The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70

For Nova, obliterating an entire family was a task as simple as breathing. On the battlefield, she never wasted a single word or gesture—her actions spoke louder than any speech could.

Ghost-Hammer, her most devoted and steadfast follower, had seen countless powerful clans crumble beneath Nova’s relentless hand, including some of the mightiest Fortune 500 empires. To him, this was nothing new.

Even when families fell to their knees, begging for mercy with desperate cries and tears, Nova remained unmoved—her resolve unshaken.

Rumors swirled around the mercenary queen known as Bloodforge, claiming her throne was forged from bloodshed and countless lives. They called her a ruthless killing machine, addicted to the carnage of war.

Yet, only those who stood beside her, like Ghost-Hammer, truly understood the harsh reality. On the battlefield, if Nova did not harden her heart and steel her nerves, she would have been dead long ago. In a world dominated by men, a woman who showed mercy was a woman who would be crushed without hesitation.

To Ghost-Hammer, this moment was Nova’s mercy in its purest form. For the sake of her family, she had restrained herself from unleashing her usual merciless fury.

Still, to the main family gathered before her, Nova’s words landed like a crushing psychological blow, draining the color from their faces and filling them with dread.

“Nova…” Charles’s voice cracked as he called out, shaken by the display of Ghost-Hammer’s strength. He had never imagined Nova would be allied with someone so formidable—someone who had just thrown Harvey aside with such ease.

Hannah, sitting beside Nova, nudged her arm and smiled wryly. “Honestly, for once, you didn’t seem so annoying,” she teased, a glint of relief in her eyes.

Alfred’s gaze flickered from the groaning Harvey sprawled on the ground back to Nova. His casual demeanor shifted subtly, replaced by a sharper, more scrutinizing look.

After a heavy silence, the members of the main family finally found their voices. “What do you mean by that? Telling us to shut up?” one spat.

“Make us disappear? You’d better have the skills to back up such threats, little girl,” another sneered.

“Charles’ useless daughter? Hiring a tough bodyguard doesn’t make you special,” a third scoffed.

“So what if your bodyguard’s strong? That’s his strength, not yours. Stop pretending to be something you’re not!” they all jeered, their anger bubbling to the surface.

These were not people to be underestimated. Once they recovered from their shock, they lashed out with venom, their contempt for Nova evident.

In their rigid worldview, a worthless father could only produce worthless offspring. To them, Nova was nothing but a disgrace.

“You scum! How dare you insult my boss like that! You’re asking for trouble,” Ghost-Hammer growled fiercely, stepping forward with fists clenched, ready to defend Nova.

With the might of the Bloodblade Mercenary Corps behind him, any one of its members could crush these insolent fools like mere insects.

Seventy of the top one hundred mercenaries on the international leaderboard belonged to Bloodblade. Ghost-Hammer’s fury burned hot. “How dare these fools disrespect Nova,” he thought, his muscles tensing for a fight.

“Enough!” Alfred’s voice thundered through the courtyard, silencing the uproar the moment Ghost-Hammer moved forward.

The authority of the family head was absolute; those who had been shouting fell into trembling silence.

Alfred turned his sharp gaze toward Nova, studying her carefully before addressing Charles and the others. “I failed to keep them in line. They spoke out of turn. You’ve come a long way. Please, come inside with me.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode through the main gate, leading the way.

As he ushered Nova’s group into the estate, Alfred commanded the remaining family members, “You are dismissed. Return to your rooms.”

Alfred’s emotions overwhelmed him for a moment, and he coughed harshly.

Charles quickly stepped forward, patting his father’s back gently. “Dad, are you alright?”

Alfred stopped coughing and waved off Charles’s concern. He turned his gaze sincerely toward Nova, Maxwell, and Hannah.

Catching his breath, he revealed with deep regret, “I’ve recently confirmed that Daniel is colluding with underground organizations.”

“Harvey, relying on his son’s rank of 2099th on the mercenary leaderboard, has been secretly dealing with international underworld forces, planning to liquidate our assets once he takes control.”

“Finley is in league with Harvey. If they succeed, our family will be torn apart.”

At last, Alfred realized the bitter truth: the three sons he had cherished most were scheming behind his back, while Charles—the one he had cast out years ago—was the only honest and steady son left. The weight of this realization filled Alfred with profound remorse.

“Dad, it’s not too late. There has to be a way to fix this,” Charles said quickly, trying to reassure his father.

Nova had already grasped the unspoken message—Alfred’s three sons were vying for control of the family, and if they succeeded, they would overturn a century of tradition and honor.

This explained why Alfred had been reaching out more and more, hoping Charles and his children could carry on the family name.

Sure enough, Alfred turned his last hopeful gaze toward Nova, Maxwell, and Hannah. Then, with solemn gravity, he declared, “Charles, your three brothers have orchestrated everything. Tomorrow’s birthday banquet will be the day I step down.”

“But before that happens, I demand one final ‘Ultimate Test’ for all eligible successors. The winner of this test will become the new head of the Blake family.”