Chapter 200 A New Challenge
[Two Prominent Guild Masters Found Dead Together.]
[Tragedy in an Empty Building: The Mystery of Vincent Thomsen's Death.]
[Guild Master of Morning Star Found Dead.]
Sensational news spread like wildfire in the midst of a storm. A prominent Guild Master from Morning Star, Vincent Thomsen, was discovered dead inside an empty building located in the heart of the bustling city. His death shocked the entire population of New York, given that he had just been cleared of legal charges.
The tragic event became even more shocking because Vincent Thomsen's body was not alone inside the building. Alongside him were the corpses of dozens of individuals with unidentified identities. However, one of them was someone quite famous—the Guild Master of Sons of Thor, Noah Liebert. His dead body in the scene immediately sparked speculations of a deadly feud between the two guilds.
According to the initial reports from the police officers who arrived at the scene, the building was riddled with signs of a battle. The once-empty room was now filled with wooden debris, shattered glass, and scattered weaponry. From the traces of the battle, they concluded that a fierce fight had taken place there. Scorched walls, knife marks, and splatters of blood were all evidence of the struggle.
The primary theory that emerged was that Noah Liebert had attempted to assassinate Vincent Thomsen in an ambush, but the outcome had tragically backfired on both sides. However, this theory remained doubtful. There was no specific reason for Noah to kill Vincent, given that they had no history of conflict whatsoever.
News of the deaths of these two prominent figures quickly spread throughout New York. The entire Awakener community in the city was shaken, and questions began to surface. What triggered this confrontation? Were external factors at play?
The recently resigned former governor of New York, Richard Dickson, also became entangled in this case. Some suspected Richard as the mastermind behind the deaths of the two guild masters. Of course, Richard vehemently denied these allegations.
In an interview, Richard firmly denied his involvement.
"Recently, I faced an accusation that forced me to resign from my position as governor. Not only has my reputation been tarnished by this, but also those closest to me. I've had enough of baseless accusations. I had no involvement whatsoever in their deaths."
Richard's response left questions lingering.
The experts also joined in the discussions surrounding this tragic death. They attempted to analyze every clue found at the scene and put forth various theories.
In a deepening investigation, the reason behind the deadly feud between Vincent Thomsen and Noah Liebert was finally revealed. A shocking piece of evidence surfaced from Noah Liebert's personal smartphone found at the crime scene. It contained a series of photos depicting an intimate relationship between his mother, Liliana Liebert, and Vincent Thomsen.
People concluded that this scandal was the cause of the feud between the two Guild Masters. The photographs exposed a forbidden relationship that had been kept secret for some time between Liliana Liebert and Vincent Thomsen.
News of the adultery scandal quickly spread throughout the city, shaking the community and dividing public opinion. The conglomerate families, particularly the Lee Family, who were Liliana Liebert's relatives, became the center of media and public attention. They were one of the prominent families in New York, with numerous businesses and influence in various sectors.
Journalists from various media outlets immediately pursued Liliana Liebert for comments or clarification. They approached her home and even tried to contact her through various means.
"Why haven't you provided clarification about those photos?"
"What can you say about your relationship with Vincent Thomsen?"
"Is it true that those photos are of you?"
However, there was no response from Liliana. Coverage of the scandal intensified, with many speculations about how the conglomerate family would respond and what impact it would have on their strong business and reputation.
As this news continued to develop, the people of New York and the entire Awakener community became increasingly divided. Some supported Noah Liebert's actions in confronting what he saw as betrayal by Vincent Thomsen, while others felt that resorting to violence was an unacceptable course of action.
The investigation into the deaths of the two Guild Masters is still ongoing, with questions about whether this conflict truly ended with their deaths or if there was a third party involved.
However, one thing is certain: Vincent Thomsen's death will have long-lasting repercussions on the United States.
Morning Star is a major guild, but its influence comes from its leader. Without its true leader, can this guild still hold the title of the Five Pillars? Are there other guilds ready to fill that void? Who knows.
...
Klaus appeared emotionless despite the sorrow enveloping the funeral. A gentle breeze rustled the fallen leaves among the graves, creating a profound silence. They were only accompanied by immediate family and a few relatives who had come to pay their final respects to the late Noah.
Standing at the back, Klaus accompanied his parents and sister. Like Klaus, Steve seemed unaffected by the funeral. It was Anna and Joana who were genuinely mourning. Both of them had been sobbing since they entered the cemetery.
"He was so young. How could he go so soon?" Anna muttered, tears streaming down her face.
Steve couldn't offer any comforting words. All he could do was hold his wife.
