Fyren stared at Eliza, utterly stunned.
"What the hell! I thought once this girl got Qianfeng back, she'd settle down and come to her senses. But even after getting Qianfeng, she's still acting like this!?"
"Is the aftereffect that strong!? Did I butter her up too well over the past three years!?"
[I'm lucky enough just to be friends with you big shots; I don't want any other entanglements!]
Fyren didn't think he had what it took to take Eliza, Xena, and Cora as concubines.
These women were all so arrogant—how much power would it take to make them submit as concubines?
Besides, even if they agreed, he wouldn't!
Each of them is so headstrong. If these three were to gather under one roof, he wouldn't get anything else done—just managing the infighting in the harem would keep him tied up.
Moreover, Fyren firmly believed that more women didn't mean a better life.
Even if he wanted to find someone, with his status, would it be hard to find beautiful women?
After all, he's the big villain!
The boss!
He doesn't lack women!
So there's really no need to have so many women flocking around him, putting on a "Troubled Maidens" show every day.
That's definitely not a blessing—it's a curse!
Fyren thought being with Chloe was perfect.
Chloe had everything he wanted, and she was quite obedient to him—whatever he said, she'd follow.
No matter how difficult the task he assigned, she'd do her best to satisfy him. What more could he ask for?
Eliza looked at Fyren with a mournful expression.
Fyren smiled and said, "Eliza, you're not thinking straight right now. You're still muddled. I admit, I did put in some effort to take Qianfeng down, so it's only natural you feel grateful to me. But that doesn't mean you have to pledge yourself to me, does it? You still have a long life ahead, and there will be many extraordinary men crossing your path..."
Eliza cut in, "Shall we have dinner tonight?"
"Huh?"
Eliza suddenly broke into a bright smile, "I just remembered that over the years... we've never had a proper meal together."
"Oh."
"Am I annoying you right now?"
"Yes."
"How about Western food?"
"Um..."
"Then Chinese food."
"Alright."
...
Otto finally emerged from his seclusion.
Stepping out of the room, his eyes slowly adjusted to the outdoor light.
Sherry gripped her sword and bowed deeply: "Welcome, Young Lord, on your exit from seclusion!"
"Hmm. Where's Sabrina?"
"She's recovering from her injuries."
"Aren't her wounds healed yet?"
"She sustained new ones."
At that moment, Sabrina walked out: "This subordinate greets the Young Lord on your exit from seclusion!"
Otto walked over: "Sabrina, I heard you were injured? How are you holding up? Are you alright?"
Sabrina's face was somewhat pale, but she still managed a grateful smile: "Thank you for your concern, Young Lord. Sabrina is fine."
"What happened? Tell me."
Sabrina recounted the events that transpired after she finished healing her wounds—including stabilizing Hakan and encountering Fyren.
Otto flew into a rage: "Fyren! Herbert! Those two... dare to treat this Young Lord like a fool! Didn't he say he'd get me that super-recovery potion? He never even went!"
Sabrina said, "From the way he acted, it seemed like he'd completely forgotten about it."
Otto ground his teeth: "This grudge, I'll settle it for sure!"
Sabrina said, "Young Lord, the situation in Crystalpeak City has shifted."
"How so?"
Sabrina replied, "Eliza has officially taken over as the new chairman of Qingfeng Group and forged a deep alliance with Dasheng Group. Yesterday, she signed over thirty cooperation agreements with Dasheng Group spanning various fields. The business community in Crystalpeak City is saying that Dasheng Group and Qianfeng have formed a powerful bloc."
"Furthermore, both the Chen and Xu families have invested heavily to support Fyren's shantytown renovation project. It's fair to say that through this project, Fyren has already brought the other three major families under his thumb."
"A bunch of insignificant ants!" Otto snarled. "That wretched woman Eliza! Instead of favoring a Young Lord like me, she goes and takes a fancy to some trashy rich second-generation brat! How utterly idiotic!"
Sabrina said, "If things keep progressing this way, uniting the four major families will become extremely difficult for us."
Otto declared, "I must have Eliza! If that's how it is, then I won't hesitate to be ruthless! Sabrina, brew the Love Potion."
Sabrina's brows furrowed slightly. "Young Lord, my injuries are quite severe. Brewing the Love Potion will take some time."
"Hurry up! Fyren is a perverted fiend. I'm worried Eliza might fall into his clutches."
Sabrina still looked concerned. "Young Lord, your virginity grants you great benefits. Perhaps we should wait until you return to the Upper Quadportal…"
"You can set your mind at ease about that."
Otto held out his hand, stared at his palm, then slowly curled it into a fist. A smile crept across his lips:
"Hmph, this Young Lord is truly favored by fortune! After taking those few beatings, I've actually grown even more refined. The day when the Upper Quadportal is restored is just around the corner!"
Sherry's excitement flared up too, her face flushing. "Young Lord, you're blessed with immense fortune and are destined to accomplish great deeds, unifying the world!"
Sabrina chipped in, "Young Lord, you're as vigorous as a dragon and as fierce as a tiger. You've turned misfortune into fortune—truly a case of adversity spurring prosperity!"
"Who's there?!"
At that moment, a figure stepped forward. "Bryan, Helmsman of the Mighty Syndicate's Crystalpeak City branch, pays his respects to the Young Lord!"
Otto's expression darkened. "You dare show your face here?"
The Helmsman looked abashed and quickly dropped to one knee. "I've come to atone for my failures!"
