Bloodline Reckoning: The System Made Me Filthy Rich

Noah was confused by Edgar's unexpected dinner invite. It was unusual. Something about it seemed strange. Still, he didn't press for answers.

Without delay, he set out early for Golden Phoenix Tower, planning to handle some tasks at the office beforehand.

During the ride, Jason gripped the wheel tightly and glanced at Noah sitting next to him, "Why do you think Edgar suddenly called you?"

Noah gave a slow shrug, eyes distant. "No idea. He only invited me for dinner..."

"But this is only three?" Jason asked, glancing at the digital clock on the dashboard.

"Well, I kinda miss my apartment..."

Jason chuckled and refocused on the street ahead.

But just as they were approaching the tower, two black sedans swerved in and blocked their way, tires screeching loudly against the street.

Jason slammed the brakes, his heart skipping a beat as he caught sight of the men stepping out of the vehicles, cold-eyed, dressed in dark suits.

"Noah..." he said in a low, tense voice, "they're Lucas Graham's men. I recognize them..."

"I know," Noah said quietly, his voice steady yet piercing. "Just stop the car and see what they want." He already knows all of them through Zoe, who keeps him informed of everything.

Jason rolled down the window slowly, tension stiff in his shoulders as one of the suited men stepped forward. The man didn't speak—he gestured for them to move, pointing ahead with silent authority.

"They want us to follow," Jason muttered, jaw clenched.

"I know," Noah said again, his tone unreadable, calm like still water before a storm. "Do it."

Although confused and worried, Jason followed Noah's order.

With a low growl of the engine, Jason pulled forward, the two black sedans flanking them like predators herding prey.

The air inside the car grew thick with pressure. Jason's knuckles whitened around the steering wheel.

"This is bullshit," he hissed. "Who the hell does Lucas Graham think he is? Treating us like this? Trying to make you meet him?"

But Noah remained motionless, eyes forward, his voice cool. "Let him play his game. I want to know what he wants..."

The convoy traveled through the city before turning off the main road.

The farther they drove, the more isolated the scenery became, trees thickened, buildings disappeared, and the pavement turned to gravel. The only sounds were the crunch of tires and the sharp rhythm of Jason's breathing.

"Noah, would you like to ask the rescuer?"

"No need. They always know where I am... Relax!" Noah chuckled as he saw how tense Jason was now.

Finally, they reached a wide clearing in a wooded area. An old industrial structure stood at its center.

There, beneath the shadow of twisted metal beams, stood Lucas Graham.

Clad in dark gray, he wore a blank smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Jason killed the engine, turning to Noah. "I don't like this, Noah."

Noah silently opened the door and stepped out, as if this were just another routine moment.

As he moved toward Lucas, he reminded Jason through his mind, 'Don't you dare to get out! Stay in the car...'

"Uncle Lucas," Noah said flatly. "Was this necessary?"

Lucas tilted his head, his smile sharpening. "It was the only way to speak with you… without interruption."

Noah grinned slightly as he stopped a few steps in front of him. "Uncle, you know I would've come if you just asked nicely, right? Why go through all this trouble?"

He didn't wait for Lucas to answer. His focus had already shifted as he spoke inwardly to Zoe.

'How many people are nearby?'

'Twelve inside the building, another ten stationed around the perimeter. All special forces. Armed, of course.'

'What the heck... this old man's underestimating me? Only sent a few...?'

'Sir, did you forget...? He's a devil!' Zoe's playful voice echoed in his mind. Noah mentally cursed himself for the slip.

'Shit. I did forget,' he muttered silently, exhaling a deep breath as his eyes locked on Lucas Graham. He could see that this old man seemed suspicious of him.

"Well, young man... I've done my homework. You're not as innocent as I once thought. You're... dark, Noah."

'What's he trying to say, Zoe?' For the first time, worry crept into his thoughts.

It took a few more seconds before Zoe's voice finally returned, low and urgent in his mind.

'Sir... he got information from Lucas about you. It looks like he's starting to believe his son-in-law. He's beginning to doubt you...'

