— The Gambler and the Luxury Car —
"His name's Glenn — a gambling addict, a regular at the police station," Arden's voice was low over the phone.
Soon, a location and a file popped up on Eren's phone.
— Glenn, 45, married, one daughter.
Former mid-level manager at a company, once had a decent life. Became addicted to gambling three years ago, spiraled downward, accumulated countless gambling debts and loan shark dues.
Eren followed the location to an apartment in an old, run-down residential complex. The iron gate stood wide open, and a savage roar echoed from within the dwelling—
"Bitch, where the hell is your husband? Tell him to come out and pay up! If he doesn't pay today, believe me, I'll kill you!"
Inside, a thug with the spiky haircut was brandishing a steel pipe, his gaze vicious. Three or four thugs blocked the exit. The air was thick with fear and the smell of tobacco.
"You've been here several times already. You know how things are with us,"
The woman, named Lara, was Glenn's wife. She lay on the bed, pale and trembling. "I have cancer. We really have no money to repay you. Please, I beg you, let me and my daughter go..."
"Stop playing the victim!" The thug spat. "Paying debts is only right! If you can't come up with the money today, your daughter will work it off at the club!"
He stared lecherously at the girl, licking his lips, eyes full of greed. The girl, named Anthea, was pure and sweet-looking, her eyes filled with terror.
At that moment, Eren could no longer hold back. He pushed the door open and entered.
"Harassing people in broad daylight? You deserve death!"
He yanked Anthea behind him and fixed the thugs with a cold stare.
The thug was startled, but his vicious nature quickly resurfaced. "Where did this punk come from, daring to interfere? Do you know who I am? I'm from the Trinity Syndicate! If you—"
Before he could finish, Eren slapped him.
Thwack! The man slammed into the wall, and spat out several teeth.
Eren then swiftly kicked out, flooring the other thugs. They lay moaning on the ground.
"Leave now if you want to live."
His mouth bloody, filled with both fear and resentment, the thug scrambled away with his lackeys, stumbling out of the scene.
Thud—
Lara knelt before Eren, tears streaming down her face. "Young man, thank you! You are a true good person... But those men are from the Trinity Syndicate. You beat them like that, they won't let it go. You must leave! If possible, please take my daughter with you. She's sensible and obedient, you can treat her as a mere servant..."
Eren gently helped her back onto the bed. "Auntie, don't worry. A mere Trinity Syndicate is nothing in my eyes. I will resolve your situation."
— The Trinity Syndicate.
An underground organization built on casinos and loan sharking, cruel and greedy, as notorious as The Iron Vow, entrenched throughout the Novalis Sector.
Hearing his confident tone, Lara felt a wave of relief and gratitude. "Thank you, young man... Auntie doesn't know how to repay you."
She made to get off the bed and kowtow again, but Eren quickly stopped her.
"Auntie, that's not necessary." Eren's tone shifted, his expression turning serious. "Actually, I came here to ask about something important."
Lara was taken aback. "Ask us? But I don't know you."
"Please, rest assured. If you know anything, even the slightest clue, please tell me."
Eren paused, then said quietly, "Glenn... is your husband, right?"
Hearing the name, Lara's eyes turned cold instantly. She gritted her teeth and nodded. "Yes. That bastard owes a mountain of debt. He disappeared half a month ago."
Eren was silent for a moment before stating bluntly, "Auntie, you need to be prepared. Glenn is dead."
The room fell deadly quiet.
The mother and daughter's reaction was unexpected—no scream, no sob.
Instead, Lara let out a bitter laugh. "So that's it. Well... at least he won't harm us anymore."
Eren sighed softly and pressed on. "Before he disappeared, did anyone come looking for him? Especially strangers?"
Lara frowned, looking at her daughter.
Anthea hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Half a month ago, I saw Dad get into a Bentley."
Eren's eyes sharpened. "A Bentley? How could he know someone like that? Do you remember the license plate?"
Holding Eren's hand, a blush rose on Anthea's cheeks. She answered quietly, "I remember... I think it was NA68688."
