Using a voice changer, Alvin Morgan spoke in Niphorian, "Thanks for your hard work. I’ll be taking this."

The robbers came and went in a flash.

They vanished before anyone could react.

His eyes burning with rage, Victor Trent slammed his fist on the car and snarled, "Find them—"

Victor Trent was so incensed by the theft of the porcelain jar that he fell ill, running a high fever for days and unable to even leave his bed.

Drake Trent made a special trip from Veridia to see him, bringing along two young, beautiful women to attend to him.

The Trent family’s villa in Niphoria—

Mama Young comforted a gloomy Raina Young. "Madam, please don’t be sad. That woman’s son is a scoundrel; why are you letting him get to you? The Family Head may have had other women over the years, but you’re the only one he’s ever truly acknowledged, aren’t you? He only ever takes you to public events, which proves you’re the only one he truly has in his heart."

"I’d rather not have this kind of acknowledgment... In the end, I still can’t compare to her..."

This riled Mama Young up. "Madam, how are you in any way inferior to her? You’re the eldest daughter of the Young Family’s core lineage, while she was merely the daughter of a traitor to our family. You’re the wife of the Head of the great Trent Family, while she only married into a minor family..."

Raina Young cut her off. "Mama Young, ’Better to be a poor man’s wife than a rich man’s concubine.’ That was the advice she gave me all those years ago."

Mama Young’s expression darkened, and her voice dropped to a low tone.

"Madam, back then, the Trent Family protected us, but the Sinclair Family failed to protect her. To me, the most important thing in this world is that you survived, ensuring the continuation of the Young Family’s core lineage..."

Tears streamed down Raina Young’s face.

’Yes, I’m still alive...’

***

Having listened at the door for some time, Aurora Sinclair knocked, her face impassive.

"Madam, it’s time for your meal."

Mama Young’s voice came from inside. "Bring it in!"

Aurora opened the door and walked in, carrying a tray.

Inside, Raina Young was sitting on the bed, her legs curled up and her head buried in her knees.

Mama Young sat beside her, appearing to console her.

Aurora placed the meal on the table and turned to leave, her head bowed.

Just then, Raina Young suddenly called out to her.

"Joy, has the Family Head eaten yet?"

Aurora shook her head. "The young master won’t allow me to deliver the Family Head’s meal."

Mama Young’s face fell instantly. She stood up to go, but Raina Young grabbed her wrist. "Mama Young, don’t..."

"Madam, if you want to secure your position in this family, you have to fight for certain rights. Even if you won’t do it for yourself, you have to think of the young master."

Mama Young pulled her hand free from Raina’s and led Aurora toward the Family Head’s room.

Two men in black suits stood at the bedroom door and moved to block Mama Young as she approached.

But Mama Young was imposing. "It’s noon. The Family Head needs to eat."

Suddenly, Drake Trent’s cold voice came from behind them. "No need to trouble yourselves. My father is already eating. As his son, how could I possibly let him starve? If you don’t believe me, you can come in and see for yourselves."

Drake Trent had the bodyguards open the door, inviting them in.

But the coquettish sounds of women inside only grew louder.

Mama Young shot him a glare, her expression grim, and strode into the room.

To Aurora’s shock, a ferocious Mama Young dragged the two women off the bed and gave each of them two hard slaps across the face.

"The Family Head is ill, and this is how you attend to him?"

His face flushed, Victor Trent quickly dressed himself and let out a few coughs.

Aurora glanced at the man on the bed. His complexion was much better than before; he hardly looked like someone who was too sick to get out of bed.

Drake Trent walked in slowly and said to the man on the bed, "Father, I’ve already sent people to the Yamada Clan to collect some blood samples for the lab."

This gave Victor Trent an opportunity to save face. His embarrassment eased as he replied with satisfaction, "You’ve done well."

"Based on the on-site investigation, the people who stole the porcelain jar might be from the Sherwood Clan."

Victor Trent seemed to recall something.

His face darkened as he said, "The new Head of the Sherwood Family is very ambitious. Since they’ve shown no mercy, they can’t blame us for being ruthless."

Drake Trent glanced at Mama Young, then at Victor Trent. His intention was clear: he wanted her to leave.

Victor Trent coughed twice. "Mama Young, you may leave us. Drake and I have important matters to discuss."

Mama Young glanced at him and said coldly, "These two should go as well."

Victor Trent nodded awkwardly. "Take them away..."

***

Meanwhile, Neve Sherwood watched her cousin, who was bound tightly to a chair, a look of sweet revenge on her face.

It was this very cousin—so "pure and kind"—who had drugged her tea and sold her to human traffickers all those years ago. If Neve hadn’t kept an ace up her sleeve and hidden the true Family Head Order in a secret location, her uncle would now be the Head of the Sherwood Clan.

"Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?" Claire Sherwood asked, tears welling in her eyes as she put on a fragile expression.

A faint smile played on Neve Sherwood’s lips. "Long time no see, dear cousin..."

"It’s... it’s you... Grace..." Claire’s eyes flew open, as if she couldn’t believe that the masked woman before her was her long-lost cousin, Grace Sherwood.

"Surprising, isn’t it? That I’m still alive."

"What do you want? I can help you." After her initial shock, Claire quickly regained her composure, a faint smile even touching her lips.

