Hugo had the confidence to speak that way because he had the power to realize such a threat. The Lambert family was one of the most prominent families in Avesburgh, only a step behind the Kinsley family, the wealthiest in the city. Shutting down a small business like Warren's would be a simple matter for him.The shock on Warren's and Nattie's faces made it clear that they realized Hugo wasn't joking."Mr. Lambert, are you talking about Felix Zeller?" Nattie asked, lost in disbelief."What? Did I mispronounce something?"Nattie became anxious as Hugo confirmed his own statement. "If you've got a grudge against Felix, take it up with him! What does this have to do with us?"Hugo laughed. "What's this? Still trying to play innocent in front of me? I know exactly what your relationship with Felix is. When you want to take someone down, you hit where it hurts most. If I'm going to deal with Felix, of course I'm going to go after his weakest points."Hugo wasn't like the brainle
From the way Hugo spoke, it was clear that Kane's influence didn't carry much weight here. It seemed unlikely that Felix had any other tricks up his sleeve.…Meanwhile, Felix was standing in the front yard of his villa in Tabiner Bay, his face dark. He was staring at the group of a dozen people gathered just outside the gate."Felix! Pay up!""You finally showed your face! Time to settle your father's debts. It's only right for the son to pay what the father owes.""Damn! You disappeared for three years. Why didn't you just vanish forever?""Enough talking! Pay up already. I'm owed 600 grand. Start with mine!"These people had shown up out of nowhere, flooding in all at once, and not even the security guards could stop them."What gives you the right to come and harass me?" Felix asked, his eyes narrowing in anger.Back when his parents ran their business, they never had significant debts. In fact, they gave money to charity every year. How could they possibly owe money to th
In that moment, the responses came quickly."Ken Zeller""Carson Zeller""Bryan Zeller"Each name that was called out made Felix's disappointment deepen. They were all his father's siblings—his own relatives.Years ago, Matthew had handed the company over to them. And now, they were pulling this kind of stunt on their nephew? It was revolting beyond words."Are these debts something my father owed?" Felix asked coldly.No one dared to lie anymore."No, Mr. Zeller. The debts are from the current Zeller Group. They've been stalling on payments, and just yesterday, they told us to collect it from you. They said if we harass you for three days straight, they'll pay us back.""That's right. That's what happened!""Same for me."Felix waved them off dismissively. "Get lost."The group scrambled to leave, practically falling over themselves in their haste. Once they were gone, Felix turned to Stinger."Stinger, what did you find out?"Stinger, ever respectful, replied, "Zeller G
"It's funny, isn't it? I heard Felix also cut ties with Warren. Apparently, he managed to squeeze nearly 30 million dollars out of him, thanks to Uncle Matthew's old connections," Sabrina said with a smirk.Someone immediately chimed in with a laugh, "That's about as far as Felix's talents go. Warren must've been the fool here. If it were up to us, Felix wouldn't have gotten a single cent."At this point, Carson spoke up, "Enough of that. Get ready, everyone. The big shot I went to great lengths to invite is coming. After tonight, Zeller Group is going to soar to new heights!"The group eagerly moved toward the banquet hall's entrance, with Sabrina trailing behind. She leaned in toward Jolene curiously and whispered, "Mom, who's this big shot Uncle Carson is talking about?"Jolene smiled knowingly. "It's someone from the Kinsley family, the wealthiest family in the city. They're interested in investing in Zeller Group, and the deal is almost finalized. If all goes well, we'll be se
The Zellers froze for a moment. Then, they either burst out laughing or wore looks of disdain."Felix, you're kicking us out? On what grounds? With that foul mouth of yours?" one of them sneered.Seeing a crowd of guests gathering to watch, Carson decided to make his move. He was already in the right, so there was no reason to hold back."You're the one who started this, and as your uncle, I've been more than fair. You're the one who doesn't know how to appreciate kindness!" he snapped, raising his hand in command. "Get him out of here!"At his signal, a group of black-suited bodyguards rushed toward Felix, clearly prepared for this moment.Nearby, the spectators murmured among themselves."Felix? Isn't he Matthew's son?""Yeah, that's him. I heard he disappeared for three years, and now, he's back.""He's young and full of himself. He probably thinks he can reclaim what was once his, but does he really believe that's possible?""This kid doesn't get it. He didn't take over wh
Leo was shaking with rage, his whole body trembling as he pulled out his phone."Alright! Keep acting tough! You said my uncle bows to you, right? Fine! You're dead! No one's going to save you now!""Let me make the call."Before he could dial, Felix had already beaten him to it. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, putting it on speaker."Yes, Felix," a woman's voice answered on the other end. "Do you have a cousin with the last name Mitchell?" Felix asked casually. "He seems pretty full of himself. I'll leave the rest to you—I don't want to see him again."Cousin? Wendy's voice suddenly grew cold. "Leo Mitchell! Is that you?"In an instant, the once-arrogant Leo turned into a meek kitten. "Wendy? Is that you?""Who else would it be? Haven't I told you to never mess with anyone named Felix? What? Did a horse kick you in the head, or have you gone deaf?"Leo swallowed hard, his eyes filled with fear. Wendy had indeed warned him, but how could he have known that some
