?Chapter 230:


    Cole’s expression darkened with frustration as soon as he heard the news. Death Thorn continued to be a hindrance on his side, often keeping him up at night with worry.


    Fifteen years earlier, Cole’s mother, Sophie, had disappeared without a trace. Cole’s father had searched tirelessly, but as the years passed and his health began to fail, the responsibility eventually fell on Cole’s shoulders.


    Ten years ago, Cole had finally caught wind of a lead—rumors that Sophie had been spotted in the Delta. Determined to find her, he had quietly expanded his influence into the region, building from the shadows. That effort gave rise to ze Wildfire.


    Through his remote leadership, ze Wildfire had grown into a powerful force, now holding significant influence in the Delta. Things had been going smoothly—until five years ago. That was when Thorn Rose had entered the scene, a rival organization that constantly challenged them at every turn. They’d shed over everything—resources, trade routes, territory. There wasn’t a single inch of the Delta where their rivalry hadn’t left its mark.


    In the beginning, Cole had wanted to stamp Thorn Rose out with brute strength. But Death Thorn, the one calling the shots at Thorn Rose, proved to be far more clever than expected. Taking them down wouldn’t be so simple.


    Death Thorn wasn’t alone. They had a brutal second-inmand known as Doomsday Rose—someone equally feared. It was likely that the name Thorn Rose came from these two enigmatic figures. No one had ever uncovered a thing about them. No name, no age, no gender. Not even a photograph.


    Over the years, the fight between Thorn Rose and ze Wildfire had seesawed back and forth. Sometimes one side gained ground, other times they were pushed back. Here and there, their people would sh in smaller confrontations, each side testing the other’s limits. If the leaders on both ends hadn’t been so careful to keep the tension from boiling over, a full-scale war would’ve already erupted. And if that ever happened, all of the Delta would be caught in the fallout.


    “What was the result this time?” Cole asked.


    Myles pushed his ck-rimmed sses up the bridge of his nose and let out a weary sigh. “Death Thorn’s people took the diamonds.” In in terms, ze Wildfire had taken the loss.


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    Cole didn’t respond right away. He pressed his tongue against his cheek and stayed silent, letting the weight of the news settle in. This was seriously irritating.


    On the surface, Cole wore the title of the Evans family heir in Ublento. Behind the scenes, though, he had his hands in several different ventures. And out of everyone he’d faced, no one had ever gotten under his skin quite like Death Thorn. The urge to crush that opponent, only to fall short every time, had driven him to sleepless, teeth-grinding nights.


    “Mr. Evans, do you want us to strike back?” Myles asked carefully.


    Cole took a moment to think it through before shaking his head. “Let it go. It’s just a minor trade, worth a few billion at most. This round, we let Death Thorn have it. There are…”


    “Plenty of outsiders are just waiting for us to start a war so they can profit from the chaos. We’re not giving them that chance.”


    “Got it,” Myles said with a respectful nod.


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