"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
Leon furrowed his brow, confused. "Why would it be harder for us to deal with the doll just because it's been worshipped?""Guardian spirits are relics of the past," Aria said, her tone indifferent. "A doll steeped in offerings and prayers is bound to become difficult."She continued, her tone steady. "Spirits draw life from belief. The more worshippers they gather, the stronger they become. That same bond holds, even in something as lifeless as a doll."As Aria explained, Percy couldn't help but see her in a different light. "Aria, do you know how to tell fortunes?"Aria didn't hesitate. "A little. I know the basics, but there are some theories I haven't mastered yet. Still, I can handle day-to-day problems."Percy, a lawyer with Hemingway Legal Elites, never imagined his own sister had a knack for fortune-telling. It was both intriguing and unsettling for a non-believer like him. "Well then, I'll just send all my strange clients your way."Over the years, Percy had dealt with p
Magdalene said, "In the past, our family had helped the Grishams to survive. But now..." She took a sip of her tea. "They're digging their own grave, and we can't help them anymore." Just as she finished speaking, a middle-aged man walked in. When Magdalene saw him, her brows immediately furrowed. Her eldest son, Neval Fitzroy, was her least favorite child. He had brought nothing but shame to the Fitzroys. If he hadn't developed a gambling addiction, the Fitzroy family wouldn't have fallen this far. She asked, "What are you doing here?" Neval rubbed his hands together and snickered. "Mom, I'm a little short on cash lately. I mainly came because I missed you, but I'm also here to ask for a little money." Before Magdalene could respond, Laura stood up. "Neval, Mom just gave you 20 million last month. You shouldn't have spent it so quickly." Magdalene had been in a good mood, but now her face darkened. "Did I raise you to leech off me? How could 20 million dollars be gone so
Orion slammed his fist hard on the table. He'd been played by someone who looked like nothing more than a trust fund kid. Yet he had no choice but to let Aria manipulate him. Because no matter what he said, someone would show up to "take care of" him. At this point, he could only make everything look like a simple financial crime in order to protect himself. Aria had calculated this perfectly and planned accordingly. Even now, most people saw Aria as just some young hotshot who made money but didn't understand the bigger picture. They thought because she came from a small town, she was naïve enough to believe taking down the Draycott family would solve everything. In reality, she would be dragging herself down as well. Unless she didn't plan to stay in Ludwiten at all! Most people who thought this way were driven by pride and jealousy. They wouldn't admit they wished they were in Aria's shoes. The Carvers had raked in so much money from the stock market this time around. The
"Yes, I'm sure," Gabe said, having checked everything carefully. The old man thought for a moment. "Find a way and get someone else to tell Orion what he should and shouldn't say. If he's smart enough, he should understand." "Alright." Gabe pushed up his glasses. "Don't worry; everything will be handled." The old man's eyes were deep and calculating. "To achieve great things, some people must be sacrificed. If necessary, offer the Draycott family some benefits. Go take care of the Bellebrook situation." Gabe chuckled. "They're just some greedy, low-class people. They only succeeded because of you, yet they always think they made it on their own." "Gabe, mind your words." The old man had a kind face. Looking at him, one would think he cared for all people. Judging from his simple lifestyle, he did not seem like someone who would do bad things at all. Even the cup he used was bought from the supermarket for just over ten dollars. "Go now. As I've always said, anyone can l
Aria's question made Orion freeze right away. The scholarship program was his secret lifeline. He simply couldn't figure out how she knew so many details about everything! "You've been setting me up in the stock market all this time. How did you also find out about the scholarship program?" Orion felt genuinely scared now—everyone had really underestimated Aria. When had she done all this research? She'd dug deeper than he ever imagined. The scariest part was that neither he nor that person had noticed anything. They all thought she was just helping the Carver family restore their former glory. Keeping the Chamber of Commerce out of the Carver family's hands was that person's strict order. That was why the Draycotts had climbed so quickly within the organization over the years. They all assumed Aria had come to Ludwiten to target the Chamber. But now... Orion looked up again. "The scholarship program is weird business. I only handled recruitment. I don't know where those peop
Orion said, "I don't know much, honestly." He looked at Aria with hesitation, as if he was afraid to name that person. He made a gesture instead. "That person is the lieutenant governor of Ludwiten, who has many achievements to his name. "If you're brave enough to investigate, I can tell you about the deals I handled. But I don't know about the rest." Aria raised an eyebrow. Her expression said everything—she had already kidnapped him, so did he seriously think she would be afraid to investigate this further? Orion took a deep breath. "I just handle the money. That person wants something bigger—he wants to make history, but he's been in poor health lately. He needs me to keep certain people in line, but I can't give you details since I really don't have proof." "Which people does he control? And how does he do it?" Aria asked casually. Orion glanced upward, his eyes slowly losing focus. "I have no idea which people." "Mr. Draycott, I thought you would have learned by now.
