Leah and Richard Shaw arrived in Italy and found someone who claimed to have seen Griffith Squire. After some inquiries and investigations, they spent a week in Italy but still came up empty-handed.

In a European-style manor, Cornelius Turner reported Leah’s recent whereabouts and asked in a low voice, "Boss, Miss has found her way to Italy, why not simply meet her? I can divert Richard Shaw."

Griffith Squire quickly skimmed the recent dynamics of the European black market on his computer, his handsome yet sinister face slightly tensed, and shook his head, saying, "We’ll meet soon, there’s no rush. Delphine is returning to the Imperial City, and based on Leah’s character, she will surely follow."

Returning to the Imperial City would be the time for his revenge on the Shaw Family. A dark glimmer flashed in Griffith Squire’s peach blossom eyes; if not for the fact that the events of the past were so long ago and gathering evidence now would be exceptionally difficult, he wouldn’t have endured till now.

In recent times, Griffith Squire had completely cleared his latent poison, but it had transformed from visible to hidden. He secretly called in Cornelius Turner to deal in arms; meanwhile, the Golden Triangle’s territory had been halved after Griffith Squire’s disappearance due to a counterattack from local warlords. Fortunately, Cornelius has managed to hold onto it over the years.

"Moreover, the government wants to meet you personally, sign a contract, and decide to incorporate our brothers from the Golden Triangle into the official army," Cornelius beamed as he shared another piece of good news.

Despite years of effort, after numerous interactions with the government, the agreement was nearing conclusion. Once Griffith Squire takes on a government military role, they will officially become a regular army.

Griffith nodded; if he didn’t wish to legitimize and enable Leah to live a steady life, as well as settle his loyal subordinates, he wouldn’t choose to cooperate with the government.

"Schedule a time," Griffith smiled, not wanting to delay any longer. Once he reaches an agreement with the authorities, he’d have more leverage, ensuring a better chance to reverse the case.

Cornelius received the order and proceeded to arrange the matter.

Griffith gazed at the flourishing and rich landscape of the small manor, and inexplicably thought back to the Golden Triangle he had lived in for over a decade—dense jungles, dark and humid, and mostly with small villages along streams, sun-tanned women, and faces numbed by the constant threat to their survival.

No awe-inspiring sculptures, no extraordinary paintings passed down for centuries, no exquisite and delicious food, nor impeccably dressed gentlemen, it was impoverished and backward, where life and death were left to fate.

No matter how wealthy, powerful, or feared he became over the years, he always remembered that dark, lightless youth.

He alone couldn’t change the situation; he hoped this cooperation was sincere from the government, not to disappoint him. If they could alter the chaotic, unsettled state, realizing a bit of law and order, life would surely improve.

As Griffith pondered, someone lightly poked him, raising his eyes to see Aurora Coldwell bringing him breakfast and a note she had written: "You skipped breakfast; it’s bad for your stomach."

Cornelius had arrived secretly at Aurora’s manor in the early morning. Hence, their discussion missed breakfast.

"Let’s eat together," Griffith chuckled softly.

Aurora looked at his somewhat enchanting smile, nodded her head, inadvertently lifting the corners of her mouth. This period had been the most peaceful time she had ever lived; she didn’t even know what methods Griffith used, but he had managed to retrieve her mother’s thirty percent shares, not just that, even the Coldwell Clan was now under his control.

Her father called her almost weekly, eager to mend their long-broken father-daughter relationship.

She had done nothing; just found him severely injured and sent him to the hospital.

The more Aurora interacted with him, the more secrets she found in him, even though they lived under the same roof, Griffith never avoided her, but she still felt she couldn’t enter his world.

"Father is urging us to return to Brocade City to arrange the wedding. How should I respond?" Aurora thought a bit, writing down the latest phone call on a note.

Ian Coldwell’s health was declining, yet he refused to take good care of himself, spending all day thinking about how to convert Griffith’s money into his own.

Griffith was amused; greed was truly incurable, but for now, he had no time to deal with matters in Brocade City.

"Drag it on yourself; you could also prepare for the wedding," Griffith smiled.

Aurora’s eyes widened suddenly; really prepare for a wedding? During their time together, the most intimate gesture Griffith had done was pat her head, like petting a little puppy; were they really going to get married?

Aurora frowned, writing: "You’ve done too much for me, you don’t need to force yourself to marry me. Isn’t there a girl you like? What if she’s still waiting for you?"

For a man of Griffith’s quality, women he likes could fill several trucks, yet he was never seen mingling with any female friends—occasionally mentioning two women, one his sister Leah Squire, and another Delphine Carter, who reportedly was living alone with a child in France.

Griffith stared at her elegant handwriting, momentarily stumped by her question. Often what echoed in his mind was the phrase "stop at damnation." After Delphine ended up in the Golden Triangle, he wished to offer her protection, sparking his thoughts. Now Delphine has her own life, he hadn’t considered marriage and children.

A lifetime of sin ends here; why leave descendants to continue?

After repaying Aurora’s kindness, if she wished to keep seeking his protection, he’d shelter her for life; if she found her true love, he’d bless her. Thus, Griffith was very casual about marriage; matters of life and death were beyond concern for a person indifferent to mundane trivialities.

He still had numerous unrealized aspirations to pursue.

However, he was about to return to the Imperial City as Griffith Squire, marrying Aurora could be extremely hazardous yet.

"Just for appearances," Griffith refrained from saying much, asking about her throat condition, "Still unable to make a sound?"

Aurora nodded; her throat had been examined by many doctors, heals happened, but she couldn’t produce sound, a likely combination of vocal cord and psychological issues, doctors suggested.

Actually, Aurora had grown accustomed to a silent world, speaking made little difference to her, but Griffith always insisted on healing it, prompting her to seek medical treatment.

Griffith squinted his peach blossom eyes, upon hearing, saying, "I’ll be heading back to the Imperial City shortly, afterward I’ll send you back to Brocade City."

If it was psychological, naturally Brocade City is the place for treatment; those folks there needed a good clean-up.