Chapter 11 Seal Off Brightvale

• James had clearly misunderstood Aric and Elowen's relationship, but Aric didn’t bother to set him straight and leaned in to whisper to Elowen, "Elowen, I still have something to discuss with Mr. Lowther. I'll go look for you later."
• Elowen nodded, giving her younger brother a glance. After ten years away from Brightvale, Aric seemed even more enigmatic. However, she didn't doubt him for a second because she, like Galadriel, had complete faith in him.
• Watching Elowen leave, Aric turned his attention back to James. "Mr. Lowther, I need to borrow the archives room of Brightvale TV."
• James nodded. His three years at Dawnshield had instilled in him absolute respect for Aric. He had seen Aric lead the Emberfall Front, defend the Dawnshield Defense Line, and win numerous battles, thereby stabilizing the three Dawnshield provinces. He knew all too well that Aric was a man of significance, which meant his secret return to Brightvale had to be mission-related.
• "No problem. Please follow me."
• James led Aric out of the office and rode the elevator to the top floor where the archives were located, guiding Aric inside when all the compulsory procedure was finished. Apart from several archived news event materials and human resource documents, the archives contained decades of reports from Brightvale Daily and Brightvale TV.
• Aric moved five years' worth of newspapers, dating back ten to fifteen years, and placed them on a table. "Thanks, Mr. Lowther. I'll handle this myself."
• James discreetly departed, leaving Aric alone to sift through the newspapers.
• ...
• At 8 p.m., a news report about the forced demolition by Valenwood Group aired on Brightvale TV, showing footage of demolition workers brandishing steel rods at reporters.
• In the Valenwood Group offices, Palden crushed the cup in his hand. Elderglen Orphanage again? He was now sure it was a conspiracy. Galadriel’s husband was targeting him by trying to take Elderglen Orphanage and tarnish the reputation of Valenwood Group. Umbravale Holdings would then seize the opportunity to demolish the orphanage and take over the land for the construction of the Mythralis Trade District.
• "Galadriel, that wretched woman!" Palden was seething with rage. "Tell the public relations department to manage the situation carefully. Announce that the forced demolition was carried out by a contractor and has no connection to us. Emphasize that we strongly oppose forced demolitions! Also, get in touch with Snakehead and arrange a way to give that Thornwood guy a hard time!"
• Palden’s secretary nodded and left the office.
• ...
• In the Brightvale TV archives, Aric sat with a cigarette between his lips, surrounded by several newspapers. He snapped photos of various news articles using his phone. Since smoking wasn’t permitted in the archives, he simply held the cigarette in his mouth to satisfy his urge.
• While these news pieces might appear trivial to others, Aric believed they held key clues to uncovering what really led to the Thornwood Family’s bankruptcy fifteen years ago.
• The first news article reported that Thornwood Group, a top tech company in Brightvale, inked a massive hundred-billion deal with Acesys Heavy Industries from Jesund.
• The second piece detailed the founding of Conway Group, fully backed by Acesys Capital.
• The third article chronicled how the partnership between Thornwood Group and Acesys Heavy Industries fell through, ultimately forcing Thornwood Group into bankruptcy and a subsequent auction.
• The fourth article sadly announced a tragic fire at the Thornwood ancestral home, resulting in the loss of all seventeen family members.
• Thornwood Group’s huge deal with Acesys Heavy Industries had stirred envy among its rivals. However, hopes of becoming the nation's top tech company were dashed when their products failed Acesys' standards.
• With billions in costs tied up in unsold products, Thornwood Group's finances collapsed, leading to bankruptcy after a grueling seventy-one days. Conway Group swooped in, devouring Thornwood's assets—factories, staff, and patents—like they were ripe for the taking.
• When the dust settled, Victor, Thornwood's former vice president, emerged as Conway Group's chairman.
• Aric pounded the table in frustration. Those who had tried to kill him weren't Aetheria but Jesundian. The spy in Brightvale had to have deep ties to Conway Group.
• Aric put the newspapers back in place and left Brightvale TV. He took out his phone and checked the time. After a puff of his cigarette, he made a phone call.
• "Notify the Brightvale Military Division to seal off Brightvale starting today. No one is permitted to enter or leave. Tell the Brightvale Investigation Team to go into Conway Group, conduct a thorough investigation, check the accounts, scrutinize the people, examine the business, look into all related companies, summon Victor Townsend, and secure the Conway Group building!"
• Aric was filled with a sense of hostility. He took a drag of his cigarette before hanging up. After ten years of hiding, he had been waiting for this moment. Whether it was Victor or Acesys Heavy Industries that caused the bankruptcy of Thornwood Group, he would settle the score. Even if this matter had nothing to do with Victor, the fact that he occupied the Thornwood ancestral home was enough to expose him!
• Standing on the roadside of Brightvale TV, a van suddenly stopped beside Aric.
• "Mate, can I borrow a light?" A man with a scar on his face got out of the van, holding a cigarette.
• Aric lit the lighter, and the scar-faced man took a drag and exhaled slowly. "Aric Thornwood, right?"
• Aric frowned. There weren’t many people in Brightvale who knew his name, and those who could call it out just by seeing him were even fewer. "Indeed I am."
• The scar-faced man nodded with a smile. Behind Aric, two big men carried sacks and put them over his head.
• Aric was about to resist but thought for a moment and didn’t make a move. He needed to figure out who was targeting him.
• Howard, Victor, or Palden?
• "As long as we've got the right person, put him in the car and take him to the casino."
• The scar-faced man sat in the passenger seat while the two big men tied Aric up and threw him into the van. The vehicle creaked and started driving; it took about half an hour before Aric felt it stop.
• "Get out!" The scar-faced man yanked the sack off Aric's head and pushed him down, steering him towards a small hotel in the distance.
• Aric glanced around, noting that they appeared to be on the outskirts of Brightvale.
• Entering the small hotel, the scar-faced man led Aric straight to the elevator and hit the button for the basement. As the doors opened, a strong smell of smoke hit them, and the bright lights made Aric a bit dizzy. It turned out, there was an underground casino hidden beneath this tiny hotel!
• "Take him to the manager's office. Mr. Snakehead wants to see him."
• The scar-faced man shoved Aric aside, unable to figure out why they needed four of his men for just one guy; he could have kidnapped Aric by himself.
• Aric glanced around. He was pushed into a corner room, where a bald man sat in a big chair. In front of him, a man knelt with red eyes and a bowed head.
• "Mr. Snakehead, please lend me some more money. I swear I can turn things around!"