2024-12-26 14:44:03Max did not immediately answer Chief Raul’s question.
He glanced at the chair in front of him, and Chief Raul immediately sat in it, right across from Max.
Max crossed his legs, leaning casually back in his chair.
Max gave a thin smile, but his eyes remained sharp.
“I’ve been accused of corruption, bribery, and... engaging in illegal activities.”
"That's why I'm here now," he continued.
Chief Raul was stunned, almost jumping out of his seat in shock.
How could this be?
Max was the one who had stabilized Morow State, played a significant role in the progress of the state, and now he was suddenly accused of such crimes?
It felt like a bomb exploding in his chest.
Chief Raul couldn’t fathom who could have orchestrated all of this.
For the past four years, under Max’s leadership, Morow State had risen from the darkness.
New schools had opened for children from poor families.
The rampant child trafficking had been eradicated, and dozens of missing children had been returned to their families.
Infrastructure was rebuilt with available funds, reaching every neglected corner of the state.
Healthcare for ordinary people had been improved, granting access they had never dreamed of before.
In terms of the economy, the prices were stable, production had increased, and even in a city like Adoona, known for its drug cartels, Max was respected.
Even the mayor of Adoona was deeply grateful to him.
Still shocked, Chief Raul spoke with a trembling voice.
“Mr. Max… how is this possible? You... you are the one who built Morow State.”
“You’ve given so much to this state. How could someone like you be accused of crimes?”
In the corner of the room, the two junior officers who had arrested Max stared at the scene with stunned expressions.
One of them whispered to his partner, just low enough not to be heard by Max.
“Did we arrest the wrong person?”
His partner, who had previously been so sure of himself, now appeared pale, cold sweat starting to form on his forehead.
“If he really isn’t guilty... we’re in big trouble,” he whispered again, his eyes glancing nervously at Max, who seemed unfazed.
Meanwhile, Max didn’t immediately respond.
He simply shrugged calmly.
“I didn’t come here to hear your defense.”
“I plan to go to Mount Arleth, before I’m imprisoned,” Max continued.
Chief Raul was silent for a moment, clearly shaken by the statement.
“Mount Arleth?” he repeated, his voice slightly trembling.
“That’s a dangerous area, Sir.”
Mount Arleth was the natural icon of Morow State, towering high with its peak always covered in snow, making it the highest point in the state.
The mountain had a far more somber and tense atmosphere, filled with chaos and instability, and countless deaths had occurred there.
It served as the natural border of Morow State from the Immortal Ravine to the north.
“Pardon…What’s the reason you’re going there, Sir?”
Chief Raul finally asked.
“That’s none of your business,” Max said briefly.
“I’m just telling you because, as of now, I’m considered a criminal.”
“So, to avoid being seen as fleeing,” he added.
Chief Raul took a long breath, weighing his decision.
“Then, let me accompany you, Mr. Max. At least let me ensure your safety.”
Max stood slowly.
“If you want to come long, then keep up, but I don’t need protection.”
He said coldly, then began to walk toward the door without waiting for a response.
Chief Raul quickly stood up too, his expression unreadable.
Behind him, the two uniformed officers remained silently, their heads bowed.
They didn’t dare to look directly at Max as he passed by them.
By now, Chief Raul had sharply realized what had just happened.
He suspected that it was someone from the governor's office who had reported Max.
He decided to do something about it now.
For Chief Raul, Max couldn’t be treated like this.
Morow State wouldn’t survive without his leadership.
Without Max, this state would return to the chaos, terror, and violence they had tried so hard to overcome.
Max was the foundation that supported this state.
Without him, everything would collapse!
With slightly trembling hands, Chief Raul grabbed his phone and immediately contacted Lieutenant Governor Avo.
“Mr. Avo,” he said in a heavy voice, “I’ve received a report about Mr. Max.”
“Do you know about it?”
“What?! How come? You mean the Governor himself might be behind all this? Has he gone crazy?”
