Outside the airport hall, Leander stood tall, a plain baseball cap pulled low over his head. Dressed in casual sportswear, he looked like a laid-back hip-hop boy.Celia, in a cool summer outfit, stood gracefully beside him. While everyone else ran off to chase Maeve, only the two of them walked out first."Master Leander, the Hermit could be waiting anywhere to assassinate you. Shouldn't you keep some distance from your friends?"Remembering the Hermit's sudden appearance on the plane today, Celia asked."No need."Leander smiled and shook his head. "Meeting the Hermit once was enough to understand him. His cultivation is stronger than the Blood Demon's. At his level, he is not interested in killing; he wants a worthy opponent."He wants to prove himself against an equal. And I'm the opponent he's chosen."Leander lifted his gaze toward the blazing sun."He's on the verge of the King Phase and needs me for that breakthrough. Only I am his target—no one else is in danger."Celia looked at Leander, stunned by the overwhelming confidence on his face.This man truly was the strongest she had ever seen. In talent, intelligence, and willpower, everything about him far surpassed ordinary men.Again, she felt grateful for choosing to follow him. Only by staying close could she witness every step he took on his path.After a moment, she spoke again."So, Master Leander, you mean the Hermit isn't hunting you for revenge, but trying to use you to reach the King Phase?"Leander nodded slightly, hands in his pockets."Not entirely. He wants to use me to ascend and make Netherweb famous. He is their top assassin, a Heaven-Rank operative. If he kills me, there is no better way for Netherweb to make the world tremble."And since I'm ranked first on the International Combat Units, if the Hermit kills me, it would mean that for the next twenty years, the assassin world would overshadow the martial world."Once again, Celia was shaken. She had thought about the meaning behind Leander and the Hermit's battle, but never this far-reaching.Just as she was about to ask further, Aurora walked out."Leander, do you know Maeve?"Wearing denim shorts that showed off her fair legs, she deliberately stood closer to him as she asked casually."Sort of."Leander replied lightly, nothing more. The distance in his attitude made Aurora's chest tighten with frustration.noveldramaThroughout the trip, she had tried countless topics to chat with him, but his responses remained calm and detached—always keeping a polite distance.She gritted her teeth silently.After waiting at the entrance for ten minutes, Nathan and the others finally returned. Livia, Yulia, and the other two women each held a CD like a precious treasure."Leander, this trip was totally worth it!"Nathan was thrilled."We only wanted to see Maeve up close, but she was giving out free copies of her new CD! We each got one, and she even signed them!"Livia nodded excitedly. "Yeah! She's an international superstar now, but still sohumble and friendly. She even smiled at me!"Seeing how happy they were, Leander smiled."Since you've got your autographs, let me take you to the hotel. I've already booked the rooms. The cars over there should be for us.""Let's go."Everyone turned to see three luxury vans parked across the street, the hotel's shuttle."That's Yelem Hotel's car! I've always wanted to stay there. Leander, you really know how to plan!"Luke's eyes lit up and he rushed over with his girlfriend.Leander spoke briefly with the driver in the local language, and the driver immediately opened the doors respectfully.On the ride, Nathan asked curiously, "Leander, you speak the language here?""Just picked it up recently," Leandersaid with a smile. At his level, he onlyneeded to hear a language a fewtimes. His brain would automaticallyanalyze and internalize it. Withiminutes, he could master evenhighly irregular languages At Yelem Hotel, everyone was placed in luxurious suites, on par with presidential suites. Aside from Aurora and Celia, who knew. Leander strue background, Nathan and the others thought he had spent a ridiculous amount and felt somewhat guilty. After a large meal in the hotel restaurant, they planned their evening activities andheaded out, only to find the entrance completely blocked.Once again, Maeve appeared before them, surrounded by her two femalebodyguards, giving interviews to reporters.Traffic was jammed outside the entrance, camera shutters clicking everywhere."No way... Maeve is staying at the Yelem Hotel, too?"Livia trembled with excitement.Getting Maeve's autograph earlier already felt like unbelievable luck, but now, staying at the same hotel meant countless more chances to see her.Celia, who initially had little interest in Maeve, now looked on with curiosity.Rumor had it that at many public events, wealthy young heirs openly confessed to Maeve but she always remained distant, untouched by thedecadence of the entertainmentworld. That purity was rare. Recently, Maeve had released a new album titled 'Return to You', a piece Celia had looped many times. Its poetic imagery drew her in and stirred curiosity about thestar.As everyone focused on Maeve, Leander looked elsewhere-toward a young manin a suit standing beside a Bentley at the far edge of the crowd.The young man was handsome, clearly a local of Yelem, with an exotic charm. Hewas dressed head-to-toe in Enatria handmade attire his entire outfit worth nearly a million.But that wasn't what drew Leander's attention.What mattered was the faint energy emanating from him.It was an aura Leander knew very well-one identical to the Hermit he had met onthe plane."Is it him?"Leander's eyes sharpened instantly.