"Who the hell are you?" Orion shouted as he couldn't hold back anymore. He gripped the armrests hard, almost jumping out of his chair. But Aria barely glanced his way. "I brought you here, didn't I? Who do you think I am?""Y-You're..." Orion remembered a rumor from a business dinner about a Special Missions Unit that operated outside normal chains of command. They could investigate anyone without going through regular channels.Their authority even topped the Regular Missions Unit. Orion had laughed it off back then. Every group had to answer to someone higher up, so there couldn't be a unit with that kind of freedom. In Ludwiten, everyone answered to that one big shot. But now he realized such a thing actually existed!Orion's face turned ghostly pale. "Are you… a part of the Special Missions Unit?"Only that could explain everything! With all her digging and investigating, that person would have noticed what she had been doing. But Orion did not understand something. "
Usually, in this situation, Orion would have a lawyer present. But things were different today! He did not even know which department was holding him. All his usual connections seemed blocked, which made Orion start to panic from deep inside. He sat there, fidgeting nervously. No one else was in the room. "I want a lawyer! I'm innocent!" he shouted, trying to move, but his hands were cuffed to the chair. Just then, a familiar cool voice spoke up, carrying its usual casual tone, "Whether you're guilty or not, the law will decide." It was Aria. Her presence was completely different from earlier in the office. When Orion saw her, he wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. There wasn't a trace of the spoiled, rebellious, rich kid in her now. Instead, she looked at him calmly as if she were the highest authority in this place. Orion's heart sank. He wasn't stupid and knew how things worked. That was why his eyes widened as he stared at Aria. "Who are you really?" "D
Magdalene told Laura, "Now you're the partner everyone wants to work with." She laughed out loud. "This divorce couldn't have come at a better time." Laura's eyes widened as Magdalene spoke, her excitement growing by the second. "Mom, does that mean I'll be..." Laura could hardly imagine how amazing her future would be. Magdalene stroked her hair. "They won't call you Mrs. Grisham anymore. They'll call you the CEO of the Fitzroy Group." Laura's face trembled with barely contained excitement. She never considered that the shares they wanted weren't rightfully theirs but something they were taking through dirty tricks. "I was worried these families might side with Aria." Laura had genuinely been concerned about this. After all, families like the Katz family and those families working in traditional industries had started treating Aria with the same respect they once had for Barron. This was exactly what drove Laura crazy. Why should Aria get to live carefree after ruining her
Magdalene felt better than she had in a long time. She even ordered someone to open a bottle of wine to celebrate. This was the most relaxed day Magdalene had experienced in weeks. News about the Draycott family kept pouring in, and she had been feeling not just anxiety but a deep uneasiness. Over the years, the Fitzroy and Draycott families had become deeply entangled. Even without obvious business interests like others had, they shared information regularly. Even in that incident years ago, the Fitzroy family had been involved. Previously, she had worried more than anyone about the Draycott family's collapse. Now, she felt differently. First, there were the Grisham shares they would soon acquire. Second, she had learned that the Draycott family was not the only one that had lost money in the stock market because of Aria. Many prominent Ludwiten families had suffered losses thanks to her market manipulations. Magdalene understood clearly that to establish themselves in this