2024-12-26 14:52:52At that moment, Chief Raul and his men finally realized who these people really were.
They were subordinates of the "Lord of the Abyss."
The "Lord of the Abyss" was a figure of immense military power.
He controlled key trade routes, strategic territories, and wielded influence that extended into neighboring countries.
Seeing someone as formidable as him paying respect to Max left them both astonished and deeply impressed.
Chief Raul looked at Max with a newfound perspective.
In his heart, he reflected, if someone as influential as the "Lord of the Abyss" showed such respect to Max, then Max’s reputation must far exceed anyone’s imagination.
Max didn’t need to rely on corruption, threats, or underhanded methods to gain influence.
His very presence was enough to command authority and control any situation.
Chief Raul pondered for a moment.
If someone like Max ever turned his back on Morow State, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Only devastation would remain.
Moments later, the young man accompanying them stepped forward and opened the car door in front of Max.
With calm yet commanding steps, Max got into the car.
Before the door closed, he spoke briefly, “I’m heading to Mount Arleth.”
The convoy began to move.
Rows of armed vehicles advanced in perfect formation, catching the attention of the locals who came out of their homes to witness the spectacle.
No one said a word, but their expressions reflected curiosity and reverence.
***
At Mount Arleth
Upon reaching the base of Mount Arleth, another astonishing scene unfolded.
Warlord troops, who usually fought fiercely in the area, appeared unusually subdued.
The once-brutal soldiers lowered their weapons, standing along the roadside with their heads bowed.
Not a single person dared to speak or make a reckless move.
The cold mountain air was sharp, carrying the distinct scent of frost-covered ground.
At the summit, silence prevailed, broken only by the sound of the wind.
Max exited the car and walked alone toward a solitary tombstone standing resolutely in the frozen earth.
When Chief Raul mustered the courage to step closer, an unsettling sensation crept over him.
The atmosphere atop Mount Arleth was quiet yet weighed down by an invisible pressure.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he approached the young man.
In a hushed tone, Chief Raul asked, “Why is there a tombstone in this place?”
The young man immediately turned with a firm expression and hurriedly covered Chief Raul’s mouth with his hand.
His eyes were sharp and filled with warning as he whispered.
“Never ask questions that should not be asked!”
Chief Raul was startled by the sudden reaction.
But before he could protest, the young man continued in a low yet steady voice,
“This is a sacred peak. No one dares disturb it, let alone act recklessly here.”
“Even if rivers of blood flowed at the mountain’s base, no one would dare move. The peace of this place must not be violated.”
Max carefully placed the offerings he had prepared in front of the tombstone.
Fresh flowers and lit candles were arranged with deliberate respect.
The flames flickered but remained steady despite the relentless mountain wind.
Max’s face remained calm, showing no visible emotion.
It turned out that the tombstone belonged to Max’s late mentor.
In a quiet but resolute voice, Max spoke to the tombstone.
“I have followed all your instructions,” he said steadily.
“I have safeguarded Morow State as you wished.
“This state is no longer plagued by chaos and war. Now, the people here can live in peace.”
Max paused briefly, his gaze fixed on the tombstone, “Morow State has grown, just as you envisioned.”
“Now, it is time for me to leave.”
The wind suddenly grew colder, howling as if in response to Max’s words.
A snowstorm began to form at the summit, with snowflakes swirling violently around them.
Max stood unmoved in the heart of the storm, his posture as unyielding as the mountain itself.
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Without looking back, Max turned and began descending from the peak, passing rows of soldiers who stood silently with their heads bowed.Each of his steady steps on the snow resonated with an undeniable authority.Chief Raul, standing not far away, observed Max’s steps with mixed emotions—admiration and profound respect.The young man leading the troops suddenly moved forward.With a respectful demeanor, he knelt before the tombstone, followed by the rest of the soldiers.Chief Raul and his men could only stand frozen, unsure of what they should do.Then, the young man bowed deeply, and the entire troop followed suit.Chief Raul found the scene extraordinary, as though he were witnessing something that would never happen again in his lifetime.In his heart, Chief Raul thought, Max was a symbol of irreplaceable strength.If someone like Max were imprisoned, the damage to Morow State would be unimaginable.Chief Raul witnessed everything with deep admiration.The extraordinary power and
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Meanwhile, inside the prison.Chief Raul stood tall in front of the large cell.The old, rusty iron door became the focus of his gaze.He turned to his subordinates and spoke in a firm voice."Remove this door. Clean everything!""I want this place to be as comfortable as a five-star hotel."His subordinates immediately went into action.Some of them began unscrewing the bolts of the iron door with the tools they had brought.The process made a creaking sound that echoed down the prison hallway.Others started mopping the floor, scrubbing every corner until it shined.One officer wiped the walls with a damp cloth, removing the dark stains.Several others moved the old, rusty metal bed out of the cell.In no time, a new, luxurious bed with a sturdy wooden frame, clean white sheets, and a soft pillow was brought in and carefully set up."Make sure everything is neat," said Chief Raul, watching closely with sharp eyes."Almost done, Chief."One officer reported while straightening the la
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Chief Raul rushed out of the cell after ensuring Max's accommodations were perfectly arranged.Once he reached his office, he immediately called Lieutenant Governor Avo.“Lieutenant Governor Avo, what about Governor Darrus?”Chief Raul began the conversation.“He’s still being stubborn,” Mr. Avo replied on the other end of the line.“He remains insistent on that political marriage.”“He wants Dominic to take over Morow State. Nothing can change his mind.”Chief Raul slammed his fist on the desk.“Dominic? That man isn’t even worthy of cleaning Mr. Max’s shoes, let alone leading Morow State!”“I know,” Mr. Avo responded with a defeated tone.“But Darrus is obsessed with the capital alliance. He believes it will strengthen his position.”Chief Raul cursed loudly.“He’s a fool! Mr. Max is the only one who truly cares about this state.”“Meanwhile, Dominic doesn’t even know where the Morow State border lies!”“It’s ridiculous! We’re handing Morow State over to someone who will destroy it!
