A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

Chapter 117: Chapter 119 - An Empyreal?!

On 18 January, 2031

On the highway leading towards Sector 14, a convoy of cars dashed through the air like a fleet.

Several Range Rovers trailed behind the opulent Rolls Royce Phantom, with a sedan positioned at the forefront.

Exiting from Sector 1, it was evident that this convoy belonged to one of the influential families in the region—specifically, the William family.

They were accompanied by their security personnel, who maintained a watchful presence behind them.

The entire effort was concentrated on reaching Sector 14, purposefully ignoring the various roads stretching along their route.

Given the distance they needed to cover, it would likely take another three hours to arrive at their destination.

Especially considering how sparsely populated the highway was and the impressive speed of their vehicles.

At the forefront was a sleek sedan, unmistakably piloted by a woman.

'Why would someone like him extend help to my father?' Aria mused as she navigated the road in front of the Rolls Royce, where her father sat alongside his assistant.

The contemplation stemmed from a recent phone call they had received—one that had arrived after a tumultuous day in the stock market and amidst a sudden influx of investors knocking at their door.

Even with significant financial losses looming over them, the family's survival was still uncertain.

Then, out of the blue, her father had answered a call from the Marquess himself, who declared his intention to assist them.

This unexpected turn of events bewildered Aria, especially given her awareness of the powerful factions that loomed large over the William family's relatively modest foundation.

There were two primary reasons for her confusion.

The first was the Croceaus family's long-established dominance, with their enterprises embedded across various sectors.

They created an almost omnipotent economic network that ensured no field was left untouched.

Their three major sectors held monopolistic control over essential industries.

While competitors existed, customers consistently gravitated towards Croceaus products—be it in construction, healthcare, or cloud networking.

The second reason was none other than Marquess Avendial Croceaus himself.

The size of one's corporations and industries offered no immunity against decline unless guided by an adept steward.

And when it came to Avendial Croceaus, the current head of his family, the environment became markedly more adversarial.

Aria had a clear understanding of him, having been raised in an environment steeped in business dealings and strategic maneuvering.

She recognized how Avendial wielded all the means at his disposal to eliminate competition.

The William family had already endured considerable setbacks, forcing them to retract from sectors such as cloud networking.

'What does he want from us....?' As she drove, the thoughts swirled in her mind.

She had grown up amidst the concrete constructs of competition and ambition.

She knew better than anyone that in a world governed by powerful families and ruthless leaders, alliances were often born out of necessity rather than goodwill.

How much could they trust this unexpected offer of help from the Marquess?

And what strings might be attached to his support?

One thing she knew all too well was that the William family was going to go through a very tough time, one where they would be forced to make decisions that would leave them with nothing.

This prompted her to tighten her grip on the wheel, feeling that maybe this was due to her title as a villainess.

Perhaps her fate was starting to show its ugly side enough to create visible changes in her surroundings, where she would eventually fall into despair.

----

Just two miles behind Aria's convoy, another fleet mirrored their path, belonging to the Diego family.

The Diego family's vehicles weren't just high-end; they were chosen to make a statement.

At the forefront, a gleaming black Aston Martin DBS tore down the road with ferocity, followed by a series of matte black Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons that gleamed under the moonlight.

Trailing behind them were two Cadillac Escalades, equipped with bulletproof glass and steel reinforcements—a fortress on wheels.

Inside one of the G-Wagons, the head of the Diego family clenched his fists, glaring at the horizon as if sheer will could close the distance between himself and his adversaries.

His frustration was palpable, growing with each passing second.

"Damn it, damn it!" he barked, slamming his fist against the car door.

His face contorted with anger as he recalled the call he had received just yesterday from the Nightcrawlers, informing him that someone had placed a contract on his life.

Every muscle in his body surged with rage.

Who would dare issue a death threat against him?

No one in the Free Cities possessed the audacity to challenge his wealth and influence.

The Diego family was a force to be reckoned with, especially since he had married into a noble family.

Not everyone knew which noble family his wife belonged to, but the audacity of someone hiring an assassin to target him was infuriating.

Yet, beneath his simmering anger, he knew he had to remain composed and confront the individual who dared to bid against him.

The revelation washed over him that this would likely be the beginning of his demise.

:: Head of the Diego family, you are hereby informed that the bidding process will commence in two days. Prepare to bid against the Marquess Avendial Croceaus for your life. ::

In that instant, the world seemed to freeze.

