Rise of The Abandoned Husband

I glared coldly at everyone around me, barely keeping my murderous rage in check.

"Tsk, tsk, what's this? Is Mr. Raymond planning to kill people to silence them and bully others with his power?"

Right then, someone stepped out from the shadows.

One look was enough to spot Saumel Baton, hands behind his back, wearing the faintest smile.

My eyes snapped to Saumel Baton.

"What's it to you?" I narrowed my eyes, voice ice-cold.

Baton smiled slightly. "Doesn't concern me, that's true. But I can't stand watching you act like this."

"Your mother's... you dare play hero here?" I shot back coldly.

Feeling the killing intent rolling off me, Baton quickly backed up while putting on an innocent act. "Let's just talk and keep things peaceful, yeah? Let's stay civil here."

"Tha... that's right." Others around us murmured their agreement.

I took a deep breath.

God, how I wanted to tear Saumel Baton apart right then and there.

His scheming was driving me crazy.

"I'll say it one more time," I declared coldly. "I didn't do this. It's a setup."

"And that technique you mentioned? It's not just mine. Plenty of others know it."

"How do you explain the hat then?" Baton taunted.

Even though I didn't want to deal with him, I swallowed my anger and pulled out my own Thousand Faces hat.

"This is my real hat. The one you saw was fake," I announced sternly.

"You can see for yourself who's really setting me up."

The people around us exchanged nervous looks. They seemed to be wavering.

Baton laughed bitterly. "Who's to say the hat you're holding isn't the fake one? After you realized you lost your hat, wouldn't it make sense to quickly get a replacement?"

Without a word, I put the hat on.

Instantly, Thousand Faces kicked in, masking my face.

"See that? If this were fake, how could it work exactly like the real thing?" I said coldly.

Baton snorted. "Far as I know, that other hat can do the same thing."

"Bullshit!" I snapped back.

"Then let him show the hat!"

"The hat's not on me," Baton shrugged.

"Then shut up!" I replied sharply.

"What, doesn't a citizen have the right to ask questions anymore?" Baton challenged mockingly.

I ignored Baton and turned to the crowd. "Do you believe me?"

The crowd broke into hushed whispers.

After my explanation, they seemed to be wavering.

"Mr. Raymond isn't that kind of person."

"Yeah, he saved this place several times before. How could he do something like this?"

"That's debatable. You never really know people."

While the crowd murmured, a group of people approached from the distance.

"Please, step aside." A bunch of people in purple robes cleared the way.

They pushed through the crowd, bringing Garcia Coleman forward.

The moment I saw Garcia, my face went dark.

"So you are involved." I squinted, speaking coldly.

Garcia put on a confused act. "What do you mean by that? I don't get it."

I smirked coldly. "Cut the crap and get on with whatever you're planning."

Garcia replied flatly, "Mason Raymond, as the head of the Capital City Martial Arts Association, I naturally need to understand the situation when something like this happens at the Hundred Spirits Meeting."

"After days of investigating, all the evidence points straight at you. What do you have to say?"

I sneered. "Anyone who wants to frame someone can always find a charge. Garcia Coleman, if I'm not wrong, Walton Greer is behind this, right?"

A flash of panic crossed Garcia Coleman's eyes, but it disappeared quickly.

"Don't go around accusing innocent people," Garcia Coleman shot back.

"I know you won't admit it, so I came prepared."

With that, Garcia Coleman pulled out a video clip.

In the video, a figure in a black robe whose build looked just like mine was moving around.

The most important part was that the technique the figure in the video used was identical to mine!

Seeing the video, everyone around us went pale and instinctively stepped back!

"You all saw that, right? If it's not Mason in the video, who else could it be?" Garcia Coleman shouted.

I took a deep breath and patiently explained. "My face isn't shown in that video. Plus, that hat isn't mine. Mine is right here."

Garcia Coleman sneered. "I knew you'd get a replacement hat beforehand. Fine, I'll make you confess."

At his words, Garcia Coleman clapped, and a young man walked out from nearby.

This young man was none other than Vivi Eve!

"I'm sure everyone here knows who he is," Garcia Coleman said, pointing at Vivi Eve.

"Yes, we do. He's the young Pavilion Master of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets."

"What's he got to do with any of this?"

Garcia Coleman laughed coldly. "Mason's hat is called the Thousand Faces, and it came from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets. Now, Mason, you have to admit this."

My face was ice cold, and I stayed dignifiedly silent.

"Vivi Eve, could you please check whether the hat in Mason's hand is the real Thousand Faces from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets?" Garcia Coleman asked casually.

"Yes, Young Master Coleman," Vivi Eve nodded and walked quickly toward me.

As I watched Vivi Eve approaching me, murderous intent unconsciously radiated from me.

"Vivi Eve, you've already screwed me over once," I said coldly.

Hearing this, Vivi Eve quickly backed up a few steps, stammering in fear. "Et...Mason, don't kill me. I...I can't really tell if it's real or fake. That should be enough, right? Please don't kill me..."

"You!" Hearing this, I was instantly furious!

Vivi Eve's deception went way beyond what I'd expected!

"Mason, is it right to threaten people like this?" Garcia Coleman jumped on the chance to comment.

"Vivi Eve, just go ahead and speak. I'm sure everyone here will back you up!"

Pretending to be terrified, Vivi Eve glanced at me and stepped back two more steps before whispering. "The hat in Mason's hand... isn't the Thousand Faces..."

The entire place erupted into chaos!

Now all the evidence pointed straight at me!

The crowd backed away even more. The fear and disgust in their eyes as they looked at me became obvious.

I could feel rage filling my chest, like some ancient beast was caged inside me.

And this beast seemed ready to break free any second!

"I'll say it again. This is all a frame-up by the Capital City Martial Arts Association. You all should know what kind of person I am." I looked at the crowd, holding back my fury.

This time, though, nobody responded.

Suppressing my anger, I asked, "Does nobody believe me?"

The place was dead quiet. All that answered me were hostile stares.

Seeing this, I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"Ha... hahaha! A bunch of blind idiots!" I yelled out in rage.

"Fine, since you all say it was me, then it was me! I don't need to explain anything to you anymore!"

As I spoke, my murderous aura exploded!