“Mr. Clark, is the pomegranate sweet?” Callie Pearce asked as she gently wiped the juice that dribbled from Flynn’s mouth, her face full of anticipation.
Flynn nodded and said with a smile, “The pomegranate is sweet, but you are sweeter.”
“I’m glad you like it, Mr. Clark,” Callie blushed and continued to peel the pomegranate.
“Let me do it; the skin is quite tough. Don’t hurt your hands,” Flynn took the pomegranate from her, quickly peeled off several seeds, and brought them to Callie’s lips. “Here, you try some.”
Callie’s lips parted, and she gently bit into the seeds, slowly chewing with her teeth as white as the moon.
“Mmm, it really is sweet, even sweeter than the ones we bought last time,” Callie said, her eyes curving into crescents of joy.
Her tongue flicked across her lips, a gesture filled with allure.
Montgomery Crane could no longer hold back, his face cold as he spoke, “Callie Pearce, I promised to serve as the chief instructor for The Edge three years ago and failed to fulfill that promise, indeed breaking my word.”
“But there was a reason; I was injured at the time and couldn’t come.”
“To show my regret, I’ve decided to help your father once more.”
“But what is the attitude of the Pearce family, and what is your attitude?”
“Flirting in front of so many people, not giving me any respect?”
“Well then! Since the Pearce family is ungrateful, let’s just wait and see!”
Callie Pearce heard this and showed nothing but disdain.
Four years ago, the Pearce family had rejected Montgomery Crane’s proposal. Had he left then, Callie wouldn’t have said anything.
She would have been grateful for his help.
But he had promised her father to serve another year as the chief instructor of The Edge.
Then, eleven months later, just as he learned of his illness, he disappeared without a trace.
With only a month left before the military district competition, Brandon Pearce was desperately seeking help, having lost a significant amount of weight from stress.
And Montgomery Crane? He was enjoying his life, spreading word that this was the Pearce family’s retribution for rejecting him.
Frustrated by the failed deals yet still speaking ill of the Pearce family, Montgomery reveled in their misfortune.
How could Callie not be angry?
Seeing Callie’s indifferent gaze, Montgomery sneered:
“Do you know the level of the other military district’s chief instructors this year? The lowest is at the peak of Grandmaster!”
“Six districts are led by Great Grandmasters.”
“The chief instructor of the Haralu Flame Dragon Special Forces is even a Lesser Sovereign.”
“From what I’ve heard, the capabilities of the other districts’ special forces have multiplied several times over last year!”
“The Flame Dragon Special Forces alone has produced sixteen Grandmasters and three peak Grandmasters!”
“And The Edge? Having such trash as the chief instructor, your father might as well not bother after the military district competition!”
“The family will be shamed, and The Edge will indeed become synonymous with disgrace!”
Montgomery Crane spoke at length, his words filled with anger and mockery, yet he did not exaggerate.
Because Callie had also heard from her father that this year’s other military districts were indeed frighteningly strong.
Just last night, Brandon Pearce was still worrying about this. Flynn’s Tempering Draught and Dragon Capture Body Refinement Technique had indeed strengthened the team, turning all members into Inner Force Masters.
The two deputy team leaders, Ethan Langley and Clayton Robinson, had advanced rapidly, reaching the early stage of Grandmaster.
But in a district with ten leading Grandmasters, surpassing six was already a challenge!
The Haralu Dragon Cavalry’s Flame Dragon Special Forces boasted sixteen Grandmasters, including three at the peak level!
Compared to other districts, The Edge was like a county basketball team to an NBA team.
Next to the Flame Dragon Special Forces, they were like a county team against NBA champions!
Some time ago, The Edge had confidently claimed a top-three finish, but now no one dared mention it.
As others improved, so did they.
Seeing a shadow flicker in Callie’s eyes, Montgomery’s lips curled into a smirk as he continued:
“There’s still half a month left before the military district competition, and changing commanders now isn’t shameful.”
“Didn’t the Flame Dragon Special Forces also replace their previous Great Grandmaster chief instructor with a Lesser Sovereign?”
“Although I don’t have the skill of a Greater Sovereign, I can assure that The Edge won’t finish last.”
“Ms. Pearce, it’s okay if you don’t want to be involved with me. To show my apology, I can serve unconditionally as The Edge’s chief instructor this time.”
