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“Ms. Blackwood, I am truly sorry, Mark said. “But Mr. Shaw came to pick him up personally, and as you know, he is the one in charge of Metroville. I had no choice.”
He was caught between three immovable forces–the mayor, Julian, and Luna herself–a position no one in their right mind would ever want to be in.
“Mr. Shaw?” Luna asked. She had been gone for five years and knew nothing about the current mayor of Metroville.
“Yes,” Mark said. “Our current mayor, Mr. Ryan Shaw, was sent directly from Grovis.”
Anyone sent directly from Grovis would naturally have an extraordinary background.
“Ms. Blackwood, it’s not that I didn’t do my job well,” he said. “With my limited influence, there was simply nothing I could do.”
“All right. I understand,” she said.
Luna scoffed to herself, What audacity. Daring to take someone I have claimed. This Ryan certainly has a lot
of nerve.
In the main hall of the Blackwood residence, Judy waited anxiously, with Olivia by her side. Quinn sat in the main chair.
The Blackwoods had been worried all day, but they finally relaxed when Quinn arrived.
No matter how powerful Luna was, she was still only one person. How could she possibly hope to stand against the combined might of the Blackwood and White families?
Just then, the butler rushed in, his voice filled with surprise. “Madam, Mr. Dylan Blackwood is back! And Mr. Shaw, the mayor, is with him!”
Ryan Shaw, the man who frequently appeared on television, had personally brought their young master back.
What did this mean? The Blackwood family would surely prosper from now on.
*Mr. Shaw has come in person? Come, everyone, let’s go out and greet him,” Jude said and led the family outside.
Quinn, meanwhile, was quite satisfied. Ryan’s willingness to help had proved exactly how valuable the White family was to him.
When Judy saw Ryan, she immediately hurried forward and thanked him. “Mr. Shaw,” she said, “you are a very busy man, and yet you took time out of your day to personally bring my son back for our small family matter. Thank you so much.”
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EFI 56 vouchers.
Ryan did not even glance at Judy. He had only gotten involved in the Blackwood family’s trouble because of Quinn.
“Mr. Shaw, thank you so much for this, Quinn said, stepping forward. “From now on, if you need anything at all, just say the word, and the White family will go to any lengthis for you.”
“Mr. White, you are too kind,” Ryan said. “In the future, when your son joins the Grovis Warfare Division, I will be the one who needs his help.”
“Mr. Shaw, rest assured.” Quinn said. “Feel free to ask if you need us.”
“Very well.” Ryan said. “I have a video conference to attend, so I will take my leave.” The only reason Ryan had personally returned Dylan was to make a clear statement: Quinn now owed him a favor.
After seeing Ryan off, Judy personally opened the car door for him as he departed.
When Dylan was led back inside, he appeared mostly unharmed, having been rescued in time.
“Mr. White,” Dylan said, turning to Quinn. “Thank you so much. But Luna is so arrogant that if we do not deal with her, she will surely cause endless trouble in the future.”
“Do not worry.” Quinn replied. “Eliot and Olivia will be going to Grovis soon. Besides, they are both members of the Metroville Warfare Division, and the Division will not just stand idly by.”
Quinn’s words finally put Dylan at ease.
“You had better not have left any evidence of the things you have done in the past, Quinn warned. “Otherwise, the Blackwood family will not be the only ones to be shamed.”
The White and Blackwood families now shared their glory and shame.
“Mr. White,” Dylan said. “Rest assured. I will never bring shame upon our families. Five years had passed. What evidence could Luna possibly have? Her arrogance was just a front built on her fighting skills, nothing
more,
“Olivia,” Quinn said, turning to her. “You must prepare well. In a month, you and Eliot will participate in the selection.
Metroville was only a second–tier city; Quinn’s sights had always been set on Grovis.
“Mr. White, don’t worry,” Olivia said. “I will not disappoint you.” She was a famous herbalist in Metroville, and her master was the city’s most renowned traditional herbalist. She was well aware that this identity was precisely why Quinn had chosen her.
“Good,” Quinn said. “If you need any herbs for brewing, just let me know.” He would give her as many herbs as she needed, so long as they helped Eliot.
“Thank you, Mr. White, Olivia said. “I’ll go see Eliot later.” In her mind, the choice was simple. Eliot was her fiancé, and his future was limitless–a future that Luna, for all her power, could never hope to rival.
After seeing Quinn off, the Blackwood family returned to the main hall.
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“Mom, maybe I should go abroad and hide for a while. Dylan said, his voice trembling. The thought of how terrifying Luna was made him shiver.
“Grandma,” Olivia chimed in. “Eliot and I are going to Grovis for the selection soon, and we cannot afford any scandals. We must send Father abroad,” Olivia knew what Dylan had done, but that didn’t matter–all that mattered was a clean reputation.
“All right,” Judy said. “Go abroad for a while.”
At the same time, Quinn arrived at the Metroville Warfare Division, where the city’s elite operatives were training,
Upon seeing him, they all saluted in unison, and after returning the gesture, he went straight to the Command Center to find Harold.
“You’re here?” Harold said, his eyes fixed on the strategic map.
“Reporting. Commander,” Quinn said. “I went to handle a matter.”
“Good,” Harold said, not looking up. “Eliot will be going to Grovis for the selection soon. If he passes, he’ll naturally be able to stay there, so do not let these trivial matters distract him.”
Once selected, Eliot would be representing the entire Metroville Warfare Division.
“Yes, Commander, Quinn replied.
“Commander,” Quinn said, grinding his teeth. “You must have heard what happened at the engagement party. Luna is incredibly arrogant, and no one knows what dark arts she’s practicing. If we let her stay, she will surely cause irreparable harm to the people of Metroville.”
“Dark arts?” Harold asked.
“Yes, dark arts,” Quinn replied with confidence. “Five years ago, Luna was useless–she had no talent at all. For her to have become this powerful, she must have practiced dark arts.”
Harold raised an eyebrow. “Go prepare her and bring her to me. I want to study her closely.”
Harold, a seven–star martial artist himself, was obsessed with traditional martial arts and wanted to capture and study every powerful fighter.
Meanwhile, Luna saw that Ryan was already getting involved in the Blackwood family’s affairs. Unwilling to drag things out any longer, she called Phantom.
“Phantom,” Luna said, her voice a sharp command. “Gather the twelve operatives under your command.”
“Yes, Ms. Blackwood.” Phantom never questioned her orders. Anything the undefeated queen decided was always the right decision.
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