Gazing at the information gathered by Hodar, Zhao Lun concluded that the fall of the Su Empire was inevitable.
The beast was not dead; its lingering might remained. The colossal empire was basking in its last flickers of vitality, desperately clinging to its final breaths. Unnoticed by any other fierce creatures sensing its imminent demise, Zhao Lun seized this opportunity, planning to make a fortune in the midst of the empire's downfall.
Time moved forward, and they grew ever stronger.
Aside from his studies and spending time with Maria, Zhao Lun devoted all his remaining hours to matters concerning the Su Empire. Beyond his time, he invested over eighty percent of his wealth—his substantial fortune—into this venture. Even though he knew the inevitable outcome, he continued to wait with utmost caution.
As the new year arrived, Maria had surpassed many children in her studies, qualifying for "genius" classes. Several private tutors recommended prominent educators to help her further her knowledge.
Maria had also mastered Nicole's skills, though merely at a basic level, which made the young girl quite pleased.
To please Zhao Lun, Maria had begun learning to cook, though it was evident that she lacked a natural talent for the culinary arts—she could barely prepare a meal. What comforted Zhao Lun, however, was that she had no gift for disastrous cooking, and thus, he need not worry about stomach troubles.
Angela praised Maria profusely, noting that when she was Maria's age, she had yet to learn how to cook. It was quite an achievement that Maria could already prepare meals.
Zhao Lun agreed with her, recognizing that while Maria enjoyed being affectionate toward him, she was, in truth, a resilient young girl, far stronger than many others.
What was even more gratifying was that Maria had seldom suffered from those nightmares since that one dreadful experience. Lately, such incidents had not occurred, and Zhao Lun was deeply relieved and grateful to the doctors who had treated her.
In the new year, their small village had transformed. It was now solely occupied by their people, with no outsiders in sight.
The entire area had been acquired by them, and surrounding lands were also purchased. Those who were unwelcome had long since departed. The new expansion plans had been set in motion, and it wouldn't be long before the place would reflect his will, evolving into a new kingdom.
Before construction commenced, they had made some initial modifications to the area. These changes ensured some semblance of security. Outsiders would no longer enter easily, and those who did would be under constant surveillance.
Two white eagles, now fully grown and snow-white, soared overhead. Their presence allowed for far-reaching surveillance, and any potential threats were swiftly detected.
Several dogs had grown into formidable creatures, their barking now scarce. They had transformed into something akin to leopards and lions, possessing extraordinary intelligence. No wrongdoer could escape their watchful eyes.
With their presence, no one could approach undetected, either from the sky or the ground.
The troublesome one-foot-tall burrowing creatures had also kept their distance, avoiding the dangerous companions.
Inspiration was vital. The arcade game was a simple concept that had not existed before. Zhao Lun had merely conceived the idea, and the others had made it a reality. Now it was a booming success. Seeing such a profitable venture arise, many sought to collaborate, while others, unable to take advantage, resorted to clandestine imitation. To address these issues, they relied on their recruits.
With substantial financial support, their recruits were highly efficient, resolving many problems swiftly.
Nicole and the others, including Hodar, found themselves with a bit more breathing room. They no longer needed to act personally every day; their task was now to oversee things from headquarters.
Zhao Lun's steps did not falter. He continued to expand his knowledge, looking for ways to upgrade his divine kingdom and unlock intelligent seals.
The divine kingdom revealed that once he mastered the light brain acquired from the treasure chest, he could take his development to unprecedented heights.
Although his pace was still slow with the knowledge he had gained, once he fully understood it and applied it to black technology, progress would be far too easy.
Even without black technology, Zhao Lun never wasted an opportunity to learn. Whenever he had free time, he would continue to educate himself. Each step forward fueled his determination, providing him with boundless motivation.
With the divine kingdom's assistance, his learning speed had far surpassed that of ordinary people—calling him a genius no longer sufficed. His continuous successes left him immersed in the pursuit of knowledge.
