That morning, Flynn had defeated Felix Langford in a brutal clash, boldly declaring himself ready to challenge the entire Pelens aristocracy. His audacious words and actions sent shockwaves through the city’s elite, sparking outrage among the wealthy and powerful. They gathered at the Gray family estate, eager to witness Flynn’s downfall.
The Gray family, determined to uphold their reputation, rolled out the red carpet for the confrontation, giving Flynn the stage he seemed to crave.
Flynn arrived with Scarlet by his side, exuding an air of arrogance and defiance. His disdain for everyone present was evident, and he didn’t hesitate to provoke even Peter, the family patriarch.
Then Bobby Sheppard entered the scene, delivering a bombshell revelation: Flynn was an investor in the Sharp’s Group and had injected $12 billion into the company just the day before. The crowd was stunned by Flynn’s wealth and audacity.
But even such a staggering display of financial power wasn’t enough to intimidate a family as entrenched in the upper echelons as the Grays.
Nick Gray soon appeared, accompanied by the imposing Mr. Howe. The spectators assumed Flynn would finally yield-perhaps offer an apology or compensation to appease the Langford family and de-escalate the situation.
Yet, Flynn remained undeterred. To him, Nick Gray was no different from an ordinary man. His dismissive attitude enraged the Pelens elite further.
The Langley brothers then arrived, their presence signaling that the situation had reached a critical point. With over a dozen guns trained on Flynn and a Grandmaster-level fighter on their side, the outcome seemed inevitable-Flynn would either surrender or be killed on the spot.
But what happened next upended all expectations. Flynn revealed himself to be none other than the Chief Instructor of The Edge, the organization that had trained Ethan Langley himself. Moreover, Flynn had earned the admiration of Commander Adam Davies, who intended to personally thank him in Niarak soon.
This revelation struck like a tidal wave, leaving the Gray family and their allies in disarray.
While the Grays boasted the influence of Nick Gray, Flynn’s connection to Commander Adam Davies was of an entirely different magnitude. Suddenly, the prospect of taking on Flynn seemed far more daunting.
No wonder so many people were starting to curry favor with Eduardo-Flynn’s father-in-law. With a son-in-law of such stature, Eduardo could dominate the Pelens social scene with ease.
Who would dare cross him?
The might of a Great Grandmaster was no trivial matter. And with the support of a military commander of Shipmeda State, Flynn’s backing was unstoppable.
Even the Wong family began to waver. Their once hostile gazes softened, and Jakub Wong, the head of the family, seemed on the verge of speaking to Flynn, his face flushed with unease. To a businessman like Jakub, Flynn’s ability to mobilize billions of dollars was already an unattainable feat, worthy of respect and flattery. But with Flynn’s military and martial prowess now revealed, Jakub realized the Wong family was utterly outclassed.
Clifford, the city’s secretary-general, was equally shaken. When Nick Gray had arrived earlier, Clifford had stood to greet him, only to be met with cold indifference. The memory had left Clifford disheartened.
Now, seeing Flynn rise above Nick Gray, Clifford was astonished-but his shock soon gave way to suspicion.
As a key figure in Pelens’ leadership, Clifford had some insight into the Gray family’s connections. He knew of their ties to the Spencer family, a lineage deeply rooted in power and influence. Though the connection was carefully concealed, Clifford had picked up subtle clues during his dealings with the Grays.
Rumors within the city’s leadership hinted that Nick Gray’s appointment as mayor three years ago wasn’t solely due to Peter’s connections. It was whispered that Rocco Spencer had played a role as well.
Clifford’s gaze shifted to Peter Gray. At the same time, Adria Langford clenched her fists, her fiery eyes fixed on the elder Gray.
“Peter, I won’t accept this,” she said through gritted teeth.
Peter raised a hand, sighing deeply. “Enough. Enough. Nick, since things have escalated to this point, it’s time to call Rocco Spencer.”
The room erupted into chaos.
What?!
The rumors were true-the Gray family did have ties to the Spencer family! And judging by Peter’s tone, the relationship seemed incredibly close.
After the Langley brothers left, some of the gathered elites began to side with Eduardo, while others remained defiant. The latter group, aligned with the Langford and Gray families, refused to let Flynn walk away unscathed.
They couldn’t stomach the idea of someone like Flynn rising to prominence, especially in a place like Niarak, which they deemed unworthy of producing a true dragon among men.
The feud between Flynn and the Pelens aristocracy had reached a point of no return. Protecting their honor was now paramount.
Peter’s words reignited their resolve. Those who had just been flattering Eduardo froze, their faces pale with regret.
The revelation of the Gray family’s connection to the Spencer family left them reeling. They had picked the wrong side too soon.
The Spencer family wasn’t just influential-they were led by a provincial governor. Even Commander Adam Davies would have to defer to someone of such stature.
Even if Adam Davies and Rocco Spencer were equals, their influence would cancel each other out, leaving Flynn without any advantage.
The Gray family had Nick Gray.
Flynn?
He would once again be just an ordinary man, powerless in the face of such overwhelming connections.
With the resources and influence of the two families combined, summoning a Lesser Sovereign to deal with Flynn wasn’t out of the question.
And when that happened, how could Flynn possibly survive?
“Father…” Nick Gray hesitated, his voice faltering.
Peter waved him off, exhaling heavily before closing his eyes. “Make the call. When I was young, I worked alongside Barney Spencer in the south.”
“For forty years, Rocco has visited me every holiday.”
“I had hoped to invite him for a visit after this matter was resolved. But it seems this won’t end without a clear victor.”
“Mr. Clark,” Peter said with a cold smile, his sharp gaze locking onto Flynn. “Don’t you agree?”
Peter’s tone carried a weight of finality. He understood the significance of calling in a favor from Rocco Spencer-it wasn’t something done lightly.
A governor’s goodwill was a precious resource, not to be squandered on trivial matters.
But the Gray family had no choice. Flynn’s rise posed an existential threat. If they didn’t crush him now, his growing influence would make it impossible to suppress him in the future.
Even Rolando, who had once pursued Scarlet out of genuine affection, knew that their personal feelings were irrelevant. Avoiding conflict and expanding the Gray family’s power was far more important.
Having already crossed Flynn, the Grays were left with no option but to destroy him entirely.
Bobby Sheppard sighed, rubbing his temples as he watched the unfolding drama.
In his heart, Bobby respected Peter Gray. The elder was a low-profile, kind-hearted man who had been forced into this situation.
But Bobby also knew the truth. Flynn wasn’t someone the Gray family-or even the Spencer family-could afford to provoke.
Flynn was the King of the Underworld, a man standing at the pinnacle of global order.
Even Rocco Spencer would have to bow before him.
Not just Rocco-if the Imperial Center sent someone, or if the ancient monsters of the Dragonguard appeared, they too would have no choice but to lower their heads.
Today, the Gray family-and the entire Pelens aristocracy-was destined to lose all face.