"Boy...friend? Him?" Bobby Nelson faltered before erupting into derisive, mocking laughter. "Kelly, even if you refuse my courtship, surely you could find someone better than this...this pauper to impersonate your beau?""I had expected you to introduce someone of substance, but this? He's not even as handsome as I, nor as wealthy! A mere vagrant, unworthy of comparison!"Bobby Nelson dismissed Jason entirely, failing to perceive any threat—merely a hired hand, a student earning meager wages through menial labor.Hearing such words, Jason could only shake his head in wry amusement. Yet, he observed that Bobby Nelson seemed a respectable suitor—his credentials appeared favorable. Perhaps, if successful, this girl would cease her vexations."Friend, in pursuing a lady's affections, one must comprehend her preferences and aversions," Jason remarked with a genial smile. "Identify her vulnerabilities, exploit her weaknesses—not through this ceaseless, unwanted pursuit, which only breeds re

"Why do you hesitate?" Jason's smooth baritone cut through the tension. "I meant every word. One kick landed true—now, let the beating commence!""Mr. Gray, have you taken leave of your senses?" Kelly cried out in alarm. "Bobby may be insufferable, but to strike the Nelson heir carries grave consequences! Let me handle this, lest you incur the wrath of that formidable family."She had meant only to rid herself of Bobby's unwanted attentions, not provoke a conflict that could imperil even the esteemed Dr. Gray. The Nelsons brooked no insult to their towering legacy.Yet before her protests could take form, Rodriguez's eyes seemed to blaze crimson as he launched another vicious kick into Bobby's midsection. The heir crumpled with a pained groan, only for the onslaught to escalate into a blind, furious beating."Madman, how dare you...agh, spare my face, you wretch!" Bobby shrieked amidst the flurry of blows raining down upon him. "You are all dead, do you hear? Dead men for laying hands

"The Emerald City before me is now an enigma, its depths unfathomable!"Sean and Kyle, too, remained silent, for none could have foreseen such a rapid descent into turmoil within the span of half a day. Had it not been for Mr. Lawrence's keen instincts, Mr. Martin might have perished.Jason's countenance darkened. "So dire?""Initially, Joseph Rogers's downfall secured our dominion over the underground arena," Lawrence began. "But as we prepared to quell the remaining East District resistance, we found others had preempted us, seizing the fruits of our victory and wresting control of the East District."He glanced towards Steven Martin before continuing, "Naturally, we could not abide such insult. Having vanquished Joseph Rogers at great cost, we would not permit others to usurp the East District's territory. Yet we were repelled by one called Lotus Thirteen.""A formidable, enigmatic adversary who now holds the East District in an iron grip. We could not gain a foothold—I suspect he

But Jason clutched the fragment, his gaze boring into them as he enunciated each word with deliberate gravity, "Just two days ago, the esteemed mentor who bestowed this fragment upon me was slain—none other than the renowned appraiser, Ralph Flores!""What? Mr. Flores himself?" The men exclaimed in unified disbelief.Indeed, within Emerald City, few remained unacquainted with that legendary name which reverberated like thunderous renown. Yet, no news of Mr. Flores's demise had reached the public domain, undoubtedly suppressed.Nevertheless, Mr. Gray held no motive to deceive them on this matter."This...this cannot be..." Steven Martin's complexion paled, his incredulity palpable, for he had crossed paths with the esteemed Mr. Flores.Lawrence, however, fell into a rigid trance, his jaw agape as realization dawned, illuminating prior perplexities with blinding clarity.How Joseph Rogers had become entangled with the Black Lotus Sect, his motives for targeting Natalie, the enigmatic wa

It was him - Edward Reed!The assembled noble houses, initially sullen, now paled with trepidation. This notoriously unruly young master was not one to provoke, no matter their desire to curry favor with Loyalty Group. Pragmatism dictated knowing one's limits.Yet they wondered, what grievance could Edward have against these two to instigate such unwarranted hostility upon arrival? To the discerning eye, his provocation was clearly calculated. Jason, too, perceived Edward's intent, his brow furrowing. Edward Reed...the name rang familiar. If memory served, he had a brother - Kenneth Reed, was it not? The one who earned Gary Flores' wrath by offending Jason, leaving him with a shattered leg. And Emily's erstwhile fiancé...that was this very Edward Reed.The realization left Jason momentarily dumbstruck. So there existed deep-seated enmity after all. Yet Jason could hardly be faulted. None of those incidents were of his own making. Kenneth's plight was self-inflicted, while Emily hers