Rat-tat-tat-tat!Bang-bang!The echoing sounds of gunfire continued for a few moments until Lenora raised her hand, gesturing for the shooters to hold their fire.Because Calder Manor was built of selected natural stone and fine wood, the sound of gunfire could not be heard from outside. This made it the perfect place for an execution."Check him!"Upon Lenora's command, ten black-clad men stationed at various points began to slowly move towards the front door.However, before they could move any further, screams rang out from one of them. "Aaargh!"A black-clad man fell to the ground."Aaargh!" Another one fell."Aargh!" Another voice echoed.Within seconds, more than half of them had been disabled.In the dark surroundings, they couldn't identify who had attacked them.They also couldn't use their weapons without clearly seeing their target. Otherwise, there was a good chance they would shoot one of their own comrades."Aargh!" Another soldier was disabled."Form a circle formation!
Rebecca stared at Jack, unable to say anything. With a gun pointed directly at her face, cold sweat continued to flow from her face and throughout her body. "Why are you silent? Didn't you want to kill me earlier? Now tell me, what mistake have I made that makes you so eager to end my life?" Jack said angrily. He couldn't forget what the girl had tried to do to him. Unbeknownst to Jack, someone had been observing his face and body from head to toe repeatedly. "Andrews..." Jeremy opened his mouth, looking at Jack with a gaze filled with curiosity and various questions. "Why do I feel you resemble my friend, Gunnar Andrews so much?" Jack shifted his gaze towards Jeremy. It was then that he noticed the look in the old man's eyes when he stared at him was different from the look of the two women. "You really do look so much like him! Cough-cough!" Jeremy could only utter one sentence as it seemed his condition was worsening. Unable to hold his body any longer, the old man suddenly f
Right when the clock struck midnight, Rebecca arrived carrying the ingredients Jack requested.When the girl looked at her father, she saw that Jack had stuck a number of needles into different parts of his body.Seeing that the girl had come, Jack approached her and took the ingredients in her hands."I will make the potion now! Whatever happens to Mr. Calder, do not remove any needles from his body!"Both women nodded in agreement.Jack then headed to the corner of the room where Lenora had prepared the necessary equipment for making the potion.Jack cut some ingredients and lit the stove, placing a golden pot on top of it.After a while, he added the cut pieces into the golden pot.Soon, a strong aroma of tree roots filled the room. Not only because of the nature of the medicinal ingredients but also due to the influence of the golden vessel. The golden vessel made the brewing process more perfect as the ingredients melted together better.Not only that, when Jack added certain ing
When Jack found out that he wasn't the only one with quantum powers, it made him slightly worried and curious at the same time. "It seems like my future is going to be even more interesting!" he thought to himself. He realized that it was possible he would meet others with similar powers. "But if I'm the only one with a system, how do they get their cultivation energy, and how do they develop it?" While Jack was still immersed in these questions, Jeremy's call snapped him out of it. "Jack, is everything okay?" The old man noticed that Jack was just standing there silently, staring at one spot on the table. He was worried that something was bothering him. "Yes, I've been thinking, Mr. Calder! It seems that it's only a matter of a few more days until you'll be back to your best!" Jack smiled. "You really remind me of your father!" Jeremy couldn't hide his admiration for Jack. "I don't know how to thank you, but I'll never forget it!" "No problem!” Jack shook his head. “Mr. Calder,
At the far end, a large room, like a storage warehouse, where various plant materials were stored in glass boxes ranging in size from one to two meters. Seeing what was in front of him, Jack immediately realized something. "So this is why your mother is so reluctant to let go of this restaurant, isn't it? All these materials must be invaluable!" Rebecca, who had been playing with Jack until now, began to get serious. "Exactly! This is a collection of various medicinal ingredients that Father has collected over the years! And one of them is also thanks to your father's help!" Jack turned to Rebecca. "You know about my father?" The woman nodded. "He's the friendliest yet most mysterious person I've ever met! Almost all the rare materials here came because of his help!" Jack looked around. Centuries-old ginseng roots, rare black seed, and other valuable ingredients were neatly stored in different glass boxes. While surveying the surroundings, Jack realized something. "I can unders
Not only the officer, but Jack inside the car could also see the tablet screen containing information about Rebecca. A photo of a beautiful girl in a white suit further confirmed that it was indeed the woman. "Wow! I didn't expect this!" Jack muttered unconsciously. "You have a very important job, it seems!" Rebecca seemed indifferent to Jack's words as she continued to look at the officer. But unbeknownst to him, the girl's heart was beating with joy. She felt happy because no one had failed to admire her, be it her beauty or her intelligence, including a guy as handsome as Jack! "Dr. Calder, please forgive me! We will open the gate now!" The officer immediately gestured towards the guard at the gate to open it. As the car passed through the gate, there was a road with vast empty land on its right and left. At the end of the road, about three hundred meters away, Jack could see a complex of buildings consisting of various types of structures. As he suspected, it was not an old
