The latest round of interviews commenced, with every journalist eager to secure an exclusive story.Owen and Mindy beamed with pride, reveling in the long-overdue recognition. Their faces flushed with a sense of accomplishment. They felt no shame in leveraging the Carver family's fame.Mindy found validation in her years of calling Owen "Dad". As he often pointed out, Aria would pale in comparison as long as she made a name for herself in a noteworthy show.Her confidence soared with the increasing support from the audience. Given the audience's fondness for traditional styles and nostalgia, Mindy was determined to capitalize on this trend.With a growing smile, she turned her head to showcase her emerald hair clip, ensuring everyone noticed her carefully chosen accessories.This move ignited a buzz online, propelling the Carver family into trending discussions.The entire Carver Group was baffled by the sudden buzz. Had Leon or Aria inadvertently revealed their identities?Howe
Clary didn't know what Aria planned on doing next. After all, it wasn't appropriate for Aria to reveal her identity on "Exploring Farshya".Those appearing on the show were from the cultural scene, and Mindy held a considerable advantage. Few had the privilege of encountering cultural relics, but Mindy, as an apprentice of a renowned relic restorer, was an exception.Clary felt a twinge of concern for Aria. "Ms. Carver, maybe you should familiarize yourself with these relics beforehand?"Aria appreciated Clary's concern and didn't refuse the suggestion. She casually flipped through the informational booklet, her mind elsewhere. After all, she had uncovered some of the cultural relics, but revealing the unique cases the Special Missions Unit dealt with wasn't appropriate.Aria expertly maintained her composure, making it hard to read her emotions. Owen and Mindy's presence seemed to have no effect on her.…Meanwhile, Leon was far from composed. Although he kept his feelings priva
Aria raised her eyebrows at the text she received. It was quite a coincidence. She texted back, "Is the variety show you mentioned called 'Exploring Farshya'?""Yes! I can't believe you've heard of it. But then again, it makes sense since our country has many cultural relics located abroad. Through this show, I aim to educate young people about our history. You once said that a cultural relic is more than just an object; it carries the culture and stories of the people behind it."The passion of Don Hendricks, also known as "President Clippard", for cultural relics was unmistakable. Once he launched into a conversation about them, he simply couldn't stop.Don continued, "At first, I was hesitant to participate in the show because I thought it might be a gimmick. But after seeing the reactions of the heroic spirits online, I changed my mind. "I have high hopes for the guests this time. I hope they can convey to young people the mission we still need to fulfill. Of course, it woul
The spotlights illuminated the stage, revealing the host, elegantly dressed in a stunning gown amidst the dazzling setting.Unlike other variety shows, this one exuded a sense of cultural richness produced by the esteemed Farshya Channel. The host smiled warmly. "Welcome to our studio audience and everyone watching at home! You're tuned into 'Exploring Farshya'."Today, we honor the brave souls whose untold stories linger on as we present relics steeped in history and timeless romantic tales left behind by the Farshyan people. Let's welcome our guests!"First, we have Professor Hugh Meaux, an expert in poetry with extensive knowledge of the Heoburg and Ponad eras. He serves as the deputy director of the Cultural Relics Museum and will be with us throughout the recording to witness the restoration of 18 cultural treasures."Next, meet Mindy Carver, the youngest cultural relic restorer in the field. Don't let her age fool you. She's already restored hundreds of artifacts and accompan
Aria did not come across as a seasoned expert compared to the other guests. Her attire was decidedly modern—a black-and-white biker jacket paired with snug jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and silver earphones hung casually in her ears.Aria stood backstage with minimal makeup; a mix of innocence and aloofness enhanced her striking beauty. However, not everyone was a fan of her style. Professor Dylan Soller, a guest invited by Mindy, disapproved of the way young people dressed these days, particularly believing that women should dress more conservatively.Despite the modern era, Dylan found Aria's outfit to undermine the elegance of her features. He felt she should have chosen a more fitting attire for the occasion. All the other guests were clad in suits and coats. At the very least, she could have worn something in solid colors. What advantage did her current outfit offer?With a dismissive glance at Aria, Dylan remarked, "You must be here on Leon's invita
At that moment, the audience engaged in lively discussions."Can anyone tell which ones are real?""I can't. They all look genuine to me."The host had mentioned that there were counterfeits among the items, suggesting there were several to choose from.After all, differentiating genuine cultural relics requires more than just a few books. It demands a deep familiarity with authentic artifacts. Perhaps only a few heirs from elite families had the privilege of that experience. For ordinary folks like them, distinguishing the real from the fake was nearly impossible."I doubt Leon would know the difference either.""He's just a celebrity who sings and dances. It'll be hard for him.""Only true experts can identify these relics. What's a celebrity like him doing here anyway?""It all depends on who he brought along."Celebrities might not have the expertise, but they could afford to hire professionals. Still, even Leon's wealth paled in comparison to Mindy's."Exactly. She's the
