Chapter 269: Evan

"Miss Grace?" Mrs. Wilson shook her head. "I don’t know where Miss Grace is—only the Lady knows. Is there something wrong, Young Master? Why are you looking for Miss Grace?"

Mrs. Wilson knew about their secret relationship, but she didn’t think Richard had come here merely out of desire.

Richard frowned, unable to answer.

He wondered if he should just break into Rebecca’s room and ask her directly where Grace was.

"Mrs. Wilson, would you stop me if I went inside?" he asked.

"Young Master, this is your home as well—how could I possibly stop you?" Mrs. Wilson was confused by his words.

However, she soon realized something was wrong.

Before she could react, Richard had already appeared in front of Rebecca’s room door—it only took him a single step.

How could someone as weak as Mrs. Wilson possibly stop him?

Before she could even say anything, Richard kicked the door.

BANG!

Instead of breaking, he was sent flying back by an invisible force protecting the door.

At the same time, the aura inside the room became calm.

Its owner had clearly noticed the intruder.

Click!

The door opened gently, revealing a black-haired woman dressed in a black gown.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, with pale white skin tinged faintly with a hint of redness in some areas.

Her charm was unmatched, her tall and slender figure only enhancing her presence.

Even with that cold expression, anyone could tell she was an exceptionally captivating woman.

Her eyes swept over Richard from head to toe.

Although this wasn’t their first meeting, back then Richard had been a child—now he had become a grown man.

Of course, it wasn’t difficult to recognize him if one clearly remembered his younger appearance.

And for Rebecca, she immediately knew he was her son.

Their blood connection was something that could not be concealed.

"What is the meaning of this, boy? Is kicking your mother’s door something you learned out there?" she said.

"Where is Grace?" Richard ignored her words and went straight to the question.

"Grace?" Rebecca seemed slightly surprised.

"Why are you looking for her? Don’t tell me you’ve grown bored of your wife and are longing to sleep with Grace again? Don’t worry—she’ll be back later. She’ll surely come looking for you when she returns."

"I want to know what you’ve done to Grace. You’re only relying on her as support for the World Magic Aether. If you’re that confident it’s enough, then you must have done something to her."

"Oh, so that’s why you came."

"It seems so."

"That’s none of your business. Do you think you have more right over Grace just because you’ve slept with her? Unfortunately, no. Grace is my asset. I’m the one who raised her and gave her power," the woman said with a faint smile.

Mrs. Wilson was stunned upon hearing that, as it confirmed Richard’s suspicion that there was a risk behind Grace’s increase in power.

In other words, Rebecca’s plan from the very beginning was to sacrifice Grace for her own victory.

Mrs. Wilson could not comment—she lacked the standing to do so as merely a servant.

"What do you intend to do, boy? Do you think you’re ready to challenge me?" Rebecca asked Richard.

She didn’t just ask—a long black scythe appeared in her hand.

Her eyes turned cold and sharp, as if flames were burning within them.

Richard realized that she did not care about their relationship.

She would eliminate anyone who dared stand in her way.

"You only have Grace, and she isn’t strong enough to help you," Richard replied.

"Oh, boy, are you planning to use someone stronger to defeat me? That red-haired woman? Call her here. Let’s see if you can use her to defeat me," Rebecca said confidently.

She showed no signs of concern.

"It seems you really need to be defeated first," Richard said.

He wondered whether she didn’t know that the Fire Spirit Queen was an Ancient Sovereign—or whether she had another trump card besides Grace.

Richard summoned the Fire Spirit Queen. For him, it only required sending a signal through his aura, since she was also within the kingdom.

Without a trace of wind, a straight red-haired woman appeared beside him.

No aura emanated from her, yet the space itself seemed ready to melt in her presence.

Rebecca looked at the woman, but instead of fear, she actually smiled again.

"A newly ascended Ancient Sovereign—someone who failed to become a Grand Sovereign," she said in a tone filled with disdain.

"Oh, how arrogant. You may be strong, but as a newly risen Ruler, I could easily turn you into ashes even if I suppressed my power," the Fire Spirit Queen said.

"Then why don’t you try?" Rebecca challenged in response.

Being provoked like that, how could the Fire Spirit Queen remain silent?

She was a woman who had once fought endlessly without retreat—she should have died long ago.

Her body began to emit flames that passed through her gown.

But the moment those flames appeared, even Rebecca’s castle instantly turned to ash.

The various forces protecting the castle were completely powerless.

If those flames spread even slightly, even the hill would be reduced to ash.

Naturally, the heat was felt throughout the entire Night Valley City, causing panic among its people.

For the Fire Spirit Queen, even a single wave of her hand could reduce the city to ashes.

"Hahaha... Evan, didn’t you want to devour a beautiful woman? Now come forth and consume this one..." Rebecca suddenly laughed, and her words left Richard stunned.

Evan?

Wasn’t that the name of Rebecca’s younger brother—the werewolf with Alpha bloodline?

He had destroyed the Holy Light City, but no one knew where he had gone afterward.

Could it be... he had returned?

Crack!

Suddenly, the sky above split apart.

It was still beneath the ark of the Order of the Heaven Emperor.

The crack spread at lightning speed, yet there was only darkness within—until a pair of massive black-furred hands with long claws emerged.