Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

After receiving her father's promise, Isabel hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing what she could say and what were the absolute boundaries that could not be crossed.

Then, she looked up and uttered a name clearly and slowly:

"Father, have you heard of the 'Eight Directions Alliance' recently?"

Earl Arthur frowned even more deeply and said:

"Eight Directions Alliance?"

That mysterious organization that has recently stirred up the situation in the Far East and Southeast Asia?

I've heard a little about it.

It's supposedly a collaboration between Hong Kong triads and some local forces. What's going on?

His intelligence network was clearly not closed, but it was limited to the level of "having heard rumors".

Isabel nodded, then dropped the first bombshell, her voice steady yet enough to send a thunderclap through the silent study:

"The true core and leader of the 'Eight Directions Alliance' that is now shaking the underworld is Liu Jianguo."

This is one of the forces he controls.

"The leader of the alliance?"

Count Arthur's pupils contracted slightly.

He certainly understood the weight that the title of "Leader of the Eight-Party Alliance" represented in the current international undercurrents—

That would mean having direct and powerful control over a rapidly expanding behemoth that spans multiple countries.

This cannot be described simply as "having some influence".

The mocking look on his face quickly faded, replaced by a serious expression of reassessment.

"If... he really is that mysterious leader of the alliance,"

Marquis Arthur's voice lowered, and with a thoughtful tone, he continued:

"That is indeed... extraordinary."

This means he possesses astonishing resources, connections, and...dangerous influence.

His attitude shifted from pure contempt to a cautiousness mixed with apprehension and calculation.

However, Isabelle's next words completely overturned Count Arthur's newly established understanding of his identity as the "leader of the alliance".

She gently shook her head, her emerald eyes gleaming with a strange light in the firelight, a light that carried a hint of anticipation of her father's reaction, and a hint of resolute determination to reveal the secret.

"No, Father, you've misunderstood."

Her voice was soft, yet every word carried immense weight as she continued:

"It wasn't that he 'became' the leader of the Eight Directions Alliance, but rather... the Eight Directions Alliance itself, from beginning to end, was an extension of his personal will."

Currently, all the forces that have announced their membership in the alliance—the Lung Hing Gang in Hong Kong, the warlords in Southeast Asia, the forces in Japan—are not uniting, but rather pledging allegiance.

The object of their loyalty is the same person: Liu Jianguo. This so-called "alliance" is, in essence, a consolidation and display of his personal power.

"Private influence...it's all his private influence..."

Earl Arthur repeated the sentence to himself, as if he needed time to process the terrifying amount of information contained within it.

Not a loose alliance leader, but the sole "master" to whom all these infamous forces pledge their allegiance?

The meaning behind this sent a chill down his spine and made him feel a dizzying disbelief, even though he was used to seeing all sorts of things.

He staggered back a step and slumped into the heavy, high-backed leather chair behind him, which had belonged to the successive heads of the Cavendish family. His fingers unconsciously gripped the cold carvings on the armrests.

The only sounds in the study were the crackling of the fireplace and Count Arthur's slightly heavy breathing.

He sat there, like a statue suddenly stripped of some of its life, staring blankly at the leaping flames in the fireplace.

All the anger, disappointment, and contempt on his face had faded, leaving only immense shock and the rapid processing of his thoughts.

After a long while, he slowly raised his head and looked at his daughter who was still standing in the same place.

His eyes were completely different now; they held a complex look that was a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and even a hint of something subtle and difficult to detect.

His throat was a little dry, and he asked in a hoarse voice:

"You just said... this is only 'a portion that can be revealed'?"

Does the part you can't talk about... mean that it's in his hands?

"And they possess even more terrifying and astonishing power than this 'Eight-Way Alliance,' which can shake Southeast Asia...?"

Isabel met her father's shocked and inquisitive gaze, and her mind became perfectly clear.

She clearly sensed her father's change in attitude, from anger to shock and now to his probing.

She remembered that mysterious, unpredictable little world, full of endless possibilities, and that irreversible soul contract.

She thought of the little life in her womb, connected to her by blood and destined to be intertwined with that man's fate, and her sister Emily, with whom she also had an inseparable bond.

The sisters were already inextricably linked to that man and the incredible power he represented; their fates were intertwined, one for the other's glory and the other's ruin.

In that case, why not fight for a more stable and hopeful future for yourself and for this family, which, though rigid and strict, is ultimately the source of your bloodline?

The Cavendish family's ancient behemoth, somewhat subdued by the tides of time, was pulled aboard Liu Jianguo's new flagship, which was sailing against the wind and waves with unstoppable momentum.

Perhaps this is the only chance for the family to escape its declining predicament and be reborn.

Once the thought arose, it quickly became clear and firm.

She did not directly answer her father's question about the "more terrifying power," as that touched upon a core secret that could never be revealed.

But she gave a more impactful answer that was more in line with her father's way of thinking.

Isabel straightened her back slightly, which was a little heavy due to her pregnancy, and her face showed an expression that was a mixture of certainty, persuasion and even a subtle pride.

She looked at her father and said slowly:

"Father, what I can tell you is that what you see as the 'Eight Directions Alliance' may only be the tip of the iceberg."

He possesses far more knowledge than you can currently imagine.

She paused, letting the weight of her words sink into her father's heart, and then threw out the real bargaining chip—an irresistible temptation for any nobleman whose primary concern is the continuation of their family line.

"I suggest you set aside your aristocratic pride and your father's anger."

As the head of the Cavendish family, I took the initiative to have a serious talk with him.

It wasn't an interrogation, but rather... an exploration of potential collaborations.

Her voice was lower, yet all the more persuasive.

"Based on what I understand about the trends, if he's willing, he could preserve the Cavendish family's honor and influence..."

"To weather the storms of the future, to ensure at least another century of stable existence... is no exaggeration."

"To maintain for a century...to prosper for a century..."

Earl Arthur unconsciously repeated the two words, his heart feeling as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, then suddenly released, bringing a violent throbbing.

This is not an empty promise; it is a goal he has pursued all his life, yet knows all too well how difficult it is!

In this rapidly changing era where the old order is constantly being challenged, even a family with a deep-rooted heritage like the Cavendish family is merely trying to maintain its dignity and slowly coping with its decline.

Who dares to boast and guarantee the family's glory and prosperity for the next hundred years?

Even the most illustrious royal families wouldn't dare to be so certain.

But Isabel said so.

Moreover, it was said in such a solemn tone that it was almost like "revealing a secret".

Does she know what this means?

Doesn't she understand that for a noble patriarch who regards family lineage as his lifeblood and a responsibility above all else,

What kind of fatal attraction does the phrase "a century of prosperity" possess?

This is no longer a family crisis about the daughter's scandal.

This suddenly turned into an unprecedented, enormous opportunity, or... equally enormous risk, that could determine the fate of the family for the next hundred years.