Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

This was the power of Jovitas!

Who would want to cross a power like that?

No one.

So when Sheldon Reid, standing in the banquet hall as he casually lifted a glass of wine, overheard whispers from nearby—"He’s here, he’s here! Is that Black S?" "The young man next to him must be his heir!"—he couldn’t help but turn to look at the entrance.

But when he saw that all-too-familiar face, his pupils constricted in an instant!

He wasn’t the only one to react so strongly, but there weren’t many.

After all, Marcus Monroe had been in Central City for some time. No matter how low-key he was, he had still met a few people.

They had sensed the young man was extraordinary, but they never imagined he would be the next heir to the renowned Jovitas.

It was more than a little surprising.

Marcus Monroe, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed. He followed Black S toward the stage with a steady, calm demeanor. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

But anyone who thought he hadn’t noticed a thing was sorely mistaken.

With a single, subtle glance, he had already taken in the reactions of everyone worth watching.

Especially Sheldon Reid.

The very reason he’d asked Black S to move the banquet to today was to send Sheldon Reid a message: just because he was the commander of the Power Corps didn’t mean he could do whatever he wanted to Paige Summers and her friends. And the Mercer Family wasn’t the only power he had to be wary of!

The moment Black S and Marcus Monroe stepped onto the stage, the banquet hall fell silent. Everyone watched them, their minds racing and their gazes full of speculation.

But as far as Black S was concerned, he was the real one watching the show.

’How amusing, the looks on their faces!’

All their usual arrogance had vanished. Now, they were all putting on a friendly act.

They wanted to get on Jovitas’s good side, to find allies among its people. What they really wanted was to either eliminate their rivals and seize power in this city, or to grow their own families and hoard more resources!

’Whether for fame or for fortune, it’s all just as laughable.’

’Just like me. I’m already at death’s door, yet I still can’t let go of Jovitas.’

’This is my shackle!’

He slowly smiled at the crowd. "This banquet has two purposes. First, to satisfy your curiosity. I hear many of you want to see my face. While I personally have no idea what good that will do, I am a kind man, and I’m more than happy to grant your wish!"

His tone was witty and humorous, and the crowd below chuckled appreciatively.

He continued in a leisurely tone, "As for the second reason... well, I imagine you’ve already guessed. I want to introduce someone to you." He clapped Marcus Monroe on the shoulder. "Let’s hear it for him! For Red S of Jovitas! The future heir!"

The crowd below immediately erupted in applause.

Marcus Monroe nodded in acknowledgment.

Only when the applause died down did he speak, his words brief and powerful. "Jovitas will continue to serve you with the utmost sincerity, as always!"

And with that single sentence, the address was over.

Many in the crowd felt it wasn’t nearly enough.

They had hoped to glean more about his personality from his words, which would make future dealings easier. But apparently, whether out of caution or cunning, his speech was unexpectedly brief.

After the main address, it was time for the reception.

Black S had no patience for dealing with so many people, so after a short while, he departed, leaving only Marcus Monroe.

Seeing that Black S was gone, the various bigwigs also made their excuses and left, as if on cue.

In their eyes, Marcus Monroe was, after all, a junior. It would be inappropriate for them to act overly familiar. Rather than linger awkwardly, it was better to take their leave and let the younger generation mingle among themselves.

And so, before long, the hall was filled mostly with young people.

As the man of the hour, Marcus Monroe naturally had to make his rounds.

He was immediately met with a series of introductions.

"This is Mr. Harrison Eustace, the Chief Executive Officer’s eldest son."

"This is Mr. Roman Yorke, Executive Officer Yorke’s only son."

"This is Mr. Justin Mercer, the eldest son of Patriarch Mercer."

"..."

Although Marcus Monroe was usually a serious man, he could also be perfectly sincere when he wanted to be—like now, for instance.

He was making a conscious effort to build good relationships with them, so naturally, he didn’t come across as unapproachable.

As a result, most of the people introduced to him left with a good impression. They felt that compared to the inscrutable Black S, this new Red S was rather amiable and probably wouldn’t be too difficult to get along with.

This was, of course, good news for everyone, so for a time, the atmosphere remained quite harmonious.

The only exception was Sheldon Reid. When Marcus reached him, the atmosphere shifted.