Aria smiled faintly. "Don't worry if it's too boring. This is just one of the many things you'll experience. After all, you know how long you've been suppressing our heroes. "I hear you guys like nails. Enjoy them. And let me tell you something else—no one in our country wants you invaders walking free."Our citizens are different. We appreciate our soldiers as we wouldn't be here without them. That's why countless people pray for our heroic spirits in Farshya. Trash like you? You belong exactly where you are." Others couldn't hear Aria's words, but the spirits—Terry and Devon included—could. They had heard many prayers while stuck in the Netherrealm, most of them asking for forgiveness and to move on.Some people, with saintly hearts, always preached forgiveness and letting go of the past. This left the heroic spirits disappointed.They had paid with their blood, so why did people nowadays forgive those Krowonian soldiers so easily?Terry didn't understand, and his breathing w
It was really her! When Terry was about to make his way forward, he spotted Landon standing beside Aria.He paused. "You're here too, sir?"Nothing on Landon's face let slip that he knew Terry. "You seem to have mistaken me for someone else."Terry laughed. "I'd never. I'd never mistake the two of you for someone else." He said, "I'm glad that both of you have reincarnated as mortals."Terry wanted to touch the top of Aria's head, but he was a spirit after all, and he was worried that he'd negatively affect them. Sensing what was on Terry's mind, Aria pushed Queenie forward. "Look at her. Does she look familiar to you?""She's the daughter of that new recruit in the army—" Spirits could see one's soul, which lay beneath their appearance. Terry's eyes reddened. "This is great—she's old enough to go to school now!"Aria bent down with a smile, saying to Queenie, "Tell him about your grades, Queenie.""I'm an excellent student, Grandpa. Governmental funding is now covering where
Stephen tended to micromanage Sam, but he also spoiled him, and Sam could basically eat whatever he wanted. Sam's honesty made the heroic spirits laugh. Despite knowing those people couldn't see them, the spirits stood single file and saluted the people who'd rescued them. Sunlight fell on them, as if covering them with a thin layer of gold. Queenie watched as the spirits slowly became transparent under the sunlight. They differed from what she'd once witnessed; they were all smiling, surrounded by golden light.One of the smaller statues beside their memorial fell. No one knew what had happened, but at that moment, they felt something. A breeze blew past them, and it'd never felt so good. Some felt like they'd heard someone else's words of gratitude. Some said they saw silhouettes in military uniforms under the sunlight. Queenie looked up, asking Aria, "Have they all disappeared, Aria?""No. They went where they should've gone." Aria caressed her head, meeting Ellie's gaze
The simpler the words, the more they touched people's hearts. Ellie froze while recording everything. She'd been observing Queenie and Aria's interactions, and she'd managed to obtain some information from listening between the lines. It seemed that Queenie's past incarnation was related to those heroic spirits and that her people's ancestors from previous generations were now back. Why would someone say that they wanted to protect the people if not for that?Ellie had seen someone on the Internet talk about how people had lost their dreams and aspirations in an age of consumerism. Doctors and teachers alike didn't carry out their responsibilities well—there were many recorded occurrences of teachers hitting their students in the face. Also, more and more people started to opt for higher-salary positions. It was hard to say if this was right or wrong when the economy was worsening because both survival and earning money were vital.However, many hoped for the emergence of a g
Warren took the phone. He was furious, close to losing his composure. "I heard about what happened in the church, Aria. To think that this memorial was there—how preposterous! "You must look deeper into it, Aria. Who on earth would sell out our country like that? What motives do they have?"You need not worry. Even if this happened in Nymeria, the Carver family would still have your back as long as there was a reason behind it. If we really can't do anything, Fiona's brothers can be of help too!"They'll surely take your side if they hear about this." Warren's voice deepened. "This isn't just a matter of who was hurt. We must be wary of this happening while also making sure that the perpetrators receive the punishment they deserve, regardless of who they may be or how complicated the situation in Nymeria is!"Warren saw through everything. For this to have happened in a church, a mere priest's efforts weren't enough. He was surely supported by donors and bolstered by his connectio
"This is great! Our child is back again, honey!" The prospective father hugged his wife, his eyes reddening. He'd been most worried about how his wife would be sad after the results of her pregnancy check-up were revealed. She had suffered a lot during her pregnancy, including frequent bouts of sickness. Her physical condition caused him to seriously consider the doctor's suggestions despite his reluctance to say goodbye to this new soul who had come to exist after various tribulations and difficulties. It was the product of their lovemaking, after all. Everything was headed in a better direction now. "Do you think it's related to the comment I left today?" The woman quickly pulled out her phone and added a comment under her original one, informing everyone about this. As if fated, the heroic spirits were able to return to where they were supposed to go. The relevant authorities in Nymeria were held accountable, but this wasn't the point. On the same afternoon, a few sets o
