Xayne's hand gently rested on Serena's shoulder.Serena's body trembled slightly, as if a warm current flowed from Xayne's hand into her, easing the tension she had felt moments earlier."I feel much better now. I was really scared back there."Even though it was not her first time dealing with reporters, it was the first time Serena had shown such a strong stance in front of so many people."Tit for tat. If they can blacklist us, we can do the same to them. What goes around comes around," Xayne said with a smile.Serena nodded firmly, clenching her small fists and biting her lip as if she was silently cheering herself on.'You've got this, Serena.'"Mr. Xayne, how do you think we did on today's mission? Was it up to standard?" Layce asked quietly as he stood beside Xayne.Xayne did not respond verbally but gave a slight nod, indicating his approval.Only then did Layce relax. He turned to both Serena and Xayne. "Well, if you'll excuse us, we need to report back to headquarter
Early the next morning, just as Serena and Xayne arrived at the office, Evelyn burst through the door, looking concerned. "Ms. Serena, Mr. Xayne, Mr. Lionel and a few people from Healers Valley stormed into the office this morning. They even injured one of our employees! They're causing a scene right now, demanding to see both of you!"Xayne frowned, as he coldly asked, "Who was hurt?""Who else? Our security guard, Phillip. He tried to stop them from barging in, but one of Dave's lackeys shoved him into a wall. His head's split open!" Evelyn said fumingly."Take me to him!" Xayne's face darkened as he immediately strode toward the door.Serena followed closely behind. When they reached the hallway, they saw a few employees tending to Phillip's wound. His security uniform was soaked in blood, and from the looks of it, he had taken a hard hit."What happened?" Xayne asked sternly as he approached Phillip."Mr. Xayne, I'm fine. Please don't make a big deal out of—""I asked you
"Just a security guard?!"Xayne's eyes gleamed coldly. Without warning, he picked up a pen from the table and, with a flick of his wrist, threw it through the air.The pen embedded itself in the man's knee. With a loud thud, the man collapsed to one knee, clutching his leg and screaming in agony. His cry echoed through the room like a pig being slaughtered."How dare you, Xayne?!" Dave slammed the table as he shot to his feet.Lionel pointed a finger at Xayne, full of indignation. "Xayne, this is outrageous! How dare you strike Dave's attendant? Forget about injuring your lowly security guard. So what if he had died?!""So what?" Xayne's eyes glinted dangerously as he lifted his hand. Three silver needles appeared in his palm, and with a mere thought, they shot forward.The needles pierced straight through the injured man's forehead. He collapsed, dead on the spot.The reception room fell into an eerie silence. No one could believe what had just happened. Xayne had decisively ki
Dave clutched his flushed face as he glared viciously at Xayne.For a full minute, he stood there, seething in silence. Then, with a sharp flick of his sleeve, he turned and stormed toward the door."Stop!" Xayne's cold voice rang out from behind him.Dave's body froze. He thought would Xayne really going to stop him from leaving."What... what more do you want?" Dave took a step back, fear creeping into his expression as he stared at Xayne's back."I'm going to take out the trash," Xayne said icily. "And tell Healers Valley they owe me 150 thousand in damages."Dave gritted his teeth, pulled out a checkbook, and wrote out a check for 150 thousand dollars. He slammed it on the table, pointed at the dead Healers Valley disciple sprawled on the floor."Grab Maxson's body. We're leaving!"With those words, Dave stormed out of Serena Group.Lionel, who had followed Dave, glanced nervously at the elder's dark expression but did not dare say a word.Back at Healers Valley, Dave w
The Grand Elder nodded firmly. He finally understood the painstaking efforts behind Haqin's plans and the fog clouding his mind lifted. With newfound clarity, he walked out of the room.When the Seventh Elder received the call from the Grand Elder, despair washed over him.He never thought it would come to this. Healers Valley really was going to make him kneel and apologize."Grand Elder, I... I refuse!" Seventh Elder clutched his chest as he nearly coughed up blood."Refuse? If you refuse, don't bother coming back to Healers Valley!" The Grand Elder hung up, giving the Seventh Elder no chance to argue.With the phone still in his hand, Seventh Elder's face went pale. He was thinking of the possible places he could go if he could not return to Healers Valley.The next morning, something happened that shocked everyone. Seventh Elder was kneeling at the entrance of Serena Group, repeatedly banging his head on the ground in apology.Behind him, a long line of pharmaceutical compan
"700 million dollars for just 5% of the company?"Serena was slightly taken aback as she frowned. "Mr. Bravo, did I hear you right? 700 million, and you only want 5% of our company's equity?"Bravo smiled warmly. "You heard correctly. Serena Group has become a major player in the industry, a company that can set the rules of the game. Its potential is limitless. Honestly, even getting 1% would be an honor for me."Upon seeing the sincerity in Bravo, Serena's suspicions eased."Mr. Bravo, if it's convenient, may I take a look at your stock purchase agreement?" She asked.Bravo grinned and pulled out the prepared document from his briefcase.The agreement was straightforward. There were no terms that would be detrimental to Serena Group.Throughout the meeting, Bravo remained respectful and earnest, which helped Serena lower her guard even further.After about an hour of discussion, Serena finally agreed to the deal and signed the contract.Immediately, Bravo transferred the 700