Chief Raul took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
The voice on the other end of the line was faint, but the anger was clear, and Chief Raul listened attentively.
“Sure, I’ll try my best to keep Mr. Max safe. Thank you, Sir, for looking into this more thoroughly.”
After ending the call, Chief Raul quickened his pace to catch up with Max.
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Meanwhile, in downtown Morow State… Neon lights flickered above the city’s most luxurious nightclub. The music boomed, expensive liquor glasses cluttered the VIP tables, and triumphant laughter echoed from three men deep in celebration—Dominic, James, and Darrus. Dominic leaned back against the plush sofa, flanked by two scantily clad escorts. He raised his wine glass high, brimming with victory. “To Morow State’s soon-to-be new gubernatorial spokesman!” he declared with a smug laugh, met with cheers and the clinking of glasses from the other two men. James, already half-drunk, nodded proudly as he patted his son’s shoulder. “You deserve it, Dominic. After tonight, Max will be nothing but a memory. Mount Alken’s the perfect place to make someone disappear—no witnesses, just rocks and wild beasts.” Darrus chuckled, lifting his own glass. “And once Dominic rises, I’ll be back in the governor’s seat. Morow State will be back in our hands—where it belongs!” The three of them burst i
0075
In front of the governor’s office, more than a hundred people gathered in a massive demonstration. They shouted demands for Max to be removed from his position.Banners and posters filled the crowd with sharp criticisms: "Cowardly Leader!" "Max Ran Away, Morow is in Ruins!" "Governor, Fire Max Now!"The chaos was further fueled by the media, which kept reporting that Max was irresponsible and merely looking for an excuse to avoid the difficult situation.***On the other side, Max had just descended from Mount Alken. His steps were firm as he walked toward the parking area where he had left his car.However, upon arriving, his eyes narrowed as he noticed that all four of his tires had been deliberately deflated. His lips thinned, and his expression turned cold.He knew this was no coincidence. Someone wanted to stop him here.Max could feel sharp gazes watching him from the shadows. His battle instincts immediately kicked in. Calmly, he lifted his head slightly and spoke in a col
0074
Three Days After Max’s Departure from Morow State…Morow State, which had begun to recover, was once again gripped by fear.Within two days, a series of brutal attacks shook the city. Explosions rocked churches, causing widespread panic and outrage. Not only that, but a recreational park filled with families suddenly turned into a sea of fire due to an unexpected bomb attack.However, the terror did not stop there. Ruthless gangs roamed the streets, committing muggings, robberies, and acts of violence without anyone able to stop them. The police were overwhelmed by the highly organized and brutal attacks. Citizens who once felt safe were now too afraid to leave their homes. Social media exploded with complaints, demands, and widespread fear. People questioned: where was Max? Why had their hero disappeared when Morow State needed him the most?The situation worsened when political figures and opinion leaders began highlighting Max’s absence. The very people who once praised him now t
0073
After completing his martial arts training, Max stood with heavy breaths, sweat soaking his body. Yet, he knew this journey was far from over. Saheel gazed at him with wisdom in his eyes. "Now, it is time for you to master the second power," Saheel said. "The ability to heal." Max raised an eyebrow, still not entirely convinced that he possessed such an ability. But he remained silent, waiting for further instructions. "The first step," Saheel continued, "is to channel the energy of life into a living being. Touch this plant." Saheel pointed to a withered plant in the corner of the room. Its leaves had turned yellow, and its stem was nearly broken. Max stepped forward and crouched down, hesitantly placing his hand on one of the leaves. "Focus," Saheel whispered. "Feel your energy flow. Imagine life coursing through your body and into the plant." Max took a deep breath, trying to sense something. Several seconds passed, and nothing happened. He frowned. "This is ridicu
0072
