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
Jack entered the room and closed the door behind him. Then, he reopened his hologram panel.[Name: Jack Eldrone][Level: Apprentice][Missions Completed: 3][Points: 110][Training Simulation: 4][Power Level: 3][Super Skills: 12][Super Technique: 1][Balance: 1,005,189,000]As he looked at the information, he noticed that his balance had increased again. "An addition of one million?" Jack muttered. "But didn't I only complete a regular mission?"As if understanding Jack's confusion, Quantara appeared before him. "For every level increase, the reward you receive for completing missions or simulations will be multiplied tenfold!"So, every time Jack completed a regular mission at the apprentice level, he would receive one million RG. Meanwhile, if he completed a special mission, he would get ten million RG.How easy it was to earn money!Additionally, Jack also observed an additional column that appeared on the panel. "Super technique? Luckily, I got help using this technique!" Jack
"Jack, have your breakfast first!" Matilda, who was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, shouted."No, Mom! I'm almost late to finish my work! I have to leave right now!" Jack said as he kissed Matilda's cheek. He didn't mention where he was going because he thought it would be better if the woman didn't know."If I talk about Jeremy and his relationship with Gunnar, I'm sure Matilda will start to wonder! So it's better if I don't say anything about what I'm going to do now!" That's what Jack thought earlier."Come back before dinner!" Matilda shouted again before Jack reached the door."Sure, Mom!"Jack drove his car out of the gate of his house.Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes had been watching his departure since earlier.One hour later.Jack had arrived in front of Manor Calder. This time, different from his visit yesterday, Lenora stood in front of the door, seemingly intentionally waiting for his arrival."Jack, how are you today?" Lenora smiled warmly, far from the cold and a
It didn't take long for Jack to understand what Jeremy was saying. "Mr. Calder, it seems there's a bit of a misunderstanding here!"It wasn't that Jack didn't want to bring a woman as beautiful as Rebecca home. However, he didn't want the Calder family to think he had done something he hadn't."I didn't bring Rebecca home with me! She did drop me off at the restaurant, but after that..."Jack stopped speaking when he saw Jeremy's sudden change in expression."Are you saying you haven't been with Rebecca since last night?"Jack shook his head. "She left after dropping me off!""That's impossible!" Jeremy's face tightened even more."Mr. Calder, tell me, what's really going on?""She hasn't come home since she went out with you last night. Lenora has been trying to call her numerous times, but it always goes straight to voicemail! Rebecca has never done that before! Unless her phone is dead, she would never turn it off!"What?Jack knew something had definitely happened.And his suspici
A few minutes earlier.In a room with walls entirely made of wood, a girl lay on a large bed with both her hands and feet tied up.Not long after, the door opened and a man in his thirties entered the room."Tsk tsk tsk! I don't know how to praise your beauty, Rebecca!" The man could hardly turn away his gaze as it fell upon the girl, who turned out to be Rebecca."Truly an indescribable beauty!" The man smirked as he stepped closer to the bed without closing the door."If it weren't for my cousin, I would have made you mine long ago!" He continued to gaze at Rebecca's body without turning away for a moment.Especially since Rebecca's shirt was partially unbuttoned, enticing him to linger and admire the hint of her cleavage, covered by a black bra. Moreover, the short skirt she wore barely reached her knees, revealing her smooth and fair thighs."Absolutely flawless!" the man murmured, as if lost in the pleasure he derived from feasting his eyes on her. "Your skin as white as snow and
The Wigram family rules the political scene of Rivertown. Irvin Wigram, the head of the family, is the mayor, while Gerhard Wigram, his eldest son, is the head of the Emerald Terrace district. Although financially their wealth assets are not larger than the Calder family's, they hold a very strong influence in Rivertown, which can be considered unshakeable. Furthermore, Irvin also controls the underworld. He has relations with the mafia from where he gets a lot of his money. Gerhard has long been fond of Rebecca and has attempted to propose to her several times, but she never accepted his proposal. Not because she didn't want to, but Rebecca knows exactly who Gerhard is. Despite his official position as a district leader, he has many illicit businesses managed under his name. Illegal arms sales, drug trafficking, human trafficking are some that can be mentioned. Irvin and Gerhard always manage to evade scrutiny. Every time there is an investigation from the capital's police force,
As Jack suspected, the arrival of this mysterious man must be related to Rebecca. "In that case, you'll have to step over my dead body first!" He said. The mysterious man looked at Jack cynically, almost laughing at him. "I've never met a young man with such low abilities but so bold to speak insolently to me like you! You dare tell me to step over your dead body first? Of course, I will!" The mysterious man then pushed the car with one hand. The movement seemed easy, as if he was pushing a light object. However, the car was pushed very hard to the side and almost fell into the deep river beside the road. Thump! The car crashed into the guardrail, teetering on the edge. "You scoundrel!" Jack didn't expect the mysterious man to go that far. Nevertheless, he didn't have much time to think because he had to rescue Rebecca immediately. Jack swiftly moved to the other door and held the car to assist Rebecca in getting out. "Are you alright?" Jack asked, checking on Rebecca's condit
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