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366 lines
7.9 KiB
Markdown
366 lines
7.9 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "Chapter 204: A face in the cloud"
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slug: "ch-204"
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novel: "Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100"
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number: 204
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views: 0
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likes: 0
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wordCount: 1255
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createdAt: "2026-04-13"
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---
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Max remained silent.
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His mind raced, searching for a way out of this predicament.
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Never—not even once—had he expected anyone to question his identity.
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He had been meticulous.
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Painstakingly cautious about anything that could hint at his connection to the Voidwalkers.
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Every step.
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Every interaction.
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Every trace of his existence—all carefully curated to avoid suspicion.
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And, as if fate itself had shielded him, even his blood didn’t match that of his sister.
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By all logic, there should have been no reason for anyone to link him to Freya.
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Yet—
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Here he was.
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Standing before Aurelia Fireborne, leader of the Phoenix Order, facing the very question he had feared the most.
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’Just because my talent is above hers?’
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Max’s pulse quickened.
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But his face?
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Unreadable.
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He couldn’t afford to falter. Not now.
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Taking a steady breath, he spoke—his tone calm, controlled.
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"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
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His gaze met Aurelia’s, unwavering.
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"But I am not who you think I am. I am Max Morgan—not a Voidwalker."
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His voice carried just enough confusion, as if he were genuinely baffled by the accusation.
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Then, without hesitation—
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"If that’s all you wanted to ask—"
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He turned around.
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"I’ll be taking my leave."
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Aurelia watched as Max walked toward the door, a small smile forming on her lips.
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"Don’t take my words to heart," she said, her tone light yet laced with meaning. "After all, it’s just an assumption at this point."
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Then, her voice shifted—turning sharper.
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"But I must warn you… Do not mistake my daughter’s simplicity for ignorance. If I can piece this together, then she might have her own suspicions as well."
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Max paused at the threshold, his hand resting on the door.
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For a brief moment—he considered her words.
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Then—without turning back—
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"I’ll keep that in mind."
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With that, he left.
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Aurelia remained seated, her gaze lingering on the now-closed door.
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Her smile faded.
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Her expression grew solemn.
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’The ability to fight ten levels above one’s rank…’
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She leaned back in her chair, deep in thought.
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’Max Morgan… your talent knows no bounds.’
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Her fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.
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’And if I can see this—’
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Her eyes narrowed.
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’What about the rest of the world?’
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***
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Alice stepped forward, her eyes locked onto Max as he exited the Hall of Elders.
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Something about his expression felt off.
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"What did my mother say?"
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Max didn’t answer immediately. His brows were furrowed, his mind elsewhere.
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Alice’s frown deepened.
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"What happened? Did she scold you?"
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Still no response.
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Her concern grew.
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Then—
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Max finally looked at her.
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And forced a small smile.
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"It’s nothing. Your mother just gave me a deadline to reach Adept Rank… which I think is way too soon."
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Alice sighed in relief.
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"Yeah, that sounds like her. But don’t take it too seriously. She says things like that just to push me forward… even when she doesn’t really mean them."
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Max nodded. His face held a smile.
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But his thoughts were elsewhere.
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Something was weighing on him.
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Alice could tell.
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Yet—
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She didn’t press.
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Max stretched his arms slightly.
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"Alice, I’m tired. I’ll see you later."
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Alice studied him for a moment.
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Then nodded.
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"Alright, rest up. We’ll meet at our usual place tomorrow."
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Max nodded awkwardly before turning to leave, ready to retreat to his room and process everything.
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But just as he took a step—
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The doors to the Hall of Elders swung open.
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Aurelia stepped out.
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Her sharp gaze landed on him immediately.
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"I forgot to mention—The Envoy is expecting you tomorrow. Be ready in the morning. I’ll take you there myself."
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Max’s brows furrowed.
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"Are the four families also involved in this?"
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Aurelia nodded.