The reality that the person behind the assassination attempt was none other than Marquess Croceaus hit him like a sledgehammer.

There was no way the head of the Diego family could win this bid without putting everything on the line.

While it would be easy to reach out to his wife for assistance, he hesitated.

He couldn't bear the thought of appearing weak in her eyes.

That's why he found himself today, deploying all the resources of the Diego family, prepared to face the upcoming bid.

With the secret weapon he had brought along, it would be impossible for any assassin to confront him, let alone threaten him in any way.

"Are you prepared?" The head of the Diego family glanced at the seat beside him, where a man sat with his eyes closed. His robust body was evident beneath the half t-shirt he wore, and his arms were folded in a display of strength, with full-body tattoos of demons all over his body.

"Rest assured, Mr. Diego, even anti-tank bullets couldn't pierce my skin, let alone some petty assassin's weapon," Bordy replied in a firm voice, his eyes snapping open to glare forward, confidence and coldness reverberating through his tone.

"Hm. Even after witnessing it myself, I still find it hard to believe," the man said, leaning forward, propping his head on one hand.

He recalled how, when he first heard about the bodyguard sent by the Ravan family to protect his wife, he was baffled.

Why would they send just one person when he could easily hire a small army of specialized agents?

But once he saw Bordy withstand gunfire, bend thick metal walls, and punch through a seven-inch steel barrier, everything became crystal clear.

This man was not human.

"It happens; there are more secrets lying inside the Empire. But are you sure the Marquess would come himself?" Bordy clearly inquired.

Bordy glanced over at the man with a skeptical look, obviously questioning whether the head of the Diego family was telling the truth.

Bordy possessed knowledge far beyond that of this head of the Diego family.

Having been employed by the Ravan family to closely monitor Diego's wife, he originally belonged to the Kingdom of Thaloris.

He himself, along with his brother, was a gift to the Ravan family from Prince Orion himself, who had offered two Empyreals to them to show his appreciation for their joining his side.

At present, the family was headed by a patriarch with two children—a son and a daughter.

The daughter clearly outshone her brother in both talent and intellect, leading many to believe that the future head of the family would be a duchess.

However, the situation became complicated when the duchess announced her intention to marry someone from a free city, outside the aristocracy.

This revelation sparked a frenzy of speculation; some whispered that she sought to protect her unborn child, while others suggested she was preparing for an insurrection.

Indeed, she was already pregnant prior to her marriage, leaving the identity of the child's father shrouded in mystery. Your journey continues with ???

Yet, the implications of her actions seemed clear: her withdrawal from the race for leadership allowed her brother to position himself as the sole heir to the Ravan family.

It appeared all but certain that he would soon ascend to the title of head of the family.

Nevertheless, in anticipation of any unforeseen developments, particularly if the duchess were to reconsider her stance, the current heir had dispatched an Empyreal to keep her under surveillance.

Bordy's assignment was straightforward: remain as her bodyguard, observing without making any moves unless instructed by the main family.

Of course, when he first arrived at the Diego family home, he was taken aback when the woman revealed that she knew her brother had sent him to keep an eye on her, which she appreciated, given that her brother didn't take such useless actions in the future, especially since she was retired and had no interest in their heir battle.

Everything seemed to go smoothly without any disturbances until...

Just moments ago, however, he received a message from his employer—the heir of the Ravan family.

The Nightcrawlers had chosen their next target as the Head of the Diego family after being hired by Marquess Croceaus.

At first, he didn't understand why he was told this information given his role was to simply protect—keep an eye—on the woman.

But afterwards, the heir explained how this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given how the sword master of Croceaus territory was not accompanying Avendial Croceaus.

And naturally, every trusted individual inside Prince Orion knew how he had targeted Marquess Croceaus just two or three days ago inside the noble gathering held by Princess Katheria, prompting even Bordy to understand that if he killed that man here...

Just the thought was so much exhilarating.

In conclusion, this whole event presented a perfect opportunity for Bordy to eliminate Marquess Avendial Croceaus now that he found him alone.

The thought sent a thrill of anticipation coursing through him; it was a chance to restore balance, or perhaps to tip the scales further in their favor in the royal heir battle.

Princess Katheria, despite being a weak candidate, was rising due to the presence of Marquess Croceaus by her side, but after his death, she would be sent hurling into the dust.

And naturally, even if Bordy were to be executed, he would be able to complete his mission and leave an impression on Prince Orion for his achievement.

In the end, the death of Marquess Avendial Croceaus was inevitable.