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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0067
Max held his mother’s hand tighter, gazing at her aged face, which still carried warmth despite her inability to speak. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the emotions swirling inside him before finally speaking. "Morow State is stable now, Mother. I’ve resumed my position as the chief spokesperson for the governor’s office," he said, his voice soft yet firm. "I came here to take you with me. I want you to live with me, not in this place, not with Father." Max looked at his mother with hope. For a long time, he had wanted to take his mother away from this house, away from the shadow of his father, whom he always believed was the source of her suffering. But every time Max voiced his wish, his mother always refused. Today, Max was trying once more. "I need an answer, Mother," Max continued. "If you agree to live with me, blink once. If you don’t, blink twice." Silence filled the room. Max held his breath, waiting for a different answer this time. But in the next
0066
Max had never truly been interested in Sarah. To him, she was just a childhood friend—someone their families had once tried to arrange a marriage with when they were teenagers. But to Max, Sarah was nothing more than a part of the past, a past that had no place in his life now. After the incident at his office, Max decided to return to his family home—the Knight estate. As he stepped into the main hall, he found his father, Mr. Fernand Knight, sitting in an ornate wooden chair, engrossed in his book. The atmosphere of the room remained the same as he remembered—cold and filled with the shadows of a dark past. Without a word, Max walked past his father. But before he could ascend the stairs to the upper floor, Fernand’s deep voice stopped him in his tracks. “How impolite,” his father remarked, not even bothering to look up from his book. “You dare come back to this house without informing me? You didn’t even greet me.” Max paused for a moment, his jaw tightening, but he did
0065
After that incident, James, Darrus, and Dominic no longer dared to disturb Max. Their political careers had been utterly destroyed. The two major parties that once supported them now refused even to acknowledge their existence. Their names were only mentioned in the dark history of Morow State as figures who failed to maintain their power. Meanwhile, Morow State was now stable. Organized crime had been eradicated, the economy was improving, and public trust in the government was gradually being restored. Amidst the growing calm, someone from Max's past appeared in his office. Seraphina stepped in with a pounding heart. She knew the risks, but she couldn't let this opportunity slip away. With hesitant steps, she stood in front of Max, who was busy with his documents. "Max..." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. Max didn’t lift his face; only his cold eyes glanced at Seraphina briefly before returning to his work. His silence made the air in the room feel even heavier. S
0064
Within an hour, news of Nichol's arrest, along with all the crime bosses who had recently wreaked havoc in Morow State, had spread widely across various media platforms. National television aired exclusive reports, while social media was flooded with posts about the extraordinary event. One of the police officers involved in the operation gave a brief interview in front of the cameras. In an astonished tone, he explained how the arrests happened so quickly and without resistance. "We didn't need much force or additional strategy. The entire operation took only ten minutes. And it was all because of Mr. Max," he stated firmly. "What’s even more surprising is that these crime bosses didn't fight back at all. They bowed and showed respect to Mr. Max, as if they had known him for a long time." His statement quickly became a hot topic across social media platforms. Comments flooded the news posts, mostly from Morow State residents who now felt relieved and safe. "Max is truly a her
0063
The iron door swung wide open, revealing a vast room filled with tobacco smoke and the sharp scent of alcohol. The dim light from the flickering chandeliers cast a glow on the scattered stacks of cash spread across the gambling table. Several men sat around the table, laughing coarsely as they downed their liquor. In their laps, scantily clad—or even completely nude—women clung to them seductively, inhaling the intoxicating aura of power and wealth that permeated the room. However, the laughter and noise gradually faded as Max stepped inside with a calm demeanor. His cold gaze swept across the room, instantly shifting the atmosphere. Chief Raul and his three subordinates followed closely behind, their bodies tense, ready to act. His police instincts screamed at him to draw his weapon immediately, but he froze the moment Max raised a hand—an unspoken command that was clear and undeniable. Chief Raul furrowed his brows but lowered his gun. His men followed suit. At the center
0062
Not even 24 hours had passed since his release, yet Max was already back in action. There was no time to rest, no time to relax.Chief Raul, standing beside him as they prepared to depart, attempted to offer some advice."Mr. Max, you should rest first. At least for two days. Your body still needs to recover after everything that happened in prison."Max merely glanced at him briefly, his expression remaining cold. "Not necessary."That short response ended any further debate. Chief Raul sighed, finally giving up.They set off in a convoy consisting of two Hummers filled with police officers and soldiers.Their destination: Bebank Town, the epicenter of chaos that had shattered Morow State’s stability.Max already knew who was behind all of this—Nichol. A man who had caused trouble before and had now returned with even greater power.The journey to Bebank Town took several hours. The roads were eerily empty, with only the occasional passing vehicle speeding by as if trying to escape t
0061
Seraphina clenched her fists in fury, but there was nothing she could do. Darrus quickly grabbed her hand, suppressing the storm of anger raging within him.The two of them hurriedly left the place, frustration seething beneath their skin, as if they had just suffered a humiliating defeat.***Inside the car, silence filled the air, suffocating.Seraphina stared straight ahead, her jaw tightly clenched.Meanwhile, Darrus leaned back in his seat, trying to steady his erratic breathing. His anger was on the verge of exploding, but he was still attempting to stay calm.His personal assistant, seated in the front, handed him an envelope with an official seal."Sir, this just arrived from the governor’s office," the assistant said cautiously.Darrus snatched the envelope roughly and tore it open without hesitation. His eyes scanned the letter rapidly. The red flush on his face drained away, and his hands began to tremble."This… this can't be happening," he muttered, his voice shaking.Ser
0060
A tense silence engulfed the room after Max’s statement. Darrus remained frozen in place, his jaw clenched, while Seraphina bit her lip, struggling to suppress the storm of emotions rising in her chest. But before anyone could speak, a deep voice shattered the silence. "I think this is a good idea," Chief Raul said firmly, his gaze locking onto Darrus. "Mr. Darrus, you know very well the current of Morow State. Everyone has criticized your leadership, especially since Mr. Max was imprisoned for a crime he never committed." "If you still want to clear your name in the eyes of the public and continue your political career, you should consider this carefully, Sir." Chief Raul stated. Darrus clenched his fists, his expression a mix of fury and devastation. "I... I can't just give up my position!" Sarah stepped forward, her sharp eyes piercing straight into Darrus. "Can't? Or rather, won't?" Her voice was soft, yet laced with biting sarcasm. "Think about it, Mr. Darrus. Haven’t ther
0059
Seraphina was stunned, not expecting that response to come from Max's mouth. However, Max remained firm in his stance. To him, Seraphina was nothing more than a foolish woman filled with lust and ambition. She had never been someone who could capture his attention, let alone move his heart. If not for his late mentor’s request to stay in Morow State and assist Darrus, Max would have never involved himself with Seraphina from the beginning. And now, as he gazed at Seraphina with pure arrogance, he became even more certain—this woman had never changed, and she never would. Hearing his insult, Seraphina’s face flushed with embarrassment and rage. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides before, in a swift motion, she raised her hand, intending to slap Max in retaliation. But before her palm could make contact with Max’s face, another hand—slender yet strong—grabbed Seraphina’s wrist firmly. Seraphina was startled, her eyes widening as she turned to see who dared to stop her. A beau
