Since Han Shuo left the City of Shadows, the members of the House of Han had retreated to Lasberg Fortress. They had been quietly expanding their influence and business in the fort without interfering in the affairs of the City of Shadows.

Wallace, the Lord of the City of Shadows, had given tacit approval for the House of Han to leave the city centre. He had not informed the House of Han that they were to be involved in all matters large and small relating to the city. He had excluded the House of Han from any involvement in the running of the city.

As the Fringe was simply too far away from the City of Shadows, it was very difficult for news to reach the City of Shadows from the Fringe. This was exacerbated by the unique migration patterns.

Criminals and outlaws from all over the Twelve Dominions would usually head to the Fringe out of desperation. They would bring with them the latest news from every corner of Elysium.

However, very few of the fierce Gods who entered the Fringe would ever get the chance to return to their respective Dominions. This created a phenomenon where countless experts migrated to the Fringe, but few migrated from it. As a result, news from the Fringe was slow to reach the rest of Elysium.

The last news Phoebe, Emily and the others heard about Han Shuo was that he had left Ethereal City for the Fringe. They had no idea what was happening in the Fringe or how he was doing.

Even City Lord Wallace had no idea how well Han Shuo was doing in the Fringe. Han Shuo had broken off all contact and seemed to have disappeared forever. No one knew when or if he'd ever return to the City of Shadows.

After seeing the countless miracles that Han Shuo had performed during his time in the city, Wallace had begun to stifle the power of the House of Han for the future of the House of Saint in the City of Shadows. However, knowing that the House of Han was close friends with Andre, Carmelita, Aobashi, Erebus and others, Wallace did not go too far.

Wallace seemed to tacitly approve of Han Shuo's decision to move all the manpower and resources of the House of Han to Fort Lasberg. He even showed absolutely no interest or reaction when the Divine Guards of the Fifth Corps left the city and moved to Fort Lasberg.

Fort Lasberg was on the edge of the city's sphere of influence. From Wallace's point of view, the House of Han could not cause him any trouble from that region. As long as the House of Han didn't extend their influence into the city, Wallace would be happy and leave the family clan to their own devices.

However, back when Han Shuo lived in the City of Shadows, he had offended too many people, such as Hofs of Hushveil City, which was uncomfortably close to Fort Lasberg. After a few years of extensive investigation, Hofs learned that the culprits who had attacked Hushveil City were Han Shuo and Rose.

And after further investigation, he found that Wallace had apparently deliberately alienated the House of Han. Hofs had searched for Han Shuo to take revenge. After failing to find him, he turned his attention to the House of Han at Fort Lasberg.

Aside from Hofs, there was another person who was eyeing Fort Lasberg with a vengeance. He came from the most powerful family clan in the Darkness Dominion, the House of Broadhurst. Not only had they lost many of their Highgods to Han Shuo, but their son had been murdered before his arranged marriage to Donna.

After many years of thorough investigation, Larikson was able to determine that Han Shuo was the person who had murdered his son. It was easy to see why he would want to kill Han Shuo and every member of his family clan. The House of Broadhurst controlled the City of Gorging Clouds, the most powerful city in the Darkness Dominion. Larikson was a greater threat to Fort Lasberg than Hofs.

Larikson and Hofs had an identical goal, and they made a pact soon after their first meeting. They intended to join forces and destroy the House of Han at Fort Lasberg. The two were confident that they could destroy Fort Lasberg with the help of the formidable experts at their disposal.

***In Hushveil City, Hofs and Larikson were talking in the City Lord's mansion.

Hofs and Larikson had been planning an attack on Fort Lasberg for a long time. The two were confident that the forces they commanded would be able to flatten Fort Lasberg. But there was still one thing holding them back.

"Lord Larikson, I have no doubt that by working together we can achieve our goal. My only concern is Wallace. After all, Fort Lasberg is City of Shadows territory. If we were to invade the fort, Wallace might retaliate and we could start a civil war.

Fort Lasberg is City of Shadows territory. Entering the fort to attack the House of Han would be a provocation against the City of Shadows. This could potentially lead to a war between the cities of the Dark Dominion. That was certainly not something the Overlord of Darkness wished to see.

Larikson, his mind filled with a thirst for vengeance, replied, "Don't worry, Wallace will not make an enemy of us for a small House of Han. He will turn a blind eye when we lay siege to Fort Lasberg.