Max sat cross-legged on the cold stone surface, his eyes closed, breathing slowly as Saheel had taught him.Saheel stood before Max, gazing at him with a calm expression. "Now, you will enter your subconscious. There, you will meet someone who has been waiting for you for a long time. Prepare yourself..."Without waiting for permission, Saheel placed two fingers on Max’s forehead.In an instant, the world around Max spun rapidly, his body feeling weightless before sinking into darkness.Yet, within that darkness, a dim light appeared, and suddenly, Max found himself standing in the middle of a vast field, shrouded in thick mist."You’ve finally come, boy." The deep voice echoed around Max.From within the mist, a man with long white hair and a flowing robe slowly stepped forward. His sharp gaze was like that of an eagle, and his body radiated a powerful, oppressive aura."Mentor..." Max furrowed his brows, his heart trembling. It was his late mentor, the man who had taught him the fun
0071
Sensing Max’s presence, the old man slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp yet filled with wisdom. He immediately stood up and bowed respectfully before Max."Welcome, Young Master," he said in a deep, calm voice.Max returned the gesture with a slight bow, showing his respect to the figure before him.The man was Saheel, an 80-year-old hermit and the disciple of Max’s late mentor. His face was lined with deep wrinkles, yet his eyes still held sharpness and vigilance.Saheel looked at Max with confidence. "I knew that one day you would come to see me, and today proves it." A faint smile appeared on his face. "In fact, I could sense your presence hours ago."Max nodded slightly, not particularly surprised by the statement. "That doesn’t matter. I wasn’t expecting a grand welcome. I came here to see you and ask for your help."Saheel raised an eyebrow. "Help?"Max took a deep breath before speaking again, his voice quieter but firm. "I need your help to heal my mother. The illness s
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Hearing that, Sarah immediately shot Dominic a sharp glare. Her eyes flashed with anger. “Nonsense! Max is not that kind of person!” she exclaimed loudly. “All this time, Max has worked harder than anyone else. Even tasks that weren’t his responsibility, he completed with full dedication.” Sarah stepped forward, standing right in front of Dominic. “Do you even know how much he has done? He cleaned out the thugs in Bebank Town, eradicated crimes that weren’t even part of his duty as the governor’s spokesperson.” “He did it because he cares. Everyone in Morow State believes in his abilities, and he has proven himself time and time again.” Dominic tensed, his jaw clenched tightly, but Sarah didn’t stop. With a mocking tone, she continued, “And now, I ask you, Dominic. What have you contributed so far? What have you done?” Dominic didn’t answer. His face remained cold, but Sarah knew her words had struck his pride. “You’re just a young man relying on your father’s big name,” Sara
0069
Dominic clenched his fists, struggling to contain the storm of emotions boiling inside him. Seraphina’s degrading words felt like sharp knives stabbing his pride. But what hurt even more was the undeniable truth in her words. Dominic had fallen—he had lost all the connections and influence he once had. Seraphina smirked mockingly at him. “So, why are you here?” she asked sharply. “Are you here to meet Max as well?” Dominic remained silent, refusing to answer. However, Seraphina seemed to have already guessed everything. She let out a mocking laugh. “HAHA… So it’s true? You’re here to beg Max, to grovel at his feet, and plead for a position in this government?” Dominic gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury. His fists clenched tightly, but he still refused to speak. Seraphina merely looked at him in satisfaction, savoring her small victory. Before Dominic could retaliate, the woman who had been sitting across from Seraphina stood up and walked toward them. S
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Max stared at his mother, his sharp and commanding eyes reflecting an inner turmoil no one could comprehend. He wanted to believe that his mother’s illness was merely a rare medical condition, something that could be explained logically. However, after witnessing firsthand how her body changed, how the convulsions seemed to react to something invisible—Max felt a crushing sense of helplessness in his chest. With all his might, he held back his emotions. He didn’t want his mother to see him vulnerable. Max wasn’t the type of man who let his emotions control him, but at this moment, he felt utterly useless as a son. He clenched his fists on his lap, his jaw tightening, and for the first time in his life, he cursed himself. ‘If only I were stronger… If only I could save her…’ Then, something strange happened. The air around Max trembled, and the temperature in the room dropped drastically. It felt as if something inside him was stirring—something long sealed away, wai
