"Sir, the results for the national finals are out. Other than Dean Morgan managing a narrow victory in the Martial Arts Master Level competition, Martial Artists from the Trent Family swept the top three spots in all other divisions. No one from the Lockwood Family even made it into the top five."

Benjamin Morgan walked in with a solemn expression, holding the latest results from Veridia’s national freestyle fighting competition.

They had been back in the country for over a month, and during that time, his master had been handling the incident in the Cerulean Sea and the matter of the Trent Family’s ship.

According to a confidential report from Neve Sherwood, Niphoria’s Guardian had gone missing in the Cerulean Expanse.

He was said to have disappeared after a confrontation with some expert, and she wanted Alvin’s help in finding him.

Alvin Morgan suspected it was Linden Grant’s doing, so he had people searching that area of the sea. They actually found a ship that had gone off course. Upon inspection, it turned out to be the underground laboratory that Aurora Sinclair had discovered.

Just as the Martial Affairs Bureau took over, the Trent Family suddenly came forward to claim the vessel.

And with Veridia’s freestyle fighting competition currently underway and the Trent Family winning so many titles, their impact on Veridia’s Martial World was immense.

As a result, the Trent Family’s ship instantly became a hot potato.

"Sir, there’s something else. According to our spies’ reports, the Trent Family plans to announce their bid for the presidency of the Veridian Martial Alliance after winning the freestyle fighting competition in Arcadia. They’ll likely make a powerful return to Kingsford."

Benjamin Morgan pushed up his glasses and looked at the somewhat gaunt man by the window, his own face full of worry.

He was in a terrible state, just like back then, after the incident with the Second Young Master.

Alvin Morgan flicked the ash from the cigarette between his fingers and replied coolly, "Then let them come back."

Benjamin Morgan froze. His master’s gaze seemed to have changed.

It was no longer as placid as still water. Now, it was as if he were suppressing a raging storm, just waiting for the right moment to erupt.

Benjamin Morgan’s voice softened as he asked cautiously, "Sir, has there been any news from the Continent of Southeland?"

But Alvin Morgan didn’t reply, and Benjamin immediately guessed there must be news about Aurora Sinclair.

Otherwise, his master would never be like this—a dormant volcano waiting to erupt, calm on the surface but turbulent within.

"Sir, I’ll take my leave now."

"Benjamin, go get something from Leigh Miles..."

***

「The Continent of Southeland, Keldara.」

The finals began in full swing at the largest arena.

This event was massive, broadcast across nearly the entire Continent of Southeland, and people on other continents would be watching as well.

Right before the match, Elias Lennox watched the girl in front of him wrap bandages around her hands. "No matter where you are," he reminded her in a low voice, "be careful of people from the Ocrean Empire."

Dawn Miles nodded. "I will defeat them."

"Your opponents are all Grandmasters, so you need to end the matches quickly."

"Okay."

Elias Lennox took her hand and looked into her eyes. "Don’t get hurt."

Dawn Miles nodded again and put on the mask Elias Lennox had prepared for her—a skin-like mask as thin as a wing.

"It’s like I’m a different person."

Elias Lennox smiled. "This is the simplest form of the Disguise Technique."

"Did your master teach you this?"

"No, I learned it from an old magician when I was a child." As Elias Lennox spoke, a strange emotion flickered in his eyes, as if he had recalled something unpleasant.

Dawn Miles waved a hand in front of his eyes and said earnestly, "He must have been very skilled."

"Yes, very skilled."

Elias Lennox pressed the other skin-like mask onto his own face, and his handsome features instantly became plain and unremarkable.

***

The arena was close to the hotel, only about a ten-minute walk, but the organizers still sent cars to pick up the competitors from each country.

Before getting into her car, Dawn Miles glanced worriedly at Elias Lennox, who was in another vehicle.

"Don’t worry! They’ll take good care of your brother," one of the competitors from Luvia said with a smile.

Dawn Miles glanced at him and gave a slight nod.

"Lord Knight, I’m Gerard, a Martial Master Level competitor. I saw your previous matches—your moves are so cool! Could you teach me a few things after the tournament is over?"

He had a brilliant smile on his face and clearly had a cheerful, straightforward personality.

But Dawn Miles gave him the cold shoulder. "My skills were passed down by my master. I don’t teach them to outsiders."

Gerard’s smile instantly froze, and he felt a pang of embarrassment.

"Haha... Got shot down, didn’t you, Gerard? Not everyone is as friendly as Lord Lucas," another competitor mocked mercilessly.

Gerard slumped his shoulders, walked over, and gave him a light punch. "Hey, man, my idol just rejected me. You’re not even going to offer a little comfort?"

"Serves you right—"

"Ah... Lord Lucas—" someone in the car suddenly shouted excitedly.

"Where?"

"Oh my god! Lady Ginny is there too!"

"Do they look even younger than before?"

"That’s the power of a High Rank Martial Cultivator..."

"So amazing..."

Disturbed by the noise, Dawn Miles opened her eyes and looked over.

A man and a woman were standing a short distance from the car.

The man looked to be in his thirties and exuded a calm, mature aura. The presence he gave off was that of the Martial King Realm.

The woman appeared to be in her twenties, and she radiated the fluctuations of a Martial Arts Master.

They were this year’s competitors in the Martial King Level and Martial Arts Master Level divisions, respectively. In fact, Lord Lucas’s younger brother was the Grandmaster she had defeated in the national competition.

Because of that, there was some bad blood between her and Lord Lucas.

She pulled up the hood of her team uniform, curled up in the corner of the car, and closed her eyes again.

Suddenly, an invisible surge of "Power" shot toward her Energy Sea Acupoint. She didn’t open her eyes. The moment the "Power" entered her body, she utterly annihilated it.

At the same time, she flicked her finger, and a hair-thin tendril of her own "Power" drilled into his body.

Elsewhere, Lucas stiffened and glanced down at his abdomen in confusion. ’Why did it feel like I was just pricked by a needle?’

He circulated his qi, but finding nothing wrong, he relaxed.

He smiled again as he glanced at the boy huddled in the back corner of the car, a dark glint flashing in his eyes.

***

The truly entertaining part of the freestyle fighting competition was the matches between the Low Rank Martial Artists.

Dawn Miles sat in the spectator stands, watching with great interest.

Seeing her so engrossed, Elias Lennox, who sat beside her, asked with amusement, "Is it really that interesting?"

"Mhm, their techniques are impressive to watch."

"They’re just full of openings."

Dawn Miles suddenly froze.

A strange male voice faintly echoed in her mind.

’ "Since I have so many openings, why don’t you teach me how to fight, then?" ’

"Rory, what’s wrong?"

Dawn Miles turned to look at him and shook her head. "It’s nothing. I’m going to the restroom."

Elias Lennox frowned as he watched her retreating back, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Dawn Miles walked through the quiet VIP corridor and, without batting an eye, entered the men’s restroom. She lowered her head and splashed her face with water.

When she looked up again, she suddenly saw a strange man in the mirror.

He seemed to be hesitating, then he suddenly called out, "Aurora Sinclair..."

Dawn’s heart trembled. For some reason, the name sounded very familiar, but she showed no expression. She simply stepped aside, gestured for him to use the sink, and turned to leave.

The man suddenly lunged. She instantly dodged and launched a backhand counterattack.

"Aurora Sinclair... I’m Mor—"

With a sharp CRACK, she dislocated the man’s wrist.

"AHH—"

"People from the Ocrean Empire shouldn’t attack me from behind!"

Dawn Miles retorted coldly, then opened the restroom door and walked straight out.