was in custody, the people pulling his strings would smell trouble. Based on past cases, they'd likely cut all connections immediately. All their carefully gathered leads could vanish in seconds. So Miguel needed to stay free for now and even remain in plain sight. Aria said, "Don't tell your principal about what happened today." She looked at Eden. "When you go back, just attend classes like how you normally do. If Mr. Sonder asks about you, tell him you're still thinking it over. "Show how nervous you are about this, but also hint that you're eager to go abroad. You're just not quite ready yet. "Don't tell anyone about our conversation. I've added you as a contact. If anything seems off, text me immediately. "Someone will be protecting you 24/7, and your family too. So don't be afraid." As she spoke, Aria stood up. "Let's go. I'll take you back to school. They
"I don't know what Judy meant by that," Eden said as she looked up. "She never talked like that before." "Got it," Aria said, zooming in on the photo. By looking at the brand of the chocolate drink and the surrounding buildings, she could nail down the exact location. Without hesitation, she sent it to Sam for analysis. Something about this "interview" smelled fishy. She had to see firsthand what kind of meeting would change a simple and positive girl like Judy. "About those selected applicants—do you know exactly who they were?" Aria dug deeper with her questions. Once she had names, she could connect the dots between the students. These patterns would reveal what the buyers were looking for. Human trafficking was a high-stakes criminal business, and Aria did not believe this was just about exploiting young girls. The bar incident had been her wake-up call. She needed the full picture before making her move. She would just spook them if she jumped in too soon. Their oper
Aria needed to identify all the "buyers". Missing even one buyer could mean one more student was sold. "Do the selected applicants have anything in common besides their family situations?" Aria asked, and Eden shook her head. But she then added, "Everyone had good grades, so nobody ever questioned why they were chosen for scholarships. Nothing seemed fishy about it." Aria made a mental note about the good grades, then scrolled through Judy's Facebook feed. This kind of investigation was pretty straightforward for her. Even without being accepted as a friend, she could hack in easily. From her posting habits, Judy seemed like an optimist. She was a nice girl who rarely posted anything negative. But one post made Aria scroll back and look twice. The post was cheerful, with a sunny photo and a cup of chocolate. But the text caught her attention. It read, "About to start my new life! All my hard work has paid off. The interview was kind of weird, but no big deal. Let's go!" Ar
The person on the other end of the call didn't speak. He just nodded with a pouty little face from behind a computer screen. It was actually Sam. He'd been working behind the scenes all along, especially when investigating the Wagner situation. Having him tail Philip was the least suspicious option. Simon was available too, but his presence would definitely attract unwanted attention as a beast of fortune. Since they were dealing with an arcane seeker, bringing Simon would be like handing them a treasure. So Aria made the call to have Sam follow Philip, while Simon stayed with Landon. Aria was not worried about her handsome fiancé being in danger. It was only because Simon would be safest with him. The Yorks carried heavenly fortune. As long as there was no fated ordeal in play, anyone who tried to harm Landon would likely meet a bad end. After all, that purple energy surrounding him wasn't just for show. With Simon staying near him, Simon could mask Landon's aura while also
"Yeah, that's right," the rest of the burly men chimed in. The whole scene was painfully forced and fake. In reality, they just wanted to leave. But Aria wasn't about to let them off so easily. She figured she would return the favor since they'd been asking about her. She asked, "Oh, so the Draycotts owe your company money? Which company is that?" Viggo had not expected this question. He froze momentarily, then quickly replied, "Our company is small, so it's not worth mentioning. It's nothing compared to yours." "It's admirable how your company can sponsor students despite being a small one." Aria's compliment was delivered flatly. Viggo's scalp tingled with unease. "It's actually our investor. He doesn't just fund us but many companies. He came from a small town himself and wants to help these students get better learning conditions." "Now that's a rare and kind soul. I'd love to meet him sometime." Aria said casually, "Since we've had such a fortunate encounter, let's exc
The three men Aria had knocked to the ground were hurting all over, yet she had the nerve to talk about following the law. Viggo knew his men were losing their cool. After all, they'd never been humiliated like this in Ludwiten before. He quickly moved to block them, forcing a smile. "Yes, you're absolutely right. "Well, they say you never really know someone until you trade a few punches. You look unfamiliar, though. You're not from Ludwiten, are you?" Viggo was fishing for information about Aria. He needed to know who she was and why their operation had suddenly derailed today. But someone as shrewd as Aria instantly caught his meaning, so she smirked. Since things had already escalated this far, it did not matter whether she revealed her identity or not. Whoever was behind these men would investigate her anyway. It was better to draw all the attention to herself now while her senior and the Public Integrity Task Force gathered evidence behind the scenes. That way, they cou
Viggo tried to explain, "You've got it all wrong—we don't mean any harm. We were just told to pick Ms. Bohmer up for paperwork. "Ms. Bohmer's a top student, and her school recommended her for study abroad. Just ask her if you don't believe me." Viggo shifted the spotlight to Eden. He figured a student like her wouldn't know how to speak up. Indeed, Eden was terrible at lying. Under Aria's watchful gaze, she nodded. She then added, "But something about them felt off. Maybe I was just being paranoid when I asked for your help." She couldn't very well tell this stranger that everything was based on a hunch, that these people gave her the creeps. They hadn't crossed any lines yet, but something felt wrong. She just couldn't put her finger on what. Eden struggled to explain, but Aria cut right to the chase. "So are you saying you need eight beefy men to escort a girl like her just to fill out some study abroad forms? Can't the teachers or the proper agencies handle it? "Looking
Hearing this, Viggo frowned. The burly men exchanged glances too as they sized up the person in front of them. They'd been in Ludwiten so long but had never met anyone as bold as Aria. They all figured that she must be some out-of-town wealthy heir who didn't know the rules here. She was practically asking for trouble when she blocked their way. These people didn't follow the stock market much. If they had, they'd know that a certain young lady had arrived in town not long ago. And she was someone who was good at dealing with those who crossed her. "You should ask around about who runs things here before acting so cocky. Since you like it here, stay right here with your bike!" As they spoke, one of them walked toward Aria aggressively, raising his arm to throw a punch. The rest moved in at the same time. But before the man could touch Aria, his hand was suddenly caught. Aria moved fast. With one leg braced against her motorcycle as a pivot point, she lunged forward and droppe