Outside the bar, members of the Earthen Hall were waiting. Vivian had returned to the


    headquarters of Dragon Alliance hours ago to handle urge matters, so these guards had been reassigned from Yardley Dining.


    As they drove, Theodore suddenly spoke up, "Now I remember why Meadowspring sounded familiar."


    "What do you mean?" Felix asked. The address the brute left was called Meadowspring, an oddly named ce.


    "It''s a branch vige of the Saplu


    We need to be extremely careful." His voice


    alone showed how wary he was of the Saphiras


    "Are they that dangerous?"


    Theodore gave Felix a strange look, wondering how someone important enough to mobilize Dragon Alliance could be so ignorant.


    "Eight ancient martial arts families have survived in modern Dragonia, with one in each province''s capital. We have one in Canraville, which is the Saphira family."


    Seeing Felix''s nk look, Theodore continued, "These eight families have maintained their power for thousands of years. Here''s some perspective. Martial Alliance is nothing to them." Felix pondered this before asking, "So, are you saying we''ll be in their territory since Meadowspring is their branch vige?"


    "Exactly! We must be careful. I''m not even sure if Dragon Alliance could afford to offend the Saphira family."


    He knew Felix relied on Dragon Alliance. But against one of the eight ancient martial arts families with who-knows-how-old monsters, the oue was uncertain without a real fight. They parked at the vige entrance. After the three got out of the car, a dozen Earthen Hall members followed behind.


    When they arrived at the western side, there was a graveyard. Choosing this as a meeting point had to be a sinister choice or something more calcted.


    "My boss was right. This Michelle girl means a lot to you, Rnd." The brute from the bar stood by a grave with Michelle unconscious beside him. "Theodore, get her!" Though Felix had lost his powers, he could still gauge strength. The brute was no match for Theodore,


    Surprisingly, the man did not resist as Theodore rescued Michelle. Felix checked her. She was just unconscious, thankfully. He then heaved a sigh of relief.


    "Sir, since we don''t know each other, what grudge do you have against us? Why are you doing this?" Rnd demanded.


    He had been suppressing his rage all this while. Now that Michelle was safe, of course he would ask questions.


    But the brute, Max Snyder, grinned as he mocked, "Remember Pearly from Crescent Lake?"