Aria wondered why the conversation had suddenly shifted to her backing out. She looked up, meeting Landon's gaze. He was already handsome, but up close, he was even more striking.He gently tucked a strand of her long long hair behind her ear and said seductively, "You need to take responsibility."Seeing Aria at a loss for words, Landon raised his eyebrows with a small smile.Their closeness was obvious to anyone observing. Titus beamed, while Silas and the other housekeepers exchanged knowing smiles as they went off to prepare dinner. Despite working in York Residence for years, they had never seen Landon so tender toward anyone before."Ms. York and Ms. Carver seem to have such a good relationship.""Of course. Didn't you hear Mr. York Senior say Ms. Carver is the one who cured Mr. York?""I heard rumors about how capable Ms. Carver is. She's the one who brought the heroic spirits back home.""Not only that but even the Carver family…"Aria had only given Landon a ride, yet
The employees in the broadcasting headquarters slowly opened their eyes one after another. When their family members asked if they were feeling well, they gave no response, remaining lost in their thoughts.One of the employees, Charles Grub, who often bullied others at work, had been feverish and incoherent for the past two days. His wife suggested, "Why don't you take a few more days off? Let the intern cover for you."She made the suggestion lightly, knowing how often he did the same for others. In his feverish state, Charles nodded instinctively. However, he thought of something the moment he lay down. "Did you go and visit Draco?"His wife looked at him, perplexed. "Draco? Didn't you say he was stingy and useless, someone who couldn't read the room? You even told me to stay away from him."Charles seemed slightly guilty. "I mean, he went through a serious accident. You share the same hometown as his wife, so it would be natural to visit him."His wife's confusion only grew. "
When Charles heard Molly's words, he tensed up. Before he could speak, a snake slithered into the living room.Molly went pale and almost fainted, while her mother's face lost all colors. With no other choice, Charles clasped his hands together and prayed to the snake. "Don't worry. I'll definitely fulfill my promise from the dream. I'll go and apologize to Draco later. My daughter is still young. Please don't get mad at her. I'll make sure she learns her lesson."Molly thought her father had gone insane, unaware that other families were also finding snakes appearing in their homes.These snakes were offerings from the Pahana, enabling him to locate souls through their resentment.…Meanwhile, in an old apartment building, no one dared to approach Draco's house. His neighbors avoided it, pitying his family but fearing their bad luck might be contagious.An old lady knocked on Draco's door. "Libbie, please eat something. I made extra roasted ribs today. Have some. Don't take what
Aria said meaningfully, "It's nothing much, but I found a witness."Witness? Landon looked at Sabrina.Without hesitation, Aria pulled Sabrina along, handing a child over to Martha. "Ma'am, please come with us. We need to confirm some things with your daughter-in-law."The "we" included both Draco and Libbie.When Sabrina realized she was being dragged into Draco's house, her face turned pale. "I don't want to go to their house! Stop!"Libbie had kept the door slightly ajar; she wasn't expecting anyone to enter their house. Just as she was about to shut it, someone grabbed her wrist.It was Draco, who had been bedridden with a fever for days. Libbie's eyes widened as tears streamed down her face. "You're finally awake! They are—"Aria met Draco's gaze through the small gap, still holding onto Sabrina. "I'm here to fulfill my promise, Mr. Pollard." Draco was taken aback, wondering if he was still dreaming. He hesitated to rise, unsure of how he would explain himself to the Carv
Sabrina snorted. "Just drop the act. What's with the slow walking? Why are you carrying all that stuff and pretending to be so weak? You're just like that daughter of yours!" "I'm not pretending!" Libbie's eyes flashed with anger. "And don't you dare insult my daughter! Everyone knows your husband is the problem. I've told you how he always ogles women in their dresses during summer!" Sabrina knew exactly what kind of man she had married, but there was no way she would admit to her poor choice. To her, it was always other women's fault. They were the ones being immodest and trying to seduce her husband. Why couldn't they just wear pants like decent people? Sabrina scoffed. "Whatever, I'm done with your excuses. You're married to a military man, so I know to watch my step. If Martha wasn't bringing you stuff, I wouldn't even bother talking to you." As Sabrina turned to leave with her child, Aria sent a silver needle whizzing through the air. Aria said calmly, "We usually bring
Martha panicked. She clutched her grandson as she pleaded, "Libbie, please say something. You know how Sabrina is—she's just tactless, not malicious. After all I've done for you, couldn't we just—" Draco spoke up, "No. Madam Berkin, no one can forgive these actions on Shirley's behalf. Not even me." Draco's fists were clenched tight. "You talk about being good to us, and you know exactly what kind of person my wife is. Yet you turned a blind eye to your son's behavior. Don't pretend you weren't part of spreading those rumors around the neighborhood." Initially, Martha had believed Libbie was the one flirting with her son. But after witnessing something herself, she realized her son was the real problem. She had tried being nice to the Pollards to keep things from escalating. She worried about her son's reputation and career if Libbie ever spoke up about what happened. That day, she had let her judgment slip when she mentioned to others how those from out of town loved dressin