Eren repeated it, his brow furrowed deeply. "NA68688, a Bentley...?"
The plate numbers echoed in his mind—like a thread leading to something far larger.He had a vague feeling that a massive conspiracy was emerging from the shadow of that car.
— Peril on Caesar Street —
Eren's phone rang abruptly. He glanced at the screen—it was Darius.
He hesitated, then picked up.
"Overlord, come quick—someone's targeting Lyra!" Darius's voice was urgent.
"What?!" Eren's face changed dramatically. "Even you can't handle it?!"
"O-Overlord... the other party isn't ordinary!"
"Send the address! I'm on my way!"
---
Caesar Street.
A black SUV was parked sideways, blocking the path of a Bentley. The door opened, and a slick young man with pomaded hair stepped out lazily, a sinister smile on his face.
The man was Adrian Voss—the young master of the Trinity Syndicate.
Behind him stood two middle-aged men whose auras were terrifying, pressing down on the very air, making it tremble.
"Adrian, what are you doing? Why are you blocking my car? Do you realize how dangerous this is?"
Lyra's voice was icy, her face darkening.
"Lyra, you should know what I want."
Adrian sneered, his gaze brazenly roaming over her body.
"Adrian, give up that thought! I will never marry you!"
Lyra gritted her teeth, her voice as firm as iron.
"Marry me?" Adrian scoffed, his eyes turning cold in an instant.
"You think you're still qualified? Before, you were the aloof Ice Queen. And now? You're just damaged goods, played with and tainted! How could I possibly marry you? But—a piece like you would be fun to play with."
"Adrian, you beast! I'd rather die than let you have your way!"
Lyra trembled with rage, tears of fury burning in her eyes.
Adrian smiled contemptuously. "Lyra, you think you have a choice? I know HelixPharm's situation better than you. No one can save you but me. Get on your knees and beg me, then you might live."
"In your dreams." Lyra spat angrily. "I'd rather die than be defiled by someone like you!"
"Gary, knock her out and take her!" Adrian's face fell completely.
One of the middle-aged men strode forward, his presence as imposing as a mountain.
"Halt!"
Darius stepped forward, his aura erupting, a gust of wind whipping his clothes.
"A Shadow-tier Warrior?" Gary frowned, his expression turning grave.
Adrian sneered. "I didn't expect a bankrupt female CEO to have a Shadow-tier Warrior guarding her. But it's useless. Attack, take them down together!"
The two middle-aged men moved simultaneously, their auras exploding forth, forcefully suppressing Darius.
"You... you're also Shadow-tier Warriors?!" Darius's face changed; he knew the odds were grim.
He was already injured; a direct fight meant certain defeat.
"You're helping a spoiled brat bully a woman! Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed if this gets out?!"
Darius roared.
Gary suddenly stared intently, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That voice... Could it be—Darius, leader of The Iron Vow?!"
Before the words faded, he thrust out his palm.
The palm wind howled, knocking Darius's mask flying.
Gary's face changed dramatically. "It really is you! Darius!"
Lyra was also stunned, her mind reeling—
Her driver and bodyguard was actually the Underground Emperor of Novalis himself?!
Then who was the mysterious masked Overlord, who could make such a man willingly submit?
Adrian smirked sinisterly. "No wonder you rejected me. So you're involved with Darius. Slut!"
"Bullshit!" Darius roared angrily. "Miss Lyra is my Overlord's woman! I am under orders to protect her!"
"Overlord?" Adrian snorted coldly. "The mighty Underground Emperor has become someone else's dog? Men, cripple him!"
Gary and his companion were thrilled. Being able to beat Darius up was an achievement they could boast about for a lifetime.
"Darius, take this!"
Two powerful forces, like thunderbolts, slammed towards Darius.
He defended with all his might but was still sent flying several meters, landing heavily on the ground, blood spraying from his mouth.
Adrian laughed heartily. "So the legendary Underground Emperor of Novalis is nothing special after all! Kill him! We'll take over his territory!"
At that moment—
A voice, cold enough to freeze bone, came from the distance:
"I'd like to see who dares to touch him?"