Allies Hidden Beneath Masks

"Hold on, we’re on the same side."

Lina Ashford let out a helpless sigh as she slowly lowered the military spike in her hand.

The tension in the narrow alleyway had not fully faded yet. Cold wind drifted between the old concrete walls, carrying scraps of paper across the damp ground. The faint metallic scent from their earlier clash still lingered in the air.

Yet beneath the lingering hostility, Lina strangely felt... relieved.

It turned out she was not the only insider.

Not the only one who could hear Young Master Julian’s shameless inner thoughts.

And somehow, that realization made the crushing pressure she had carried these past days lighten slightly.

Across from her, Liza Voss awkwardly put away her dagger.

The petite black-haired woman coughed lightly and looked away for a second, clearly embarrassed.

She genuinely thought Lina had switched sides.

But now...

At the new company, she discovered she was still working beside her old colleague.

The feeling was incredibly strange.

Almost absurd.

The two women stood there silently for a moment beneath the pale morning light filtering into the alley.

Then Lina crossed her arms beneath her large chest and narrowed her purple eyes slightly.

"Did you really send the D’Aurelius Group’s secrets to that bastard Evan?"

Her tone carried obvious displeasure.

Even if they were on the same side now, she still needed confirmation.

After all, the information Evan requested could seriously damage Young Master Julian.

Liza immediately frowned.

"Do you think I’m like you?" she shot back. "Of course I gave him fake information."

Her small face showed clear disdain as she continued coldly,

"I mixed real reports with fabricated ones. If he actually acts based on those files, Young Master Julian won’t even need to fight him personally. He’ll destroy himself."

Lina blinked once.

Then her lips curved upward slightly.

"So did I."

The atmosphere instantly relaxed.

Liza visibly breathed easier after hearing that.

"That’s good."

Lina finally exhaled fully and muttered through gritted teeth,

"We absolutely can’t let that bastard Evan harm the D’Aurelius Family and Young Master Julian."

The moment she mentioned Julian, her expression softened slightly without realizing it.

Liza noticed immediately.

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"You seem awfully concerned about Young Master Julian."

Lina’s expression stiffened for half a second.

"And you aren’t?" she countered.

"..."

For a moment, neither woman spoke.

Then both silently looked away.

The awkwardness became even stronger.

Liza quickly changed the subject by nodding vigorously.

"So, are you going to inform Young Master Julian now? Tell him the news?"

Lina immediately looked embarrassed.

Her earlier imposing aura vanished almost instantly.

"You do it," she muttered awkwardly. "Young Master Julian... might not know I’m on his side yet."

The moment those words left her mouth, even she felt ridiculous.

She had secretly protected him this long, yet he still probably believed she belonged to Evan.

The thought made her feel strangely frustrated.

She had actually been waiting for Julian to expose her identity first so she could dramatically pledge loyalty on the spot.

She even rehearsed the speech several times in her head.

Something cold and cool.

Maybe kneeling slightly.

Definitely elegant.

Unfortunately...

Young Master Julian’s brain usually spent more time thinking about women’s thighs than uncovering spies.

Liza coughed awkwardly beside her.

"Me too..."

Now it was her turn to feel embarrassed.

A faint blush even appeared on her petite face.

Ahem.

Apparently everyone had been waiting for Young Master Julian to initiate the team-up invitation personally.

The two women looked at each other.

Then suddenly burst into helpless laughter.

The hostility from earlier completely disappeared.

Honestly, Young Master Julian probably had no idea how many people were secretly working for him already.

Lina rubbed her forehead tiredly.

"Forget it, let’s not overthink this."

She looked toward Liza seriously.

"Let’s just go find Young Master Julian and reveal everything together. I recorded everything Evan said just now; it can be used as evidence."

As she spoke, she lightly tapped the recording device hidden beneath her coat.

Liza blinked.

Then awkwardly raised her own phone.

"I recorded it too..."

The two women exchanged a knowing smile.

No more words were needed.

For the first time, they truly understood each other.

Both had infiltrated danger alone.

Both had secretly endured pressure while pretending loyalty to Evan.

And both had ultimately chosen the same side.

Young Master Julian.

...

Meanwhile.

The Tyson Family.

As the premier Old Martial Arts household in Valemont, the Tyson Family possessed a history spanning more than a hundred years.

Their martial arts schools were famous throughout Valemont.

Even ordinary people knew the Tyson Family name.

Meanwhile, the largest security company across the region was also controlled by them.

Because of this, countless people depended on the Tyson Family for protection, business, and influence.

The household’s estate itself resembled a blend between an ancient fortress and a modern manor.

Tall walls surrounded the massive grounds.

Traditional architecture stood beside modern buildings seamlessly.

Stone pathways stretched across courtyards lined with bamboo and old trees.

When Julian D’Aurelius arrived with Yana Tyson, night had already quietly faded into morning.

The journey from the Auction house to the Tyson Family estate had taken nearly the entire night by car.

Valemont was massive.

And the Tyson Family estate was located near the quieter mountain outskirts far from the bustling city center.

The black luxury car slowly rolled through the enormous entrance gates as the first rays of dawn spread across the horizon.

Inside the car, Julian leaned slightly against the seat while glancing outside the window.

Golden morning sunlight spilled across the estate grounds.

The atmosphere felt calm.

Disciplined.

Alive.

As they entered deeper into the Tyson Family grounds, rhythmic shouts suddenly echoed through the morning air.

"Hah!"

"Hup!"

"Haaah!"

Julian turned his gaze toward the large open training field nearby.

Dozens of Tyson Family martial artists were already practicing despite the early hour.

Some trained barehanded.

Others practiced spear forms beneath the rising sun.

Wooden staffs clashed loudly while several younger disciples carried heavy stone weights across the field.

Sweat glistened across muscular bodies.

Dust rose beneath fast-moving footsteps.

The entire training ground radiated the spirit of Old Martial Arts.

Julian quietly observed the scene with interest.

(As expected of Valemont’s top Old Martial Arts household.)

(Honestly... this atmosphere is pretty damn cool.)

(Hm? That female instructor over there is kinda hot too.)

His eyes unconsciously drifted toward a tall woman practicing sword forms near the eastern side of the field.

Yana, sitting beside him, instantly caught his wandering thoughts.

Her beautiful orange eyes twitched slightly.

This man...

He really never changed.

Even after fighting Lucas all night and nearly dying, he still had energy to look at women.

Yet strangely...

Instead of annoyance, she felt faint amusement.

The car finally came to a slow stop near the main courtyard.

Before stepping out, Julian stretched slightly and let out a tired breath.

The entire night had been chaotic.

Poison.

Fighting.

Escaping.

Schemes.

Now that things finally calmed slightly, exhaustion naturally began creeping into his body.

Yana quietly looked at him for a moment before softly speaking.

"Young Master Julian... thank you."

Her voice carried genuine sincerity.

Without him, her father would likely still be trapped inside Lucas’s schemes.

Without him...

She might never have discovered the truth until it was too late.

Julian blinked once before grinning casually.

"No need to thank me."

He opened the car door lazily.

"I just hate people who think they can play with others from the shadows."

Then after a pause, he added inwardly—

(Also Lucas pissed me off.)

(Anyone who tries poisoning and killing me deserves to suffer.)

Yana heard those thoughts clearly.

Her lips unconsciously curved upward slightly.

This man always acted shameless and carefree...

Yet somehow, he constantly protected people without realizing it.

As the two stepped out of the car together, the cool morning breeze swept through the Tyson Family estate while the sound of martial artists practicing continued echoing beneath the rising sun.