Flamey glanced at the list in his hand as a sly smile slowly formed.Casually pulling out a red pen, he circled a name—Kaisen.Upon handing the list back to Bravo, he said, "Get this guy on our side."Bravo gave a subtle nod and exited the office.A week flew by. The lines of companies eager to strike deals with Serena Group had started to dwindle. Finally, Serena made it through the busiest week of her life."Honey, it's finally over." She sighed in relief, stretching and pumping her fists in a playful celebration. "How about we go to a nice restaurant tonight? Something with a quiet, classy vibe to celebrate."Xayne smiled and was about to agree, but then something caught his eye in the fading sunlight.A piercing flash of light glinted through the window and reflected onto his face.'A sniper scope!'That unmistakable glint from a high-powered rifle's scope had him moving before he could think."Serena! Get down!" Xayne shouted, diving toward her.The sharp crack of a gun
The news that Gustov was in a car accident spread fast, shocking everyone at Serena Group.In a single day, two senior executives had been killed under suspicious circumstances.It was clear now that someone was targeting Serena Group. But this time, they were not going after Serena. They were hitting the company's leaders instead."Everyone, please go back to work. The company has already reported this to the police, and a special task force will be handling the situation soon. Don't let it distract you from your jobs," Serena quickly reassured the employees.Even with her words, fear was evident. They slowly dispersed right after."Babe, could this have anything to do with Healers Valley?" Serena asked, deep in thought.Xayne shook his head slightly.There was no way Healers Valley was behind this.While the people from Healers Valley were arrogant and thought of themselves as superior, if they wanted to kill someone, they had plenty of elite fighters for the job.Neither G
Deanana glanced at Xayne as she coyly smiled. "Mr. Xayne, no need to be so reserved with me. After all, I used to be one of your admirers. I always thought you were an extraordinary man."Although it seems I misjudged you, still, you were a part of my girlish dreams. Don't let your current misfortunes bother you too much. People say a fallen phoenix is worse than a chicken, and while that's true, I happen to have a kind heart."Her words, though laced with laughter, were razor-sharp. Each one was a jab meant to cut deep.Her meaning was clear: "You might have been a shining star once, but now, you're nothing in my eyes—not even worth a second glance." Helping Xayne get his luggage was just an act, nothing more."Mr. Xayne, do you remember? Just a few years ago, at this very airport, you were returning from... oh yes, the Seven Nations Summit!"You know, I waited at the airport entrance for over four hours that morning just to get your autograph. But sadly, your security team didn'
"Heh, Miss Deanana, you also know that's all in the past. Even if he were still the King of the North, we live in peaceful times now. No one gets special privileges, right?" Dean chimed in smoothly, his tone laced with mockery."Dean! Do you even realize what you're doing?!" Aava could not hold back any longer, her eyes glaring fiercely as she clenched her fists in anger."Of course, I know what I'm doing, and I know neither of you are ordinary people. Thinking about hitting me? Don't forget, there are plenty of reporters over there. If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll make sure Xayne's reputation is ruined," Dean replied smugly.Dean's sneer widened into a wicked grin, the confidence radiating from him undeniable."Manager Dean, how about this? To be honest, I used to admire Mr. Xayne. Why don't you do me a favor and return his belongings? It would be a great gesture," Deanana interjected with a gentle smile.Upon hearing this, Aava bristled with fury. She knew Deanana was up to s
Dean's wild provocations quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.At that moment, a striking young woman stepped forward, removing her sunglasses as she made her way through the throng.The woman was dressed in an elegant black gown, the hemline revealing a pair of flawless, slender legs that caught everyone's attention. Her expression, however, was haughty, as though she looked down on everyone around her.She was Deanana Lovorka, the heiress of the Lovorka family conglomerate. While not exactly a household name, she was considered a minor socialite in the upper circles of Drakonix."Manager Dean, it's been a while!" Deanana greeted casually.As someone who frequently traveled abroad for business, Deanana was a familiar face at the airport and she had crossed paths with Dean on several occasions.But she was not here for a casual chat with Dean. It was far from it.She had come specifically to see Xayne.This was, after all, the legendary King of the North. Just six months ago, he w
