Chapter 3

Evelyn burst out laughing like she'd heard the funniest joke ever, pointing at her own nose, "Send me to economy? Do you even know I'm this airline's top VIP? Who gave you the right..."

The chief flight attendant walked up, shaking, and whispered in Evelyn's ear so only they could hear, her voice trembling, "Ms. Thomas... please, I'm begging you, switch now. That man's seat wasn't bought. The board of the airline alliance this plane belongs to used the Supreme Black Gold Seal to force it empty. Headquarters just sent a order: if we don't meet this lady's demands, this plane or even the whole airline vanishes from the world tomorrow. They're from the Asura Killer Legion."

Evelyn felt like she'd been hit by lightning. Her mind went blank.

Asura Killer Legion?

In the top circles of international business, who didn't know what Asura Killer Legion meant? They were a giant spanning military, government, and business—a real underground power controlling everything.

She looked at the man in the cheap camouflage outfit, who stayed silent the whole time. He was still quietly reading his book, like all the noise around him had nothing to do with him.

That calm indifference, treating everyone like grass, wasn't fake.

"I... I'll switch." Evelyn forced the words out through chattering teeth. She didn't dare look again, didn't care about losing face, and slunk off to economy with her remaining bodyguards.

The cabin finally went quiet.

"Boss, trash cleared." Ava grinned like she'd done a great job, her tough killer vibe gone in a flash.

She plopped down in Evelyn's old seat, stretched out her smooth arms like jade, hugged James's arm tight, and snuggled up, whining, "Boss, Iceland was freezing. Let me lean on you this whole flight. I'm going to New York to see Grandpa too, gotta bring a gift."

James shook his head helplessly, smelling the faint perfume Evelyn left behind, and said softly, "Ava, watch your image. You're The Crimson Witch on the world's most-wanted list now."

"In front of you, Boss, I'm just your little kitty." Ava giggled, buried her head in his shoulder, smiling like a flower.

Twelve hours later, New York.

The plane landed smoothly. Evelyn suffered through the whole flight in economy—every minute pure torture. She'd never been so humiliated, and the fear of that unknown power made it worse.

Right after landing, she called the Thomas family's top secretary in North America.

"Investigate! Use every connection and intel line the Thomas family has!" Evelyn's voice shook with nerves, "Find out about the man in first class seat 1A on flight CA981 today, and the woman in the red trench coat next to him. I want their real identities, even if it costs a billion dollars!"

The secretary on the phone felt the family head's rage and promised to handle it fast.

Evelyn stared at the back of the pair heading to the special VIP channel not far away.

Who the hell is he?

While she stood there stunned, the secretary called back, his voice full of unprecedented terror and shakes, "Ms. Thomas, nothing."

"What do you mean nothing?" Evelyn screamed.

"It's top-level S-class classified files worldwide. I pulled strings at intel agencies, but the system said access denied, connection cut. And... their counter-trace locked us. The family bank's accounts just froze for three seconds—that's a warning!"

Evelyn's palms dripped cold sweat.

A three-second warning.

What the hell are those two?

New York Kennedy International Airport, private tarmac.

Four bulletproof business vans waited quietly.

Outside, four old men with white hair but commanding presence stood in a row in the late fall chill, faces dead serious.

If New York media saw this, it'd spark a stock market crash.

These four were the heads of North America's four big financial clans, controlling the economy.

When James and Ava came down the stairs, all four bowed deep, waists at ninety degrees.

"Welcome back to New York, Lord Asura!"

Their old voices carried soul-deep respect.

James just gave them a cold glance, no intention to stop, "I've got personal business. Don't follow. Witch will handle those cross-border buyouts with you."

"Yes!" The four looked relieved, watching that not-so-burly but god-like back vanish from sight.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Villa was in chaos.

Hayden Thomas lay dying in bed, breathing weak.

The Thomas family pulled every string, but top doctors who'd normally act superior all shook their heads once they heard the symptoms—no hope.

"Evelyn, you didn't reach the Smith family this time?" Owen Thomas asked, face full of worry.

Evelyn bit her lip, thinking back to the Ice Sea Prison scene, bitterness flooding her, "Dad, James escaped prison and he's wanted. Maybe I shouldn't marry?"

On the other side, James's phone rang—Aiden calling from Coldwater City.

"James, Hayden's almost gone. You're in New York, so go see him for me. And push the wedding. Hayden saved my life back then. Smith family men don't forget favors."

James paused, then said one word, "Okay."

Half an hour later, a taxi pulled up to the Thomas Villa gate.

James got out alone, still in his faded old clothes.

He walked into the Thomas Villa living room just as Juniper Fox came out of the sickroom.

Juniper eyed James—empty-handed, mud on his shoes—and screamed, "Where'd this bum come from? Where's security? How'd they let trash like this in?"

"I'm James," James said.

"You're that escaped convict?" Juniper's eyes bulged, pointing at his nose and yelling, "James, you got the nerve to show? Listen, the Thomas family is top New York business now. Evelyn's young and beautiful. A jailbird loser like you match for my daughter?"

Juniper got more worked up, spotting his empty hands, and sneered, "This your idea of proposing? Can't even afford a fruit basket? What a joke!"

James's eyes went cold.

He'd brought a priceless Nine Turns Soul Return Elixir as a gift, but looking at Juniper's nasty face, he suddenly thought even showing it to her would be a waste.

"Enough!"

A stern roar came from the stairs.

Owen—the Thomas family head—rushed down.

He glared at Juniper, then hurried to James and grabbed his hand in front of everyone's shocked stares.

"James! You're here at last!" Owen's eyes flashed sharp.

As family head, he had better judgment than Juniper.

He didn't know James's real airport identity, but he knew anyone Hayden obsessed over on his deathbed wasn't ordinary.

Plus, the Thomas family was in deep trouble—they needed a break.

"Owen, you crazy? He's an ex-con loser!" Juniper shrieked.

"Shut up!" Owen whipped around, full of authority, "Dad set the engagement himself. Smith family did us a favor. From today, James is the Thomas family son-in-law!"

He turned to James, tone soft even fawning, "James, ignore her. You're here, so let's set the engagement date. Next Wednesday looks good, how about it?"

James rubbed his fingertip, glanced at the deathly aura from the bedroom, and said calmly, "Engagement waits till I save the patient. Now, move."