She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 348: Uncomfortable Truth

Alex strolled out of the Villa into the crisp afternoon air, the door clicking shut behind him with a satisfying finality. The sun had risen higher in the sky, bathing the estate in a warm, golden glow. As he walked toward his car, the gravel crunched under his boots while his mind continued to churn over his recent, productive discussion with Viktor.

A contented smile graced Alex’s lips.

Their conversation after the others had departed had been exceptionally fruitful. They had navigated the future, not with hollow dreams, but with cold, tactical precision. They mapped out the path ahead, the necessary positioning, the required resources, and the potential threats to keep on their radar.

Viktor’s military expertise proved to be a priceless asset, as he dissected Alex’s overarching vision into a sequence of concrete steps. He pointed out vulnerabilities in the current strategy and suggested alternatives that had completely eluded Alex’s less experienced perspective.

Alex had specifically tasked Viktor with finding trustworthy recruits.

"Loyalty is the core requirement," Alex had told him. "Whether they possess talent or not, I can nurture their growth. But I require men who will stand firm and not abandon us under pressure."

Recognizing the soundness of this approach, Viktor had immediately agreed.

"I will find the right people," Viktor had pledged. "I am looking for those with every reason to remain loyal—men betrayed by the current system, those with nowhere left to turn, who truly appreciate what genuine support and investment look like."

This mirrored the very principle Alex championed: prioritize investing in loyalty, and build proficiency thereafter.

Alex nodded, feeling a sense of deep satisfaction.

Yet, the most significant news—the revelation that rendered his investment not merely worthwhile but exceptionally profitable—had been saved for the end of their meeting. Viktor had shared something that made Alex’s entire morning feel like a resounding triumph.

"I’m on the verge of a breakthrough," Viktor had stated, his usual tactical stoicism giving way to an almost giddy excitement. "Entering the next stage: the Middle Apex Realm."

Alex merely blinked, struggling to grasp the speed of the news. Viktor had only reached the Early Apex stage a few weeks prior. How could he possibly be approaching another breakthrough so soon?

"The Elixir of Absolute Restoration," Viktor continued, shaking his head in sheer wonder. "Whatever it did to my system, it did more than heal me or push me to the Apex. It feels as if invisible shackles I never realized I bore were suddenly removed."

He paced toward the window, his movements fluid with that heightened grace characteristic of an Apex level Cultivation.

"My speed of Cultivation has exploded. Breakthroughs that should normally take months are unfolding in mere weeks. Barriers that would typically demand years of preparation now seem fragile... easily shattered. I haven't advanced this quickly in my life—not even when the House Blackthorne provided all their finest resources in my youth."

He turned to face Alex, his eyes shimmering with newfound intensity.

The satisfaction swelling within Alex’s heart was immense. Ten thousand CP—that was the price he had paid for the Elixir. With no discounts available, he had paid full price, and the returns had far exceeded just saving a life or reaching the Apex. It had fundamentally altered Viktor’s potential, transforming him into a prodigy capable of speeds that would surely alarm even the heirs of the Sacred House.

'This is what true investment looks like,' Alex reflected as he reached his vehicle. It was not merely about immediate rewards, but about compounding value that persists long after the initial transaction.

Viktor would soon attain the Middle, Late, and eventually, the Peak Apex. Once that happened, Alex would possess an asset more valuable than any sum of money—an Apex practitioner at the pinnacle of his realm, bound by unshakable loyalty, commanding a squad of equally devoted subordinates.

Alex slipped into his driver’s seat, ignited the engine, and navigated out of the circular drive. The estate grew smaller in his mirror, leaving behind a group already deeply immersed in their own Cultivation, straining toward the Peak Enhanced breakthrough that would redefine their future. In a month, he would have five Peak Enhanced fighters and a veteran Apex commander at his beck and call. Eventually, he would elevate them all to the Apex Realm, creating a formidable force of five fiercely loyal elites.

The pieces were falling into their rightful places. The game had begun.