"Number five? They ranked me at number five?"


    I stared at the screen, scrolling through Pyro''s detailed analysis on The Warrior''s Scroll. The list ranked the top young martial artists across the Central ins region based on potential, achievements, and current strength.


    Everest Leif imed the number one spot. No surprise there—the man was practically a legend already.


    But fifth ce for me? After everything I''d aplished?


    Sofia peered over my shoulder. "That''s still impressive. You''re in the top five across the entire region."


    "I defeated three Peak Form Grandmasters," I said, unable to hide my frustration. "I became an elder at the Celestial Apothecary Guild. And they put me in fifth ce?"


    Eamon cleared his throat. "Read the analysis. It might exin their reasoning."


    I scrolled down to find Pyro''s detailed breakdown of my ranking:


    *Liam Knight: Unprecedented talent and explosive growth rate. Rising from obscurity to defeating multiple Peak Form Grandmasters within months. However, his numerous powerful enemies and the constant threats to his life limit his developmental potential. His connection to the Ashworth family remains a double-edged sword.*


    "Numerous powerful enemies," I read aloud, letting out a bitterugh. "That''s their justification? That I''ve made too many enemies?"


    "They''re not wrong," Eamon said carefully. "The Ashworths, the Veridia City Martial Guild, countless families seeking revenge... You''ve collected quite the list of people who want you dead."


    I tossed my phone onto the couch. "Making enemies is inevitable when you refuse to bow to corrupt powers." This chapter was originally posted on *.</abbr>


    Sofia ced a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "These rankings are subjective, Liam. What matters is your actual strength, not some website''s opinion."


    She was right, of course. I had more important concerns than my position on some arbitrary list. The stolen spiritual energy, my ns to build a faction, finding a way to save Isabelle—these were what truly mattered.


    Before I could respond, a sharp knock echoed through the vi.


    "That must be President Wu," Eamon said.


    I straightened my posture and steeled my expression. "Let''s see what excuses the thief brings."


    When I opened the door, however, I was surprised to find not one but two men standing there. The older man had a round face with carefullybed gray hair and a practiced smile. The younger one—probably in his early twenties—had a sharp nose and eyes that immediately assessed me with disdain.


    "Mr. Knight!" The older man extended his hand. "I''m Brecken Yates, President of the River North Martial Arts Association. This is my assistant, Braydon."


    I ignored his outstretched hand. "You mean you''re the man who stole my property and drained my spiritual energy formation."


    Brecken''s smile faltered only slightly. "There seems to have been a misunderstanding. May wee in to discuss this matter?"


    I stepped aside, allowing them to enter. Sofia and Eamon remained standing, their expressions guarded.


    "Quite a nice ce you have here," Brecken remarked, looking around the vi that had been transformed by his people.


    "It was nicer before your disciples turned it into a party house," I replied coldly. "Now, exin why you thought it was eptable to seize my property."


    Brecken spread his hands in a gesture of apparent sincerity. "A simple administrative error, I assure you. The association was expanding our training facilities, and this area was identified as avable for development. We had no idea it belonged to you."


    "Bullshit," I said tly. "This property was purchased through legitimate channels. The deed is registered under my name. There was no administrative error—you simply took what wasn''t yours."


    The younger man, Braydon, scoffed. "Our association needed the spiritual energy concentration here. It was being wasted."


    I turned my gaze to him, letting a hint of my cold anger show. "And who are you to decide how my resources should be used?"


    "I''m Braydon Yates," he replied with an arrogant lift of his chin. "Future president of the River North Martial Arts Association."


    "Ah," I said, understanding dawning. "The son."


    Brecken cleared his throat. "Mr. Knight, I came here personally to extend my sincere apologies. This situation is most unfortunate."


    "Apologies don''t restore a year''s worth of spiritual energy," I countered.


    "Of course, of course." Brecken nodded vigorously. "We''re prepared to make amends. In fact, I''d like to offer you a position as Vice President of our association. With your reputation and connections, you would be an invaluable addition to our leadership."


    I almostughed at the audacity. "You steal from me, then offer me a meaningless title aspensation?"


