After finishing his words, the old man bent down to pick up the fortune-telling paper he had dropped and headed off down the street.
“Georgia, is your husband really the national hero the old man was talking about?” Cyan finally reacted, surprise coloring her voice.
Georgia didn’t answer, but Regina retorted, “Come on, what era are we in? There’s no need for all this war hero nonsense. We live in a world where news spreads instantly; nothing stays hidden. Georgia Adams just wants to boost her image! Didn’t you catch what I said?”
“True!” Cyan agreed, her mind clouded with doubt.
Georgia didn’t argue, watching as the blind old man disappeared into the distance. It was as if he had been waiting there just for her, asking her to deliver those items to Kayden.
She looked down at the small vial and envelope in her hands. After some hesitation, she opened the envelope.
Inside, there were only a few cryptic lines. “All trades abandoned, a new era begins; Five Ghosts disappear, an Hellblazer arises! Guard the nation’s gate, protect the borders, shake the realms, and rule the land!”
Georgia read with confusion. The words were like a riddle, each character more bewildering than the last. But she had her suspicions confirmed–Kayden was indeed someone extraordinary.
The next day was the day of the much-awaited Saint Dragon Business Association investment conference at Fcon Hotel. Although Georgia wasn’t fully clear on the details, the buzz around it had been overwhelming for days.
Rumor had it that the Saint Dragon Business Association was an incredibly powerful network of business leaders, and simply receiving an invitation from them was a huge honor.
Even if a company didn’t secure a partnership, the invitation alone signified significant recognition, not only from the association but across all of Seclela.
Arriving early, Georgia stepped into Fcon Hotel, memories flooding back of her last visit during the Vincent family’s centennial celebration. Today, however, the setup was even grander, as if the entire place had been transformed into a palace, exuding an imperial ambiance.
Ornate, luxurious decor made the room shine with an aura of royalty.
“Madam, welcome!” Beckett Robinson, spotting Georgia, rushed over to greet her.
Georgia blinked in surprise, knowing Beckett’s deference was for Kayden Scott’s sake. She respectfully nodded and responded, “Mr. Robinson, it’s a pleasure.”
“Oh, please, call me Beckett!” he replied, flustered, his age notwithstanding. Georgia hesitated to call him by his first name, though.
Beckett, sensing her unease, gestured for her to follow. “Right this way! I’ve found your seat.”
For Beckett Robinson, his life’s blessing was that Kayden Scott hadn’t held the incident with Jasper Robinson against him. Recently, he had kept a low profile, doing whatever Fletcher Atkinson instructed, never daring to cross paths with anyone in Scott’s circle.
Though unable to dig up Kayden’s full background, he had found out one startling truth: the only one capable of ordering Fletcher Atkinson around was the famed Defender of the South, a figure so revered in Seclela that people practically worshipped him.
Beckett couldn’t shake his gut feeling: Georgia Adams’s husband was indeed that man, the Defender of the South.
Georgia was seated near the front-a clear indicator of her business’s rising prestige. The front row was reserved for Hiphia’s elite, a sign of her firm’s impressive advancement.
Soon after everyone had taken their seats, several men in black suits entered the room. At the front of this group was a middle-aged man, around fifty, dressed in a traditional suit, with two other similarly clad men flanking him. His stride was filled with authority, his expression exuding pride and dignity. The man took his seat at the head of the room, the two men behind him clearly his bodyguards.
After a sweeping glance around the room, the man introduced himself. “You likely know the purpose of my visit to Hiphia. I am Kendall Lindsey, the head of Saint Dragon Business Association’s Southwest branch.”
The room filled with applause, loud and enthusiastic.
As the applause settled, Kendall raised his hand, signaling silence, and continued, “Each company invited here has been carefully selected based on its merit; you are the leading figures of Hiphia, the standards of this city. Going forward, the future of Hiphia’s development rests in your hands.”
More applause erupted. Kendall’s commanding tone and bearing commanded respect; his words not only elevated the guests but also firmly established his own presence.
“My main purpose in Hiphia is investment,” Kendall stated. “Saint Dragon Business Association has never before invested in the city center, but we’re now looking at a few prime locations. In Hiphia alone, we’re committing three billion for investment, to help build a better future.”
Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. Three billion was a massive figure-something most companies couldn’t even dream of having as liquid assets, despite many being worth tens or hundreds of millions. Everyone’s interest was piqued.
“Three billion!” murmured one guest. “With an investment from Saint Dragon, anyone’s business could soar!”
“That’s not just three billion; the eventual return could be thirty billion.”
One after another, business people eagerly spoke up, each pitching their own field of expertise. Kendall calmly sipped his tea, listening to the excitement with an almost serene detachment.
Georgia Adams remained silent, uncertain of her own position. Compared to these established businesses, she felt out of her depth. Just being here was recognition enough for her-she wasn’t expecting to secure any investment.
After setting down his tea, Kendall raised his hand to halt the buzzing conversations. Looking over the attendees, he asked, “I’ve heard there’s an up-and-coming enterprise here in Hiphia. What was its name again?”
He placed a hand on his head as if trying to remember.
Beckett Robinson quickly interjected, “Adams Group!”