Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat!

Lyla's eyes lingered on the twisted mess of the security captain sprawled across the floor. His arms and legs bent at grotesque angles, a sight that might have drawn pity from someone softer. For her, the reaction was brief—a quick pang of sympathy, before a faint smirk crept onto her lips. She shifted her gaze to Lars.

This guy really didn't hold back. He followed her instructions to the letter: don't kill them. Still, looking at the captain's condition, it was clear the man would be sipping meals through a straw for the rest of his life.

"Sister Lyla!" Lars stood awkwardly in the doorway, shoulders tight.

Lyla turned and let out a soft laugh. "No need to be so nervous. You're not part of the Silverwood family anymore. Around here, I much prefer the title Boss Lady." Her tone softened, though her eyes stayed sharp. "You being close to Ethan says enough. I trust his judgment."

Relief washed across Lars's face, loosening his stiff posture. "Boss Lady, I came because I finished the mission Ethan gave me in secret. But I couldn't find him afterward, so… I came here instead."

Lyla's brow arched. 'So Ethan's been giving him tasks behind the scenes. Looks like he trusts him more than I thought.'

"What was the task?" she asked.

Lars leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Do you remember that video that went up on the Ethereal official site? The one that dragged Ethan's name through the dirt?"

"Yes…"

"After it happened, Ethan reached out to me quietly. He asked me to track Liam's movements. Discreetly."

Lyla's eyes narrowed in surprise. "You're saying Ethan suspects Liam?"

Lars nodded firmly.

"And what did you find?"

"Before that incident, Liam visited someone. A woman. Her name is…" Lars hesitated, chewing on the words.

Lyla's expression sharpened. "Steele Consortium? Zachary Steele?"

"No, not him." Lars shook his head quickly.

Her frown deepened. Not Steele? Then who…

"Boss Lady," Lars scratched his cheek nervously, "don't get mad when I tell you."

A name flashed in Lyla's mind before he could answer. She glanced at him sideways. "You're not about to say Ivy, are you?"

The stunned look on Lars's face said it all.

"You know her?" he asked, almost blurting it.

"Of course," Lyla said flatly. "Not only know her. I've met her."

Her voice was steady, emotionless, though in the back of her mind she recalled the time she'd made a 'scene' on Ethan's ex-girlfriend. The memory tugged the corners of her lips upward in a faint, private smile.

Lars decided not to probe. The less he guessed, the safer.

The picture was becoming clear. Liam despised Ethan, and the Silverwoods had probably already investigated him in secret. Naturally, they would've uncovered Ivy. With the family's internal chaos giving him cover, Liam slipped out of their stronghold and went straight to her. As Steele's former confidante, Ivy had once been close to Zachary and his obsession with Ethan's online alias, NotADruid. She might not have known everything, but she knew enough.

What Lyla didn't realize was that Ivy had been discarded by Zachary long ago. These days, she drifted from one nightclub to the next, trading favors just to scrape by.

"Is that everything?" Lyla pressed.

"Not even close," Lars said, his tone shifting. His face grew tense, as if remembering something vital.

"What else?" Lyla asked sharply.

"I found out Liam bought a stockpile of explosives off the black market. TNT. Not a few pounds, either. A ton."

Lyla froze. "A ton? Are you sure?"

"I'm certain. And that might not even be the full amount." Lars's expression was grim, his voice steady.

The room fell silent, heavy with the weight of his words.

Finally, Lyla broke it. "Where is he now? Can you track him?"

"My people are on his tail," Lars replied.

"Good. Stay in touch with them. I'll have Ninth Granduncle go with you. Liam needs to be stopped." Her tone hardened, cold enough to bite.

They may have been related by blood, but the moment he threatened Ethan, he had signed his own death warrant. Liam wasn't just an enemy to Ethan; he had long been Lachlan's loyal lackey, a man who had brought nothing but grief to her and her father. With the family patriarch bedridden and the self-righteous elders distracted, Liam had slipped through their grasp once. Now he was armed with enough explosives to level a city block. His intention was obvious. Revenge.

Lars quickly pulled out his phone, making calls, while Lyla headed upstairs. She needed Donovan, the Ninth Granduncle. Only he had the raw strength to bring Liam down before he had the chance to trigger his explosives.

She pushed open his door quietly. "Ninth Granduncle—"

Her words were cut off by a rush of footsteps pounding up the stairs.

"Boss Lady, it's bad!" Lars's voice boomed from below.

Donovan stepped out of his room just as Lars reached the landing. "What's the commotion?"

Lars nodded respectfully at him. "Ninth Granduncle." Then he turned, urgency etched across his face as he handed his phone to Lyla. "Boss Lady, my team stopped responding. This is the last GPS location they sent."

Lyla took the phone, studying the map. Her eyes widened. "The Ironvale Mountains?"

"Yes. Right on the border of the Silverwood estate." Lars swallowed hard. "Do you think he's planning to—"

"Planning what?" Donovan interjected, confusion giving way to irritation.

"Liam isn't after Ethan," Lyla said quietly, her voice edged with dread. "His target is the Silverwood family itself."

"What?" Donovan's face darkened, his beard bristling with fury. "That wretched brat…"

Before Lyla could stop him, the old man leapt down the stairs in two strides, crossed the hall, and was already halfway through the garden.

"Ninth Granduncle, wait!" Lyla rushed to the window, shouting down. "Don't get reckless, not again!"

Donovan stumbled mid-step, glanced back with a scowl, and barked, "Are you saying I don't know what I'm doing?"

"Uh…" Lyla shrank back, sticking her tongue out like a mischievous child, retreating from his glare.

"Hmph, little girl," Donovan muttered before vanishing into the night.

As his presence faded, Lyla's brows drew together in thought.

"Boss Lady, what is it?" Lars asked carefully.

"How long have your men been tailing Liam?" she asked.

"Since Ember City. Several days now."

Her frown deepened. "Liam's one of the strongest in the Silverwood family. And you're telling me he's been followed that long without ever noticing? That doesn't add up. Whoever your people are… they're not ordinary."

Lars's stomach sank. He knew the caliber of men he'd hired, and none of them were capable of shadowing someone like Liam unnoticed.

His eyes widened. "Could it be…"