That dumbass Calvin had already been let off the hook once. But this time,


    Andrew had no intention of showing mercy again. To him, it made no difference whether Calvin died in Blumedale back in Gabo Creek or right here in Goldridge.


    Calvin''s face twisted with rage. He had not expected Andrew to provoke him so openly. Yet, before he could say another word, a sharp scream rang out in the center of the hall.


    Startled, he whipped his head around and shouted, "Terry, what happened to you?"


    Terry, who had been locked in a fierce fight with Zachary, took a hard kick to the chest and stumbled backward. Hended t on his butt, his face pale as a sheet.


    Zachary pulled back and shook his head. "Terry, you''re no match for me. Just step down. I''m holding back out of respect for the Peck family. I don''t want to go too far."


    Terry clutched his chest with a twisted expression. "You bastard, I just wasn''t paying attention earlier! Come at me again! This time, I''m gonna kill you! You think you''re good enough to steal my spot, you filthy mutt?"


    He charged forward in three aggressive steps, aiming a direct strike at Zachary''s center.


    Zachary shifted back, dodging Terry''s blows with swift and precise palm strikes. Terry''s eyes turned red with rage, and in a sudden frenzy, he drew a dagger and lunged straight for Zachary''s chest.


    Zachary let out a furious shout. "Screw you!"


    He spun on his heel and mmed into Terry with a move like a charging bull.


    Terry let out a blood-curdling scream and was sent flying like a broken kite, blood spraying from his mouth. However, the dagger in his hand flew loose with deadly force and drove straight into Zachary''s shoulder.


    Blood gushed instantly.


    "Terry!"


    "Stop this!"


    Two voices rang out at the same time.


    One was Calvin, panic-stricken and pale. The other was Alex, the man in charge


    of the trials, storming toward the center of the hall with a dark expression.


    "You idiot! This is a formal


    evaluation, and there are strictly no weapons allowed! Who told you to bring a dagger and pull a cheap shot? Get off the floor. You''re


    disqualified and permanente.ne


    banned from bing one of Mr. Thornton''s inner disciples!"


    Calvin rushed to his bleeding son, shouting in desperation. "Mr. Wace, please! You can''t do this! Terry is still young and reckless. I''m begging you, please give him one more chance!"


    Terry was writhing on the ground, howling in pain with hatred twisting his face. "Kill him, Dad! Help me kill him! That filthy bastard dared to hurt mel swear I''ll make him pay with his life!"


    His unhinged tantrum made several onlookers frown. The supposed heir of the Peck family was clearly spoiled beyond saving.


    A loss was a loss, yet he was even trying to kill someone over it. What kind of nonsense was that?


    Still, with the Peck family''s power behind Calvin, most people, even if annoyed, did not dare speak up.


    Alex''s tone turned firm. "Mr. Peck Senior, rules are rules! Even if he''s still young, he has no respect for honor. So there''s no other way. He''s out."


    Calvin growled, "That''s uneptable! Terry has to be one of Mr. Thornton''s inner disciples! I''ll pay more if I have to!"


    Alex''s face remained unmoved. "Mr. Peck Senior, this isn''t about money. It''s about upholding the rules set by Mr. Thornton."


    Calvin''s face turned darker as he blurted out a number. "300 million. Is that enough? If not, I can offer more!"


    At that moment, the other disciples


    taking the examination were fighting


    intensely in the great hall. No one paid any attention to the exchange between Calvin and Alex since


    everyone was focused on their own


    promising candidates and was


    oblivious to everything else.


    Alex nced around quickly, then leaned in and lowered his voice, looking visibly conflicted. "Um..."