Chapter 3 – The First Encounter

The day of the Global Business Summit finally arrived.

The venue...

The Imperial Crown Convention Palace.

One of the most heavily guarded buildings in the world.

World leaders, royal families, billionaire CEOs, and underground rulers gathered beneath one roof.

Outside...

Hundreds of luxury cars lined the entrance.

Security was tighter than ever.

---

A matte-black convoy stopped before the red carpet.

The Ashford family's emblem gleamed on the lead limousine.

The guards immediately straightened.

"The Ashfords have arrived."

The rear door opened.

Victor Ashford stepped out first.

Despite being fifty-nine years old, his majestic presence instantly silenced the crowd.

Behind him came Dante and Elena.

Cassian followed his parents, while Adrian walked beside Victor.

Leonarda arrived last, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

The reporters lowered their voices.

"The Three Kings..."

"They're all here..."

"No wonder security has doubled."

Camera flashes illuminated the entrance.

Yet none of the Ashfords spared the media a glance.

They walked inside with calm, commanding strides.

---

Inside the grand ballroom...

Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead.

Powerful figures from every continent chatted quietly.

The Ashfords' arrival immediately became the center of attention.

Many CEOs respectfully greeted Victor.

"Master Ashford."

Victor acknowledged them with a slight nod.

Adrian's cold gaze swept across the hall.

He wasn't interested in conversations.

He was observing.

Every exit.

Every security position.

Every suspicious movement.

---

At that exact moment...

Another convoy arrived.

Unlike the Ashfords' cars, these vehicles bore no family emblem.

They were completely black.

The reporters frowned.

"Who is that?"

"I've never seen those cars before."

The convoy stopped.

A bodyguard opened the rear door.

A woman stepped out.

She wore a perfectly tailored black suit.

Her long dark black hair flowed over her shoulders.

Her crystal ruby-like ocean-violet eyes were calm, sharp, and completely emotionless.

An invisible pressure surrounded her.

Without acknowledging the cameras, she walked toward the entrance.

Even seasoned CEOs instinctively stepped aside.

One reporter whispered,

"Who... is she?"

Another shook his head.

"No idea."

"But she's terrifying."

---

Inside the ballroom...

The conversations gradually died down.

Everyone's attention shifted toward the entrance.

The mysterious woman entered.

Elegant.

Graceful.

Untouchable.

Her gaze remained straight ahead.

She had no interest in anyone present.

At the same moment...

Adrian instinctively turned his head.

Across the crowded ballroom...

Their eyes met.

For a brief second...

Time itself seemed to stand still.

Neither looked away.

Neither showed emotion.

They simply observed one another.

Adrian thought,

"So... this is the woman behind the Crimson Spider Lily?"

The woman thought,

"Adrian Ashford... the King of Eclipse."

Without a single word...

Both recognized the danger standing before them.

Not because they had met before—

But because warriors of equal strength could sense each other.

The air around them grew noticeably colder.

Nearby guests exchanged uneasy glances.

"What... is this pressure?"

"It feels hard to breathe..."

Even Leonarda narrowed his eyes.

"Dangerous..."

Dante quietly glanced at Adrian before looking toward the mysterious woman.

Elena noticed the silent exchange but remained composed.

Victor watched everything without speaking.

His experienced eyes missed nothing.

The summit had only just begun...

Yet everyone could already feel it.

The first meeting between Adrian Ashford and the mysterious woman had taken place.

And although not a single word had been spoken...

The war between two blood-thirsty enemies had already begun.

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