Aria showed no mercy. Some people would never change. They would apologize not because they were sorry, but because they were scared. They were scared of losing face or all the privileges they had. The son was the real monster here, yet they had let his victim suffer the consequences of their gossip. They did that all to protect his precious career and reputation, huh? Well then, she would make sure everyone knew exactly what kind of trash the son and his family were. The police came to arrest them right in the neighborhood while another team raided his workplace. It caused quite a scene at the school where he worked. Pablo Clarkson was in the middle of self-righteously criticizing "today's unmotivated youth" when the police pinned him to his desk. He was arrested for sexual harassment. At first, his colleagues could not believe it. How could this well-mannered man in glasses be guilty of such a thing? His colleagues tried to stop the police. "Officers, this has to be a mista
"Yes, I heard." Aria met his gaze steadily. Draco smiled, but it looked more like he was crying. "Shirley was stronger than anyone. When she was little, she told me she wanted to be a soldier like me. "In elementary school, she'd always stand up for classmates who were being bullied. But these people dare say she was weak! That a few words drove her to suicide!" Draco's fists clenched. "I didn't even know what was happening. My daughter was gone before I could do anything. Don't I have the right to avenge her? These people, I..." In his youth, he had poured all his energy into protecting the border. He had wanted to keep drugs out, knowing they destroyed families. He had taken pride in protecting people. After retiring, the government treated him well by offering him another job. He was grateful and happy to have a simple family life. But he soon learned how hard things were without connections. New management meant constant overtime. Without connections or knowing how to p
Nova shrank timidly but murmured, "I don't want Luna to suffer."The scene was heart-wrenching.If Luna's family took her body away, the police might lose crucial evidence. Despite the officer's clear explanations, the couple seemed unable—or unwilling—to comprehend. Some younger officers began to grow restless.But did they truly not understand?Aria's gaze shifted to the phone tightly clutched in Nova's hand. The screen flickered repeatedly with incoming messages.Raising an eyebrow, Aria stepped forward. "Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, is it?"Nova frowned. "And you are?"Aria lied, "I'm Luna's classmate."At this, Nova and Nico exchanged wary glances. They'd heard that Luna's classmates had taken her to the bar, and hostility flickered in their expressions."Classmate? Students like you are nothing but bad influences!" Nova snapped. "All you care about is plastic surgery and partying."Aria remained silent as Nico interjected, his tone bitter. "Everyone knows Luna went to the bar l
A scene like this naturally drew a crowd. A middle-aged man sat on the ground, wailing loudly. "Come, everyone, see for yourselves! I can't even bring my daughter home. They even shoved me!"Dealing with people like him was never easy. In an age when anyone could record videos and spin narratives, law enforcers had to tread carefully. They couldn't afford to be too aggressive, especially when the other party had valid grievances.The commotion had already attracted onlookers snapping pictures and whispering among themselves."It's not that you can't take her back. The investigation is still ongoing," a law enforcer explained patiently.Nico Hanson's anger flared. "Ongoing? You brought us here to tell us she jumped off a building after partying at a bar. Everyone knows what happened, yet you're saying the case isn't closed? How could you treat us like this?"Poor people's lives mean nothing to you, huh? But do you have to torment us this way?"His fury stemmed from the suggestion
Sam was still fiddling with his keyboard. Looking up, he noticed Landon watching him with a piercing gaze. Instinctively, Sam adopted a defensive posture. Landon raised an eyebrow and pulled out his phone. At the sight of the familiar motion, Sam's eyes brightened.At first, Sam thought of turning around to let Landon scan his QR code. But then he realized there was no QR code on his shirt.Sam pursed his lips and signed for Landon to wait. He had neither his watch nor phone with him.As Langon glanced outside the bar, one of the York family's Dark Shadow guards immediately entered. "Boss, here is the new phone you ordered."Sam was overjoyed after getting a new phone.Landon stood there elegantly. "Go and take a walk."Sam started to leave but paused when he noticed the crow. His sharp eyes flicked toward it, contemplating whether to take it with him.Finally, Sam decided to bring the crow along, worried it might escape. If it did, he'd miss his chance to enjoy the roasted cr
