Chapter 360: The Cost Of Greed

At the headquarters of the Wang family, the potential heirs in addition to their parents were gathered at an elliptical table.

Today was a nerve-wracking day for Samuel, like any other.

His siblings were presenting their accomplishments to their parents with the hope of earning their admiration.

Their father and the leader of the Wang family gazed at his descendants with coldness. While their mother spared them no motherly love, instead observing them like shiny toys, wondering who would stand out the most.

As per family tradition, they ate dinner together. Eventually, when the servants delivered the dessert, the lady of the house raised her gaze, causing tense silence to settle around the room.

Pointing to the oldest, she commanded in an amused tone.

“Ragtor, you are permitted to speak.”

Obeying, he rose to his feet before bowing deeply. “Thank you, Mother and Father.”

Staring upright, he began.

“Although many regard cultivation as the sole path to true power. I believe that connections, money, and manipulation are just as dangerous, if not more so.”

Ragtor paused briefly.

“Using the insight you have blessed me with, I have successfully managed to form multiple brothels at the underground Earth cities. Thanks to spreading rumors about complete secrecy, they have become a hot attraction. Records show that influential political figures have visited these establishments. It’s not only a lucrative source of untraceable income, but it also allows me to gather valuable blackmail on them.”

While humanity had begun to inhabit the entire solar system, Earth remained the most desirable place to live… for obvious reasons. As a result, once much of the planet’s surface became overcrowded, vast underground cities gradually spread beneath its habitable regions.

Though it offered the less fortunate a way to remain on their home planet, it became a place widely known for its corruption, deprivation, and the harsh, oppressive nature of everyday life the populace were forced to endure there.

A problem that had spread so far out of proportion that even the Emperor offered no assistance, given that the Earth’s underground population numbered in the tens of billions. It also proved to be the perfect place to evade the law and accumulate illegal wealth.

The lady of the house nodded in approval.

“I didn’t think you had it in you, Ragtor. Well done.” She shifted her gaze to her husband, awaiting judgment.

“How do you gather personnel for the brothel?”

A smirk formed on Ragtor’s face.

“I assure you, there are no legal grounds for us to face trouble in the future. We don’t force anyone into it. Our approach is simple… We find struggling young men and women and feed them false hope, convincing them that this life will free them from their hardships. By the time they realize they’ve been deceived, escaping the ecosystem we’ve built has become far too daunting.”

The father’s eyes narrowed.

“Certainly, a lucrative and well-thought-out business… But we can’t rely on it entirely. It could tarnish the reputation of our family.”

Ragtor bit his tongue but said nothing. With a slight bow, he sat back down.

By now Samuel was sweating bullets.

He had failed to establish any form of business. Since Michael had destroyed one of Samuel’s branches that had been positioned close to Michael’s family cafe and even created a documentary for it, each one of Samuel’s plans had crumbled one by one.

As a last resort, Samuel had sent the last three Grandmasters loyal under his rule to abduct one of Michael’s relatives.

Samuel’s interest in Scarlett had long been extinguished. What he wanted was to make the rising cultivation star submit to him. If he were to succeed, then every achievement his siblings were to make would pale in comparison!

Yet the Grandmasters had yet to arrive. Too much time had passed since he made the gamble and sent them. Could it be that they had failed?

The meeting continued with the second oldest daughter taking the next turn.

“Good.” The father nodded. “Taking in talented orphans and raising them for war preserves our image. Outwardly, we appear to be doing the world a service by helping the less fortunate, while secretly conditioning them for battle.”

Contented, the father’s gaze settled on Samuel.

“You may speak.”

Samuel cursed his fate.

Before any of his siblings could ridicule him, however, a panicked soldier burst through the doors.

“This is an emergency! We are under attack!”

The heirs arose from their seats.

No one could comprehend who would be stupid enough to strike their family so openly, but this was their chance to prove themselves! If they were to take their loyal servants and repel the attack, it would surely boost their chances of gaining their parents’ approval!

But their hopes were quickly squashed. A hurled sword impaled itself on the soldier’s chest, killing him instantly.

Considering that the man had been a Grandmaster, to fall in a single blow was alarming.

A heavy aura descended amidst the room, forcing everybody either back into their seats or knees.

“Preposterous!” The leader of the Wang family bellowed, seeing Michael walk from the door, his eyes gleaming in fury.

“What is the meaning of this?! Attacking us without basis will lead to consequences, no matter who you are!” Realizing that the famed Michael was far beyond his reach, the man resorted to pleading his case through legal arguments.

Ignoring him, Michael’s gaze shifted to Samuel.

“Did you or did you not send someone to abduct my sister?”

Samuel shuddered under Michael’s aura. Lying became impossible due to his lack of willpower.

“I… Did.” He admitted earning himself resentful looks from his parents.

“You fool!” His father roared. “How brain dead are you to go against one of the rising factions?!”

Samuel gritted his teeth.

“What other choice did I have to prove myself?!”

Cursing inwardly, the lady of the house gazed at Michael with pleading eyes.

“As you see, we didn’t have any hand in this! We are disowning Samuel and ready to do whatever you want, to earn your mercy!”

Michael’s eyes remained cold. He knew all too well how the Wang family operated. Preying on the less fortunate, a true plague to humanity, always acting for their own interests. Worse, they had long instilled this mindset in their offspring, grooming them to become heirs.

“No.” Michael replied, his voice icy. “According to the Emperor’s decrees, going against a cultivator’s family, especially one located on the blessed lands, grants me the legal right to extend vengeance in whatever manner I deem fit.”

Unwilling to linger, he commanded Devil in his sword form to end the lives of everyone present… leaving solely Samuel alive.

Just as Michael had sworn, he used the man’s stupidity against him, forcing him to witness the purge of his own bloodline.

The entire ordeal took scarcely any time. Without bothering to alert anyone, Michael arrived at the Wang family headquarters and acted swiftly, taking care to spare their servants wherever possible.

Nearing weeping Samuel, Michael looked at him with undisguised killing intent.

“Where is Scarlett?”

Samuel’s breathing hitched.

“She isn’t here, I swear—”

Michael punched him in the gut, repeating the question.

Desperate to save his own skin, Samuel’s mind raced. If Michael was here, it meant the abduction of his relative had succeeded.

But then… where was she?

“B—Before coming here, I instructed them to go through the underground cities to lose any trails you might have sent.” Samuel stuttered.

“M—my best guess is that something went astray down there… Scarlett must be lost somewhere in the underground cities.”

Meanwhile, someplace in the underground cities, Scarlett regained consciousness, the metallic scent of blood filling her nostrils.

“Where… am I?!” She murmured, finding herself in a completely unfamiliar place.

Before she could gather her thoughts, a cold hand gripped her palm, guiding her away.

“You were being abducted, but since your kidnappers didn’t know the area well, they ran into trouble with a local gang.”

A woman explained hurriedly.

“If you value your life, run away with me now!”

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