"Do you have any idea whose luggage this is?" Aava asked coldly with a sharp and commanding tone.She was on the verge of revealing her special credentials—something she rarely used unless absolutely necessary. Xayne had been her hero, someone she deeply admired. The ridicule from Miodrag moments earlier had already pushed her to the edge, and now even a low-level airport staffer dared to humiliate him."Of course, I knew. Xayne, the King of the North six months ago; now he's just a regular civilian," the staffer replied with icy indifference. The staffer smirked. "Miss, do you think Xayne is still the mighty King of the North? There's no war, the capital isn't under siege, and he's utterly useless now. Take my advice—someone young and beautiful like you should stay far away from trash like Xayne. Get closer to someone like Young Master Dongfang instead. It'll do wonders for your future!"Dean swaggered over, cigarette dangling from his mouth, hands clasped behind his back. His ex
Upon hearing those words, both Xayne and Aava paused in surprise, then frowned in unison.The VIP lounge was clearly still operating as usual. Inside, over twenty people were relaxing—some reading newspapers and sipping coffee. There was no sign of any "closure" or "disinfection."It was obvious that this so-called announcement was deliberately targeting Xayne and Aava."Manager Li, isn't this going a bit too far? That's Xayne—formerly the King of the North. He has special privileges to use the VIP lounge. If this gets reported to higher-ups, we could all be in trouble…," whispered one of the airport staff, cautiously approaching Dean."Higher-ups? Haven't you heard? Young Master Lyuben already gave the order—anyone who sides with Xayne will see their entire family wiped out." Dean sneered, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he lit a cigarette."And even if the higher-ups find out, what can they do?" Dean added mockingly. "I'll admit, six months ago, I wouldn't have dared cross Xayne. B
Miodrag's laughter quickly caught the attention of onlookers in the bustling terminal. But their gazes were fixed not on him but on Xayne.The "King of the North" was a name nearly everyone recognized, yet no one dared approach him. Lyuben's warning had spread far and wide: anyone who got close to Xayne would face annihilation."Miodrag! What gives you the right to mock Mr. Xayne? Just hours ago, he was fighting on the front lines for this country. And you? What have you done besides indulge yourself in luxury?" Aava snapped with a sharp and clear voice."Heh, I pay taxes, don't I? Doesn't spending money generate tax revenue? Without people like me keeping the economy alive, what would Xayne have eaten in the north? Dirt?" Miodrag smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. He sneered and continued, "If not for us rich kids throwing around millions in donations every day, Xayne wouldn't even have warm dirt to eat!""Damn it! The nerve of that guy!""What's so special about the East
"Is it true that Xayne captured the so-called 'Lord of Light' alive?" Lyuben remained calm as he was playing a grand piano in the lounge."Indeed! Word is, the Lord of Light's master, Master Emin, was present as well. However, Xander also made an appearance. My analysis suggests it was Xander who forced Master Emin to retreat, while Xayne crippled the Lord of Light." An older man lowered his head respectfully as he spoke, his voice tinged with urgency."Oh? Defeating the Lord of Light… he must have had a trick up his sleeve. Was it some kind of tactic or setup?" Lyuben asked without betraying a hint of emotion."It's said that Xayne specializes in traps and ambushes. Otherwise, Hiram and his crew wouldn't have met their end in that mansion. Master Dongfang, you mustn't underestimate him!""Hmm?!" Lyuben's eyes shot open suddenly, piercing beams of icy resolve radiating toward the older man.The man immediately lowered his head further, not daring to meet the gaze of the young lead
"Lowes, what are you panicking for?" Zoro's cold gaze locked onto Lowes.Even though Lowes was several generations younger than him, as the head of the Bullard family, he had the status to stand on equal footing with Zoro."I'm not panicking, I just don't want to see more white funeral banners hanging at the Bullard family estate. If Xayne comes back and chooses to settle the score, do you think any of us can handle it? You might not know this, but back when King Quidie rebelled, even Klink didn't dare lay a hand on him," Lowes replied, his voice strained but steady.He paused, taking a long, slow breath to calm himself. "Put it another way, if Xayne comes for us, even KB Kings Circle won't step in to save us. If that doesn't scare you, then I don't know what will!"The air in the room grew colder. Lowes glanced around at the faces of the other family heads, hoping to see reason in their eyes. But then came a sneer.Zoro let out a low, disdainful chuckle. "Even if Xayne didn't die
"Xayne!" Zoro clenched his fists so tightly. If anyone had a grudge against Xayne, the Eastin family's hatred was no less than that of the Bullard family. Not to mention, Flamey had been killed by Xayne not long ago. This blood feud had to be settled.The Big Four weren't some weak, defenseless prey that Xayne could toy with as he pleased. For decades, the Big Four had controlled the heart of the Drakonia's economy. Every senator, governor, and political figure had to show them respect. But since Iver's death, the Big Four had lost their glow. People who once bowed their heads were now looking down on them. The root of all this was because of Xayne.That's why, after Flamey's death, the Eastin family had no choice but to call upon their master, a man who had been living in seclusion for decades. Every bit of information regarding Xayne's trip to Egenda, his plans, his contacts, and even his flight schedule had been deliberately fed to Lord of Light.They made it clear that the momen