"Oh? And how do you plan to make amends?"
"I've gathered all the remaining men. We can move at once to assassinate that traitor Fyren!"
Otto fixed him with a cold stare. "Bryan, I don't know how you ever climbed to the rank of branch Helmsman. If I wanted Fyren dead, do you think I'd need to rely on someone like you?"
"This…"
"I could snap my fingers and end his life. Do you understand?"
"Yes, your servant is ignorant. Please give your orders, Young Lord."
Otto said, "Thanks to your bumbling, fool, he can't die right now."
"I… I don't understand!"
Otto grabbed his ear and hauled him closer, grinding his teeth as he spoke:
"He went and dragged the four major families into some shantytown renovation project! The total investment could hit a trillion dollars! The other three families have already put in at least several billion each—the Xu family dropped 12 billion, and the Chen family 20 billion!"
Otto twisted Bryan's ear hard: "If Fyren dies now, no one can guarantee what'll happen to this project! The stock prices of the four families will take a hit! And the four families' money is mine! All mine! Got it?!"
"Yes, yes, Young Lord, I get it, I get it!"
Otto let go of Bryan's ear: "What you need to do now is take out those kings, one by one, leave none standing! Fyren's just playing petty tricks—he's not that dangerous. But these kings? I'll be damned if I let them slip through my fingers! They're all my enemies!"
Otto ticked them off on his fingers: "The Iron King kept beating me, chasing me down the mountain!"
Sherry cut in: "He even stepped on your little dick, twisting it with his heel!"
Otto shot Sherry a glance and went on: "The Copper King was even worse—he beat me while spouting all that nonsense logic!"
"It wasn't just you. I saw another guy there with a pig's head, all broken bones too, both legs snapped!"
Otto looked at her again, then continued: "The most infuriating was the Silver King!"
Sherry said: "He beat you from upstairs all the way to the street, and you were already..."
"Sherry, shut up. I can tell these things myself."
"Oh, I just worried your memory might be spotty."
Otto thought to himself, You think you remember better than I do?
He recounted each incident one by one, and sweat broke out all over Bryan's forehead.
Otto noticed him trembling and laughed.
"Don't sweat it. This time, can you transfer that fifty billion I asked for?"
"Um..."
"What?"
Helmsman Bryan looked awkward: "Young Lord, we... we're out of money."
"What do you mean?"
"Young Lord, our branch has been doing well these past few years, but we had to cough up 15 billion recently. We really don't have a cent left! We can't even pay the employees' wages now. Could you maybe... transfer some funds to us so I can steady the employees' morale..."
Otto's eyes went wide: "You're asking me for money?!"
"Not exactly... if you can't spare it, a loan would work too. Once our branch gets back on track, I'll pay you back."
Otto glared at Bryan: "You bastard... You just hide in the branch playing dead, and every goon you send out beats the hell out of me..."
"Gold King didn't!" Bryan hurried to say, "He really didn't!"
"Where is he now?"
"He... can't be reached."
Otto felt a tightness in his chest:
"You're going to rally all your remaining forces right now, make them ready to take my orders anytime! I'll go find Hakan and make him foot the bill. But listen good: if this messes up again, I'll twist your head off and ram it up your ass! Got it?"
"Yes, sir, I understand."
"What are you still standing around for? Get out of here!"
"Yes, yes, I'll leave right away."
Sabrina watched Bryan's retreating figure and chuckled: "The Young Lord is so domineering, even the Helmsman's scared to tears."
Otto smirked proudly, "This time, I've turned misfortune into fortune. Truth be told, I'm in a great mood. That Super Recovery Potion is truly a top-tier elixir—after dissolving one pill, I can feel myself growing much stronger!"
Sherry chimed in excitedly, "The Young Lord is gifted and talented. I suppose even heaven wishes for you to endure hardships and complete this transformation!"
"Haha, Sherry, you're finally learning to speak properly!"
Otto raised his hands high, "I, Otto! Am about to stir up another storm in Crystalpeak City!"
He leaped forward and struck a large tree with his palm.
Hum—!
Sherry and Sabrina immediately felt a constriction in their chests. The regal aura emanating from Otto was overwhelming, churning their insides and leaving their breathing ragged.
The two women thought to themselves: The Young Lord is indeed a heaven-sent prodigy. Such regal aura is unparalleled in the world! Given time, he will undoubtedly become the supreme ruler of the ancient martial arts world!
Otto was equally pleased. He raised his fists and let out a wild roar:
"Hahaha! Hahahaha! Ahahaha!"
"With regal aura to protect me and as fate's chosen one, no matter what hardships I face, they will only make me stronger!"
"Who can stop me from unifying the world!? Who can stand in my way of cleansing the eight corners of the universe!?"
Tears welled in Sabrina's eyes, "In this world, only the Young Lord possesses such heroic spirit. To be able to follow you in this lifetime is truly my greatest fortune."
"Hmm!" Sherry agreed wholeheartedly, "Compared to the Young Lord, Fyren is nothing but a scheming clown! The Young Lord is blessed by the divine and will undoubtedly achieve extraordinary feats!"
Hum—
"Hm? What's that sound?"
Sabrina tensed up.
Otto was still in a fury, slashing at the air with his hands to display his regal aura.
"Trouble!"
Sherry darted forward like lightning, "Young Lord, watch out!"
"What?"
Before Otto could react, Sherry had already shoved him aside with a single palm strike!