Though Neve was furious, she had to admit that when it came to scheming, a hundred of her would be no match for Claire.

Fortunately, the Young Master of the Morgan Family had already laid out the plan for her.

"Let’s make a deal. I’ll trade the Family Head Order for something."

A glint appeared in Claire’s eyes. "What is it?"

"A black notebook."

Claire thought for a moment, feigning ignorance.

Neve stared into her eyes and said deliberately, "The Young Family Notes." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The color drained from Claire’s face and her pupils constricted. It took her a long moment to reply, "I don’t know anything about those notes."

"In that case, I’ll just have to go to the Sherwood estate and have a chat with your father."

Neve suddenly removed her mask, revealing a face identical to Claire’s.

"You..."

Neve then spoke into the ring on her finger. "Father wouldn’t be on his guard against me, would he?"

A voice identical to Claire’s echoed in the room.

Claire’s composure finally cracked. "Deal!" she snapped, furious and frustrated.

"Where are the notes?"

"They’re not with my father right now. He had the original manuscript, but it was stolen by someone from Veridia. All he has left is a partial copy he transcribed from the lab. I remember he put it in the safe in his bedroom..."

"Thank you, my dear cousin."

"What about the Family Head Order?"

"At the Sherwood estate, of course."

Leaving Claire with a face full of fury, Neve departed triumphantly.

"AHH... Let me go—"

’This is only the first step.’

***

It was currently the season for the free-fighting tournament in Niphoria.

The streets were filled with flags and banners, and even the digital billboards were running ads for the tournament.

Fighters from the Sherwood Family were featured most prominently, and their support rate was the highest.

Munching on a piece of bread, Beta Morgan said indistinctly, "The Sherwood Clan really takes this tournament seriously. With all this hype, you’d think they were about to be crowned national champions."

Benjamin Morgan took a sip of coffee. "The Sherwood Clan is the strongest family in Niphoria’s Martial World."

Beta Morgan seemed to curl his lip in disdain. ’Weren’t the Sherwood Family members taught a lesson by Aurora and Dean Morgan at the opening ceremony?’

Alvin Morgan glanced at him and said coolly, "Niphoria’s Guardian is from the Sherwood Clan."

Beta’s expression froze.

Neve Sherwood smiled and handed him a pastry, saying gently, "The Guardian isn’t on the main island. He’s usually in seclusion on an outer island, several thousand kilometers from here."

Beta thanked her, a sudden flicker of unease crossing his face.

They were currently in Claire Sherwood’s home. Because Claire’s father, Tate Sherwood, didn’t possess the Family Head Order, clan rules forbade them from moving into the official residence that symbolized the status of Family Head.

Tate Sherwood had been busy with the free-fighting tournament these past few days and hadn’t been home for three or four days straight.

This gave Neve the perfect opportunity to familiarize herself with the place.

BZZT—BZZT—

Alvin Morgan’s watch vibrated. It was a voice call from Aurora Sinclair.

He immediately answered, only to hear Drake Trent’s voice on the other end.

"If you put this drug in those two women’s food, I’ll make you my woman."

Alvin’s face instantly darkened.

Meanwhile, Drake Trent had backed Aurora Sinclair into a corner.

She put a hand on his chest to stop him. "Young Master, please calm down..."

Drake braced a hand against the wall, using his other to lift Aurora’s chin. His voice was dangerously alluring. "This drug... just one pill a day. By the seventh day, they’ll die of ’complications from failing to acclimate.’ Their bodies will be too weak. No one will ever know it was you. How about it?"

Aurora shook her head. "I... I don’t dare..."

Drake’s grip on her chin tightened. Suddenly, his lips curled into a smile. "If you don’t do it, then I’ll just have to kill you."

"I... I... I don’t dare..."

"There’s nothing to be afraid of. Just think of this medicine as candy. Drop one in when you’re cooking each day. No one will know it’s poison."

Drake shoved the vial into Aurora’s hand, then suddenly lowered his head to kiss her, but she dodged him.

Her voice thick with unshed tears, she pushed him away. "Why didn’t you just tell me it was candy? Why did you have to tell me it was poison...?"

Drake froze, a feeling of exasperated amusement rising within him.

Aurora seized the opportunity to shove him away and ran off, clutching the vial.

Drake stared in astonishment at her retreating figure, then actually started to laugh.

’This girl is interesting.’

After running back to her room, Aurora spoke into her watch. "What do I do? He wants me to poison Raina Young and Mama Young."

There was a long silence from the other end. She thought her watch was broken and was about to call out again when an ice-cold voice finally came through.

"Since he’s the one making arrangements, then he’s the one who gets drugged. Beta will deliver it to you..."

Aurora, and Beta standing next to Alvin, shivered simultaneously.

Beta, in particular, had already lit a candle in his mind for Drake Trent.

「The next day.」

Sure enough, Aurora received a package.

Hidden among numerous spice packets was a small vial of medicine with just four words written on it: "The more, the better."

That night, Drake Trent ran to the toilet twenty times. By the end, his face was ashen and his legs were like jelly.

The doctor examined him for a long time but could only conclude that he had probably failed to acclimate to the local environment and had come down with acute gastroenteritis.

Afterward, Beta officially named this particular medicine: "Can’t-Crap-Him-to-Death."