Chapter 8 Silent Battlefield

The commotion was too loud, quickly alerting the general manager of Ember Grove Club.

The manager rushed over, his forehead beaded with cold sweat.

"Mr. Harrison, this..."

Nicholas's gaze was sharp as a blade as he glanced at him.

"My friend is missing."

His tone was flat, yet carried undeniable authority.

"Clear the venue immediately."

"This..."

The manager's legs trembled with fear. Clear the venue? How much would they lose? But the man before him was Nicholas—a titan whose slightest move could shake the entire business world. How could he dare refuse?

He could only nod repeatedly, bowing and scraping. "Yes, yes, Mr. Harrison, I'll handle it right away!"

The manager wiped his sweat and reluctantly pushed open the door to Emma's private dining room.

The atmosphere inside had been somewhat tense, with Matthew holding a wine glass, his eyes playing with amusement as he looked at Ethan across from him, apparently discussing something.

"Distinguished guests, I'm terribly sorry for the interruption."

The manager's face was plastered with an apologetic smile, though his voice trembled slightly.

"There's been an emergency at the club, and we need to temporarily clear the venue. I must ask everyone to..."

He paused, adding, "This meal is on the house. We're truly sorry."

A table of people enjoying their meal, being suddenly asked to leave, who wouldn't be upset?

Several people who had come with Matthew already looked displeased.

Ethan's handsome face, which had been wearing a gentle smile, instantly darkened upon hearing "clear the venue."

Nicholas?

What was he trying to do?

Besides him, who else had the power to demand a venue clearing?

Matthew, seated in the host's chair, looked even more ominously displeased. He slowly set down his wine glass, the bottom making a soft clink against the table.

He laughed coldly. He naturally guessed whose handiwork this was, but this method was rather crude.

"Nicholas's attitude is quite arrogant indeed."

He turned to Jack beside him with instructions.

"Go buy this club."

His tone was casual, yet carried absolute dominance.

"From now on, it'll serve as Moore Group's employee cafeteria."

This was simply provocation, a declaration of war against Nicholas through the very air.

The manager listened with growing alarm, his voice cracking. "Mr. Moore, please calm down! Just now... just now, Mr. Harrison already acquired the restaurant under Harrison Group."

The air instantly froze. Matthew's gaze turned ice-cold and razor-sharp.

Ethan frowned deeply as he stood up.

"Mr. Moore, my apologies. I need to go see what's happening."

He needed to know what the hell Nicholas was up to.

Before leaving, he specifically instructed the manager.

"Don't disturb the guests at this table."

The manager repeatedly agreed! The door closed.

Emma held her water glass, her fingertips slightly pale.

Nicholas—what was he losing his mind over?

Clearing the venue? Buying the restaurant?

Coming out for a meal and running into this man having a breakdown?

Her chest felt inexplicably tight.

Meanwhile, Nicholas practically kicked open an employee break room door.

The scene inside made his pupils constrict sharply, his heart skipping half a beat.

Zoe was pinned against the wall by a stranger in a server's uniform, the man's hand around her throat. He held a fruit knife in his other hand, his eyes wild and twisted, muttering incoherently.

A crazed fan!

Nicholas's face went deathly pale, but the next second, towering fury consumed him.

He became almost a blur as he charged forward.

Without giving the other man any chance to react, he lifted his foot and kicked viciously!

The man flew like a rag doll, hitting the wall and sliding to the ground, curling up in pain.

The fruit knife clattered to the floor.

Zoe's whole body went limp as she collapsed, but seeing Nicholas, tears instantly poured down her face.

She crawled and scrambled into his arms, clinging to him desperately, sobbing uncontrollably."Nicholas... I was so scared... I thought..."

She shook all over, her face pale as paper, lacking even the strength to stand.

Nicholas held her tightly, clearly feeling her body's trembling, his heart clenching with sharp pain.

He gently patted her back, his voice tender beyond measure, carrying soothing power.

"It's okay, Zoe, it's okay. I'm here."

If he'd been even a minute later, the consequences would have been unthinkable!

A terrifying darkness flashed in Nicholas's eyes.

