“Pfft-”
Bobby Sheppard was sipping tea when he heard the name Flynn. He spat it out instantly.
Wiping the water from the corners of his mouth was the last thing on his mind as he stammered, “W-what did you say? Flynn?”
Peyton frowned, startled by her father’s reaction.
“Yes, Flynn. Do you know him?”
“Buzzed haircut, cocky attitude, like he’s just coasting through life. Talks like he owns the world,” Bobby said. “When Mr. Langford tried to pressure him with family status, do you know what he said? ‘What does your family background have to do with whether or not I break your legs?’ The guy’s arrogance knows no bounds!”
Annoyance flickered in Peyton’s eyes. She despised men like that-arrogant, self-important types who thought the world revolved around them.
They respected no one. They believed they could move mountains with sheer willpower alone, thinking brute force could topple everything in their path.
Ethan Langley, on the other hand, was the ideal man in Peyton’s eyes. He had a rough edge, sure, but he was steady and dependable. Ambitious, resilient, and self-made, he had reached the peak of Grandmaster status while still young.
Now that was a man.
Flynn? Nothing more than a clown.
Bobby Sheppard shivered after hearing his daughter’s description.
If the person who attacked Felix Langford was indeed Mr. Clark, then the Langford family was in for a world of trouble.
If the Langford family decided to provoke him, they’d be crushed like ants.
No alliance-the Gray family, the Langley family, even all the elite families in Shipmeda State combined-could withstand him.
After all, this man was the King of the Underworld!
“But today’s a holiday. Why isn’t he spending it at home? What’s he doing in Pelens?” Bobby was baffled, deciding he had to confirm this himself.
If it was the King of the Underworld, he’d need to warn the Langford family and the Gray family immediately.
To keep provoking him would lead only to death and disgrace.
“Peyton, come with me!”
Leaving those words behind, Bobby strode out of the house.
“Dad, what’s going on?” Peyton muttered, confused, but she followed him anyway.
—
Swordgate Peak.
At the foot of the mountain.
A tall, straight-backed man with a chiseled face stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an imposing presence.
He was like a statue, immovable amidst the heavens and earth. His sheer aura was so oppressive that even the air around him seemed to stagnate.
Suddenly-
“Boom!”
The man stomped the ground with both feet, launching himself high into the sky.
“Boom, boom, boom-”
The deafening roar of his body tearing through the air echoed as the ground beneath him trembled violently.
The shockwave was so powerful that even Jiri Langley was forced back five or six meters, the force stinging his face like a sharp blade.
“Is this… the power of a Grandmaster at his peak? It’s terrifyingly overwhelming!”
Jiri Langley stared at his older brother, who had leapt ten meters into the air, his eyes filled with awe.
“Boom!”
Another thunderous crash resounded as the man landed, his foot smashing into the ground. The impact sent dirt flying, leaving a three-meter-wide crater in the earth.
“Whoosh-”
A massive shockwave rippled outward, sweeping over everything in its path.
Jiri Langley was thrown to the ground by the gust.
When the wind subsided, he struggled to his feet, giving Ethan Langley a thumbs-up, his eyes brimming with amazement and admiration.
“You’re incredible, big brother!”
“What do you want?” Ethan Langley asked coolly, his tone indifferent. He had little patience for his younger brother.
Jiri had a strong physique, even better than Ethan’s, but he was a disappointment.
Instead of working hard, he wasted his time running around with Felix Langford.
If he hadn’t been drinking with Felix that day, would he have gotten into a fight? Would he have been kicked out of The Edge?
Such a disgrace.
“Big brother, Felix Langford was beaten up by a Grandmaster. I was hoping you could help…” Jiri’s voice faltered, his usual bravado replaced by hesitation.
Despite his size and arrogance, he feared this older brother of his.
Unless it was something truly urgent, he wouldn’t dare approach him.
He had initially wanted to ask Jace Watson for help by borrowing Xavier Caldwell, Lysander King’s subordinate. But Lysander King’s family had gone to his in-laws’ for the holiday, leaving Jiri with no one else to turn to.
“You want me to help you fight? Haven’t I told you to stay away from Felix Langford? He’ll only drag you down. Were you not listening?” Ethan Langley’s voice rose, his gaze piercing.
“Felix Langford will only hold you back. Are you deaf?”
Jiri flinched, lowering his head. “Today is… Rolando’s banquet. I… I couldn’t refuse the invitation.”
“Rolando?” Ethan Langley’s anger subsided slightly at the mention of the name.
Jiri seized the opportunity. “Yes, someone disrupted the banquet and challenged all the elite families in Pelens.”
“He’s unbelievably arrogant!”
“Even Rolando couldn’t keep him in check. He even said you wouldn’t dare do anything to him!”
Ethan Langley’s brows furrowed. This guy sounded like he was asking for trouble.
Sensing his brother’s reaction, Jiri pressed on. “Brother, we have to intervene! Not for me, but for the Langley family!”
Ethan’s frown deepened.
Jiri wasn’t wrong. The Langley family was one of Pelens’ elite families, with members involved not only in the military but also in business.
Helping Rolando this time would earn a favor, which could only benefit the family.
“Where is this person now?” Ethan asked.
Jiri’s face lit up with joy. “Mr. Gray invited him to the Gray family estate. We can head there directly. You might not even need to take action-it’s just to prevent any unexpected incidents.”
Ethan glanced at the crater he had just created, a cold smirk forming on his lips.
“Fine. I’ll go and see for myself. Let’s see how arrogant he really is.”
Having recently achieved the peak of Grandmaster status, Ethan had been looking for an opportunity to make a name for himself and the Langley family.
Now someone was openly provoking them?
Perfect. He’d use this as a chance to show his strength.
By 2 p. m., various forces were gathering at the Gray family estate. News of Felix Langford’s beating had spread like wildfire, and the elite families were abuzz with speculation about how the Langford family would handle the perpetrator.
Meanwhile, Flynn and Scarlet were strolling through town when Maria called.
“Mom wants us to go to the Gray family estate,” Scarlet said, hanging up. She looked worried. “Do we really have to go?”
During the banquet that morning, Flynn had angered all the young elites of Pelens. Who knew what kind of schemes they were planning against him?
Before coming to Pelens, Scarlet hadn’t been concerned because of the Spencer family’s influence. But now, Flynn was up against all of Pelens, and she wasn’t sure how the Spencer family would react.
Flynn smiled faintly. “Didn’t you want me to come to Pelens and humiliate them a few days ago?”
“Now you’re scared?”
“I’m not scared!” Scarlet puffed out her cheeks in a pout. “How was I supposed to know you’d say something like that this morning? Challenging all of Pelens…”
“Mr. Clark, maybe you shouldn’t confront them head-on. There’s always time in the future.”
“With your strength, in a few years, they won’t stand a chance against you!”
Flynn couldn’t help but pinch her cheek, amused by her worried yet earnest expression. Pulling her close, he said as they walked:
“Don’t worry. I promised to humiliate the Gray family, and I’ll do it thoroughly.”