Outside Stellarburg, in the outer city district, lies Black Mountain Cetery.
To the west of the outer city district, a modestly sized mountain known as Black Mountain is covered in greenery, with birds singing and fragrant flowers.
On the sun-facing side of the mountain, there's a well-maintained public cetery where Old Dog and Gold Flash were buried.
Under the blazing sun, tombstones stand solemnly atop Black Mountain.
At a spot overlooking Stellarburg, several new tombstones mark the final resting place of those from Hidden Stars who perished in the Dusk Sect incident.
John placed a bundle of yellow chrysanthemums in front of the tombstones of Old Dog, Gold Flash, and others, standing silently for a long ti without speaking.
There weren't many flowers at their graves, only a few sparse bunches, indicating that not many had co to pay their respects.
Many people didn't know who they were or what they had done.
Scarlett stood behind John, gazing at the dense clusters of graves.
She smiled at John, "Most of those buried here are from Hidden Stars, and the vast majority die without their nas or deeds being known. This is quite common in Hidden Stars; maybe one day, I'll be buried here too."
If it weren't for the sadness in Scarlett's eyes, John might have believed she had grown accustod to such occurrences.
John chuckled lightly, "Maybe I'll end up buried here too, one day. If that happens, I'll make sure to be buried next to you."
He had moved past the somber mood, reverting to his usual self.
Scarlett's smile widened at John's words.
Tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, she teased, "As if I'd let myself be dug up by soone."
Knowing John's character all too well, she mused about the number of won who might visit his grave.
John, wisely choosing not to pursue this line of thought further, asked, "Now that you've been dismissed, what are your plans?"
Scarlett had been stripped of her position because of the Dusk Sect incident.
Regardless of the outco, she certainly had so free ti on her hands now.
Nonchalantly, she replied, "What else can I do but continue running my bar? Even though Hidden Stars doesn't control direct power, that doesn't an there aren't influential figures who do. Under pressure, my superiors have temporarily removed from my position, but they won't actually let leave Hidden Stars. So, once this all blows over, I can return to my duties within Hidden Stars."
John gave her a look, indicating, "That's not what I ant."
He was actually suggesting that Scarlett take this opportunity to leave Hidden Stars.
Despite being a clerical job, White Gloves was still fraught with danger.
The firsthand information they acquired didn't just materialize out of thin air; most of it was carefully gathered by Hidden Stars mbers themselves.
Now that Scarlett had been dismissed, even if she could return to Hidden Stars later, she'd likely have to start from scratch.
Scarlett understood John's implication, much like how she initially didn't want John to join Hidden Stars, only now the roles were reversed.
However, Scarlett had no intention of leaving Hidden Stars.
Orphaned and adopted by an ordinary couple of silver-tier mbers within Hidden Stars, she had grown up within the organization.
Regardless of the dangers, she wouldn't leave Hidden Stars.
Seeing Scarlett had made up her mind, John didn't push further.
Both of them had similar personalities, once a decision was made, it was hard for either to turn back.
After paying their respects to Old Dog and Gold Flash, John and Scarlett descended from Black Mountain.
They drove back to the Dark Forest bar quickly.
To John's surprise, soone had been waiting for him on the second floor of the Dark Forest bar for quite so ti.
"Are you John?" A young man in a black suit, with a fair complexion and elegant deanor, stood up from the bar.
His slightly narrow eyes looked at John, a smile playing on his lips.
Around the young man stood two individuals clad in red armor, standing still like statues, a thick scent of blood emanating from them that John could sll from afar.
These were executioners who had taken countless lives, extrely dangerous!
In the bar's second-floor hall, mbers of Hidden Stars watched the newcors warily, sweat beading on their foreheads.
It was unclear how long they had been there.
"Is there sothing you need?" John's voice was calm, his gaze briefly assessing the trio, sensing a very familiar aura from them.
This was an aura John had felt from Lucas.
These were people from House Carter.
Scarlett also recognized the identities of the newcors.
