Chapter 1341:


    Falcon clenched his jaw and retrieved a metal case from his bag. He opened it, extracted a vial of deep blue serum, and handed it to udius.


    Without hesitation, udius gritted his teeth and mustered his remaining strength. With trembling hands, he injected the serum into his arm.


    The serum took immediate effect. Veins bulged along his neck. A low groan escaped his throat despite his efforts to suppress it.


    His voice emerged rough and strained. “Prepare the car. Take me to the Harmony za banquet center.” Despite its hoarseness, his tone carried unmistakable authority.


    “Yes, sir,” Falcon replied, concern evident in his voice.


    Several minutester, a ck sedan sped away from the estate, moving as swiftly as an arrow shot from a bow.


    Inside the car, udius sat back, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He silenced the heart monitor’s rm with one hand. The screen’s blue light cast a sickly pallor over his face, though his skin was visibly flushed.


    Sweat beaded on his forehead. One droplet traced a path down the bridge of his nose, finally collecting in the hollow of his corbone.


    He made a silent vow, his eyes burning with resolve. “Maia… wait for me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”


    The serum was a specialized stimnt developed covertly by Cooper Group’s bib. Designed to temporarily enhance soldiers’ physical capabilities beyond normal limits, it remained experimental and carried severe side effects. Users facedplete exhaustion and reduced lifespan once its effects wore off.


    The previous year, udius had uncovered something significant: his father Kolton had initiatedrge-scale production of the serum.


    However, the entire shipment had mysteriously vanished after reaching the port. Subsequent investigations led nowhere. It was as if the cargo had disappeared into the open sea.


    udius suspected the involvement of Kolton’s covert operatives. These operatives possessed extraordinarybat abilities, likely gained from prolonged serum use—trading years of their lives for enhanced power.


    Falcon checked his watch, then nced at udius. “Sir, you have four hours and twenty-seven minutes left. I’ll ensure you’re extracted and treated before then.”


    udius nodded. “Good. That’s enough. Once this is over, I’ll leave the rest to you.”


    Color had returned to his face, and his speech was clearer. Yet upon closer inspection, something was amiss: veins throbbed visibly beneath his skin.


    His heart rate elerated as his blood pressure rose. A faint reddish tint began to tinge his eyes, giving him the appearance of a Gothic vampire.


    Meanwhile, at the Harmony za banquet center, crystal chandeliers hung overhead, their light cascading like a river of stars.


    Kiley guided Laurence’s wheelchair onto the red carpet, and immediately every camera lens swiveled toward them.


    “Mr. Laurence Cooper himself—he’s actually here!”


    Gasps rippled through the crowd as reporters surged forward, camera shutters erupting in a rapid-fire chorus of clicks.


    Kiley stood rigid behind the wheelchair, her fingertip drumming a slow rhythm against the handles. She surveyed the room with a sharp gaze, her attention finally settling on Maia.


    Something cold flickered across her face—not quite a smile, more its shadow—as her hands curled into subtle fists.


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