“Oh? That young man won?”
Talon Emberhart had just finished a meeting with the leaders of the Ten Military Regions when he heard the news, his expression betraying a rare flicker of surprise.
The Dragonguard consisted of six Archons, each responsible for overseeing Ostrad’s economy, military, politics, diplomacy, and other key fields. They answered directly to the monarch. Among them, Talon Emberhart and Maxwell Grey wielded the greatest authority.
Both men were part of the military. Together, they served as Ostrad’s supreme military commanders.
Talon led a secretive and formidable division within the Dragonguard called “Sleeve.” This unit consisted of highly skilled, reclusive practitioners-hidden masters who remained absent from public view, never appearing in the media. To the world, they were as if nonexistent. Yet, they were Ostrad’s greatest shield, its most potent line of defense.
Maxwell Grey, on the other hand, commanded the Northern Ten Heavenly Kings, an elite force that operated more openly. The two men, one in the shadows and the other in the light, safeguarded the lives of millions in Ostrad.
For years, “Sleeve” had been scouring the world for the strongest practitioners, particularly in the realm of cultivation. This was why two Semi Earthly Sovereigns had been sent to observe the recent battle-a winner would be recruited.
“Yes, we didn’t expect it either,” one of the Semi Earthly Sovereigns admitted.
They had come for Dario Bragg, never believing that Lord Valerian Nox could emerge victorious.
Talon paused in thought before saying, “This works well for me. Lord Valerian Nox is very young, with limitless potential ahead of him.”
“We must bring him into the fold!”
“Here’s what you’ll do: first, reach out to Lord Valerian Nox and initiate contact. Then, find out the name of The Edge Special Forces’ chief instructor. Track him down-I want to know who this person is to dare such audacity!”
“Understood,” the Semi Earthly Sovereign agreed. “By the way, Talon, I’ve received news from several southern provinces. Several underground factions have been wiped out overnight. These were strong forces, yet no one knows who’s responsible. Should we investigate?”
A moment of silence passed on the other end of the line before Talon’s voice came through, laced with cold indifference. “Titan Holdings seems to have entered Ostrad, hasn’t it?”
“Yes. I’ve also heard The Raven King was in Ostrad recently. Should we check if it’s his doing?”
“If it is?” the Semi Earthly Sovereign asked cautiously.
Talon’s tone turned sharp. “Then let him continue stirring things up. Maxwell Grey is the one who let him in. When it becomes a major problem, I’ll have all the leverage I need to impeach him.”
—
The news of Lord Valerian Nox defeating Dario Bragg spread like wildfire, rolling across the country like an unstoppable tidal wave.
Over forty thousand eyewitnesses had seen the event firsthand. Within an hour, the entire nation knew.
In the cultivation world, elderly practitioners were moved to tears, rejoicing that Ostrad’s legacy was in good hands.
Middle-aged individuals hailed Lord Valerian Nox as the perfect example of an ideal youth, using his achievements as inspiration to educate their children.
Young people idolized him, while children viewed him as a superhero, the “Demon Slayer.”
The tale of the Swordgate Peak battle even reached the city of Slatin, sparking widespread discussion and debate.
Yet another piece of news sent shockwaves through Slatin’s elite circles-Titan Holdings had purchased the Dragon’s Roost villa for an astronomical sum.
Located southeast of Slatin, Dragon’s Roost bordered a golden beach and spanned over a thousand acres, featuring the majestic Lotus Peak. Midway up the mountain stood a villa named Imperial Haven, an opulent Mediterranean-style estate perched against the sea and hillside. It was renowned as the crown jewel of Slatin’s luxury real estate.
Previously owned by Empire Estates, one of Slatin’s top three real estate giants, the property was originally intended as a wedding gift by the Empire Estates CEO for his son. Even Slatin’s most prestigious family, the Clarks, had failed to acquire it.
But Titan Holdings didn’t just buy the villa-they directly acquired Empire Estates itself, offering the owner an irresistible price along with an additional $1 billion.
The audacious move left everyone stunned. A company that could casually purchase an entire real estate empire just to secure a single villa was a testament to Titan Holdings’ unparalleled wealth.
Speculation ran rampant. Few believed the villa was for Lila Duffy, the financial queen of Haralu, as she already owned property in Slatin’s Clearwater Cove. The consensus was clear: the estate was most likely for The Raven King.
The possibility of The Raven King coming to Slatin sent waves of fear through the city’s elite. Even the Governor’s Office was on edge.
Three years ago, The Raven King had already reached the level of Semi Earthly Sovereign, capable of defeating even early-stage Earthly Sovereigns. Who knew what heights he had reached now?
A true god of slaughter, his Asura Palace dominated sixteen countries in Western Europe. His mere presence in Slatin was enough to terrify anyone.
Not long ago, his arrival in Ostrad had caused a significant stir. Even the God of War himself had tried to stop him-but ultimately allowed him to pass.
—
“Ms. Sharp, Titan Holdings has been making waves in Slatin lately,” Molly remarked casually, glancing at the sleeping Flynn while driving.
“In just four days, they’ve acquired five major corporations with a combined market value exceeding $60 billion.”
“I think you should reach out to Titan Holdings and see if they’re interested in a partnership. After all, Sharp’s Group owns three ancient formulas-there’s definitely room for collaboration.”
Rose shook her head with a bitter smile. “Titan Holdings is a global giant, controlled by The Raven King, the dark emperor of the West. He has dozens of ancient formulas-far more than just three. He wouldn’t stoop to working with us.”
She sighed, feeling a sense of helplessness. She had already failed to secure support from DreamDollars Investments. Titan Holdings was even further out of reach.
Slatin’s business world looked down on outsiders.
The thought weighed on her. She had promised to support Flynn, yet now she feared she might become a burden instead.
Without dominating the business world, and without Flynn leveraging his Earthly Sovereign connections to build alliances in the military and political spheres, taking down the Clark family would be nearly impossible.
After all, the Clarks had two deputy commanders in their ranks. Trying to crush them outright would invite Talon Emberhart’s wrath.
Earlier, before Flynn had dozed off, she had asked for his thoughts.
He had replied with just one sentence: “Wait for Tessa Watson’s birthday.”
—
Two hours later, as Flynn stepped out of the car at a rest stop, he received a call from The Raven King.
“Master, will you be arriving in Slatin today?”
“Yes,” Flynn replied, wiping his hands and picking up the phone as he left the restroom. “Scott Chilton should return in seven days, correct?”
The Raven King’s voice came through clearly. “Yes, Master. I’ve been dealing with several factions recently and discovered that your mother’s situation is more complex than it seems. Nearly half the cultivation world is involved.”
“They all mention the Dragon Blood Ring. Have you uncovered its secrets?”
Flynn shook his head. “I’ve had it investigated. A century ago, the ring belonged to the Hussain family. After that, its trail went cold.”
“My guess is the Hussain family offered it to the Noble family. If that’s the case, the Hussains are likely the Nobles’ vassals. But oddly enough, they were enemies of the Noble family as well. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Regardless, I’ve received some leads. Zion Watson’s master will soon arrive in Ostrad. The answers will come soon enough. There’s no need for you to wait for Mr. Chilton in Haralu. Clean up the remaining factions and return.”
After Flynn finished giving instructions, The Raven King replied, “Understood, Master. You’ll be arriving in Slatin shortly. I’ll have Lila meet you.”
“Lila?” Flynn raised an eyebrow before speaking indifferently. “You mean Titan Holdings’ Lila Duffy?”
“Yes, Master! From today onward, she’s not only the head of Titan Holdings but also your personal maid.”
“You may command her to do anything a maid can do…”