As if anyone would just accept this! No one would! Not a single Farshyan would let that happen!The police officers were furious, but Lorna behaved like a madwoman, unable to be reasoned with, which put them at a standstill. At this moment, Aria walked in, saying coolly, "Did the deity you believe in tell you that the authorities could access records of you accepting a foreign permanent resident card and money through bank transfers?"Lorna suddenly shifted her posture, but she looked up and smiled at Aria. "I'm not Farshyan anymore, that's true. However, we members of the diaspora community have done a lot for the sake of this country these years.""Are you sure about that?" Aria pulled a chair over and sat down opposite Lorna. "The usual process of acquiring a resident card differs from yours. "You came to the city from a small fishing village, and you participated in some activities when you were at school. I won't go into the specifics, but everything is included in the info
Lorna was obviously panicking. She didn't know how the authorities had managed to unearth her participation in certain demonstrations. Lorna was from Chershia, which was connected to another city outside the mainland through a bridge. Hornwell was known for its elite universities. Lorna had joined at first because she wanted to assimilate herself into the local community, but she later realized that the students there were way more progressive than those on the mainland. She joined demonstrations and protests but was quickly stopped by her grandfather who learned about it. No one could have found information on that, surely!Lorna told herself to calm down. Everything would be resolved nicely once her grandpa arrived. Wayne Chester—Lorna's maternal grandfather—worked in one of the first government-backed companies, which made him very well-connected. The Chesters also owned assets worth an enormous sum of money.Lorna hadn't done anything that problematic; she'd just given
From the revelation of Leon's true identity to the announcement of his new project with Elijah, it was clear he was about to join an elite production team—a dream for any actor.This team's success stemmed from its screenwriter, a highly skilled individual whose works consistently became massive hits, not only domestically but also internationally. However, the screenwriter was known for their strong opinions and high standards. They weren't swayed by money or connections, making it impossible for capitalists to influence casting decisions.In short, the screenwriter held absolute authority over their work, which made it all the more surprising that Leon, a relatively inexperienced actor, had been chosen.Clary found herself reflecting on this peculiar situation. She had always believed that Leon's priority was to complete his current project, yet she had been easily swayed by the opinions of others. Perhaps it was because she had long been curious about the person who had made Leon
The more one cared about someone, the less one would want to know about them. After all, as long as one pretended the person didn't exist, it wouldn't hurt.Watching Fiona walk away, her figure growing distant, Alaric made a call. "Tell the Draycott family I'll be at the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow."The voice on the other end sounded surprised. "Yes, boss."Alaric smiled, his tone shifting. "On the condition that they invite the Carver family."The person hesitated, clearly stunned. "I-Invite the Carvers to the Chamber of Commerce?""Is that difficult?" Alaric asked coolly, his slender fingers absently twirling the ring with his family crest. "The Carver family is arriving soon, isn't it? It shouldn't be hard for the Draycott family to extend an invitation.""Well... Boss, I don't think it's a good idea to invite them. Many of the members are opposed to them. The Draycott family—"Alaric interrupted before the person could finish. "If the Draycott family doesn't agree, forget
When Alaric suggested having a meal with Fiona, the driver was astonished. It was completely unlike anything he had ever known about Alaric over the years. Even more unbelievable to the driver was the fact that there could be a woman in Ludwiten who would reject Alaric.When the car came to a stop, Fiona responded to Alaric, "I don't understand why Owen is involved in this. I'm sure we both know why you approached me."She continued, "I know the Sloane family wields enough influence to shape many things. The market in Ludwiten is small, and many people don't want the Carver family to have a share. But I'm not the weak link you're looking for. You've got the wrong person."With that, Fiona swiftly exited the car. The driver was taken aback. Despite Fiona's delicate appearance, she acted with decisive resolve, without hesitation.The car remained stationary after she left. Although Alaric appeared indifferent, his eyes betrayed his displeasure, as if the meeting he had carefully
