Back at the welcome gala, Ryder had seen firsthand how Arthur had dismantled Finley’s scheme. Despite his young age, Arthur had handled the situation with remarkable composure, dealing with a crisis that would have been catastrophic for most people. Ryder admired that. After the gala, they had only exchanged a few words before going their separate ways. He hadn’t expected to see Arthur again at an event like this. It seemed Mr. Hugo valued him greatly. Setting everything else aside, Arthur and his daughter, Mia, had both become Hugo’s students. That made them fellow disciples. Just that alone was enough for Ryder to hold Arthur in high regard. After the welcome gala, Ryder had originally planned to investigate Kent and Dean. But before he could, they had mysteriously disappeared. That same night, Ryder received a report—someone had tipped off the authorities about a murder at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. But by the time Hugo arrived with law enforcement, they had only found Solivair and his men. Ryder had a gut feeling that Kent and Dean’s disappearance had something to do with Solivair. But there were no leads left to follow. Taylor had been found unconscious in the warehouse, and the only people who truly knew what had happened were either Solivair’s men… or Arthur. Yet Arthur had remained silent. Even Mia hadn’t heard anything from him. Ryder had already figured it out—Arthur wouldn’t just let things go if he had solid evidence. If he wasn’t making a move yet, it meant he was still waiting for the right moment. Ryder was about to pull Arthur aside to ask him some questions when a familiar voice rang out from the entrance. “Mr. Hugo? It’s been a long time.” It was Solivair.His lips curled into a smile, as if greeting an old friend. But his expression held no warmth—his eyes were nothing but cold. Arthur and Ryder immediately stopped talking and turned toward the voice. The moment Arthur met Solivair’s gaze, the air seemed to chill. Solivair’s eyes were sharp as ice, piercing and dangerous. When he noticed that Arthur was standing with Ryder, his expression darkened even further. Arthur stood tall, meeting Solivair’s gaze head-on without the slightest hesitation. Their eye contact lasted only a moment, but it felt like a battlefield had just been drawn. Ryder’s face turned cold the instant he saw Solivair. There was something deeper in his gaze—something filled with resentment. Hugo’s expression had also darkened. But he didn’t acknowledge Solivair at all. Solivair, however, seemed unbothered. His smile remained as he spoke, completely ignoring Hugo’s cold attitude. “Oh? Mr. Hugo, you brought a new student today? Not bringing Mia with you anymore?” Mia was Ryder’s daughter. She had grown up in Evergrand City’s elite circles and wasn’t exactly a newcomer. But whenever she was available, she sometimes accompanied Hugo to events like this. Solivair’s words were meant to provoke Hugo and Ryder. Hugo shot him an icy glance, his face devoid of amusement. The surrounding guests, who had been chatting with Hugo moments ago, suddenly fell silent. Their gazes toward Solivair weren’t particularly friendly either. The Tremo family had once been a respected powerhouse in Evergrand City, and for generations, the major families had maintained a relatively amicable relationship. But under Solivair’s leadership, that balance had shifted.He was ruthless. To secure contracts and projects, he had used whatever means necessary. And in doing so, he had stepped on the interests of many. Even when multiple families had tried to stand against him, Solivair had remained unshaken. His methods were brutal and aggressive, as if he had no regard for the long standing traditions of Evergrand City’s elite. But Solivair was used to this kind of reaction. He had long grown indifferent to the hostility around him. Facing the crowd’s wary gazes, he remained composed, casually greeting various guests as if none of it concerned him. And among them, there were still those who greeted him back warmly. In a world ruled by power, many might have disliked Solivair’s ways, but they couldn’t deny his influence. The Tremo family was a force to be reckoned with. Their wealth and power were leagues above most other families. They were simply too big to offend. So for those who couldn’t challenge Solivair, their only choice was to appease him—to ensure they didn’t become his next target. Because when Solivair set his sights on someone, the consequences were never light. After making his rounds, Solivair’s gaze landed back on Arthur. Then, his smirk widened slightly. “Mr. Hugo,” he said casually, “I can’t help but notice—this is a high-level social event for Evergrand City’s elite. Did you forget about the unspoken rule?”