Hofs seemed pleasantly surprised and exclaimed, "You mean Wallace...?"

Larikson nodded in the affirmative and explained, "I have communicated with Wallace. He will act as if we have taken him by surprise. And after the event, the most he will do is publicly denounce us. He won't go to war against us for a small family clan. Hehe, the House of Han threatens the House of Sainte's position in the City of Shadows. The way I see it, Wallace wouldn't be happier to see the House of Han destroyed!"

"Then there's nothing for me to worry about," Hofs exhaled before flashing an evil grin and saying, "Let's begin our operation!"

"Yes. Gather your troops. We will march on Fort Lasberg soon. Those in the House of Han are incapable of resisting us. We will massacre every last one of the family clan!" said Larikson angrily.

"And I believe that after the House of Han is destroyed, Bryan will rush home, no matter where he is. And when he returns, we will get rid of him!" Hofs laughed heartily. It had taken him years and much effort to suppress the family clans in Hushveil City within his sphere of influence. He could not be happier to think that he would soon have his revenge.

*** Inside the Han residence at Fort Lasberg. The members of the House of Han had become aware of Hofs and Larikson's plan.

For the past few years, the House of Han had stopped expanding in the City of Shadows. They had not even opened a new Celestial Pearl branch in the city and had distanced themselves from the affairs of the city. They had become silent. But secretly, the House of Han was growing.

Although the House of Han had stopped expanding in the City of Shadows, they were working with many of the great family clans in the Dominions of Death and Destruction, expanding Celestial Pearl's influence and business into those Dominions. With even greater sources of income, the House of Han was able to recruit even more experts.

Before Han Shuo left the City of Shadows, he had built layer upon layer of defensive formations, as well as the Eight Desolation and Torment Formation in Lasberg Fortress. The members of the House of Han had trained within the formation, and their overall strength had improved greatly.

The House of Han had established a decent information network in the Dominions of Death, Darkness and Destruction. It was through this network that they learned of Larikson's visits to the courtyards of Hushveil City. Based on the unusual activities of Larikson and Hofs, the House of Han concluded that the two were planning to attack Fort Lasberg.

Although the House of Han had been rapidly strengthening, they were still no match for the forces commanded by Hofs and Larikson. Hofs was the City Lord of Hushveil City, while Larikson was the brother of the patriarch of the House of Broadhurst. If the two joined forces to attack Fort Lasberg, the House of Han would inevitably be defeated.

Phoebe, Emily, Ayermike, Stratholme, Sanguis, Bollands, Gilbert and all the other core members of the House of Han gathered in the meeting room of the Han residence. They discussed how to defend themselves against Hofs and Larikson's invasion.

"We have received Intel that Larikson, a Late-stage Highgod himself, has brought three Highgods with him to Hushveil City. Hofs, the City Lord of Hushveil City, will surely bring a large number of his city's divine guards to the invasion. We are outnumbered and outgunned," Emily worriedly informed those in the meeting room.

The party felt helpless against the two formidable forces. It was impossible for the House of Han to withstand the power of a city in just a few years.

"Too bad Master is not with us, otherwise these two guys would regret ever having been born!" remarked Gilbert. To him, Han Shuo had always been an invincible force. Although both Larikson and Hofs were formidable in their own right, they had suffered defeats at the hands of Han Shuo and were obviously no match for him.

"Hmph, with Master in Lasberg Fortress, I doubt these two would even have the guts to attack us!" Sanguis said coldly. He was enraged, and his pupils immediately turned blood red as a visible mist of blood emanated from his body. From the aura he was emitting, it was obvious that his strength had increased once again in these few years.

"But Bryan is not here, and we must rely on ourselves," Stratholme knitted his brows tightly and said, "We must not leave the fort, for we have set up defences. We would be even more powerless against our enemies outside the fort." Stratholme paused for a moment and continued calmly, "Send a message to Erebus, Aobashi, Carmelita and Andre, informing them of our situation. If they can get to Fort Lasberg in time, our chances could be greatly improved."

"Alright, I'll get it done," Phoebe said before sending messengers immediately. Fort Lasberg was suddenly very busy. Several Shadows were rushing out of the fort as fast as they could to ensure the survival of the House of Han.

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