Don's reaction was opposite to the audience's, evident in the trembling of his ceramic cup. "It's her. It's really her!"Aria radiated an even greater charisma than she had a year ago. Though still young, her eyes possessed a calming quality that drew people in.Don could still vividly recall their first meeting. He had been at the border of Janovin, examining some rough emeralds. He was merely browsing, hoping to find something worth taking back to Farshya.Finding a relic would have been a stroke of luck. Yet, he hadn't expected to see a young woman standing nonchalantly beside a stone, instructing someone to open it with a sense of calm authority.As an expert, Don recognized instantly that the stone was worthless. There was no chance it would yield anything valuable.Cracking open stones was a gamble; the outcome was either a useless piece of rock or something precious. Even seasoned professionals relied on luck to discover rare finds. Sure, one might uncover a clear emerald
After thinking for a moment, Keith responded, "This is probably the reality for those who lack a strong background. But things are different now."Nowadays, actors and singers often come from wealthy families. Sometimes, I overhear employees grumbling that they work for the rich by day and then have to watch their spoiled kids entertain them after work."Keith caught Warren's glance and quickly added, "Mr. Carver Senior, I didn't mean you. You're certainly wealthy, but you're different."It was rare to see Keith so flustered. Nervously, he adjusted his glasses.Warren wasn't offended; he was merely curious. "But doesn't Leon have a huge fan base? From what I've seen in reports, his fans have strong purchasing power, and his commercial value is high.""Mr. Leon is indeed talented and well-known internationally. But despite that, people still mock him. Audiences tend to be more forgiving to those with affluent backgrounds."Keith raised his hand, showing Warren a video on his phone
The aged voice was filled with indifference. "It seems like she reached a dead end."Amos sneered. "I don't understand why these peasants like staying in the city. Still, it's fortunate for us. Otherwise, it'd be hard to get our hands on them.""Amos," the person cut in sharply, as if reminding him of his place.Amos only dared to speak so harshly when no one was around. If word got out, his image as the perfect secretary would be ruined.He quickly calmed down and fell silent. The caller didn't press the matter, simply saying, "You need to change the way you speak and act from now on."Since she's already agreed, give her the money. Don't treat her requests as a nuisance. The more requests they make, the less likely they are to cause trouble later."After picking her up tomorrow, send a few men to check if her grandparents need any help. Make sure everything is done properly."Amos nodded. "I understand. You always see the bigger picture. We'll continue looking after them."Poo
"I promise it won't happen again!" To an outsider, it might've sounded like Amos was talking about the cafeteria mishap. But the truth was much darker. What Amos really meant was that incidents like this could continue, just never publicly. Once the media's attention died down, they could go back to doing whatever they pleased. But for now, the performance had to be flawless.The man on the other end of the call seemed satisfied. Though his voice was flat and monotonous, there was a noticeable shift; it was now less stern."She's been manipulating the stock market," he said. "It's caused major damage to several of Luwditen's corporations. We can't let her walk free."Amos removed his glasses, a grim look on his face. "That's exactly what I told the Securities Regulatory Department. It doesn't matter who comes to plead on her behalf. Even if she's the late Mr. Barron's heir, she has to face the law."She's confessed. No one's going to let her off the hook now. You know what jail'
At first, Eden didn't understand what Aria meant. But as night fell, Aria lowered her head and started fumbling with something. When she looked up again, Eden was stunned—Aria looked exactly like her.Eden's eyes widened in disbelief. She'd only seen something like this in movies. But now, it was unfolding right in front of her. So there really was such a flawless disguise technique in the world."Aria, you…""Since I'm using your identity, I have to be you," Aria said with a soft tug of her mask, smiling. She had always been bold, yet precise. Working in the Special Missions Unit meant secrecy was second nature to her—this part was routine."Stay home and rest tonight. I'll leave first thing in the morning. Once I'm gone and the coast is clear, take your grandparents and leave."Eden opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond. She didn't even know when the people watching them would leave."My team will come get you," Aria reassured her. "What's important is that your grandparent
