<strong>Chapter 1480: Chapter 1480: Showdown</strong>


    Dream!


    Still that same dream!


    Endlessly repeating.


    In the dream, the image of the headless figure grows sharper.


    Julius Reed can now clearly see the intricate inscriptions on the headless figure.


    In traditional tribes, many people bear such inscriptions.


    The inscriptions are like tattoos nowadays, but they carry far more extraordinary effects.


    To these people, inscriptions can be disguises or weapons.


    Some tribal inscriptions, like those of animals, allow individuals to blend into their surroundings and evade detection.


    Others have hypnotic effects.


    But this one before him—who on earth could it be?


    Why is it that, aftering to Swimming City, the dream keeps repeating, bing ever clearer?


    Could it really have something to do with this city?


    The external reflects the internal.


    Julius Reed believes he must have seen this scene before!


    Otherwise, how could he dream of it again and again?


    Centuries of life, so many things he has witnessed.


    The living chronicle, as they call him, is no empty title.


    Morning. The sun shines just right.


    Julius Reed stands at the doorway of his room and pushes open the slightly weathered door.


    He pondered all night; Grace River wasn’t crazy.


    But if she wasn’t crazy, why did this woman stab him with a sword back then?


    And why were her eyes red at that moment?


    Julius Reed feels that regaining his memories is like drawing a circle—the bigger the circle, the more unknowns it epasses.


    Still, none of this really matters.


    He has time.


    Julius Reed can live; he can live long enough to unravel every mystery.


    “Have you heard?” Gabriel Young, dressed in a rose-red qipao, strode briskly over.


    Her eyes were a bit swollen, probably from crying through the night.


    “Nope, haven’t heard.” Julius Reed tilted his head, observing that Gabriel seemed to be holding up well. In his heart, he gained a newfound respect for this mistress of the Young Family.


    After all, a mistress of a powerful family—experiencing such an ordeal and adjusting her mood within hours—has clearly weathered countless storms in the past decade she shouldered the Young Family alone.


    “You don’t ask what it’s about, and you say you haven’t heard? Isn’t that a bit too perfunctory?” Gabriel raised an eyebrow, her face carrying a faint smile.


    “All I’ve done is stay in this room. Other than seeing a celestial fairy, I’ve neither seen nor heard anything else.” Julius Reed spread his hands helplessly.


    “Celestial fairy?” Gabriel puffed her cheeks indignantly. “Can you not spout nonsense?”


    “Isn’t the celestial fairy before my very eyes?” Julius sped his hands behind him and countered, “Or has the fairy fallen to the mortal world and turned into a fox spirit?”


    “Get lost!” Gabriel balled her fists, but when her eyes glimpsed Young Family martial artists patrolling the courtyard, she restrained herself. In her heart, however, there was a sweetness that was hard to hide.


    “The North Sea has retreated,” she said, a mix of surprise in her tone. “After bombarding us through half the night, they suddenly withdrew at dawn.”


    “That is indeed rather odd,” Julius Reed nodded.


    Baylor Davenport is still in his custody—does Everton Davenport not care for his daughter?


    Or did he suddenly realize Baylor Davenport isn’t actually his daughter?


    A thousand-mile raid, only to start with an intense bombardment.


    Thunderous noise, yet scant rainfall.


    “Word has it that a peerless expertunched a midnight assault on the North Sea’s camp, engaging in a bloody battle with Everton Davenport! By the break of dawn, that expert retreated with injuries, and the North Sea forces also withdrew. It’s likely Everton Davenport met with some misfortune.”


    As the head of the Young Family, Gabriel Young controlled a vast intelligencework.


    “One more thing—the refugee camp at the City Lord’s Mansion was bombed, and Hagan Marsh was rescued.” A sh of worry crossed her gaze as she spoke.


    “You’re thinking of Sebastian Martinez’s words, aren’t you?” Julius Reed naturally grasped Gabriel’s concerns.


    Before his death, Sebastian Martinez had warned her to keep an eye on Hagan Marsh.