    "Vice President is hardly meaningless," Brecken said, his smile growing strained. "Ites with significant benefits, ess to our training resources,working opportunities—"


    "I want properpensation," I interrupted. "A hundred-year medicinal material, at minimum, to rece the spiritual energy your people drained."


    Braydon let out a derisive snort. "A hundred-year medicinal material? For this tiny formation? Do you have any idea how valuable such materials are?"


    I kept my eyes on Brecken. "I''m aware of their value. Just as I''m aware of the value of what was stolen from me."


    Brecken''s smile remained fixed, but his eyes had grown calcting. "A hundred-year medicinal material... That''s quite steep. But perhaps we cane to an arrangement. I''ll need time to locate such a rare item, of course."


    "One week," I stated firmly.


    "Now, now, Mr. Knight," Brecken said with a cating gesture. "These things take time. But I give you my word as President of the River North Martial Arts Association that you will be properlypensated."


    The way he emphasized his title made it clear he thought it carried weight with me. It didn''t.


    "One week," I repeated. "And I want your people out of my property by tomorrow."


    Brecken nodded, though the smile never reached his eyes. "Consider it done. And please, reconsider my offer about the Vice President position. We could benefit greatly from a partnership."


    "I''ll think about it," I lied.


    After a few more minutes of hollow pleasantries, I showed them to the door. As they left, I noticed Braydon casting a venomous nce in my direction. The animosity was unmistakable.


    Once they were gone, Sofia shook her head. "They have no intention of giving you that medicinal material."


    "I know," I replied. "The question is, what game are they ying?"


    "Power and face," Eamon suggested. "Brecken Yates couldn''t admit to stealing your property outright—it would damage his reputation. But he also can''t simply hand over something as valuable as a hundred-year medicinal material. So he''ll stall, make excuses, and hope you eventually give up."


    I nodded slowly. "We''ll see about that."


    For the rest of the evening, we cleaned up the mess left by the association members, restoring some semnce of order to the vi. I tried to focus on the task at hand, but my mind kept returning to that ranking on The Warrior''s Scroll. Fifth ce. The justification bothered me more than the ranking itself—the idea that my enemies somehow diminished my potential rather than proving it.


    The next morning, a knock on the door interrupted our breakfast. I opened it to find Conrad Thornton, the local businessman who had helped me acquire this property initially.


    "Mr. Knight," he greeted me with genuine warmth. "I heard you were back in town. May Ie in?"


    I weed him inside, introducing him to Sofia and Eamon. After brief pleasantries, Conrad got straight to the point.


    "I was distressed to learn what happened with your property," he said, his expression troubled. "Had I known the River North Martial Arts Association was eyeing it, I would have warned you."


    "You know Brecken Yates?" I asked.


    Conrad''s lips tightened. "Everyone in River North knows President Yates. He''s... well, he presents himself as a champion of local martial arts development, but his methods are often questionable."


    "He offered me a position as Vice President," I said, watching Conrad''s reaction carefully.


    To my surprise, Conradughed. "Of course he did. It''s his favorite tactic—offering empty titles to people he wants to appease. Thest three Vice Presidents never attended a single meeting or made any decisions. They were just names on a que."


    I leaned forward, intrigued. "Tell me more about how the association operates."


    Conrad nced toward the door, as if checking that we were truly alone, then lowered his voice.


    "The River North Martial Arts Association used to be respected—a genuine organization dedicated to advancing martial arts in our region. But under Brecken Yates''s leadership, it''s be something else entirely." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "He just uses the Martial Arts Association''s name to seek benefits for his son. The River North Martial Arts Association has long be their private property, and all good things have been monopolized by him... Unfortunately, his son is just a hopeless case."


    I thought about Braydon''s arrogant demeanor and his father''s practiced charm. Everything made sense now.


    "And the apology yesterday?" I asked, already knowing the answer.


    Conrad shook his head sadly. "Empty words. Brecken Yates has never genuinely apologized to anyone in his life. He''s simply trying to manage the situation until you leave town again."


    I nodded slowly, a cold resolve settling over me. Another corrupt power structure, another example of the strong preying on the weak. And once again, I found myself standing in opposition.


    "Thank you for your honesty, Conrad," I said, my decision already made. "It seems I have some business to attend to with the River North Martial Arts Association."