Shawn Monroe ground his teeth. "Don’t you dare label me with that. It’s not like I’m planning it, but even if I were, so what! Don’t you forget, as far as Father is concerned, power is all that matters. He couldn’t care less about the methods used to get it. He’s always said that if one of us could surpass him, he would willingly step aside! You have no ambition yourself, yet you stand in my way. It seems you’ve forgotten that in this city, *I’m* the Young City Lord, not you, ’Young Master Monroe’!"

A faint, mocking smile touched Marcus Monroe’s lips. He knew he couldn’t dissuade his brother from his ambitions. In fact, he had no intention of trying.

’Secretly passing the information to Graham Monroe was just a warning, a way to fulfill my duty as a son.’

’How he decided to act on it was his business.’

’If he was willing to become a Trial Stone for his favorite son’s ascension, then I have nothing more to say.’

’After all, I won’t be staying for long on this trip back.’

"We have nothing more to say to each other. I’ve confirmed why you’re here. You can leave."

Marcus Monroe’s face was a stony, impenetrable mask.

Knowing he wouldn’t get anything more out of him, Shawn Monroe suppressed his anger and stormed out. He couldn’t afford a complete falling-out with his brother until he had full control of The Citadel—they both knew that. But that didn’t mean he would stop making his moves in secret.

After leaving Marcus Monroe’s residence, he immediately ordered his men to continue watching the place. He also sent others to search for Paige Summers’ whereabouts, while he himself headed for the guest house.

Woody Warren and Nora Lowell, who had been settled there to catch up, had already been talking for a long time.

Woody Warren felt a profound sense of guilt toward his niece.

From Nora Lowell’s tearful account, he saw before him a modern-day Cinderella.

At such a young age, her own father—goaded by her stepmother—had thrown her into a Hunting Party in the name of "training." Forced to hunt alongside a band of grown men... even as a rare Thunder Ability User, he could only imagine how much she must have suffered just to survive!

He was sick with regret!

When his sister had just passed away, the thought of taking Nora Lowell with him had crossed his mind.

Back then, Gryphon Lowell hadn’t yet become the City Lord of Norgate, one of The Three Great Bases. Although he had his own faction, his life was far from stable. Woody had been afraid Gryphon wouldn’t be able to look after his sister’s only child, so he passionately argued to take Nora away from the dangerous situation.

He and Gryphon Lowell had a major falling out over the matter. Even Nora had misunderstood him, thinking he was intentionally trying to oppose her father, and had said some hurtful things.

That was when his heart grew cold, and he’d given up the idea and left alone.

Later, when he fell on hard times, he heard that Gryphon Lowell had become the City Lord. He was even glad he hadn’t taken Nora away to suffer alongside him. He’d assumed she must be living like a pampered princess, so even though he missed her, he never considered visiting.

Who knew that after Gryphon Lowell remarried, everything had changed...

"I’m the one who’s failed you!" Woody Warren wiped his face, his eyes bloodshot. He made a silent vow to himself: ’From now on, I will protect my only family!’

Nora Lowell shook her head and said gently, "I was just a foolish kid back then, Uncle. I’m the one who hurt you. Let’s not dwell on the past. Things are good now, aren’t they? I’ve escaped that place, and I’ve found you again. The future will only get better!"

"But that woman did this to you! If the Young City Lord hadn’t happened to save you, you might have... We can’t just let her get away with it! No, I..."

"Uncle!" Nora Lowell cut him off. "Father trusts her. He protects her. We don’t have the power to fight her right now. But don’t you worry. Time is on our side. One day, I will make her pay for this!"

Her voice, each word enunciated with a chilling coldness, made even a tough man like Woody Warren flinch.

But then he thought, ’Nora... she really has suffered too much!’ And his heart ached for her all the more.

"Alright! Whatever you decide to do, your uncle will help you!"

Nora Lowell smiled faintly, then changed the subject. "We’ve only been talking about me. I forgot to ask, what brings you to The Citadel?"

"Ah, that... It’s a long story..." Woody Warren proceeded to explain everything in detail—how he’d taken in Paige Summers, how talented she was, and how she had created the wine server that earned the City Lord’s praise. He felt he couldn’t keep secrets from Nora. Besides, it was a relief to get it off his chest. He felt deeply uncomfortable taking credit for Paige Summers’s work.

However, while the speaker was rambling without a second thought, the listener was paying close attention.

When Nora Lowell heard that Paige Summers had such abilities, and that she also seemed to be entangled with Shawn Monroe, an unreadable light flashed in her eyes.

"So, this Paige Summers is quite remarkable, isn’t she? And to have gained the Young City Lord’s affection... she’s very lucky."

"Haha, tell me about it. But that girl has a mind of her own. Let’s just keep this between us so we don’t cause her any trouble, but she really isn’t interested in the Young City Lord! The other day, they..."

"Oh?"

After hearing the whole story, Nora Lowell’s lips curved. ’Interesting!’

’Shawn Monroe’s looks and power were outstanding, to say nothing of his status as the Young City Lord of The Dead City—that alone was enough to make countless women flock to him. Yet a low-level superpower user was treating him with apparent disdain... Was she playing hard to get, or was she genuinely uninterested? And Shawn Monroe’s attitude... that was also worth pondering.’

’After all, the man was a force to be reckoned with.’

’If possible, her future plans would undoubtedly require his help.’

’And the approach to befriending him would have to be handled with care.’

Just then, Woody Warren got to the part about the City Lord’s promise to help him open a shop in the Inner City. "Nora, the Upper District is a really nice place. We’ll live together from now on. I swear, I’ll take good care of you this time!"

Nora Lowell snapped out of her thoughts. Just as she was about to shake her head, a knock came from the door.

She smiled, pretending she hadn’t heard him, and got up to open the door.