Felix paused and turned to look at Carson."You're saying you have something I need?"Carson swallowed nervously, knowing this was his last card to play."That's right. I have your parents' photo album—the one from when they were young. It's in my possession. "Felix, I'm begging you. For the sake of family, let us off this time. I'll return the album to you untouched, I swear."Felix smiled at the mention of that.He chuckled softly. "The photo album? Keep it. Instead of using it as a bargaining chip, why not look through it yourself? Maybe it'll remind you of the people who helped you get to where you are today."Carson's face went ashen. Who could have imagined that the "worthless" Felix, who disappeared for three years, would return with such power? The wealthiest man in the city, Kane—any one of them could crush the Zeller family without a second thought, yet they all treated Felix with respect. But too bad there was no cure for regret in this world.…On his way home
Callum appeared somewhat surprised and then turned his head, calling out, "Hugo, come here and explain what's going on."To Warren's surprise, Hugo was there, too. He felt a sinking feeling in his gut. Out of all the connections he had, the most influential person he could reach was Thomas. The others wouldn't even get the chance to step through the door, let alone strike up a conversation with Callum. Sure enough, Hugo walked up to Warren, who had just started to stand. Without any warning, Hugo kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him stumbling back. His face was icy as he said, "Warren? I gave you a chance, didn't I? I said by sunset, and clearly, you failed to deliver. Just wait—within a week, your company will be done for."Even Thomas hadn't expected Hugo to act so brazenly, completely ignoring his presence. Warren was, after all, his guest, and in normal circumstances, even the most disrespectful people would think twice before acting out in front of their host."E
The reason Edmond dared to question Felix at all was that he was holding onto that one sliver of arrogance—he assumed Felix had only cured Christopher by pure luck, just because it happened to fall under his area of expertise.Otherwise, would he have even dared speak up? Not a chance.Once the silk threads were tied and tension filled the air, Felix spoke calmly after only a short pause. "Her Grace has a mild seasonal chill. It's nothing serious. I'll prescribe her some herbal blends—she'll recover within five days. Or, if she prefers a quicker route, acupuncture will do the trick."The Green King blinked, clearly stunned by the response. "You mean you can heal her without medication?""That's right. No medicine necessary." At the same time, a soft, melodic voice floated from behind the curtain. Sydney Haye said, "My love, that sounds perfect. You know I hate taking medicine. Please, Dr. Zeller, come in and begin the treatment."...15 minutes later, Felix stepped back out in
Joaquin was on the edge of madness. He wanted nothing more than to kill Felix right there, but he didn't dare risk the entire Goldstein family just to satisfy that rage. Disobeying a royal summons meant immediate execution—there was no bluffing around it.After taking a deep breath, Joaquin forced himself to put on a smile. "Dr. Zeller, then tell me—what exactly do you need in order to head to the Green King Manor?"Felix had seen this kind of groveling far too many times before. "Gras is right outside your estate. Go talk to him. The sooner you two reach an agreement, the sooner I'll leave for the manor.""What? Gras is here?" Only now did Joaquin realize just how thoroughly he had been played. Everything had been a setup from the beginning, and he had walked straight into the trap.Time ticked by, and eventually, Gras strolled into the courtyard. He said, "Dr. Zeller, the talk went well. How's the view treating you so far?" From the smile on Gras's face, it was clear he hadn't
Not far away, Wagner silently prayed with all his might. "Come on, Felix, don't back down now. Keep acting like a hothead—because only then will you die."As for any retaliation from the Longstone family, he wasn't the least bit concerned. Things had already gone too far, and Joaquin clearly wasn't about to back down. He would definitely find a reason to escalate the fight, and if that weren't the case, Wagner wouldn't have dared tag along tonight.Maybe his prayer actually worked, because Felix shook his head. "Sorry, I came here just to cooperate with your investigation. Anything beyond that… I won't do."Just as Wagner thought Felix had sealed his fate, someone suddenly rushed in, holding something in his hand. "Mr. Goldstein! We've got trouble—Green King Manor just sent a royal summons!""What?" Joaquin's expression twisted as he snatched the letter. A summons from one of the nine Minor Kings was no small matter—when it was issued, compliance was mandatory. Ignoring it meant