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Dominic stood in the middle of the room, gazing at the officials who were beginning to grow restless.He smirked arrogantly, confident that the situation was entirely under his control.With a casual gesture, Dominic pulled a file from under his arm and tossed it onto the table.“Here,” he said with an air of confidence, “is concrete evidence proving Max’s guilt.”The officials in the room exchanged glances.Some began to move closer to examine the file’s contents, but Dominic continued speaking before anyone could open it.“This file contains information on Max’s property holdings in Golden Hills and his financial transactions with several women.”“I believe this is enough to open everyone’s eyes,” he added with conviction.Dominic strolled leisurely around the room, his sharp gaze meeting each official in attendance.He felt a wave of exhilaration within him but maintained an expression of somber seriousness and feigned compassion.“How could Max, a former state leader, acquire doze
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0055
Harry stared at the plastic bottle in Arlo's hand with hopeful eyes. His lips were dry, and his throat felt like it was on fire. But just as he reached out to take it, Arlo smirked. "You want to drink this?" Arlo swung the bottle slightly, making the liquid inside ripple. "Too bad, this isn’t water. It’s camel urine." "But if you're really that thirsty, who knows? Maybe it won’t taste as bad as you think." Harry fell silent for a moment. His blood boiled at the blatant humiliation. His jaw clenched, and he balled his fists. "You're joking, right?" Arlo chuckled. "Bebank Town is in the middle of a dry desert, Captain. Water sources are scarce, and the people here don’t waste anything valuable." "Camel urine is filtered and drinkable in desperate situations. The locals know that." "But it seems you’re still not used to our way of survival," Arlo continued. Harry knew Arlo was just mocking him. The former captain and vice-captain had never been humiliated like this. Frustratio
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Meanwhile, Harry and his team waited in the shade, drenched in sweat, feeling dry, dizzy, and on the verge of heatstroke. At that moment, a few townspeople walked by with iced cola, flaunting their drinks, and Harry’s team couldn’t help but swallow hard. "Captain… we're really thirsty here," one officer complained, his voice hoarse. "We don’t even have a single bottle of water. Is this what you call a well-planned operation?" Harry’s subordinates were now regretting following him on this mission. They had expected comfort, but instead, they were suffering. Not only were there no proper supplies, but they didn’t even have a single bottle of water. "When the former captain and vice-captain were still here, we never had to go through anything like this," another officer muttered, his voice filled with nostalgia. Harry was at a loss for words in response to his team's complaints. He knew they were right. This mission was far more difficult than he had imagined. But giving u
0053
Again...Nichol was reminded of four years ago. He remembered how strong and scary Max was! At that time, in this very place… In the dimly lit basement, tension hung in the air like a double-edged sword. Nichol stared at the pages Max had thrown onto the table. His usually steady fingers now trembled as he flipped through the sheets. Nichol’s once-confident expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the names on the list. It contained key figures in the city's illegal business network. If Max truly managed to take them all down, it wouldn’t just shake Bebank Town—the entire underground network of Lav Nexus would be in ruins! Worse yet, Nichol’s own business would be on the brink of collapse. Taking a deep breath, Nichol tried to compose himself. He looked up, attempting to put on an innocent face. "Mr. Max, I don't know where you got this list, but these people left town a long time ago. I can't hand over what I don't have." Max remained silent. His cold, u
0052
Nichol suspected that Harry and his team were Max’s spies sent to infiltrate his operations, and the news of Max’s capture might be a trap. Nichol never underestimated Max. He couldn’t allow the terrifying and humiliating events of four years ago to repeat themselves. Four years ago was the first time Nichol had ever met Max. *** Four years ago… Nichol was an ambitious leader of an illegal business empire who believed he was invincible. He stood at the center of an important meeting in the same underground tunnel, surrounded by his trusted associates. Their agenda was to expand their illegal operations in Lav Nexus, exploiting legal loopholes and leveraging corruption within the local government. Everything was going smoothly until a loud explosion abruptly halted their discussion. The heavy iron door at the end of the tunnel was forced open, shaking violently before it crashed to the floor. Smoke and dust filled the room, leaving everyone there stunned. Out of the s
