As the two patriarchs shook hands to seal the agreement, the room erupted into a flurry of activity. Nigel pulled Racheal aside, his face etched with concern."Racheal, are you absolutely certain about this? There's still time to back out."Racheal's eyes flashed with determination. "No, Father. I won't let our family be intimidated. I can win this."Caleb joined them, his expression torn between admiration and worry. "You're brave, sister. But this is a dangerous game we're playing."Meanwhile, Genos approached Miles, his curiosity evident. "You're not from around here, are you? What's your stake in all this?"Miles met his gaze steadily. "I'm just a guest of the Autumn family. But I have a feeling things are about to get very interesting."Genos nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. May the best family win, I suppose."As the groups continued to discuss and strategize, Argus pulled Lee Chen aside, speaking in hushed tones."Keep an eye on that Miles character," he muttered. "There's somethi
Argus nodded, gesturing to Lee Chen. "Very well. Lee, if you would."The two men stepped onto the training mat, bowing respectfully to each other. Zhang's eyes darted nervously, while Lee remained calm and focused."Begin!" Marcus called out.Zhang lunged forward with a quick series of punches, his movements precise but somewhat predictable. Lee effortlessly dodged each strike, his body moving with fluid grace."Come on, Zhang!" Racheal called out encouragingly from the sidelines.But her words seemed to have little effect. Lee, seeing an opening, suddenly went on the offensive. His movements were a blur of speed and power. Before anyone could fully register what had happened, Zhang was on the ground, gasping for air.A stunned silence fell over the dojo. Marcus's face remained impassive, but a flicker of concern passed through his eyes.Argus couldn't hide his smirk. "Well, well. It seems your third disciple needs a bit more training, Marcus."Marcus helped Zhang to his feet, patting
The match began, and for a while, it seemed like Chen Yong might actually stand a chance. His movements were fluid and unpredictable, keeping Lee on his toes. The spectators watched with renewed hope, cheering every time Chen Yong landed a hit.But Lee Chen was not to be underestimated. With a series of lightning-fast moves, he turned the tables. Before anyone could fully comprehend what had happened, Chen Yong was on the ground, defeated like his predecessors.A heavy silence fell over the dojo. Marcus closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging with the weight of defeat. Racheal stood frozen, her face a mask of disbelief and devastation.Argus's triumphant laugh broke the silence. "Well, well, Marcus. It seems the Autumn family isn't as formidable as you claimed. Now, about that marriage arrangement..."Marcus's eyes snapped open, blazing with defiance. "Now wait just a moment, Argus. The duel isn't over yet."Argus raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And who else do you have to fight? Your disciple
The arena buzzed with anticipation as Miles strode confidently towards the ring. The crowd's chatter died down, all eyes fixed on the newcomer who had made such a bold claim."I can't believe he actually said that," Marcus whispered to Nigel, shaking his head. "One punch? Against Lee? He's lost his mind."Nigel nodded in agreement, his earlier excitement now replaced with skepticism. "I thought Miles had a chance, but this... this is just arrogance."As Miles approached, Argus stepped forward, a mocking grin plastered across his face. "Well, well, well. If it isn't our one-punch wonder. Care to enlighten us on your secret technique, champ?"Miles didn't even spare Argus a glance as he walked past, heading straight for the ring."What's the matter, tough guy?" Argus called after him. "Cat got your tongue? Or are you saving your breath for that miraculous punch?"Still, Miles remained silent, climbing into the ring with fluid grace.Lee, already waiting in the opposite corner, sneered a
As they made their way through the crowd, people reached out, trying to touch Miles, to congratulate him. Whispers and exclamations followed in their wake."Did you see that?""One punch, just like he said!""Who is this guy?""He's incredible!"Connie and her friends watched from a distance, their eyes following Miles' progress."Do you think he has a girlfriend?" Emma asked, her voice hopeful.Connie shook her head. "I don't know, but I'm definitely going to find out. A guy like that... he's one in a million."As they reached the exit, a reporter managed to push through the security cordon. "Miles! Miles! Can you tell us how you developed this technique? How long have you been training? What's next for you?"Miles paused, looking at the reporter. For a moment, it seemed he might ignore the questions as he had all night. But then, to everyone's surprise, he spoke."This isn't about technique or training," he said, his voice quiet but carrying clearly in the sudden hush. "It's about u
Argus's eyes narrowed. "What are you getting at?"Miles smiled slightly. "All in good time. For now, why don't we all sit down and enjoy the meal? We can discuss the details afterward."Marcus, sensing an opportunity to defuse the tension, quickly chimed in. "Yes, excellent idea! The food's getting cold, and I'm sure we could all use a moment to... collect ourselves."Rachael, who had been watching the exchange with growing concern, stepped forward. "I think that's a wonderful suggestion. Shall we?" She gestured toward the dining room.As the group began to move, Connie caught up with Miles. "That was... intense," she whispered. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"Miles gave her a reassuring smile. "More than sure. Just watch."They filed into the dining room, the air still thick with unresolved tension. As they took their seats, Marcus cleared his throat."Before we begin, I'd like to propose a toast," he said, raising his glass. "To new friendships, unexpected outcomes, and..
Miles shrugged. "The satisfaction of a job well done. And perhaps a small consulting fee."The room was quiet as everyone processed this information.Marcus was the first to break the silence. "It's... it's brilliant. Everyone wins. The land is developed responsibly, both families benefit, and the community prospers."Argus, his earlier anger replaced by a mixture of respect and wariness, nodded slowly. "It could work. But the details would need to be ironed out.""Of course," Miles agreed. "I'm sure your lawyers and the Autumn family's representatives can work out the specifics."As the reality of the situation sank in, the atmosphere in the room began to shift. The tension that had dominated the evening started to dissipate, replaced by a cautious optimism.Rachael beamed at Miles. "You planned this all along, didn't you?"Miles simply smiled in response.As the dessert was served, the conversation turned to the potential benefits of the partnership, the challenges they might face,
Inside, Miles collapsed onto the couch, the room spinning around him. He wasn't sure how much time had passed when he heard the front door open and close."Miles? Are you here?" Lola's voice called out, a sharp edge to her tone.Miles groaned, forcing himself to sit up. "In the living room," he called back, his voice hoarse.Lola appeared in the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she took in his disheveled appearance. Without a word, she turned and headed upstairs, her footsteps heavy on the stairs."Lola, wait," Miles called after her, but she didn't respond.He heard the bedroom door slam shut, and he winced. Fumbling for his phone, he squinted at the bright screen, trying to focus on the banking app. With clumsy fingers, he navigated to the transfer page and, after a moment's hesitation, typed in "90,000,000" in the amount field.As he hit send, a notification popped up on his screen. A new contact: "Rachael ".Miles frowned, trying to remember when he had added that. The events of the