    Moreover, rio Young intended to exploit the Young Family’s downfall to uproot the other five entrenched families within Swimming City!


    Now that Hagan Marsh had been rescued from what seemed like an impregnable prison, it was no wonder Gabriel was uneasy.


    “Sebastian’s final words were likely not a lie. But what I can’t figure out is this—if my death or the downfall of the Young Family were truly necessary, why wouldn’t my brother, as Family Head, simply tell me? For the family, I could sacrifice myself.”


    Gabriel’s spirit dimmed, her voice full of exhaustion.


    She was tired!


    So very tired!


    Her body was drained, but her spirit was far more fatigued.


    In her mind, the Cook Family attempting to seize the opportunity during the opening of the Azure Emperor’s tomb to rece the Young Family was already a grave enough matter.


    But the appearance of the man before her had unearthed the shocking revtion that rio Young was still alive!


    It was like a bolt from the blue!


    Even though Gabriel had held up the Young Family for over a decade, she was now worn to her absolute limit.


    “Have you heard the term ‘hypocrite’?” Julius Reed spoke calmly. “By faking his death, he can operate in the shadows, orchestrating much from behind the scenes. Deceiving everyone allows people like you to genuinely sacrifice themselves, spilling blood for him and the Cook Family!”


    “But his calction fell short. No matter how well a person ns, it can’t surpass the heavens’ design.”


    Julius Reed strolled to the courtyard center and sat on a stone bench, pondering aloud, “Based on Sebastian’s final words, rio Young intends to use the Young Family’s destruction to take down the Second Minister and the other Four Ministers. Saving Hagan Marsh is step one; toppling the Young Family is step two; uprooting the Second and the Four is step three.”


    “Are you saying my brother ns to kill me?” Gabriel asked, sitting across from Julius with reddening eyes.


    “Why use the fall of the Young Family to overthrow the Second and Four Ministers?” Julius traced circles lightly on the table. “The reason is simple—many factions within Swimming City are dissatisfied with them. Dissatisfaction muste from those currently in power. Even though you six families havepeting grievances, to maintain your status, you’d undoubtedly band together to resist the City Lord’s Mansion. If internal conflict erupts, weakening all sides, the City Lord’s Mansion can then swiftly eliminate you.”


    “But Sebastian’s warning was to guard against Hagan Marsh. Can an essentially minor warlord on the outskirts really have that kind of clout? Obviously not! Which indicates one thing—Hagan Marsh has another identity!”


    Julius Reed stood and gestured towards the Young Family martial artists. “Close the gates. Let no one in, no matter whoes! And ensure all Young Family members stay within the residence—no leaving!”


    “Understood!”


    The martial artists cupped their hands before rying the orders.


    “Why take this approach? Shouldn’t we head out to confront rio Young?” Gabriel found it difficult to grasp. “We discovered his bugging devices haven’t been exposed yet—why not set a trap and wait?”


    “After years of running the Young Family, rio surely has more than just Sebastian as his mole. And with Hagan Marsh’s rescue, it means he’s ready to make his move.” Julius turned his head slightly, a smile ying at his lips. “To achieve his goal, he must first destroy the Young Family. Whether the me falls on the other five families or for some other reason, that’s step one.”


    “By staying behind closed doors, we’re denying him that opportunity?” Gabriel seemed to begin piecing it together.


    “No. It’s because I’m going out.”


    Julius turned and walked back to his room. Momentster, he emerged holding a g. “nt this at the Young Family’s entrance. No one will dare make trouble. And if they do, speak with the chief steward of the Ghost Market.”


    “But you…” Gabriel tightened her chest, herposure faltering. “Where will you go? And will you return?”


    “Someone ambushed the King of the North Sea, and I think I know who it was.” Julius said faintly, “When a guest arrives from the West Sea, it’s only proper to meet them.”


    With that, he unfurled the g!


    A golden dragon devouring the sun!


    Julius Reed wanted this g to announce to Isabe Warm, to Pendleton, to the Ten Thousand Mountain Alliance,


    to the entire world:


    I’m throwing all my cards on the table.