Chapter 278: Battle in Three Days

But Jason clutched the fragment, his gaze boring into them as he enunciated each word with deliberate gravity, "Just two days ago, the esteemed mentor who bestowed this fragment upon me was slain—none other than the renowned appraiser, Ralph Flores!"

"What? Mr. Flores himself?" The men exclaimed in unified disbelief.

Indeed, within Emerald City, few remained unacquainted with that legendary name which reverberated like thunderous renown. Yet, no news of Mr. Flores's demise had reached the public domain, undoubtedly suppressed.

Nevertheless, Mr. Gray held no motive to deceive them on this matter.

"This...this cannot be..." Steven Martin's complexion paled, his incredulity palpable, for he had crossed paths with the esteemed Mr. Flores.

Lawrence, however, fell into a rigid trance, his jaw agape as realization dawned, illuminating prior perplexities with blinding clarity.

How Joseph Rogers had become entangled with the Black Lotus Sect, his motives for targeting Natalie, the enigmatic wa