The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne's lips curved into a smirk, her tone casual yet tinged with disdain, "Oliver, that's quite the bold statement. Are you implying that the Grimshaw family no longer holds our nation in high regard?" Oliver scoffed, "The loyalty of the Grimshaw family to our country is not for you to question, little miss. Did you think that with the Perez and Ellington families backing you, you can do whatever you please? Today, after I deal with you, both the Perez and Ellington families will also be dealt with, and their downfall will be due to your foolishness!" "Ha!" Vivienne laughed, a wild and unrestrained smile playing on her lips, "I've always considered myself quite clever." "Enough with your nonsense. I'll send you to your grave right now!" Oliver declared, before striking at Vivienne with his palm.

Though his strike seemed light, being a fifth-level master, his attack was lethal. Vivienne would be lucky to survive, let alone remain unscathed! But Vivienne stood her ground, unmoving.

Oliver sneered, thinking how foolish it was for her to believe that a simple protective shield could withstand a strike from a fifth- level master.

Ridiculous! Yet, in the next second, Oliver's smirk froze on his face as he stared in disbelief at Vivienne, then at Percival.

With a slight raise of his arm, Percival effortlessly dispersed Oliver's power! His action was as casual as swatting a fly.

But this was a supernatural power! A fifth-level master had exerted almost eighty percent of his strength, how could Percival deflect it so easily? Oliver, refusing to believe it, exerted his power once more, declaring coldly, "Seems I need to get serious." This time, he used all his strength.

But even then, Percival merely used his hands, not even bothering to move his feet.

Stunned, Oliver exclaimed, "What's going on here?" Percival, hands in his pockets, appeared utterly relaxed, "Forgot to mention, Vivienne thought I was getting bored. She hadpractice powers with her, and, well, I'm not much to speak of, but I've reached the seventh level!" It was an odd turn of events! During their practice, Percival discovered he could easily master supernatural abilities without any prior training.

And his progress far outpaced Vivienne's.

They found it utterly bewildering, so they consulted Finnian, a known wielder of powers who had forsaken his abilities since ascending Emerald Mountain. Only Vivienne was aware of Finnian's capabilities.

After examining Percival, Finnian marveled at his rare talent for cultivation, suggesting that Percival's very essence seemed divinely modified. With serious study, reaching the tenth level would be easy for him.

The tenth level - such a distant dream for most.

For ordinary folks, reaching the third level could take decades.

And beyond the third level, each step required at least ten years, assuming one had peculiar talents. Otherwise, it could take a lifetto advance.

Oliver was considered a prodigy, yet it took him years to reach the fifth level.

Finnian dubbed Percival and Vivienne as freaks of nature! One, in her twenties, reached the fourth level in two months.

The other, in his thirties, achieved the seventh level in the stimeframe.

An utterly inconceivable feat that left Oliver wide-eyed, "Impossible! You're only thirty!" Asher and Ethan were equally shocked, speechless.

Especially Ethan, who had been discreetly honing his skills in hopes of leading the Grimshaw family, tirelessly training to reach the fourth level.

Vivienne's rapid ascension to the fourth level was beyond his imagination, let alone Percival's jump to the seventh.

Was there even a fight left to fight? "There's a lot you can't imagine, Oliver," Percival coolly remarked, hinting at the impending doom of the Grimshaw family.

Regaining his composure, Oliver retorted, "The Grimshaw family has provided wealth and security for our nation. You think you can bring us down with mere insinuations?" "Whose commands do you think we're acting under today?" Percival countered, "The Grimshaw family's ambitions threaten the very fabric of our society, not just the state's tolerance but that of its citizens." Oliver paled, angrily rebuffing, "What nonsense! While we may have amassed wealth through dubious means, we've never endangered our country. You can't just pin false accusations on us!" Percival smirked, "Why don't you ask your second son what he's done?" Indeed, Oliver and Asher may not have directly harmed the nation.

Their most egregious acts involved accumulating wealth unethically, bearing the weight of numerous lives on their conscience. These were facts long known to their adversaries. Even if charges were brought against the Grimshaw family, scapegoats could be found, leaving the family's foundation untouched.

But Ethan, the Grimshaw's second in command, was a different story altogether.

Oliver turned sharply towards Ethan, "What have you done?" At first, he thought that because of the Abernathy family debacle, Vivienne and Percival were seizing the chance to bring down the Grimshaw family.

But after witnessing the supernatural abilities of Percival and Vivienne, he was convinced by Percival's claim that there must be someone in the family conducting inhumane activities behind his back.

Otherwise, with Percival's powers, there was absolutely no need for such an elaborate schto bring along a troop to confront the Grimshaw family; he could vel.n single-handedly level the entire Grimshaw estate. Percival: No! I'm just too lazy to do it myself.

Oliver: ......

Ethan was stunned by Percival's revelation, clearly not expecting Percival to be aware of his clandestine activities.

But those deeds were carried out so covertly, how could he have known? As Ethan pondered over how to explain himself, Percival spoke up, "Ethan is probably still concocting excuses. Otherwise, bring Samantha out, and we'll give you tto think of a better story!" Ethan couldn't hide his surprise.

He had been hoping that Percival was merely speculating.

But the moment he was asked to bring Samantha out, he knew it was all over.

Not to mention anything else, with Percival's supernatural abilities, who could possibly stand against him? "What Samantha! I don't know what you're talking about." Ethan pondered for a moment, deciding to feign ignorance, "Percival, your beet is with the Abernathy family. Your aunt was harmed by Gavin, what does that have to do with us the Grimshaw family? If you're seeking revenge, go after him. The Grimshaw family fully supports the nation's progress." Percival chuckled, "Gavin won't be able to escape, and neither will you, nor Samantha." He paused, then added, "As for the person behind you, she might manage to run for a while, but not for long."