Yet, despite such rapid progress, Zhao Lun was not satisfied. What he had learned was still far from meeting his expectations; it fell short of his demands. Among their recruits, few possessed top-tier technical skills. Most were mediocre, and their capabilities were constrained by the limitations of the current era. Compared to the talent reserves of major corporations, they were still lacking.
However, Zhao Lun was not troubled by this. For the time being, such high-level talent was unnecessary. He was confident that as the company grew, these issues would resolve themselves.
On the day of the Chinese New Year, Elena and her daughter Sandy visited them. Maria played the piano for everyone. Monica and Nicole organized the gathering, ensuring everyone had a pleasant time.
Finally, Maria brought the pets together for a circus performance.
Jumping through fire rings, navigating obstacles, retrieving flying discs, and saluting—Maria had them all perform these tricks. The dogs were thoroughly exhausted but had no choice but to follow her commands.
What is life? Is it not about living with joy and excitement? Thus, they celebrated the new year with utmost pleasure.
After the holiday, they resumed their previous routines.
Studies remained their primary focus, while music and painting became their hobbies. Zhao Lun occasionally played the piano, guitar, or erhu, and sometimes took up the harmonica.
When not playing music, they enjoyed video games together, adventuring through classic arcade games or battling in two-player combat. Their gaming equipment was a rare sight, and the experience was unparalleled.
Amidst their studies, Zhao Lun never neglected his physical training. Every morning, he followed his usual regimen, and in the evenings, he made time for a workout.
The blood within his heart was steadily transforming, now the size of a marble, and its metamorphosis seemed to be accelerating.
Their prosperous lifestyle was supported by vast wealth, but a stable life required even greater strength to protect it. To secure this, Zhao Lun pushed for the growth of the company and supported Hodar in recruiting more personnel.
As their power grew, they remained cautious and low-key, avoiding arrogance or unnecessary conflict, and focused on development.
By 1990, Zhao Lun and his team had firmly established themselves in this land. Their foundation was solid, and they had become the true power in the area.
The local thugs, when they ventured into their territory, had no choice but to comply, too intimidated to cause trouble.
Zhao Lun had a lingering concern—the issue with the "King of Fighters." He feared that the man might return and cause harm. In fact, his fears proved to be unnecessary. After disappearing, the "King of Fighters" never reappeared.
"Did he get scared? Did he move elsewhere?" Zhao Lun sometimes wondered.
With no hidden obstacles, everything proceeded according to plan, ensuring their victory.
Life for Zhao Lun and his companions was undeniably comfortable.
Every day, they were attended to, their meals prepared, their clothes laid out for them. Their lives were so leisurely that others couldn't help but envy them.
They had the best nourishment, their growth far exceeding that of their peers. Their transformation was striking, no longer resembling their former selves in any way, shedding all signs of their former immaturity. Others who saw them would remark on how they had grown into a beautiful young lady and a handsome young man.
The village had even changed its name, now known as Zhao's Manor. It had become the talk of the surrounding area.
Though they had distanced themselves from their peers, they still lived happily, enjoying their favorite activities and fulfilling lives. The memories of their most difficult times together, and their sweetest moments, remained vivid. It felt like just yesterday, and they couldn't forget even if they tried.
Maria, as always, disliked associating with children her own age. She found it difficult to fit in with them.
Although she didn't like interacting with others, she still had things she enjoyed doing—learning music, painting, dancing, cooking, and so on. She even led the dogs on wild adventures around Zhao's Manor, exploring every corner of the estate. Whenever Zhao Lun had some free time, she would rope him into these adventures.
Her exploration revealed mysterious things, and she began to suspect the existence of witches.
Zhao Lun was somewhat certain, though lacking concrete proof, that witches might indeed exist. For her safety, he had ordered Hodar to enhance surveillance.
Hodar had officially taken charge of the area's security, keeping a vigilant watch over any potential threats.
The three women, now more refined and exuding a strong professional aura, had become even more beautiful. Their admirers were numerous, and the flowers and invitations never stopped coming.
They found this attention burdensome, considering hiring powerful female bodyguards to ward off these persistent "flies."