In the quiet cemetery, there were only a few loyal bodyguards guarding the Lee family. They stood resolute among the graves, remaining vigilant even though a peaceful atmosphere surrounded them. Their presence was evidence of how important the Lee family's privacy and security were in such situations.
However, outside the cemetery gates, dozens of journalists were poised with their cameras and notepads, waiting for the opportunity to interview the Lee family after the ceremony. They hoped to dig deeper into the adultery scandal that had torn this family apart, but for now, the Lee family just wanted to peacefully honor Noah Liebert's memory.
Robert Lee stood in front of Noah's grave. In warm and respectful words, he delivered a eulogy, remembering his grandson fondly.
"In life, Noah may not have been as gifted as my brilliant grandsons, Klaus and Edward. However, he had an unwavering determination. His desire to make Sons of Thor stronger was a milestone of success in his life. I will always remember him as someone with a strong will to achieve what he wanted."
Throughout the speech, Klaus looked towards Liliana, who seemed unable to hold back her tears. She had lost a son, and now, the exposed adultery scandal had created tension within her family. Her husband, Johan Liebert, appeared absent, not accompanying her.
Even though the atmosphere was mournful, the aura of competition was thick in the air. William and Steve, these two brothers couldn't hide their ambitions. Both had a strong desire to make their sons the sole heirs of LR Enterprise. Noah's death marked one less competitor. Thus, the chances for their sons to win the inheritance became even greater.
Klaus could understand them because he felt the same way.
"I need to establish the status quo," he thought.
The era of Morning Star had ended. There was no influential guild left in New York. Anyone could take its place. Klaus had to act quickly before other guilds took the initiative. Currently, there were three guilds competing with Rays of Hope.
Golden Hammer Company, House of Blacksmith, and Unity of Guardian.
After the betrayal of the former governor, Klaus was confident that Richard Dickson would help Edward secure the Five Pillars position. Although Richard had not officially severed ties, sooner or later, he would turn.
On the other hand, the Golden Hammer Company was also a real threat. Perhaps Klaus and Terry were still in a working relationship despite Richard's betrayal. Klaus was sure that Terry must be aware of his issues with Richard. If Terry didn't make a decision soon about whose side he was on, Klaus would include him in the list of enemies.
"But, more importantly, what will you do?"
Klaus fixed his gaze on Edward, standing alongside William.
Until now, Edward seemed to make no moves. But who would have thought that this person had been spying on Klaus all along? This way, Klaus was sure that Edward had also prepared a plan after Vincent's death.
As Robert concluded his speech, family members approached Noah Liebert's grave carefully to lay flowers and bid their final farewell. Klaus placed his rose on his cousin's grave without any regrets.
"Rest in peace, cousin," Klaus murmured.
The funeral ceremony was over, and all the members of the Lee family, along with a few bodyguards, slowly left the cemetery, giving Liliana the space to remain alone near Noah's grave. They left her in peace, allowing her the final moments to grieve and speak to her departed son.
However, as the silence was only filled with the whispers of the wind and the rustling of dry leaves, Klaus approached Liliana, who was mourning at her son's grave. In the soft twilight, Klaus wanted to offer his condolences to his aunt.
However, Liliana did not respond in the expected manner. Instead of expressing gratitude or accepting sympathy, she suddenly turned to face Klaus and stared at him with anger-filled eyes. Her gaze was so sharp that it startled Klaus.
"You!" Liliana muttered, her voice trembling with emotion. "What are you doing here?"
Klaus was taken aback by this sudden reaction. "I'm here to offer support, Aunt," he replied, his eyebrows furrowing. "We all feel the loss of Noah."
Liliana then put on a suspicious, bitter smile. "Noah may have been foolish, but he was loyal. He trusted you, but you betrayed him."
Klaus fell silent, his eyes widening. "What are you talking, Aunt? I don't get it."
Liliana sighed and said loudly, "I'm not an idiot! I know everything, Klaus. You tried to use my affair to use Noah." Her gaze became intense with hatred. "I will surely get back at you."
Instead of feeling guilty or denying it, Klaus laughed cynically. There was no need for him to continue pretending.
"Liliana," he said, condescendingly. "Do whatever you like. But remember, you've lost your son, and I'm sure you'll lose your husband as well. Don't let yourself lose anything else."
Liliana clenched her teeth, tears streaming down her face.
"If you hadn't sent those assassins on my birthday, maybe I wouldn't have gone this far. Goodbye, Liliana."
With that, Klaus left a shocked Liliana, waving his hand with a mocking tone. However, in his heart, he realized that his situation might become more complicated and dangerous than he had ever imagined.
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