Seeing Julius again, his appearance was the same, but his aura and expression were completely different.
His features were sharp and striking, with defined lines that exuded a fierce energy. In the past, he had deliberately cultivated an air of warmth and gentleness, using refinement to mask the wildness lurking in his eyes.
He was particularly suited to wearing black—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall, athletic build, with legs both strong and well-proportioned.
Today, he wore a black trench coat that seemed to merge with him, the darkness blending seamlessly into his form. His gaze was dangerous, his posture composed, and his every movement exuded a wild, domineering energy, like a sharp, unyielding frost upon a towering mountain.
Arabella stood there, poised and composed. Upon seeing Julius, her face bore a half-smile as she gave a slight nod.
Julius returned the smile, looking completely natural as he said, "Master Unknown, when shall we get married?"
"Sure. Let's do it now. You bring the dowry, and I'll stay."
"Well—Master Unknown, shouldn't your older brother be part of the wedding?" Julius laughed confidently, his voice tinged with a mischievous tone.
Arabella didn't respond, her posture relaxed, as if she didn't take Julius's threat seriously.
Her gaze lifted at a slant. Standing atop the tank, Julius did not gain any advantage from his height. In fact, with a sideways glance, Arabella's eyes carried a hint of disdain, as if the very act of looking down upon him made him seem smaller.
"That batch of drugs, I suppose, has returned to its rightful owner. You really made a killing on this deal."
Julius immediately put on a puzzled expression. "What? What goods?" His eyes, gestures, and words showed no cracks, as if he were genuinely unaware.
He was pretending, but Arabella wasted no time exposing him.
"AE, we all do business, give and take. What exactly are you up to?"
When Arabella spoke, everyone was shocked.
Especially Taras, who was struck like a thunderclap.
What was Arabella talking about? Was she dreaming?
This kid, Julius, wasn't just a hidden villain, playing the fool. He was AE?
The AE who was just as skilled as Arabella on the individual combat leader board?
Is Julius his real identity?
Arabella stood there with a smile, speaking with certainty, clearly confident in her words.
The confusion on Julius's face slowly faded, replaced by a cold, piercing gaze that settled between his brows. A chill swept down his spine, as if the very air around him had turned to ice.
He believed his plan was flawless, and that even if Arabella were sharp, she wouldn't be able to uncover his true identity.
But as he looked down from his elevated position and saw the masses surrounding Arabella, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
So what if Arabella was talented?
Wasn't she now, under his carefully laid plan, like a stray dog? No people, no territory, all lost. He immediately let out a triumphant laugh, "Master Unknown, now, can you guess what I want to do?"
Arabella pointed at her own nose, bluntly, "You want to fxxck me, don't you?"
AE froze. He truly liked Arabella's attitude. After everything, at this point, her calm and confident delivery of insults made it all the more thrilling.
For this kind of demeanor, there truly wasn't a woman in the world who could compare to her.
In truth, Arabella was merely numb. She had spent over twenty years navigating through bloodshed and storms, where killing or being killed had become second nature—no different than the daily routine of satisfying hunger.
"Master Unknown, I'm not a stingy person. If you come with me, I'll let the two behind you go. After all, one of them is an impostor pretending to be your brother. Even if he's fake, it still counts, right?" Julius smiled with reckless abandon, consumed by his desire for Arabella. Only she could ignite in him such a visceral thrill, a sense of conquest that stirred both his body and soul.
The thought of finally having Arabella made Julius tremble with excitement. His body reacted uncontrollably, a clear sign of his growing desire.
He was overjoyed, but someone wasn't willing to let him have his way.
Raven stepped forward in silence, lifting his submachine gun as though opening a silent portal to hell, positioning it squarely between himself and Arabella. His entire demeanor was cold and impassive, like any other, but in his silence lingered a chilling aura of lethal intent.
Julius shot a venomous look at Raven, sneering, "You? Alone, you're no match for me."
Raven didn't take a single step back. His face was as calm as still water, standing firm like a tree. If one were to compare their expressions, Raven's looked even more righteous than Julius's.
Perhaps he had always been as silent and steadfast as a mountain. Only Arabella could stir a tempestuous wave of emotions within him; nothing else, no person or event, could shake him—not even life or death itself.
Raven didn't retreat, but Arabella grabbed his wrist and pulled him back.
As they retreated, she whispered in his ear, "The secret base where I sent Ferdinand away all those years ago. The things there, you can take."
Raven suddenly looked up, his eyes nearly turning red with intensity.
He knew that this was probably the only trust Arabella had left, and she had given it all to him.
He knew that Ferdinand and their secret base was indeed unknown to anyone.
But he knew, because he had always been Arabella's weapon; wherever the master was, the weapon was there too. So, he also knew the location of the secret base.
He knew this was Arabella's showdown with AE. He had no right to intervene; the only thing he could do was risk his life to retrieve the weapons left by Ferdinand for Arabella.
"AE, let's go. Invite me as your guest, and let's see what good things you can offer," Arabella said with a laugh, waving her hand to signal Raven and Taras to leave.
Taras, being so shrewd, saw Raven obeying without hesitation, so he naturally refrained from making trouble.
People like them have no room for tender emotions. Whether or not they feel anything, it does not hinder their actions.
Julius didn't stop them either, waving his hand to signal for the encirclement to disperse, letting Raven and Taras leave.
Two useless, beaten dogs—he didn't even spare them a second glance.
Besides, if he forced Arabella into a corner and tried to capture her alive, it would come at a heavy cost.
Letting the two dogs go and keeping the master was almost perfect.
Once the bystanders had left, Julius's face instantly lit up with an excited, sharp smile, his eyes hiding a malicious dagger.
It was in his grasp!
Arabella was finally his!
He had been prepared for this, quickly signaling to the medical officer behind him. The doctor in the white coat immediately handed the medical kit to Julius.
He took out a vial from the kit, skillfully putting on medical gloves, then opened a disposable syringe and drew the liquid.
"Master Unknown, please extend your hand."
Arabella raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile on her lips. "What's this? Trying to use drugs?"
Julius smiled with sincerity, his smile still carrying the same fake compassion as when he had pretended to be the missionary.
"Of course not. I don't like tricks like those the Ackerley family uses. Besides, I know that when the Ackerley family tried to use drugs to destroy you, didn't you overcome the addiction? Drugs work on ordinary people, but they're no use on you, Master Unknown."
"Then what is this?"
Julius lowered his head and chuckled softly, "Master Unknown, this is just a muscle relaxant. Your lethality is too strong, and I don't want to be strangled by you in bed."
Arabella didn't waste a single word, simply rolling up her sleeve and offering her arm to Julius.
Moments later, Arabella felt all her strength draining away. As her body collapsed, Julius swiftly pulled her into his arms, lifting her effortlessly in a single motion.
The sensation in his hands was real; Arabella's arm, where she had been injected, hung limply, her head tilting to rest on his chest, so docile, so obedient.
It was truly an unprecedented, exquisite sensation, and this feeling of conquest was just beginning.
In the future, Arabella would become his forbidden treasure, his possession.
He strode ahead, unaware of the gaze Arabella buried against his chest—sharp as an eagle's, its venomous intensity quickly vanishing the moment her eyes closed, silently hiding her true intent.