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Harry crossed his arms over his chest, staring impatiently at Arlo. “Now tell me, where can I meet the mayor?” Arlo wiped the sweat off his forehead, pretending to be confused. “The mayor? Oh, of course, Captain. Let me check if he’s around. Wait here for a moment.” Without waiting for a response, Arlo turned and walked briskly toward the main building. However, hours passed, and Arlo did not return. By 2 p.m., the sun scorched the ground of Bebank Town mercilessly. Strong winds carried swirling yellow sand, lashing against Harry and his team’s faces. Within minutes, the raging dust overwhelmed them. Their eyes burned, their throats were parched, and their bodies felt wrapped in suffocating heat. “Get to the car, quickly!” Harry commanded, shielding his face with his arm. They staggered toward the police car, seeking refuge from the sandstorm. But inside the car, the situation wasn’t much better. The temperature soared like a giant oven, nearing 60 degrees Celsius. S
0050
Darrus studied the reports on his desk with intense concentration. His face reflected deep concern. The illegal immigration incident in Bebank Town not only threatened security but also had the potential to tarnish the reputation of Lav Nexus County, which had long been known as the most stable and prosperous region in Morow State. The title of "Happiest County," earned for four consecutive years, now felt like a heavy burden. Darrus immediately took action by instructing the Lav Nexus Police Department to thoroughly investigate the case. The timeline was tight—only three days. Darrus knew that every minute without a solution would only worsen the situation. Although the group of illegal immigrants hadn't brought any contraband, he was well aware that this small breach could open the door to larger threats in the future. Darrus picked up the phone and called Harry, the head of the Lav Nexus Police Department. Harry sat in his chair with his ever-present confident smile
0049
"Additionally... The mayor of Bebank Town has been fired. The council is preparing to elect a new mayor soon," Arlo provided more information. Nichol raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening. "Really? So Max's allies are out?" Arlo nodded. "That's right. With the old mayor gone, this opens up many opportunities. We no longer have to worry about someone constantly keeping an eye on our movements." Nichol gave a faint smile, but behind that smile, a great ambition began to grow. "This is better than I expected." "We can start expanding without obstacles. In fact, there might be opportunities to establish relations with the new mayor." "If the new mayor is approachable, we could offer something... beneficial," Nichol continued, then he gave a wicked grin. Arlo nodded again. "What’s our next move, Boss?" Nichol paused for a moment, his voice filled with determination when he spoke. "We move in two directions." "First, you will investigate and make sure that Max is truly out of the g
0048
The twilight sky hung darkly over the government building of Morow State. In the front yard, a crowd of officials with determined expressions sat on the sidewalk, waving posters with bold slogans such as "Free Mr. Max!" and "We Won’t Work Without Mr. Max!" floating in the air. Some of them handed in their resignation letters with conviction, and a stack of white papers piled up on the receptionist's desk. "Free Mr. Max from prison!" These were the shouts of the protesting officials. Inside the office, Darrus paced angrily. His eyes sharply fixed on the wall, as if trying to find a solution behind the cold concrete. "Dammit! They think they can intimidate me with this stupid stunt?" Darrus' voice boomed, his fists clenched by his sides. He halted, his face flushed with rage. Without warning, he kicked the wall hard. "ARGH!" he groaned inwardly, the pain shooting up his leg, but he held it back by gritting his teeth. Breathing heavily, he shouted, "Nonsense! This state doesn'
0047
Dominic stared at himself in the mirror, still frustrated after the events of earlier that afternoon. The whispers of officials questioning his orders echoed in his ears, making his blood boil. However, before he could completely drown in anger and self-pity, the sound of a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Dominic opened the door, and there stood Darrus. Darrus had deliberately come to the capital just to meet Dominic tonight. His face appeared calm yet full of alertness, like someone who knew exactly what to do, even in the darkest of times. "Dominic, I know you're going through a tough day." Darrus said sympathetically as he stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. Dominic nodded, allowing Darrus to enter. "Yes, it's been a tiring day. Everyone is blaming me," Dominic muttered in despair. Darrus smiled faintly, motioning for Dominic to sit. "I understand. That's why I'm here." "I have a plan that will not only silence Max's supporters but also strengthe
