"Someone lied? Who?" Lyla asked.Having just tucked the strand of hair away, Aria responded, "Do as I ask, and you will keep your position. And don't involve Mr. Carver. I'll handle the contract discussion with him myself.""You can convince him to sign a contract with the company?" Lyla's eyes lit up, the brightest they had ever been. "He's never signed a contract with any management company before. Everything is taken care of by his personal studio.""Wait for my update," Aria said evenly. "Also, do something about your bad habits. I'm letting you off this time because you've never given anyone up to Mr. West and opted to give him money instead. "What happens next hinges on your performance. Remember, never try to leech off someone else again."Anyone else wouldn't understand what Aria meant, but Lyla did. She was pragmatic as far as everyone else was concerned, and it was true—she didn't really care about her artistes that much. Her strategy was to either capitalize on others'
"Hello, Mr. Channing. Our lady would like to have a word with you," Frank said politely outside the interrogation room.However, Aaron was an arrogant person. He held his case files and refused, "I don't know your lady. There's nothing we can talk about either."No matter how influential the Carver Group was, they wouldn't be given special treatment here. Thus, they shouldn't try to pull strings.Just as Aaron was about to walk past Frank, the latter replied smartly, "But our lady knows you. Why don't you hear her out first?"Aaron still didn't put it to heart. However, he took the phone since Frank had already worded it this way. The moment he pressed it to his ear, regret washed over him."Have I been gone too long, or did you lose your touch?" Aaron recognized that familiar lilting drawl. In fact, it was a nightmare come to life for him.An outsider had broken his record of being number one for many years. Plus, this person never really made an appearance, either. The only dif
Aria said coolly, "You'll know when I bring her over. Just wait and see."Even after hanging up, Aaron remained skeptical. He turned to Frank. "Your lady is No. 1! Why are you still so worried about Mr. Elijah?"No. 1? What was he talking about? Frank was puzzled. Being primarily engaged in the business world, Frank was not well-versed in criminal investigations.Aria was renowned for solving many unsolved cases as No. 1. Additionally, she was an expert in supernatural cases. She founded the Special Missions Unit and held the position of No. 1. No matter the case, Aria could solve it quickly if she wanted to.Just as Aaron was contemplating how to face No. 1, Frank took back his phone in confusion.Frank had only one realization—this notoriously aloof crime specialist who typically ignored everyone seemed to heed Aria's words. Furthermore, he was known to be unapproachable and insensitive to money. Frank suddenly had a feeling as he looked at the phone in his hand. Perhaps Aria'
"What are you trying to do?" Fanny glared at Aria.Although Fanny couldn't tell what was wrong with Sam, she felt a sense of danger she had never felt before.Aria lowered her eyes. "Didn't I say I'm here to return something?" With that, Aria showed her a bag with a strand of hair in it. "Did you forget you left this behind?"Looking at the item in her hand, Fanny was obviously flustered. "It's just a strand of hair. What evidence do you have that it's mine?""It doesn't matter if you won't admit it. We just need to run some tests." Aria raised her eyebrows. "Did you already use the thing you stole?"Fanny's eyes wavered. "What thing? You're such a weirdo! Who do you think you are to question me—"With a bang, Aria kicked open the door and looked at her from above. Meanwhile, Sam closed the door in one swift movement.The receptionist initially wanted to come up and check, but she figured nothing would go wrong and decided against it.There was a smell of rust in the air. Ar
With a whoosh, a matchstick flew past Fanny's ear and landed right behind her. A large part of her long hair was singed, leaving her momentarily speechless.Aria scratched her ears. "I'm sorry, but I can't stand listening to your complaints. You're someone who constantly blames others for your misfortune. "Just because he didn't help you, you hated him and even spread rumors about him. Really? Who is obligated to help you? They aren't even your parents!"Sure, Elijah's looks have contributed to his fame, but his films wouldn't have been a hit if he had no acting skills. Do you think the market is that shallow?"As for your appearance, I'm sure you'd be happy as a female lead. However, have you considered the audience's feelings? "Actors should align with their roles. Beautiful women play roles meant for beautiful women, while those with less conventional looks can take on other parts. "You insist on playing the role of the most beautiful woman despite not meeting those standar
The wooden doll would never forget its time at Nobeetan Concession—it had nearly ceased to exist. Back then, it was like a rat on a spit, despised and ignored, forced to skulk in shadows. It clung to a strand of hair, attached itself to other objects, waiting for someone to find it.The experiences of that time fueled its anger. The wooden doll believed the country would soon fall to the Krowonians, waiting for that day to come. Unexpectedly, Krowo was defeated. The wooden doll, already unhappy, needed to rely on lowly citizens for worship.The doll would have been lost forever without Farshya's fortune to restore its power. It desperately missed its homeland.The wooden doll could soon revive all its subordinates after absorbing a bit more resentment.The wooden doll controlled its replica and tried to move. However, Sam bit it hard. Sam wouldn't have even gone near the wooden doll if not for Aria.Although it was just a replica, the wooden doll felt unprecedented pain. It want
Aria didn't even turn around. She just swerved and kicked Fanny in the knees, sending her crashing to the ground. Fanny hit her head, and blood trickled from the impact. "I'm going to sue you. Mark my words!"Aria ignored her, only ordering someone to take care of it. After all, the police would soon be there to take Fanny away.Fanny was unwilling to accept this outcome. "Elara is already dead. What does the entire thing have to do with me? Elijah is the suspect, not me. Everyone on set knows he's the last person who saw Elara.""He's the last one?" Aria chuckled. "How about you? You've always followed Elara around when she was sleepwalking, yet you didn't the night she was killed. That doesn't make sense at all. After all, you told me you saw her sleepwalking a few nights in a row."Seeing Fanny faltered, Aria said slowly, "Don't worry. Lie detectors are very accurate nowadays. We'll soon know enough if you're telling the truth." Upon hearing that, Fanny knew she was doomed.
The duo weren't part of the SMU from the start. They joined much later, so they had no idea that the woman standing before them wasn't just anyone—she was their top commander, No. 1.Their plan was to hypnotize her, but just as they lifted their watches, Aria opened the door. "The receptionist is looking this way. Everyone who stays here is in the entertainment industry, so the news spreads fast. Are you sure you don't want to arrest her first?"How did she know the procedure better than them? The duo didn't dare to hesitate, immediately cuffing Fanny and bringing her away.Those who came to watch the scene kept quiet after seeing that. Even if they knew about the case, they wouldn't suspect anything supernatural was involved.As for the things Fanny was shouting, they just assumed she'd gone mad from chasing fame.Many stunt doubles worked hard to earn a living. They loved acting. Even if acting wasn't their passion, they could at least earn a living with it.They had never once
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