Chapter 679 - Modern Hades

[Two days before the auction: The old Xi residence garden]

"Madam, are you certain about this?" Butler Yi inquired, staring at Vivian's cold side profile.

"Did you find anything?" Vivian inquired, arching her brow as she glanced at Butler Yi.

"Here," Butler Yi carefully placed the brown envelope on the table. "But Madam, it's been…"

"It's been a while, I know, Butler Yi." Before Butler Yi could finish his sentence, Vivian cut him off.

Slowly, she placed the saucer with her cup of tea on it back on the table. She then picked up the folder and took out the documents inside.

"Interesting." Vivian commented as she skimmed through the documents and pictures one after another.

"Shouldn't we stop the young master?" Butler Yi worriedly inquired. 

Since Matthew had been elusive and secretive, Vivian was forced to investigate his current activities. It wasn't easy, but they managed using the extensive influence Vivian had.

"Why would we?" She queried back, giving her butler a side eye. "Little Z's parents wouldn't do anything, anyway. We are the only family she has."

"But it'll put the young master and the XI Corporation at risk."

"I disowned him. My son, I mean. I had his name taken out of my will." As cold and decisive as she was, Vivian retracted her gaze from Butler Yi and turned the page of the documents.

"What will happen to Matthew has nothing to do with the XI Corporation. The XI Corporation and the XI family have nothing to do with him. So, what risk are you talking about?" 

"But Madam, you…" Butler Yi trailed off as he pursed his lips upon Vivian's cold gaze.

"I'll take responsibility. Are you afraid this will shake the queen?" 

"No, Madam."

"Good." Pleased, Vivian nodded. "No peasant or commoner, even nobles, can dethrone the Queen. Be it then or now or tomorrow, the person who can only make me step down is me. Perhaps, my grandchildren too."

After saying her piece, Vivian continued on reading the little relevant details they had gathered. Minutes had passed, and Butler Yi finally mustered his courage to ask.

"Madam, is this about Young Master's father?" 

Upon hearing his query, Vivian suddenly stopped. She slowly raised her gaze at Butler Yi.

"Yes." she admitted with a straight face. "I can't let history repeat itself, Butler Yi. I won't let my son suffer the same pain I had endured in the past."

"But, Sir Hugo --"

"Pfft-!" Vivian hid the urge to laugh out loud upon hearing her late husband's name.

"Madam?"

"Hugo. It's been a while since I heard that modern Hades' name." Vivian smiled as she leaned back. 

"Oh, this brings back how he literally stood up by that name by kidnapping an heiress. Sadly, it is not Persephone, but Vivian. I'll still kill him, though."

"But you can't kill someone who's already dead, Madam."

Vivian glared at Butler Yi. "That's why he's not haunting me. He knew he'd die twice — or thrice if he did."

Butler Yi held back on saying anything further. Instead, he remained silent and let Vivian read the documents from cover to cover. 

It's been a while since he saw Vivian this determined, but Butler Yi never felt this anxious for a very long time.

For a very long time before Matthew was even born. From that time the man known as the Modern Hades was still alive… Butler Yi never saw Vivian like who she was in the past.

"By the way, Butler Yi, I think I need to collect some debt from long ago." Vivian smirked as she recalled something.

****

[Matthew's Headquarters]

"Something is off." Inigo narrowed his eyes, watching Ivan spar and defeating them after a few blows.

"He got laid." Angelo assumed, crossing his arm as he stood beside Inigo. 

They had been noticing that the ever edgy Ivan had a change in attitude. What's more? Ivan was sparring and still smiling, as if he was brimming with energy.

"Wow. What a lucky man to get laid before knocking on death's door." Inigo awed, nodding approvingly as he made a slow clap. "I'm jealous."

"Why don't you go and f*ck someone? You have a few more hours before we depart." Angelo suggested, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.

Inigo only cast him a side eye and scoffed. "How about you?"

"Well, I'm not planning to die. I can do all that afterwards." Angelo raised his brows as he answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Makes sense." Inigo nodded, pressing and thrusting his bottom lips forward.

"Where's that dealer, anyway?" Angelo shifted the topic and Inigo just shrugged his shoulders. 

"He said he had to deal with something and went off. Are you worried about your husband?" 

"One more f*cking nonsense and I'll grant you your last will."

"Oops!" Inigo raised both his hands as he took a step back.

After taking a few steps, Inigo turned around and grinned mischievously. 

"I'm out of here. I don't want to get tangled in this love triangle. Give up, dude. Matthew is not into men." Inigo burst out into laughter, laughing like a devil as he walked away.

"Retard." Angelo scoffed as he shook his head and returned his focus to the men sparring not far away.

"He really got laid." He murmured, seeing that Ivan took down Ryan, one of Matthew's squad captains, within ten seconds.

"Damn, Cora. You raised the white flag too soon. But well, that's some kind of motivation for him to return in one piece. So, well done?"

****

Meanwhile, in a private room inside a fancy restaurant…

Matthew raised his head and met Zion's determined eyes. 

"You can't." He shook his head. "Zoey won't allow you to risk your life to save her."

"I won't." Zion urged. "Take me with you as your doctor. I'm young, but I have more achievements than most senior doctors. If you're going in a war, you need capable medics."

"Even if I need to, I won't take you." As firm as Zion, Matthew refused calmly. 

"Why?"

"I just told you the reason."

Zion remained silent as he swallowed down a mouthful of saliva. He had thought about this and he was determined to be the brother that Zoey needed. 

After a while, Zion mustered his courage and tried for the last time.

"If something happened to my sister, normal doctors would give up and declare her time of death. But I won't." Zion balled his hands into a fist as his eyes glinted with determination.

"I'll revive her back to life. I'm not going to save anyone else but Zoey. Anything is possible on the battlefield. Hence, I can't risk or take it if something happens, and I did nothing. I can't entrust her life to anyone else but myself."

Zion paused, his feet pushed himself back. Fist on his lap, he did a deep bow and said firmly.

"Please. Let me come."

Matthew raised his brow before a sigh escaped his lips. "You're just as stubborn as her. No doubt you two are siblings."

-----

Author's Note:

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