Inside the meeting room, Cole casually sat on the chair meant for Gu Mengmeng. He stroked the fur laid across the back of the seat as a vague smile played upon his lips.

  Oakley continued to stand at the spot as accorded to his position.

  Whether it was Gu Mengmeng or Cole sitting in the stone chair, he remained standing there.

  “You did very well. I am very satisfied. As a reward, the moment Ah Gu leaves, you can see your Bloom.” Cole’s gaze lingered upon the armrest, as if he could picture Gu Mengmeng’s adorably bored face propped up there. Curling his lips, even the sight of Oakley now looked more palatable to him. “You don’t need to put on such a glum face. I didn’t make you do anything harmful. I am just making you put in more efforts in your role as assistant to Ah Gu. Only when you have attained the highest authority can you better protect your little snake, right?”


  Oakley remained expressionless. He tried his best to look calm.

  He knew Cole was too good at manipulating people. He could not reveal anything to Cole.

  But even as he tried his best to control his facial expression, he neglected the fact that he was clenching his fists tightly. Who would believe the nonchalance on his face?

  Cole didn’t expose him but just admired Oakley’s hopeless obstinacy. Chuckling, he felt the sadistic thrill a cat got when catching a mouse.

  “There is something I don’t quite understand.” Oakley looked at Cole. “You did so much to bring the Messenger to Sauder, just so you can impersonate Lea for a day?”


  Cole’s mood immediately brightened as he recalled the day he spent impersonating Lea.

  His Ah Gu was not fooled at all by his impersonation. She saw through him at one glance.

  Ha, rather than saying he spent the day impersonating Lea, it should be described as the day he spent openly accompanying Ah Gu. Although she gave him the cold shoulder, it still gave rise to many shared memories, no?

  With such thoughts, Cole’s mood improved. Hence, he answered Oakley’s question with uncharacteristic frankness. “Don’t you feel it is a happy thing to have someone you like come over to your side on her own free will? Ah Gu will gradually get used to a life with me inside. If I suddenly disappear one day…… she will find it strange. So, I must become that most special person in her life.”


  “In that case, why have you let her go now?” Oakley was referring to the matter of seeking out the Soul of the Forest.

  Cole’s gaze deepened as his smile widened. “I want to become her savior. The only person she can rely on in hell. And the pre-condition for this is…… she must first enter hell. If there is no such hell, I have no choice but to personally create one for her. Instantly crushing the hope that took so long to accumulate, I can nearly imagine her disappointed face. Ha, so heartbreaking.

  Cole spoke those cruel words with such a thrilled expression. Evil and malevolence radiated from his body, lending deep frown lines across Oakley’s brows.

  “Alright, you just concentrate on doing your best for Ah Gu. Bring the governance of Sauder up to its highest peak. I want my Ah Gu to stand at the top of the world with everything else beneath her feet. And you will be her stepping stone.” Cole stood up and walked over to Oakley. He placed one hand on Oakley’s shoulder and exerted a bit of strength. Oakley collapsed onto his knees, at which Cole smiled with satisfaction. “As long as you are loyal to Ah Gu, you and that little snake will be fine. Otherwise…… I will never let off anyone who brings trouble to Ah Gu. In this world, only I can bring her unhappiness. I, alone is enough.”