"Go and remind Priscilla to send some gifts to the Gibson family," Orion ordered disgruntedly. "We can't afford to turn enemies with them, especially since we were once in-laws. My ex-brother-in-law is fortunate, though. With the higher-ups at odds, he's been promoted significantly."He's quite useful for our current project. Once we secure it, the Chamber of Commerce will be ours. Tell my foolish sister to fix the mess she made with the Draycott family. She knows exactly how she got her medispa."His secretary, Arlo Finch, nodded. On the surface, Ludwiten seemed unchanged as the Carver family prepared to return. Yet, some small merchants had subtly shifted, though it was hard to pinpoint the exact nature of the changes.Arlo sensed that the Carver family still held some lingering influence, but he wasn't sure how to broach the topic with Orion. After all, the Draycott family would be in trouble if the police found any evidence at the bar.Thankfully, everything seemed under cont
The insidious wave of online comments, designed to sway public opinion, threatened to bury the truth forever. In most investigations, such a barrage of negativity would undoubtedly hinder the police's progress. However, Aria's rapid understanding of the intricate web of corruption within Nocturne and her discovery of the influential individuals orchestrating the cover-up had prompted a swift escalation of the case's confidentiality level to the highest degree.Beneath the surface of a seemingly tragic suicide lay a massive scandal, a tangled web of collusion between powerful officials and unscrupulous businessmen. Not only had the Special Missions Unit been dispatched, but even the Supreme Court was poised to intervene.Meanwhile, the orchestrated public outcry continued to simmer, fueled by the relentless dissemination of fabricated information.Orion, however, remained unfazed, his focus solely on the desired outcome. His secretary, ever efficient, delivered the news. "Mr. Drayc
The passage was short. Aria reached a door after walking about 60 feet. When she was about to open it, she realized it was locked from the other side.In most situations, one would instinctively search for the lock mechanism and attempt to unlock it. However, Aria, ever vigilant, paused, her senses alert. A faint sound, a muffled whisper, emanated from the other side of the door, indicating a presence within.She raised her hand to signal Landon to pause.Aria, well-versed in criminal psychology, knew that criminals often returned to the crime scene, whether to dispose of evidence or for other, less discernible reasons."It's just as you said," a voice whispered from within, "no one has investigated this place. I knew I could trust you. See you tomorrow at the Chamber of Commerce."Aria knew she couldn't intervene immediately. However, she had confirmed the presence of someone within, a crucial piece of evidence.These individuals were arrogant, believing the surveillance cameras
The crow, despite its limited understanding of Chaos' words, sensed a growing unease. It feared Landon's lies and carefully constructed disguise might soon unravel. The crow was uncertain how Aria would react if she discovered Landon's true identity. Landon, seeking a missing fragment of his soul, had come to Ludwiten. This fragment resided within the city, making it crucial to ensure Landon's safety.As these anxieties weighed on him, Landon approached, his demeanor casual. "Mount Dracotigris," he explained, "possesses a sacred ground dedicated to the Decatorian way. Surrounded by dense woods and imbued with potent spiritual energy, it remains largely unexplored by humans due to the presence of various beasts. I believe Sam was there."Aria raised her eyebrows. "There is a place like this in Mount Dracotigris?""Yes. It's just that it was never made public."When Aria turned to Sam, he nodded, confirming his recollection of the place. Suddenly, a memory surfaced, and he swif
Aria, who just came over, was stunned by the scene. Landon's pose reminded her of the man covering his nose with a white handkerchief in a manifestation in Ludwiten, but the person seemed more wicked than Landon. For some reason, Aria felt it wasn't a coincidence they were brought to Ludwiten. In fact, they were led there. Sam shook his head indifferently as he examined the surveillance cameras. When he saw Aria, however, he immediately dropped everything in his hands and fled to her side. He seemed to have a lot of things to say to Aria. He stretched out his hands and kept gesturing. Aria raised his face and squished his cheeks with one hand. She then glanced at his teeth. "Not bad. You didn't simply consume anything."Sam puffed his chest out proudly as if saying he had listened to her words.Relief washed over Aria as she enveloped him in a tight embrace, stroking his hair and grounding herself in his presence.Aria's bond with Sam transcended the ordinary. It was an unbr
In the meantime, an expressionless small figure was moving things in the first-floor corridor. He would occasionally look up at Landon as if asking when he could meet Aria. The officers were bewildered by Sam's presence, completely taken aback by his extraordinary strength. The child seemed unable to speak, communicating only through gestures.The wine barrel beside him was undeniably real, yet he effortlessly lifted it with a single hand. It defied all logic as if the laws of physics no longer applied. Was this some kind of superhuman feat? Was he perhaps a god?Sam ignored the eyes on him. He remembered awakening in a hot spring deep in the woods. It felt comfortable, but he was hungry.Sam stamped his feet on the ground, then leaned over the water to inspect his reflection, meticulously checking his teeth. Only after this self-assessment did he begin to survey his surroundings.There was nobody else other than a bunch of souls. When he backed a step away, the souls would follo