'So... he has no solid evidence? Only suspicious?'

'Correct! '

That was a relief. Noah had no intention of hurting anyone just because they suspected him. Especially not when it came to what he'd done over the past few months.

But Noah's relief was fleeting, as Zoe's following words shocked him.

'Sir, Lucas Graham is suspicious of you because of Jason, as he already knows Jason is working for you.'

Noah was no longer surprised. He'd known Lucas would find out sooner or later, but he hadn't expected it to be this soon.

"Uncle, what do you mean?" Noah asked, acting innocent.

However, instead of receiving an answer from Lucas, his booming laugh echoed.

"Come on, Noah, drop the innocent act. I know you're just pretending..." Lucas said, raising his hand to signal someone to come closer.

Noah stared at Lucas Graham quietly, waiting to hear what he wanted. Why had he forced him to come to this remote place?

Then Jason's voice echoed in his mind. 'They took me inside. Do you want me to fight them now?'

Jason's excited voice was enough to make Noah almost laugh. He couldn't believe this man was suddenly thrilled. Just a little while ago, Jason had been all stiff and uneasy the whole ride.

'Please don't act recklessly,' Noah said calmly through their link. 'I still don't know what he wants. I'm pretending to be weak here, so I'd appreciate it if you played along.'

'Roger that, boss!' Jason replied with mock seriousness, like a soldier reporting to command.

A few moments later, Noah picked up the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. He didn't need to turn around; he could already tell it was Jason, flanked by a couple of guards.

When Noah expected Lucas to finally speak, Jason's voice echoed in his mind again, asking, 'Noah, do you have your magic gun or rifle on you?'

'No worries, I came fully loaded this time!' Noah said, smirking.

After his last encounter with that young devil, Noah had stocked up on weapons in his mind space. He was prepared for anything this time around.

"Oh, come on... Uncle Lucas, why did you even take my bodyguard? If you have something to say to me, just say it. There's no need to drag innocent people into this..."

Noah shook his head, clearly irritated.

"Hahaha, so Jason is your bodyguard now? Do you even know who he is?" Lucas asked, his voice carrying an icy undertone as he turned a sharp gaze toward Jason, who was now standing nearby.

"That's not your problem..." Noah answered.

"Well, Noah... Jason's someone who could end my life... and yet, here he is, working for you," Lucas added, his expression losing all traces of humor. A sudden seriousness darkened his face as he shifted his eyes back to Noah.

"Who are you? You're not Anderson Morgan's son. You must be someone else... someone who came after me, right?" Lucas questioned.

But before Noah could answer, Lucas cut in sharply. "I know you're using Jason to come after me. And it's not just that... you've turned my son-in-law against me. Who the hell are you? Who sent you after me?"

The air in the room dropped several degrees as Lucas Graham's eyes briefly flashed with a devil's glow before reverting to a human appearance.

Noah became tense, trying to appear calm.

'Relax, sir. He only tried to read your mind but failed.' Zoe's warning echoed in Noah's thoughts.

'I could feel it… Wow, it seems my mind is stronger than his.'

'Yes, you're right, sir.'

Zoe's confirmation gave Noah a quiet surge of confidence.

"Uncle Lucas..." Noah said calmly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Seems like you know my bodyguard better than I do. Now, I'm suspicious... something happened between you two. Why so tense?"

"Noah! You..." Lucas began, but Noah cut him off smoothly.

"Ah, I know... Because you kicked him out of the army, didn't you? So that you could climb your career higher and grab the power you have now? That's what happened, right, Uncle Lucas?"

Lucas Graham's face suddenly darkened, and the pressure he unleashed was suffocating. So heavy, several people dropped to their knees.

Even Jason screamed into Noah's mind, urging him to be careful.

'Noah, be careful... This bastard Lucas always attacks his people in this manner. Don't fight or your brain may be injured...'

But Noah stood firm, unshaken, as if the crushing weight around him meant nothing.

And Lucas Graham, watching that, was stunned.