Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

At the same time Paige Summers was meeting with Wendy Lowell, Marcus Monroe was far from idle.

In fact, today was a major day for Jovitas, as Black S had decided to make a public appearance for the first time by hosting a banquet.

The purpose of the event was to announce that Jovitas had its next successor: the individual codenamed Red S.

Within Jovitas, ranks were distinguished by codenames combining a color and a letter. Black was the most honored, and S was the highest designation.

The status of Red S was second only to Black S.

This meant the successor wouldn’t just become the new leader of Jovitas after Black S stepped down—he would wield the power corresponding to his codename effective immediately!

Inside Black S’s lavish office at Jovitas.

Black S, who had just passed fifty but already had a full head of white hair, was a far cry from his recent listlessness. Today, he seemed particularly invigorated.

He was even in high enough spirits to put on a bit of makeup, concealing his pale complexion.

He turned to look at Marcus Monroe, who stood tall and composed in the center of the room. Black S nodded in satisfaction, then said in a less serious tone, "It’s not too late to regret this. Becoming the leader of Jovitas brings great rewards, but it also comes with immense responsibility. After today, if you try to back out for any reason, you’ll be hunted to the death, relentlessly. And you know, I have three elders above me. They don’t usually get involved, but in a crisis, they’re far from just for show."

Marcus Monroe inclined his head slightly. "My promise was the result of careful consideration. It won’t be changed on a whim. You have nothing to worry about."

Black S laughed, amused. "When I first met you, I never would have pegged you as the type to be so devoted. It seems young Miss Paige Summers has quite the charm if you’re willing to shoulder this burden for her. Arrange for me to meet her when you have the time. I’m quite curious!"

Marcus Monroe didn’t rebut the teasing, offering only a slight twitch of his lips.

His decision to agree to Black S’s offer and take control of Jovitas had been made two days ago.

Sheldon Reid’s move against Bloodfall had made him understand one thing perfectly: within Central City, the men and connections he commanded were nowhere near enough to challenge a man like him.

He had to make a choice.

He was confident he could protect the lives of Paige Summers and those close to her.

But he knew how much of herself Paige had poured into Summers Armaments, and how much Bloodfall meant to her. He couldn’t stand by and let Sheldon Reid destroy everything she had worked so hard to build.

So, abandoning his previous passivity, he had taken the initiative and sought out Black S.

He promised to begin taking over factions within Jovitas immediately, vowing to manage them to Black S’s satisfaction.

And then, when Black S retired, he would shoulder the entire future of Jovitas!

As one might imagine, this meant he would have to pour immense energy into Jovitas. In a sense, he was abandoning his foundations in Southreach.

He knew Paige would never agree if she found out, which was why he had specifically arranged her meeting with Wendy Lowell for today.

Of course, there was another reason...

He followed Black S out of the second-floor office. Before he had even started down the stairs, he could hear the murmur of voices rising from the banquet hall, punctuated by the sound of arriving guests.

Among the footsteps, one set was particularly heavy and conspicuous.

They were perfectly synchronized, but it was clearly not the sound of a single person.

A cold glint appeared in his eyes. Just then, a subordinate approached Black S and him, bowed, and said, "Everyone has arrived."

Marcus Monroe glanced at the man, who immediately understood and added with a nod, "General Reid just entered with his men."

Black S clapped his hands. "Excellent! Since everyone’s here, it’s your turn to take the stage!"

The number of guests at the banquet wasn’t especially large, but every person who had received an invitation was an influential figure in Central City.

There was General Sheldon Reid of The Power Corps; the four heads of The Government, including the Chief Governor; and the patriarchs of the city’s dozen or so Noble Houses. Naturally, these individuals hadn’t come alone. Most brought their most capable subordinates or their most promising heirs.

But no matter who they were or how busy they were, no one had declined the invitation.

Even those who were out of town had sent a high-ranking representative in their place.

There was a simple reason for this: Jovitas was much more than an entertainment empire. Even its information brokerage was just one part of its business.

Their greatest source of wealth was the Black Market.

It was safe to say that there wasn’t a single person in the room who hadn’t patronized the regularly held Black Market auctions.

Furthermore, every house had moments of desperate need for a certain item. Posting a public request was unrealistic, and there was no guarantee anyone would even accept it. But if you could contact the Jovitas staff who specialized in Black Market transactions and could afford their asking price, then—barring a few extremely rare exceptions—you had nothing to worry about. The item would be in your hands within the specified time, guaranteed.