The rooftop of a seven-star hotel was bathed in soft, ambient light, transforming it into a private sanctuary high above the bustling city below. A table for two was elegantly set, complete with crystal glassware and fine china, creating an intimate atmosphere under the starlit sky. A woman looking in her late thirties dressed in an elegant blue sheath dress that accentuated her well-endowed bosom, looked across the table at Derek with a mixture of affection and concern as they enjoyed their private dinner.

She had short yet silky blue hair that complimented her radiant blue eyes.

“How’s the food, honey? I picked this since it’s your favorite,” Cecilia asked, her smile warm as she gestured towards the gourmet dishes before them.

Derek paused, savoring a forkful of the meal, and then nodded appreciatively, “You know my taste best. This is sublime,” he replied, his voice carrying a note of genuine pleasure.

Cecilia sighed softly, her gaze drifting momentarily towards the city lights, “I wish our daughter was here with us. I called her, but she said she was too busy. While I’m glad that she isn’t under depression like before and is out there, I am worried since she is spending too much time with that Lenny. I don’t like him one bit.”

Derek chuckled softly, an attempt to ease the worry evident in his wife’s tone, “You don’t have to worry, honey. Our daughter is a good judge of people and knows how to take care of herself. She is only sticking with him to learn and grow her career.”

“I hope that’s it…” Cecilia murmured, her fingers playing with the stem of her wine glass before taking a sip.

Changing the subject, Derek asked with a tone of concern, “How’s the work going on over here? Are you facing any difficulties?”

Cecilia’s expression tightened slightly as she considered the question, “It’s going well in all the countries that signed a contract with our agency. Only the rest are still not allowing us to start our work.”

“It’s fine. They will soon understand,” Derek responded calmly, his confidence unshaken by the challenges.

“But…” Cecilia hesitated, her voice lowering as she leaned in slightly, “The mana ley lines we are laying on these lands, we are planting and connecting them in such a way that they will be able to conduct mana buried deep within the core of our planet. Is it really necessary for Project Guardian? Wouldn’t it be cheaper and safer to simply install a chain teleportation portal system even if it won’t be as efficient as a world-wide ley line system? If someone misuses these ley lines… it could endanger our world.”

Derek paused, considering her words carefully. His expression remained composed as he set down his fork and met her gaze directly, “The ley lines are more than just a network for conducting mana; they are part of a larger vision to secure our future. It’s true that this poses certain risks, but the benefits far outweigh them and I won’t let anyone misuse it.”

Cecilia’s brows knitted together in concern and curiosity as she contemplated Derek’s earlier comments, “Secure our future? What are you talking about, honey? Do you have some other plans using these ley lines? I never asked before because I believe in your vision. But it was difficult to move all those people from their lands after promising them it was for their own good. I even had to force some of them because they wouldn’t budge and it made me feel guilty. Still, I did it because I believe in your vision. But there is more to your vision, right?” Her voice was tinged with a mix of faith and uncertainty.

Derek, sensing the gravity of the moment, folded his napkin with deliberate calmness and stood. He walked over to his wife and offered his hand, which she took, albeit with a slight hesitation borne of confusion. He led her gently towards the edge of the roof, where the expansive cityscape lay spread out beneath them, the moon a silent witness overhead.

Turning to face her with a warm, earnest gaze, Derek invoked a memory, a promise made long ago, “Do you remember what I promised you when I married you?” he asked softly.

Cecilia’s expression softened, a nostalgic light touching her eyes, “How could I not? You said you would never make me feel as if I am less or smaller than others and instead make me the most respected woman in the world.”

Derek nodded slowly, his voice taking on a deeper, more passionate tone, “Even if you were born into an Elite family, your own family never treated you well because you were the daughter of one of your father’s mistresses. You never got the respect and prestige you deserved.”

With a wistful smile, Cecilia responded, feeling a warmth for the life Derek had given her, “I have long forgotten those things since you have already fulfilled your promise, and now I don’t feel less.”

But Derek shook his head firmly, his eyes alight with an unyielding ambition, “But I am not satisfied with that, nor should you be. Would you not want your name to echo across centuries, millenniums? Don’t you want the same for our daughter? Don’t you want our family to be the leaders of tomorrow?”

Cecilia’s lips parted slightly, her mind reeling at the scope of his aspirations, “What are you talking about? How could that be possible? It’s not like we are the Elder Hunters whom people still remember to this day. We are just a branch family that descended from them.”

Derek’s gaze intensified, a fervid light sparking within, “What if I can make us more revered than they ever will be? What if I make it so that we, the Sterlings, will be the ones to destroy and annihilate all the demons for good in this lifetime? What if we are the ones to create a new world without evil?” His words were not just a question but a declaration of a vision far beyond Cecilia expected.

Cecilia stood, momentarily taken aback by the sheer magnitude of Derek’s vision.

“You…You are really serious about this? How…How can that be possible?” Cecilia asked, her voice tinged with incredulity. Saʀᴄh the N0vlFire(.)nt website on Ggl to access chapters of nvels early and in the highest quality.

Derek’s response was calm and assured as he placed his hands on her shoulders, grounding her with his touch, “Project Guardian is just an important step in making sure we can make it possible. Once we make some progress, you will learn how. Just imagine…we can finally finish what the angels wanted us to do and earn their favor. What if they reward us with something unimaginable if we accomplish it? Even if they don’t, we will be the leaders of the new world…a world without demons or any strife and where all people would revere us. Wouldn’t you want to live in such a world with me and Rachel?”

Cecilia’s eyes softened, her earlier skepticism slowly melting away as she envisioned the future her husband painted—a utopia free from conflict and suffering while holding utmost prestige, “That would be a dream to live for, and it still feels like one. I can’t believe you thought that far ahead and even made plans for it.”

Derek’s smile was gentle yet filled with an unspoken promise as he pulled her closer and cupped her cheek tenderly, “How could I not think about securing the future of our family? So that is why I need you to keep up the good work like you already have, even if it might get difficult or complicated, just like how you stuck with me for all these years. You would, right? All this is meaningless without my family by my side.”

Cecilia nodded slowly with a warm look, her resolve solidifying, “Now that I understand your vision, I will give it my all, honey.”

“Thank you, honey,” Derek murmured, his gratitude genuine as he leaned in to seal their conversation with a kiss.

Meanwhile, far from the intimate scene on the rooftop, another conversation was unfolding on the balcony of a nearby hotel room.

Asher stood with binoculars in hand, observing the couple from a distance. Beside him, Rachel’s expression was contemplative.

“How much does your father trust your mother?” Asher asked, his gaze still fixed on the distant figures of Derek and Cecilia.

Rachel bit her lip, considering her answer, “My dad loves my mom, and she loves him the same way. That I know for sure. Their marriage wasn’t like a business transaction like most other elite families. He married her despite her low standing in her family, and they were in love before they got married.”

“Then do you think your mom is like your dad?” Asher pressed in a frigid tone and then added in his mind, ‘Even if she was good to me while I was Cedric, she still believed Derek’s lies as if she conveniently forgot who I was. I can’t just turn a blind eye to that.’ “My mom always supported my dad in anything important he did, but she never did any bad things, nor does she seem like someone who would do so. She was the one who taught me to be an honorable Hunter,” Rachel replied, her voice low and tinged with heavy emotions.

“That you know of. You have no idea what people might do for love if she really loves him. Looks like we will have to keep an eye on your mom too,” Asher concluded with a subtle smile, lowering his binoculars to look at Rachel directly.

Rachel inhaled deeply, wondering what he was planning to do. She refused to believe Asher’s cynicism that her mother was like her father, especially since she spent her time more with her mother than him.

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