After gathering all sorts of crop seeds from the Black Market in the shortest time possible, Marcus Monroe packed everything up, ready to have Sweetie take it back to Paige Summers immediately.

He hesitated for a moment, but in the accompanying letter, he decided not to mention the events unfolding in the north.

The situation was too complex, and it was still unclear whether this was a good or bad thing for them. It was better not to make her worry.

The news had come from a spy he had planted within the Power Corps.

Apparently, a major incident had occurred shortly after the Power Corps arrived up north.

Sheldon Reid had suffered a mishap during his superpower Cultivation and was unable to command the situation. After a consultation between the three division commanders, the position of acting army commander fell to Commander Walsh of the First Division.

Not everyone was happy about this, but Commander Walsh’s adjutant, Seth Howell, was ruthless. He stepped forward on Walsh’s behalf, quashing much of the dissent and luring everyone with the promise of great rewards. He did his utmost to shift their focus toward capturing Norgate.

Currently, the Power Corps was locked in a fierce battle with Gryphon Lowell’s Northern Army.

Under the new "finders, keepers" rule, everyone wanted to be the first to enter the city and claim the greatest spoils.

Everyone has selfish desires, especially Superpower Users. With greater abilities come greater ambitions. Very few people could truly stay true to their principles and know right from wrong.

Besides, they were all Astorians, all high-level commanders from Central City. To the rank-and-file soldiers, it didn’t really matter whether Sheldon Reid or Acting Army Commander Walsh was in charge. In fact, their treatment might even be better now! Weren’t the spoils of war being distributed to every single person? It was nothing like before, when a large portion had to be handed over, only to line the pockets of the mid-level officers!

Furthermore, shortly after Commander Walsh became the acting army commander, Sheldon Reid’s personal troops vanished without a trace. Their whereabouts were unknown.

Seeing this, who wouldn’t understand what had happened?!

As for this military coup, Marcus Monroe found it somewhat surprising, but he was pleased with the outcome.

Kiera Walsh had always seemed cautious and steady, acting so prudent he almost appeared timid. Who could have guessed that he was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing, seizing military authority in one fell swoop?

Marcus had also conducted a private investigation into Seth Howell.

’Strangely, the man’s origins are very abrupt.’

’He may carry the title of an illegitimate son, but to suddenly appear at Kiera Walsh’s side after so many years and gain his complete trust... it’s somewhat suspicious. And what role did he play in this incident? Is he really just wholeheartedly assisting the father who had forgotten his existence for over a decade?’

Marcus remained skeptical about the findings of his investigation.

He would have to keep watching to see what kind of person Seth Howell truly was.

Then there was Nora Lowell.

She had disappeared shortly after Sheldon Reid went into seclusion. Now, there was no sign of her, dead or alive.

His men had no specific news about her fate.

But Marcus didn’t find it hard to understand.

’She was Sheldon Reid’s woman. Given that connection, Kiera Walsh might spare others, but he would never spare her.’

In truth, he was wrong about this.

Because he didn’t know Seth Howell’s true identity and objective, he naturally would never have guessed that Seth’s initial target had been Nora Lowell all along.

「In an underground tunnel near Norgate.」

This was the very same place that Paige Summers and Sheldon Reid had once stumbled into, and which Ben had later mostly destroyed. The remaining space was much smaller than before, but it was still more than enough to imprison a few people.

For example... Nora Lowell.

Bound and suspended from the earthen wall, Nora Lowell was a pathetic sight. Her body and face were covered in whip marks. The broken skin had scabbed over, only to be split open again and again. Now, the wounds, large and small, were emitting a foul odor. Her head hung low as she drifted in and out of consciousness.

And in her lucid moments, she was consumed by deep resentment and hatred!

’I never imagined I would end up like this.’

’That man caused all of this!’

The thought of the one responsible for it all filled her with unspeakable hatred.

’I thought I was the one in control, but I was just used from beginning to end!’

It all... began the night she and Seth Howell parted ways.

On the surface, Seth Howell had followed her plan. He provoked Commander Walsh into firmly rejecting Sheldon Reid’s intention to negotiate during the pre-battle conference. He even got the other two division commanders to agree.

Sheldon Reid was furious and planned to issue a direct order.

But the three division commanders took turns trying to persuade him, pleading with him earnestly. They didn’t refuse to carry out his orders, but they dragged their feet. After several days of this, Sheldon Reid was seething with frustration.

That was when he thought of Nora Lowell.

Nora Lowell’s position was a sensitive one, but at a time like this, she was the perfect person to step forward.