Kendall glanced at the stout owner and extended her hand. She barely touched his fingertips and stated, “No need. I have a friend in Room 388.”“I see. Please follow me.” The owner respectfully nodded, bowed, and led Kendall to the third floor. When they arrived, Kendall glanced at the soldiers accompanying her and commanded, “You two, guard the door and let no one in!”"Yes, miss!" The two soldiers responded. Then, Kendall opened the door and strode in pridefully.Serena anxiously waited inside the private room. Since Adrian was taking an unusually long time, she considered leaving. She got up and addressed Sophia and Ethan, "I'm sorry, Sophia. I have something else to attend to, so I'll take my leave."Sophia panicked and grabbed her, saying, "Why the rush? You asked me for help, and I got Ethan to arrange this meeting. What’ll happen if Adrian arrives and you’re not here? He might get angry and blame our family. What will we do then?"Ethan chimed in, "That's right, Serena. Mr.
Kendall’s words shattered the sisterly bond she once shared with Serena. The latter’s eyes brimmed with unwillingness and resentment as she looked at the overbearing Kendall, asking, “Why did you do that back then? Weren’t we best friends?!”“Hmph,” Kendall chuckled disdainfully. “Best friends, huh? Are you that naive, or are you just acting? Why would I want to be friends with someone like you? I was always second best because of you!”“All the prestigious families had their eyes on you. You’re the reason I was always in the shadows. I was always a step behind. Now, I’ll ruin you in front of all of Shalholm! Are you still thinking about our ‘sisterhood,’ Serena?“What a joke! You're nothing but a piece of dirt! You'll never be worthy of my friendship. I came here just to humiliate you and show you how powerless Xayne is. I’ll make him kneel and beg for my forgiveness publicly."Of course, I want him to see how I destroy you at next month's gala. He claims to love you, doesn't he?
Each slap caused Serena to bleed more. Soon, her cheeks swelled into a large bruise. Finally, Kendall lost her temper and roared, "Make her kneel for me!"The soldier stepped forward and kicked Serena's knee, causing her to kneel on the ground unwillingly. Kendall approached and glared down at Serena. The former crossed her arms and sneered, “What are you doing? Do you know why you’re kneeling?”Serena lifted her gaze and spat, "Xayne won't let you get away with this! He won't spare the Lennings either!"Smack!Kendall slapped Serena and snapped, "How dare you threaten me? Can that useless bastard even handle my family? My brother will become a Lieutenant next month. Then, no one in Shalholm will dare to defy us.“Don't forget, you came here tonight to plead! Now, bow to me, and I'll let you go!""Dream on!" Serena retorted. She knew Kendall only wanted to humiliate her."Still stubborn, are you? All three of you beat her up," Kendall ordered, pointing at the soldier, Sophia, an
An overwhelming bloodlust surged from Xayne as he approached. The soldier who had been assaulting Serena drew his knife from his waist when he saw Xayne.However, Xayne was unbelievably swift. He was already standing before the soldier. He gripped the soldier’s wrist and glared daggers at him.Crack!The sound of bones snapping echoed through the air. Xayne had snapped the soldier's wrist and sent him flying with a kick.Bang!The kick landed on the soldier's chest, shattering every rib. The soldier shot away, crashed through the window, and plummeted down. A loud crash followed, along with the screech of tires. Simultaneously, chaos erupted downstairs.Inside the room, the atmosphere grew intense. Xayne approached Serena and crouched to lift her from the ground. He looked at her bruised face and body bearing the belt's imprints. Immediately after, a rageful inferno engulfed Xayne’s body."Serena, I'm sorry I was late," Xayne said tenderly. His initial killing intent had switche
Before Kendall could finish, Xayne struck her.Smack!The slap echoed through the room, causing Kendall to stumble backward, her ears ringing as blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.Sophia and Ethan gasped, unable to believe what they saw.‘H-He struck Kendall?! He must’ve lost his mind.’“Xayne, you’re insane! How dare you lay your hands on Ms. Kendall? Do you realize you’re declaring war against General Adrian by doing this?!” Sophia shouted in a panic.Ethan pulled out his phone and texted Adrian.Meanwhile, Kendall palmed her stinging cheek and glared at Xayne. Her eyes were bloodshot as she yelled, “You hit me, you prick! No one has laid hands on me! You’re the first and will be the last!“My brother will kill you and your wretched wife. What about your daughter? I’ll make beggars defile your wife in front of you and give your daughter to human traffickers. I want you to die in despair!”Kendall was outraged, unable to fathom how Xayne dared to hit her.Xayne’s ga
Simultaneously, three military trucks assembled downstairs. Armed soldiers jumped out, sealing off all entrances and ushering the guests out, including the owner of Le Ocho. He stood anxiously outside with a group of patrons.Adrian's soldiers had surrounded the area. His combat boots sounded as he strode toward Xayne. The former glanced at his sister on the floor, and his gaze turned frigid. He locked eyes with Xayne and sneered, “You’re a dead man.Sparks flew as Xayne faced Adrian, retorting, “I’m only teaching your sister a lesson. I won’t hesitate to include you if you interfere.”Adrian smirked at those words. He aimed his pistol at Xayne’s forehead, rebuking, “You’ve brutally assaulted my sister and my men. I can end you right now. Do you believe me?”Xayne raised an eyebrow, glaring daggers at Adrian. "Anyone who points a gun at me is already dead."Though brief, his statement heightened the tension considerably. The King of the North had a gun pointed at his head. If word
Sophia and Ethan had never met the esteemed Linford Haith. Soon, Ethan approached him with a fawning smile, saying, “Hello, sir. I’m Ethan Brown, heir to the Brown Corporation.”However, Linford ignored Ethan and strode straight to Xayne. “Mr. Xayne, are you okay?”Ethan and Sophia were dumbfounded.‘What on earth is happening? Why is Linford checking if Xayne’s okay? Isn’t Xayne just a nobody? Why does he deserve Linford’s repeated assistance?’Ethan racked his brain trying to determine the Linford and Xayne’s connection. No matter how hard he tried, he could not find an answer.Xayne nodded. He saw Ethan and Sophia’s expressions and said, “I’m okay. Thank you for your concern, Lieutenant Linford.”Afterward, Xayne went to the adjacent private room. Inside, Serena had already regained her senses. When she saw Xayne rush in anxiously and distressed, her first words were, "Xayne, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I couldn't help you…"Xayne felt an overwhelming sense of guilt. He kne
Violet’s anger grew when she saw Xayne walking in with a smile. She scolded, “What did you just say?! How will you resolve this in a day? Stop making such bold claims, Xayne.”Royce chimed in, “You’re just a good-for-nothing. You might be skilled, but can you bring any investments to the family? Remember how useless you are before acting so arrogantly.”Royce was irritated, thinking, ‘What will I do if Xayne’s assault on Kendall got me kicked out of the family?’Meanwhile, Tony saw Xayne attentively pouring soup by the bedside for Serena. Tony asked sternly, “How do you plan on handling it?”Violet and Royce grew anxious. Violet tugged at Tony’s sleeve and shouted, “Are you crazy, Tony?! You believe this idiot?”Then, she glared at Xayne, saying, “No matter what, you will apologize to the Lennings today. You said you wanted to protect my daughter, right? Shouldn’t you take responsibility for your recklessness for Serena and Coco’s sakes?”Serena frowned and spoke up for Xayne, “M
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