He carefully lifted the traumatized Zoe in his arms.

She clung to him, burying her face in his chest, seeking security.

Nicholas carried her out of the break room.

Just reaching the corridor, he encountered Ethan hurrying over.

Seeing Zoe in this condition, Ethan was also startled.

"What happened?"

Nicholas didn't pause in his steps, his voice cold as ice.

"Zoe was taken hostage. She's traumatized."

His gaze swept coldly over the vintage-styled club, carrying undisguised disgust and lethal determination.

"That bastard—make him disappear from Emerald City forever. This club has no reason to exist either!"

With that, he carried Zoe in his arms and strode away without looking back.

Emma stood at her private dining room door, witnessing this scene perfectly.

Watching Nicholas cradle Zoe like a precious treasure, careful and protective, his hurried steps and the tense lines of his profile radiating an inviolable protectiveness.

She couldn't describe the feeling in her heart.

A bit sour, a bit bitter.

More than anything, it was a sense of powerlessness.

He truly pampered that woman!

Leaving the club, Matthew brought Emma to a gleaming new skyscraper.

Emma craned her neck back until it nearly broke.

"Forty-eight floors," she murmured. This building was ridiculously tall.

Matthew smiled and gestured. "Let's go inside and take a look."

The elevator went straight to the top floor. When the doors opened, the expansive space and excellent view practically overlooked half of Emerald City.

The décor was minimalist modern style, yet luxury showed in every detail.

"Matthew, this is way too extravagant!" Emma couldn't help but gasp. "You actually bought it? I thought you were just temporarily renting space—that you'd leave after the summit. This is a bit much!"

Matthew walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, hands in his pockets, his posture straight.

His jawline was taut, his gaze fixed on the distance where another equally magnificent building stood, its rooftop blazing with the enormous "Harrison Group" advertising sign.

The corner of his mouth curved into a cold arc.

"Rent?" His voice was light, carrying a hint of disdain. "How boring would that be?"

Emma watched his profile, sunlight outlining his perfect features. The powerful aura of strategic command radiating from him made her heart skip a beat.

"How much did this cost?" she asked teasingly. "Is Moore Group planning to permanently establish itself in Emerald City?"

Matthew turned around, his dark eyes deep and locked on her.

"Since the battlefield has shifted here," his voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, "naturally one must prepare everything necessary..."

He paused, his gaze flicking again toward Harrison Group's building, carrying the sharp focus of a hunter targeting prey.

"To deliver a killing blow to the enemy."

Emma looked at his serious expression and laughed dismissively. "You just arrived in Emerald City—what enemies could you possibly have?"

He locked her in his intense gaze. "I do, and they're very powerful!"

Emma laughed again and said nothing more, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the building across from them—Emerald City's tallest tower, bearing the Harrison Group name.

Harrison Group, CEO's office.

Nicholas stood by the window, a cigarette between his fingers that he hadn't lit.

His brow was furrowed deeply, contemplating the same question.

Matthew. This business titan from Novaria, the powerhouse behind Moore Group. Why had he specifically chosen Emerald City to host a Global Medical Summit?

And so boldly announced Dr. N's comeback.

What was he really after?

A knock came at the door, and Ethan entered.

"Still thinking about Matthew?"

Nicholas hummed in response, placing the cigarette on his desk.

"Moore Group's main operations aren't even in this region. His coming to Emerald City is too deliberate."

Ethan walked to his side, following his gaze out the window.

"I do remember something," Ethan said thoughtfully. "He once mentioned offhandedly that he had old friends in Emerald City."

Nicholas whipped around to look at him.

"Old friends?" His heartbeat quickened. "What old friends? Related to Dr. N?"

Ethan's expression grew serious, too. "Hard to say. But the timing is too coincidental. Dr. N disappears for so long, then just as Matthew comes to Emerald City and boldly announces the summit, news breaks of the comeback."

An absurd yet highly plausible thought struck Nicholas like lightning.

His pupils contracted slightly.

Could Dr. N actually be in Emerald City?

The possibility sent a profound shock through his entire being!