............"Hello, travelers! Where can I take you? Are you here to sightsee?" A middle-aged man asked two suited men as they approached his cab after exiting the airport of Verdiara City."No, we're here on business. Take us to that building over there," one of them replied in a calm tone, pointing at a blurry structure in the distance.Even though the airport is miles away from the city, that single tall and majestic building can be seen clearly, though it appears blurry from such a distance. Anyone can recognize whose building it is."Oh, so you're familiar with the company that building belongs to," the middle-aged man said with surprise, nodding before gesturing for them to sit and put their luggage in the trunk.After they settled in, he asked a question as he started driving away from the airport."No, we aren't that familiar with the company, but we do know who the CEO is and some other details. Mister, you asked as if you know something about it," the suited man replied su

............"Uh... Big Sis, did I disturb you?" Bella asked nervously, hearing the sharp tone in her sister's voice."Just get on with it!" Elara snapped, clearly impatient. "Why did you call?""Well, um, Mother and Father want to celebrate their latest investment and the company's recovery," Bella explained quickly, worried that Elara would reject the invitation. "A few important people are coming to the party, and they asked me to invite you."She rushed through her words, knowing it had been a long time since Elara had been home. Elara had been living at the company's headquarters, staying in the CEO's suite after the recent fall out with their parents."Argh... what's this about, and how did they get an investment? Did they involve themselves in illegal business?" Elara Rossi frowned, suspecting her parents might have turned to shady dealings. She knew that no one in Verdiara City was willing to invest in their family company."No... no... it's not like that. Didn't I mention la

............With that, Elara knew her sister was being playful, but she still sighed and relented, agreeing to stay the night.The sisters, despite their exhaustion, shared a quiet moment with each other. Bella told Elara about how Aarav had been living in Crystalbrook City and what he was doing, before they finally closed their eyes to get some much-needed rest.Next day, "See you later, Bella!" Elara left early in the morning before their parents woke up, saying goodbye to her little sister."Alright... see you later, Big Sis!" Bella waved at Elara, who waved back and drove away.On the way, Elara received a call from her assistant, Reena Bansal."Yes, Reena. I'm on my way. Put the files on the table; I won't take more than a few minutes to get to the office," Elara said, speeding up."Yes, Boss," Reena replied before the call ended.As Elara focused on the call, she forgot to pay attention to the road. Suddenly, a large cargo truck stopped at the crossing, forcing Elara to slam

............"Let them in. They're here on official business," the senior officer commanded, handing Bella and Reena a written authorization.The guard's smirk vanished instantly. "Yes, sir," he mumbled, stepping aside, keeping his head low and trembling under the cold gaze of the senior officer.Bella and Reena hurried into the surveillance room. The senior officer led them to a technician. "Can you show us the footage from the crossroad around the time...yes, right there where the car was abandoned?" Bella asked as she pointed to the time and place.The technician nodded and quickly pulled up the relevant footage. They watched anxiously as the screen showed Elara's car coming to a sudden stop at the crossroad because of a cargo truck right in front of her.Moments later, Elara stepped out, talking on her phone. Suddenly, a black luxury car pulled up right beside her, and a hand grabbed her before pulling her into the car. Right after that, the signal turned green, and the luxury ca

............"Yes, My Lord. Are you suspecting this might be their doing?" Pope Aurelius asked, his tone apprehensive, knowing a war was on the horizon."Yes, I am sure. Move immediately and don't waste time; we are unsure of their hidden scheme this time." Aarav's voice was strict and decisive.Pope Aurelius ended the call and immediately followed Aarav's command, ordering priests and bishops to mobilize. Their powerful abilities and extensive networks were put to use in the desperate search.As the minutes ticked by, Aarav's mind raced, filled with worry for Elara. The thought of her in the hands of those cultists was unbearable. He couldn't shake the image of her scared and alone, fueling his resolve to find her, no matter the cost.Aarav himself joined the search, using his skills to scan areas quickly. He moved through the city like a force of nature, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and worry for Elara. He wouldn't rest until she was safe in his arms......In the remote