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
Aria recalled Barron's wise demeanor during the manifestation. In those days, someone had to step up and make sacrifices, even if they went unnoticed.Barron had traded his life to safeguard the knowledge and influence behind him, ensuring that everyone believed he was merely a regular businessman.If Barron had anything of true value, he could have handed it over to save his own life. But the Carver family couldn't be sacrificed, and their businesses were far too important.Money was necessary for everything, and although Barron was known for his love of wealth, that same wealth had saved countless youths.Aria stepped closer, her fingertip grazing Barron's portrait. A soft breeze drifted through the room. In the faded newspaper clipping, Barron stood tall and proud."I've been waiting for you. I finally get to see you. Good girl. You didn't deceive me. Farshya is truly strong now. I can rest easy with you here."His words were inaudible to others. Aria knew all too well that th
But Landon had already destroyed the doll at the manifestation. Logically, if the coin could survive to the present times, the doll should have been destroyed. Aria wondered if she had missed something. She couldn't get the full picture from the newspaper clippings alone. Recalling Warren's capture by Viktor, Aria contemplated briefly before showing him a photo. "Grandpa, have you seen this before?"Warren's expression changed when he saw the photo. "Rainbow, where did you get this?"Aria knew she'd hit the mark when she saw how Warren had reacted. "I didn't take the picture. It's being sold online, and even Ms. Ander has one at home.""That doll is pure evil. Stay away from it." It was the first time Warren had shown such strong opposition. He furrowed his brows, continuing, "Why is this doll back on the market? Wasn't it banned for a time?"As a top idol, Leon knew what it was by a glance. "Grandpa, plenty of girls like this doll. Isn't it quite common? Why are you saying it'
Aria studied Landon's face. "Explain," she said simply.Landon’s voice was smooth as he wove the tale effortlessly, "Our tradition of crafting dolls reached Krowo ages ago. These dolls held special significance for a time, especially among Krowonian soldiers' families and royalty."They believed that the dolls had souls, and they could ward off misfortune and boost morale."Though Landon spoke casually, Aria picked up on the critical details. "Why did they come to believe the dolls had souls?""It's difficult to be certain, but there's an old tale," Landon spoke slowly, his voice weighted with the eerie lore. "In the story, an elder brother, fearing his sister's loneliness in his absence, gifted her a wooden doll. The girl cherished the doll so much that she would cradle it every night, set a place for it at the dining table at every meal, and even give it a name."Her devotion bordered on obsession. But soon after, the girl fell gravely ill. Despite efforts to save her, she passe
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
After finishing her sentence, Aria ended the call. She trusted her senior would take action on that end. Besides, nobody at the Public Integrity Task Force would dare ignore her message after hearing the way she spoke. Lucas had received his transfer orders. Just after arriving, people were already waiting for him at the train station before he had even attended any meetings. None of them were low-ranking, which matched his own status. The phone call came at an oddly perfect time. It rang right as he left the station, and it was from the Public Integrity Task Force. He hadn't forgotten why he was transferred here, so he glanced at his secretary. His secretary, Douglas Nixon, told the others, "Mr. Murray has some personal business to attend to." Douglas handled things smoothly. He immediately blocked a few people from approaching, though they were all prominent public officials from Ludwiten. Lucas did not want to delay the matter for too long. After hearing the problem, he
Besides, this spot was a perfect blind spot for surveillance. The school's security cameras couldn't reach here, and a tree blocked the view from across the street. If anyone reviewed the footage later, they would only see Eden exit the school gate and disappear after heading to the opposite side. This was exactly what Miguel and the scholarship committee wanted. Miguel had already walked away. He acted as if he'd just been out for a casual stroll, chatting with security while escorting a student along the way. Right then, Aria rode up on her motorcycle and caught the whole scene. Though she had planned to enter the school, she immediately spun her bike around and tailed the van as it drove off. Nobody noticed her because everyone in the van had their eyes fixed on Eden. The attention made Eden's skin crawl. The driver named Viggo Moseley chuckled. "You'll get used to it. The people you're meeting later are the ones handling your paperwork for going abroad." It was just a s
"Don't be silly, your grandmother and I can take care of each other just fine," Brent said. Despite the fact that he came from a village, he never thought of women as any less than men. Eden was an orphan, but her grandparents gave her all their love. "Once you go abroad, your grandmother and I will move back to our hometown. We'll farm a little land and do some other jobs while waiting for your return!" Brent's laughter put Eden much more at ease. As Miguel walked ahead, he felt nothing but mockery when he overheard her conversation. Indeed, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. If there were really such great opportunities to study abroad, the school would surely give them to children of investors and business people who supported the school. Who would choose to send a bunch of poor kids overseas? Not understanding how social class worked was just plain stupid. Eden was walking behind him, so she couldn't see his expression. When they reached the gate, the security g