She said coldly, "I'm sorry, but you're not welco here. Please leave."
Despite Scarlett's uncompromising words, the young man's expression didn't change.
However, the gazes of the two House Carter guards in red armor shifted towards Scarlett, their hands already moving towards their weapons.
"Swoosh!" All mbers of Hidden Stars stood up, their hands also reaching for their weapons.
The atmosphere instantly beca tense, as if a fight could break out at any mont.
The young man chuckled helplessly, "No need to be on edge; I'm just here to take a look, no ill intentions."
With a wave of his hand, he signaled the two House Carter guards to step back.
Then, taking a step forward, he bowed slightly, addressing John in a very gentlemanly manner, "Mr. John, allow to introduce myself. My na is Robert, the new heir of House Carter. My visit today is mainly to express my gratitude for your assistance."
John raised an eyebrow, looking at him with interest, "Oh? Thanking for my assistance?"
Killing their heir and seizing their inheritance class, yet the people from House Carter still wanted to thank him?
John was now genuinely curious about what Robert was up to.
Robert continued with a smile, "Indeed, thanking you for your help. I owe you thanks for killing that idiot Lucas, which allowed to ascend to the position of House Carter's heir sooner. Otherwise, I might have had to wait another year to kill him myself."
As he spoke, Robert's storage ring flashed, and he suddenly held a beautifully wrapped gift box in his hand.
"This is a gift I've prepared for Mr. John. I believe you will find it very satisfactory," Robert said, slowly opening it to reveal its contents.
Inside was a splendidly gilded invitation, accompanied by cheerful congratulations and a very exquisite storage ring.
John glanced at it, his brow furrowing, "A wedding invitation? What's the aning of this? If you have sothing to say, don't beat around the bush. Everyone's ti is precious."
Robert's smile remained unchanged as he responded, "Since Mr. John prefers straightforwardness, I'll get right to the point. You've acquired the Legacy of the Crimson Demon, which is no secret. And it so happens that our House Carter's inheritance class also originates from the Crimson Demon."
Seeing a cold light flash in John's eyes, Robert gestured reassuringly, "Mr. John, there's no need to worry. We, House Carter, are a renowned family and naturally wouldn't resort to coercion or force to claim your legacy. This matter is entirely based on mutual consent."
After a brief pause, Robert continued earnestly, "So, if Mr. John is willing, we would like you to join House Carter and beco one of us. Believe , the resources and benefits we can offer you are sothing Hidden Stars cannot match, beyond anything you could imagine. Whether it's beauty, resources, fa, power, wealth, or status, just na it. Even my position as the heir can be yours!"
Robert looked directly at John, stating, "Mr. John, this is the sincerity of House Carter."
Upon hearing Robert's initial proposal, the others didn't show much reaction.
But as he elaborated, everyone showed signs of astonishnt.
House Carter wasn't just recruiting John; they were clearly grooming him to be their next leader! If what Robert said was true, John would beco the next head of House Carter, should he agree.
Before John could fully grasp the situation, a cold voice suddenly chid in.
The speaker scoffed, "Isn't this a bit shaless of House Carter?"
As Robert's expression shifted slightly, everyone turned towards the source of the voice.
There, Theodore, clad in a blue suit, accompanied by an expressionless Seraphina, was slowly approaching.
Robert narrowed his eyes, stating calmly, "Lord Theodore, even with the backing of House Harris, you cannot slander House Carter without cause."
Theodore scoffed, "Slander? The unsavory actions of House Carter are well-known to all. Claiming to nurture John is rely a facade for wanting him to continue your lineage, a deed only your House would conceive."
Robert's complexion turned decidedly grim.
John, now fully aware of the situation, realized House Carter intended to use him as a ans to propagate their lineage!
Most inheritance classes rely on bloodline for transmission, categorizing familial talent based on the concentration of bloodline and the compatibility with the inheritance class.
Thus, heirs from potent lineage awakeners like John, whose offspring naturally inherit robust genes, stand a significant chance of carrying forward the Crimson Demon's power.
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