In the past, no one dared provoke a family war so openly as it would've been a blatant slap in the Green King's face. But this time, the Goldsteins had the upper hand. After all, Justus was dead, and the Longstone family was a prime suspect. Hence, even if blood were shed, it could still be justified.Joaquin knew this well. He also understood that Gras would never give up Felix for the sake of the Longstones' reputation, so even forcing the standoff served his purpose.Just as the tension reached its peak and a battle was about to break out, Felix stepped forward on his own. "You're the head of the Goldsteins, right? I'll go with you."Joaquin narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected Felix to boldly step forward."Dr. Zeller, please step back," Gras said.Felix glanced at Gras and said, "Thank you for everything, sir. But the truth will speak for itself. Once the investigation is done, I'm sure they'll let me return."Gras stayed silent, but Joaquin chuckled coldly. "Return? Do you
Ginny was naturally present as well, and she spoke up at that moment. "Mr. Goldstein, no one wanted to see Justus die like that. But why did you bring your people to Longstone residence? Are you suggesting that his sudden death has something to do with us?"Joaquin's expression grew darker as he looked at her. He blamed Ginny for this, thinking that none of this would have happened if she had just agreed earlier. And now, they couldn't even determine the cause of death."No connection? That doctor from your household, Felix Zeller—he's the one responsible for Justus' death."Right then, someone spoke up from the crowd. "That's him! That's Felix Zeller!"Felix, who had been calmly sitting in a chair, finally saw Wagner standing among them. And in that moment, everything made sense."Wagner? You've gotten quite bold, huh?" Gras sneered.Wagner flinched at Gras's words, but remembering that he now had the Goldsteins backing him, he stiffened his spine and stood tall. "Cut the crap
In Cloud City, there were a few noble families. Nonetheless, behind the polite smiles, tensions surged. Infiltrating each other's estates with spies had practically become a tradition. While they rarely uncovered major secrets, the information they did gather always gave them a head start.So when the news broke, Gras didn't doubt it for a second. He jumped to his feet, furious. "This is outrageous! Their son dies, and somehow it's the Longstone family's fault?"Ryker looked just as puzzled, agreeing that the accusation made no sense.But Felix let out a quiet, weary sigh. "Mr. Longstone, I'm afraid this is probably my fault. I'm a doctor, and I've gotten a bit of attention lately. After they failed to determine the cause of Justus' death, and given our meeting earlier today, they likely saw an opportunity to drag your family into the mess." Gras's expression darkened, knowing that Felix wasn't wrong. After all, doctors could also be poisoners, and plenty of martial artists had fa
It was clear someone had said something to Justus. Otherwise, this situation wouldn't have escalated to this point.Felix said calmly, "It was a standard therapeutic massage technique, and I was blindfolded the entire time. Does that explanation satisfy you? Or would you rather find someone else capable of treating Ms. Longstone—I'll gladly step aside if you can."Justus sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. "Cut the crap, Felix. Don't act like I don't know exactly what's going through your head. Ginny's the heiress of the Longstone residence—Gras's precious jewel. Everyone knows that marrying her is like securing the entire household. Don't tell me that thought never crossed your mind.""It didn't," Felix said simply.Unfortunately, that answer was never going to satisfy Justus. He snarled, "Listen up, boy! I'm giving you three days to get the hell out of the Longstone residence. If you don't, you won't even get the chance to regret it. Everyone else might be afraid of Gras—but I
As Wagner watched Justus explode in rage, he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. With what he'd just uncovered, there was no need to exaggerate—it was already explosive enough on its own.After all, Justus' future fiancée was touched in that kind of intimate way by a young, healthy doctor. Any man with a spine would lose it."But Justus," Wagner added with a smirk. "Didn't Felix just get publicly praised by the Green King?"Cloud City wasn't that big. Anyone with any influence had been keeping close tabs on Green King Manor—especially with the mystery man who walked out of Desolated Lands involved. So, the news of Felix being rewarded had already spread far and wide.Justus clenched his jaw. "So what? It's just a flash in the pan. If he was truly skilled, the Green King would've kept him. But as long as he hasn't climbed into the Green King's inner circle, I can crush him whenever I want."Wagner's grin widened. That was exactly the attitude he needed. If Justus had shown
The moment the Flame Monarch mentioned the Healer Sage, the Green King's expression shifted noticeably. "So the Sage really was living out there in seclusion... No wonder. Flame Monarch, does this mean you've taken a liking to Felix?"But the Flame Monarch waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need for that."That response made the Green King secretly rejoice. If the Flame Monarch didn't intend to recruit Felix, then he understood why—and that was perfect. It meant the opportunity to take Felix under his own wing was wide open.The night passed quietly. Felix stood beside Christopher's bedside, noticing the man's breathing had grown steady and stable.At this point, the herb had run its course and was no longer effective. But what was left inside Christopher's soul—a strange, lingering force—was exactly what Felix had hoped for.Christopher was alive but completely unconscious. The remaining energy had no regenerative properties, which meant he'd likely never wake again. For Fe