All the members of Team Wolf wore expressions of defeat.
Although they had always known there was a gap between themselves and the Guards of Death, they hadn’t realized just how wide that gap truly was.
Team Wolf wasn’t just any unit-they were the elite of the entire Amerosia military. In the Middleton war zone, countless soldiers dreamed of joining their ranks. They were the pride of Middleton, envied by many, and undefeated on the training field.
But today, they lost. And not just any loss-it was a crushing defeat.
The members of Team Wolf turned their gazes toward the Guards of Death. The Guards stood silently, exuding an aura of deadly menace.
Their captain, Jack Butler, had reportedly been defeated by Chris himself.
Jack Butler was undoubtedly strong, but compared to Chris, he wasn’t even in the same league.
Jack looked at Chris, his expression heavy. “Chris,” he said, “today, I admit my defeat wholeheartedly. I used to think you didn’t deserve to be Primus-that you got there by sheer luck. But now I understand. You’re truly powerful.”
Chris replied calmly, “You’re not bad yourself. You have great potential. If you work hard, there’s no reason you couldn’t become the next Primus in the future.”
Jack was stunned.
For as long as he could remember, Jack had wanted to surpass Chris and take the title of Amerosia’s Primus. Yet after yesterday’s battle, he realized the gap between them was immense.
Now, hearing Chris’s words, a fire reignited within him.
Chris turned to face the rest of Team Wolf. His sharp gaze swept over them as he spoke in a loud, clear voice.
“You are the elite of the Amerosia military, chosen from among millions of warriors. While you may not be as strong as the Guards of Death now, one day, you’ll become just as powerful.”
“Long live Primus!”
“Long live Primus!”
“Long live Primus!”
The members of Team Wolf shouted in unison, their voices echoing.
They gazed at Chris with fervent admiration. Their blood boiled with excitement.
To the millions of soldiers in Amerosia, Chris was a legend, a symbol of belief.
He had risen from being a mere border soldier to becoming the Primus of Amerosia, a path that countless others aspired to follow.
Jack Butler glanced at Chris and sighed. Compared to Chris, he still had a long way to go.
Jack approached Chris, his expression complex. “Chris,” he said, “I used to look down on you. When it comes to family background and status, you can’t compare to me. Yet you’re the Primus of Amerosia, and I’m just a three-star general.”
“But today, you’ve shown me that you truly deserve to be Primus. I may have lost to you, but mark my words-I’ll work twice as hard. One day, I’ll catch up to you and become the next Primus of Amerosia!”
Hearing this, Chris smiled faintly.
Although he was the current Primus, he genuinely hoped someone would someday surpass him. He believed that Jack Butler, after experiencing this setback, would grow even stronger.
If Caspian knew about this, he would undoubtedly be pleased. After all, Jack Butler was the young man Caspian valued most.
Years later, Jack Butler would establish the Hall of Gods, shaking the world and claiming the title of Primus himself-but that would be another story.
—
After leaving the Middleton war zone, Chris drove to Panda Networks.
It had been almost six months since he had taken over Panda Networks from Blake Noire.
During this time, Candace had fully demonstrated her business acumen. Panda Networks had become the dominant force in the live-streaming industry.
Under Candace’s leadership, the company had grown exponentially, far surpassing what it had been under Blake Noire.
Panda Networks now owned an entire office building, employed over a thousand people, and was preparing to go public.
Of course, Chris wasn’t particularly concerned about the financial gains. He had handed full control of the company to Candace, allowing her to run it as she saw fit. It was his way of compensating for taking over her family’s business years ago.
As Chris entered Panda Networks, he took in the sleek and modern office design.
He had visited the company a few times recently, so the receptionist quickly recognized him. “Good morning, Chairman!” she greeted him respectfully.
Because Panda Networks was in the live-streaming industry, most of its employees were women. The sight of so many attractive women working together was undeniably eye-catching.
The company was buzzing with energy as everyone prepared for the upcoming IPO.
Chris knocked on the door to Candace’s office.
“Come in!” came her voice from inside.
Chris pushed the door open and walked in with a smile. “Candace, it’s almost noon. Why haven’t you taken a break yet?”
Candace looked up, her face lighting up in surprise and delight. “Chris! What brings you here?”
“I came to check on you,” Chris replied. “It’s almost lunchtime. How about we go out and grab a bite to eat?”
Candace shook her head. “No need. I’ve already ordered takeout. I’ll just eat here and get back to work. There’s still so much to do.”
Chris sighed.
Candace was just like Esther-once she started working, she forgot about everything else. She was the very definition of a workaholic.
After a moment of hesitation, Chris said, “Candace, I spoke to your grandfather yesterday. I asked him to try to talk some sense into you. Did he say anything to you?”
At his words, Candace froze.
Her eyes reddened, and tears began streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Chris panicked. “Candace, please don’t cry! I know I’ve wronged you. I know I owe you a lot. But I already have a wife. There’s no way anything can happen between us.”
Candace took a deep breath and said, “Chris, I know. I know that Esther is the only woman you’ll ever love. I’m not asking to be with you. I just want to quietly love you from a distance. Is that so wrong?”
“I…” Chris was at a loss for words.
Candace’s stubbornness was something he couldn’t change, no matter what he said.
—
Just as Chris was preparing to leave Middleton, he received an invitation.
The contents were simple: The Frost and Sterling families had been removed from the Ten Noble Families, and a new election was being held to replace them.
As the man responsible for the downfall of both families, Chris was impossible to ignore. Naturally, he received an invitation.