"Soup?" Fiona hesitated, realizing Alaric was serious. After a moment, she replied, "I'm afraid I don't have time today. I need to pick someone up from the train later."Upon hearing that, Alaric smiled. "Who's so important?""My daughter." Fiona's tone softened as she mentioned Aria, her gaze turning gentle.Alaric studied her intently before saying, "You really do seem like a mother. It's almost unthinkable."Fiona chuckled, finding his comment odd. "Well, I am a mother."Alaric looked away indifferently. "I never expected you to adapt to motherhood and marriage so well. My impression of you was that you'd never let yourself be held back by trivial matters as such."Fiona frowned. "My daughter isn't a trivial matter."Her voice carried a trace of displeasure. Nobody could truly understand what Aria's return meant to her. She felt a deep sense of responsibility—not just toward her daughter but also toward her sons.Alaric glanced at his hands, a faint trace of mockery in his v
Contrary to the driver's expectations, Fiona remained unnervingly calm, as though everything was perfectly normal. Her beauty was striking, paired with an air of delicate indifference that belied her age. Especially her eyes—pure and unguarded when her gaze lingered. Yet, temperament was not so easily concealed. The driver could tell that Fiona was no naïve woman. She was a sheltered, affluent woman from a prestigious family. But didn't Alaric disdain women like her the most? Why, then, had Alaric asked him to stop the car from a distance?Perplexed, the driver kept glancing at Fiona.Her hair, still damp from the relentless rain, clung to her neck. She turned deliberately, avoiding Alaric's side. "Is there any tissue in the car?""Yes." Alaric chuckled, pulling out a few tissues and handing them to her.The driver frowned, finding Alaric's obliging demeanor uncharacteristic.As Fiona wiped her hair, she inadvertently exposed the curve of her neck—graceful, like a swan's. Its
Alaric Sloane's figure remained as fit as ever, especially compared to his peers. However, he had traded his signature red suit for a more mature dark gray. His demeanor had shifted too—there was an air of indifference in his gaze, a far cry from the carefree man he once was.A laptop rested on his lap as he worked. The light illuminated his sharp features, making him appear serious and composed. He no longer resembled the reckless man of the past.Fiona froze. The last time she saw Alaric was at her wedding. That day, the free-spirited man had called her during her wedding banquet, standing amidst the crowd. His voice had been teasing, laced with the unmistakable slur of alcohol."Hey, listen to me—don't marry him. Look at me. If you agree, I'll stop the wedding right now."At that time, Alaric still wasn't that fluent in Farshyan. Having grown up overseas, his accent gave him a polished, foreign charm. His classmates used to joke that it made him seem like a gentleman from abro
The entertainment industry was a place where people could rise quickly. It was a world where words could be tailored to suit different audiences, where alliances were formed with the popular, and enemies were kept in check before they could make a name for themselves.On the surface, everyone seemed friendly, but beneath the smiles, subtle rivalries festered.Back then, Fiona wouldn't have noticed such dynamics. She had never been interested in competing with other women, even in school. The term "female competition" hadn't existed in her vocabulary. Fiona simply wasn't concerned with who stood out in the crowd, so she remained unaware of the unspoken tensions around her.But now, things were different. After years of observing the entertainment industry, Fiona had become attuned to the subtle games people played. Every word Priscilla had spoken earlier had an underlying agenda.It was then that Fiona realized how much time had changed everyone. She could barely recognize the wom
Priscilla, it seemed, embodied the capitalist archetype that online critics often despised—one who saw people as mere tools for profit. Her approach to problems was straightforward, ruthless, and without compassion.She had used unapproved injections to boost her earnings, and now, when things went wrong, she wanted to shift the blame onto unsuspecting individuals.The girl's parents, though devastated, were not asking for much. They simply wanted their daughter's suffering to end and for Priscilla to cover the basic medical costs. But Priscilla wasn't concerned with such matters. The success of her medispa in Ludwiten wasn't due to any sense of ethics—it was built on ambition and exploitation.If Priscilla agreed to treat one person's botched surgery, it would open the door to countless others. She couldn't afford to make exceptions; these "victims" would only try to take advantage of her.At that moment, Priscilla reclined in the lounge, a face mask on, preparing for a full-bod
Back then, a rumor circulated that everyone desired the Grisham family's daughter. Audriana had thought it was an exaggeration. After all, no matter how beautiful a woman was, she would inevitably age. Fiona, no matter how stunning, would eventually face the same fate.However, Audriana had come to realize that some people could indeed look like fairies. Yet, she couldn't show her envy, as Priscilla was still watching her."Why do I think she looks so average? She's not nearly as ladylike as you, Priscilla," Audriana flattered her.Priscilla merely gave her a passing glance. "You don't have to try to flatter me. I don't care about that. With plastic surgery so common these days, I can have any appearance I want."What's important is for a woman to have her own career. But I have to admit, her face is quite stunning."Otherwise, Fiona wouldn't have remained relevant for so many years. But it didn't matter now. Fiona was already married, with so many children. Once a woman became a