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"Every major power in the East Region will be present. Tomorrow isn’t just about the Envoy meeting you… it’s the official welcoming ceremony for them."
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Max exhaled slowly.
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So it wasn’t just a private meeting.
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It was a full-scale gathering.
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"Alright, I’ll be there in the morning."
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Just as he finished speaking—
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Alice stepped forward, her tone laced with frustration.
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"Mother, why didn’t you tell me this before?"
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Aurelia shot her a cold glare.
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"Because I won’t allow you to go."
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Alice stiffened.
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"But Mother—"
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"No buts." Aurelia’s voice was firm. "You’re too weak to be there."
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Alice clenched her fists.
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Aurelia’s gaze softened slightly.
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"The King of the West’s birthday is in four months. Use that time wisely—cultivate to the peak of Apprentice Rank. If you do, I promise to take you there. You wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to meet Princess Aveline, would you?"
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Alice bit her lip.
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Then, reluctantly—
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She nodded.
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Max was about to say something to Alice—
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But then—
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A sudden shift in the air.
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A crushing force descended from above.
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His instincts screamed.
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His head snapped up.
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The sky—
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Pitch black.
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The clouds churned violently, swallowing all traces of light.
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And the pressure—
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Overwhelming.
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A suffocating weight settled over the entire East Region.
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Weaker experts—struggling to even stand.
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Their breaths turned ragged, their bodies trembling under the sheer force of it.
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This wasn’t normal.
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This wasn’t natural.
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Something was coming.
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Aurelia stepped forward.
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"Stay behind me. Both of you."
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Her voice was calm, but urgent.
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Her aura flared—golden flames bursting to life around her.
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A shield of energy wrapped around Max and Alice, keeping the crushing pressure at bay.
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Max’s eyes remained locked on the sky.
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’What the hell is descending upon the East Region?’
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The entire East Region was in turmoil.
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From the four great families to the five major guilds, every leader stood in silence—faces dark, expressions grim.
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All eyes turned to the sky, where the suffocating pressure radiated like an invisible storm.
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They all knew.
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There was only one person in the East Region capable of something like this.
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Somewhere, within an enormous estate, a golden villa stood at the heart of an expansive garden.
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A middle-aged man stood at the balcony—broad-shouldered, his dark red hair neatly tied back.
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His face remained calm, but his eyes—
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Sharp. Piercing. Unwavering.
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Like the others, he too, was staring at the sky.
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His frown deepened.
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"This pressure…"
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His voice was low, but the weight behind his words was undeniable.
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"It surpasses the peak of Expert Rank, yet at the same time… it doesn’t."
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His fists clenched slightly.
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"Someone here… is dangerously close to reaching Master Rank?"
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A pause.
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Then—
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Shock.
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"How is this possible?!"
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The sky twisted—black clouds merging, swirling, converging.
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Then—
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A face formed.
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A massive, ominous visage loomed over the entire East Region.
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The sight sent a chill down the spines of countless experts.
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Because that face—
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It was unmistakable.
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Cruel. Unforgiving. A harbinger of slaughter.
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The Young Monarch.
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Gasps echoed across the region.
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Panic spread like wildfire.
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Then, his voice thundered—
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Deep. Unyielding.
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"Where is Aurelia? Show yourself!"
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The words rippled through the heavens, shaking the very foundation of the land.
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Max’s frown deepened.
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’Looking for her?’
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His gaze shifted to Aurelia.
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But she had already stepped forward.
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Her aura surged, blazing with an intensity that pushed back against the crushing pressure.
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Then—
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She spoke.
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"I am right here."
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The eyes within the swirling black clouds locked onto Aurelia—
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Cold. Unwavering. Absolute.
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Then—
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He spoke.
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"You have two choices."
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The pressure thickened, suffocating even the strongest experts in the region.
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"Cut off all ties with Max Morgan…"
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A pause.
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Then, his next words shook the very sky itself.
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"Or… I shall come for the Phoenix Flames myself." |