The back of Jack's shirt was charred, revealing his sturdy and upright back."T-this ... this can't be, can it?" Napoleon, still seated on the floor, found it hard to believe what he was seeing. "This weapon should be able to kill a Level 1 Warrior, but why can this bastard still endure? Could it mean ...?"While Napoleon was still lost in his shock, Jack had already stood before him. "You really want to trouble me, huh?"He snatched the deadly weapon from Napoleon's hand and crushed it with one hand.Crash!The sound of the broken object accompanied the bent and damaged weapon."Tell me where my mother is before I crush your body!" Jack grabbed Napoleon's collar and lifted him high."P-please don't kill me! Please! I'll tell you where she is! Please let me go!"Jack was unmoved by Napoleon's pleading words. He realized the truth in Rebecca's words that this old man was truly cunning. Therefore, he lifted the old man's body even higher."Don't test my patience!" Jack snapped. He would
While dodging Chester's attacks, Jack opened his panel. "Quantara, can I level up again?"The AI shook her head. "Unfortunately, you can only level up once a week! You've used your quota for this week! So you'll have to wait until next week!""Damn it!" Jack cursed inwardly. "If only I had known that earlier, I would have maxed out my power level!""Is there anything else I can do to increase my strength?" Jack asked again. "This monster seems stronger than I thought! I need a stronger attack!""I know, Jack! You can try another method if you want!""Whatever it is, I need it now!""As you wish!"Quantara then disappeared, and the hologram panel displayed a list of secret techniques that Jack could use in battle."I won't have time to read them all!" Jack said while blocking Chester's kick. "Just pick one that's most suitable for me right now!""Alright! I'll select it for you!"Shortly after, a text appeared. "Giant Fist Technique.""Okay! Whatever it is! Please assist me once again
Maartje stayed in a different room from the one she usually used before.This time, she was assigned one of the rooms on the third floor whose decoration and furniture had been completely changed. Not only wider than the room she used to occupy on the first floor, this room also looked more luxurious.The girl was sitting on the edge of the bed typing a message on a highly secure phone."I haven't seen my parents yet. Can you do something?"Shortly after, a reply landed on her phone."We're working on it, Lady! We'll check all satellite images and CCTV cameras."Maartje was almost certain that her parents had been moved from the palace. "I've checked every corner of this palace, but they're nowhere to be found!" she muttered.Earlier, before the female soldiers escorted Maartje to her room, the girl asked them to accompany her to explore the palace, which they said was being renovated.Those who had no suspicions about Maartje finally complied with the girl's wishes.However, there wa
In Cornelia's mind, by marrying Maartje, Leon would not only gain a very beautiful girl."Haven't you remained unmarried all this time because you were searching for the most beautiful girl in Crystalbrook?" said the secretary. "That girl is now before you! So what else are you waiting for?""Furthermore, consider one more thing!" Cornelia continued. "Maartje is a symbol of resistance and at the same time a symbol of hope for the people of Crystalbrook. By marrying her, you will not only be able to force those who have opposed you all this time to support you! On the contrary, the possibility of people rebelling will diminish even more!"Upon hearing such considerations, Leon's eyes widened. So did his mouth. How could he miss such a great opportunity?Back to the present."I will not only make you my deputy governor, but you will also be my wife!" Leon said again, walking slowly towards Maartje proudly while holding a glass in one of his hands."Both of us will produce successors who
Feeling disgusted by Leon's gaze towards her, Maartje quickly opened her mouth. "You shouldn't waste my time! I came here to sign the reconciliation letter!"Leon smiled widely. "My dear, why rush? We haven't met in a long time. Wouldn't it be appropriate for us to exchange a word or two first?"The man then ordered the female soldiers to leave."Alright, Duke!" they said and immediately left the room, closing the door behind them.As the female soldiers left, Maartje felt very uncomfortable being alone with Leon. However, she tried to control her feelings."Come, sit here!" Leon gestured for Maartje to sit on the sofa where he had been drinking earlier.Maartje quickly moved to the spot Leon indicated because she didn't want the man to try to touch her again."Here, take this!" Leon handed Maartje a glass of wine."I am good!" Maartje simply said without touching the glass offered to her."Do you know what I dislike most about someone?" Leon asked as he sipped the wine in his hand.M