Eden nodded. "Okay. I'll do as you say, Aria."She sent the text just like Aria instructed. Moments later, her teacher replied—everything had been arranged. A car would pick her up from home. There was no need to return to school.A cold shiver ran down Eden's spine. They knew where she lived. They'd been watching all along. Not just the school—they were everywhere.Eden didn't linger at school. Outside the entrance, the main topic of conversation was the officials' arrival for an investigation and the school's public exposure.Everyone knew the cafeteria was a mess. Students had complained countless times, but each time inspectors came, the food improved just long enough to pass the checks. Then it would all revert. It had become the norm—something they were forced to accept.Eden was no different. She just wanted to get home. She needed to see her grandparents. She feared something might happen to them next.Every step on the way home, she stayed alert, scanning her surroundings
Eden listened closely, her brow furrowing. Her teacher wasn't speaking Farshyan. School was no longer a safe place, and Eden didn't know who she could trust. Her classmates were too caught up in mocking Aria to notice anything was wrong, all assuming Eden was lucky to have been chosen.She considered calling the police, picking up her phone, but then paused. What could she even say? That there was a mole at school? Her face turned pale as she remembered how close the principal was to influential people. The authorities might not believe her, or worse, they might be involved.Despite the headlines claiming Aria had been arrested, Eden felt a spark of hope. Aria had promised she'd show up if Eden ever needed her. Taking a deep breath, Eden dialed the number Aria had given her.She didn't expect anyone to answer. But then came a cool, familiar voice. "Eden? What's wrong? Did someone give you trouble again?"Eden's heart soared. "You're not arrested! The news is fake, isn't it? I knew
Lucas gave Amos a sidelong glance. "In that case, let's do as Mr. Lune suggested—punish everyone involved."Announce to the public that Oakvale Academy will be used as a test case. We'll be conducting surprise inspections in all middle and high schools."As for why Mr. Kelsey encountered two completely different scenes during his visits—well, that's easy to explain." Lucas' gaze swept across the room. "Someone tipped off the school before your visit. If any other school received advance notice, every one of you will be under scrutiny."Though Lucas spoke with a smile, none of the seven present—including the three officials—could return it. The smile, in this context, was more chilling than rage. This was a warning. Amos, in particular, felt deeply unsettled. He had come intending to redirect Lucas' attention away from Oakvale Academy. Instead, the incident had blown up. With public attention turning toward the school, transferring Eden would soon become impossible.Still, Amo
Now that Miguel, who was an expert in covering up, was gone, the long-standing issues in the school were exposed.The group stood frozen as they watched a cafeteria worker pour something into a large pot. A closer look revealed it was leftover mushroom soup. But that wasn't the worst of it. The soup reeked, clearly spoiled, yet it was still being reheated for the students.Things only got worse when they entered the kitchen. Hygiene standards were appalling. Not a single chef wore a mask, and some were even smoking while cooking.Amos' expression darkened immediately, even before Lucas could react.One of the chefs noticed them and slammed his ladle onto the counter. "What are you doing in here? Outsiders aren't allowed in the school—don't you know that?"Unlike other schools, Oakvale Academy had somehow always slipped through the cracks during routine inspections. When required to present something, they staged it well enough to fool a camera.So, the staff never expected a surp
Aria understood that this was all the person could offer. The real mastermind would never reveal himself so easily—not even to his most trusted subordinates.Those in power never needed to explain themselves. Those who understood them would earn their favor; those who didn't were destined to remain at the bottom.Her thoughts raced. She needed hard evidence to capture whoever was behind Amos. Baseless accusations would only alert the enemy and push them deeper into hiding.Allowing herself to be arrested had been part of Aria's plan. She needed the mastermind to lower his guard. After all, she had been too visible in Ludwiten lately. With eyes constantly watching her, she couldn't make any real moves. But she couldn't let the incident at Oakvale Academy go unresolved. Her instincts told her it was the key to everything.Before Philip found his family, she had to act—and that meant changing her identity to save Even.Just then, the person's phone buzzed. He turned the screen towa
"Boss!" Weston rushed over the moment he finished dealing with the other officers. Aria arched an eyebrow, flexing her wrists. "He's the mole?""Yes." Weston nodded. The Securities Regulatory Bureau, dispatched by the Securities Regulatory Commission, was tasked with auditing listed companies—particularly sniffing out insider trading and market manipulation.While not everyone in the bureau could be corrupt, it was common for a few to be compromised.The officer who had been interrogating Aria was of a minor rank, but the one Weston had just exposed held real power.Aria looked over at the trembling man. His legs had given out, sending him to the floor. His phone lay discarded beside him as he shook uncontrollably.They had met before—at a Chamber of Commerce meeting. To him, Aria had just been a clever heiress with some market luck, thanks to Landon's influence. No one would have expected her to single-handedly bring down the Draycott family.No one would logically believe