“This is the last chance I’m giving to the Pearce family.”
At this point, Montgomery Crane had no other intentions; he just wanted to show Flynn up.
He was determined to kick the young man down and see if he’d dare be arrogant in front of him again!
“Not even for a bun, but I will fight for my pride!”
Callie Pearce simply said, “Thank you for your kindness, but my father will not change the chief instructor, and I support Mr. Clark.”
“No matter what place The Edge achieves this year, we are grateful to Mr. Clark.”
Hearing this, Montgomery Crane snorted coldly and scoffed, “Fine! I’ve been too sentimental! Take care of yourself!”
With those words, he was about to leave.
Just as he had taken a few steps, several men and women appeared nearby.
The man looked fierce with a sinister gaze and a broad, flat nose.
The five women were curvaceous, dressed in stylish, tight jeans that accentuated their shapely buttocks and towering breasts, which drew the eye as they moved.
All wore masks, their eyes slightly red and swollen, and the man walked with a stoop, each step seeming to bring him pain.
“Boss! Our boss is here!”
Seeing Devin Donovan approach, the menacing man and his companions quickly surrounded him.
Devin Donovan, however, ignored them and walked straight toward Montgomery Crane: “I am Devin Donovan, leader of the Crimson Dragon Gang. I’ve heard of Montgomery Crane’s fame for four years and never had the chance to meet you.”
“Today, as Montgomery Crane graces Jade Dragon Mountain, I have reserved a table in town and would appreciate your joining us!”
Four years ago, Montgomery Crane was invited by Brandon Pearce to be the chief instructor for The Edge special forces.
He frequently appeared in Niarak, where, as a young Grandmaster, he quickly became a local celebrity, unmatched in his fame.
Many of Niarak’s leading figures saw his potential and sought his favor.
But because Montgomery Crane was proud and disdainful of the people of Niarak, he looked down on them.
If not for Callie Pearce, he would have had little interest in visiting such a minor place as Niarak.
Many of the city’s elite failed to befriend him, but they understood and didn’t give up.
After all, they thought, if once doesn’t work, try twice.
So, when Montgomery Crane appeared, the menacing man immediately called Devin Donovan.
How could Devin Donovan miss this chance to connect? Despite his frailty, he came.
He also brought Danna Mcguire and others with him.
Flynn, spotting a familiar face nearby, let out a sneer.
Niarak truly lacked cultivators; a single Grandmaster could command such attention.
But it was understandable, given Niarak was a small city with a population under six million, unable to compare with places like Pelens, Slatin, Ipholn, or East Sea.
It was no surprise they lacked Martial Arts experts.
Montgomery Crane glanced at Devin Donovan and said haughtily, “I disdain interacting with people from Niarak, but you do have good timing.”
“I’m in a bad mood today and feel like drinking, so I’ll give you this opportunity.”
Devin Donovan was delighted and quickly asked, “May I inquire what has upset Montgomery Crane? I am eager to help relieve your troubles.”
“Let me not mince words, after an incident at the Eight Extremities School’s Niarak branch yesterday, the Crimson Dragon Gang took over a lot of territory. Now, my word carries weight in Niarak’s underworld.”
He said this not just to offer his help to Montgomery Crane but also to elevate his own status.
“Your word carries weight?” Montgomery Crane scoffed and turned to point at Flynn:
“That man next to Ms. Pearce irritates me. Can you help me with this trouble?”
“You, a shady gang leader, dare to mess with a friend of the Pearce family?”
He obviously wanted someone to handle Flynn, but Devin Donovan was clearly not up to the task.
The Pearce family was not to be trifled with by just anyone.
However.
As Devin Donovan and his followers looked in the direction he indicated, Danna Mcguire and several internet celebrities immediately began cursing.
“Flynn?! You dog, we were just about to come after you, and here you deliver yourself!”
“Devin, didn’t you say General Cruz owes the Donovan family a favor? Call him now, don’t let Flynn get away!”
“The Pearce family? Hah, in the past, Devin Donovan would have given the Pearce family some respect, but now he’s backed by the God of War, and he fears no one!!”
“Flynn, you little rat, just wait, once God of War arrives, I want to see how you’ll die today!”