Thirty minutes later, the long sedan carrying Maartje arrived near the palace. Behind the sedan, a large jeep followed."This is truly terrifying!" One of the female soldiers inside the jeep couldn't contain her feelings upon seeing the sea of people surrounding the palace. "This is far more than what we faced before!" she murmured again.The female soldier used to be one of the Warriors who fought alongside Duke Dujardin to overthrow Leon.Back when they attacked this palace, Leon's forces weren't as numerous. But now, the situation was completely reversed."I really don't understand how Duke Sardou could gather such a massive army!" muttered the other female soldier, still focusing on her driving.The horror they both felt was also felt by Maartje inside the long sedan. "So many soldiers," she murmured. "There's no way I could fight them!"Anyone who saw the large group of blue-uniformed soldiers would shiver immediately.The sedan continued along the straight asphalt road that woul
Since that day, Duke Dujardin secretly helped those who were struggling financially to pay their taxes. "My father secretly doubled the employees' salaries! The aim was for this bonus not to be counted for deduction from their wages! He also provided financial assistance to those in great need, also secretly!" thought Maartje, recalling her father's struggle at that time. As time passed, the number of people receiving assistance from Duke Dujardin grew steadily. And it didn't take long for the duke to gain recognition from the wider community. "Hundreds of Paragons fought on my father's side! They sacrificed their lives so that Leon could be acquitted!" she thought again. The result was ten years ago when the very fierce civil war was finally won by Duke Dujardin. As Maartje reminisced about her father's struggle at that time, a voice inside her seemed to echo in her ears. A voice urging her to keep fighting, no matter how strong the enemy and how impossible victory may seem. T
It's been a common knowledge that although Leon and Duke Dujardin came from the same ancestors, their lines of luck differed. Duke Dujardin inherited thousands of hectares of land from his great-grandfather, a family wealth passed down through generations. It was all productive land cultivated with various vegetables, fruits, and even rare medicinal plants capable of generating billions of RG annually. That was just one aspect of the Dujardin family's wealth. Besides that, they also controlled several mining locations and significant real estate businesses. It could be said that the Dujardin family's hotels were almost scattered throughout the Eldoria kingdom. This was in stark contrast to Leon, or "The Unlucky Duke" as people called him. His grandfather was nearly bankrupt due to debts he couldn't bear. Meanwhile, his father became a fugitive after being found guilty of embezzling state funds. Leon, who was raised in a military education since childhood, lacked sufficient knowl
How dark Duke Dujardin felt hearing their explanations. Especially when they said that hospitals and social houses no longer provided social services. If you're sick or hungry, but you have no money, then the government can't do anything for you. In other words, you have to endure your suffering on your own, and there's no one you can ask for help. "The government argues that it's the people's obligation to pay taxes to them. While they have no obligations to the people!" the supervisor said again. When the tax rules were first implemented, along with the elimination of social security rules, chaos erupted almost throughout the province of Crystalbrook. It could even be said that this province experienced turmoil like never before in its history. "However, the protests we've made never succeeded because anyone who opposes will immediately be shot! If not, they will be arrested and tortured or sent to the mines for forced labor!" Duke Dujardin clenched his mouth tightly while clen
A month after Duke Dujardin lived in his luxurious manor in Emberfield, he was approached by a group of people who worked on his estate. "Duke Dujardin, forgive us!" The group of no more than ten people then immediately fell to their knees before the duke. "The police threatened to take our wages! We beg you, do not give them that money! It's all we have to feed our children and wives! We are even willing to work longer hours every day if you want us to, as long as you don't give that money to them!" They continued to prostrate themselves at Duke Dujardin's feet while pleading with him not to give their wages to the Crystalbrook police officers. Duke Dujardin didn't quite understand what they were saying. Of course, he wouldn't give their money to anyone. "Get up! There's no need to grovel like this!" he said, holding the shoulders of each worker one by one. "Please tell me, what's really going on?" They glanced at each other for a moment before the man at the forefront explaine
"What?" Jack exclaimed. "It seems Leon has been thinking about this for a long time! He realizes that Duke Dujardin has become some sort of symbol of rebellion for the people to oppose him! Therefore, he is convinced that as long as Duke Dujardin is still alive or residing in Crystalbrook, people will still have hope to rebel against him!" "In other words," Jack continued. "If Leon succeeds in marrying Maartje, then it's like destroying the last hope of the people of Crystalbrook to oppose him?" "Exactly! But, of course, that won't solve the problem in Crystalbrook! Mass oppression and exploitation will occur! In the end, it's the people who will suffer!" "You're right!" That's all Jack could say. Now he understood that letting Leon marry Maartje would only make the people even more miserable in the end. He also understood that the most important thing now was to save Maartje and her family first. "Quantara, do you have any ideas?" "Of course! I've been thinking of the most pos