Chapter 606

Evelyn Ross's gaze settled on Old Master Castillo.

For the world's top powers to willingly become their pawns, the strength of the Sterling Family was already beyond imagination.

Yet, no matter how powerful a commercial empire or how prominent a nation, they all leave traces in this world. The Sterling Family, a clan whose very name is scarcely known, what could possibly make the world's most elite entities flock to them?

Old Master Castillo met their gazes, a bitter smile touching his lips. "The Sterling Family holds a secret."

Evelyn's eyes brightened. "What secret?"

Old Master Castillo spoke slowly. "They can glimpse the future."

Evelyn was stunned.

She even doubted her own hearing.

Just moments ago, she was silently reaffirming her materialism, her belief in science. Old Master Castillo's words felt like a heavy hammer striking her heart.

Foresee the future?

That was simply absurd!

Evelyn frowned, suddenly feeling the Sterling Family resembled charlatans peddling superstition.

Old Master Castillo seemed to see through her thoughts. He smiled faintly. "When I was young, I was like you. I believed only in myself, not in gods or ghosts, and certainly never prayed to any deity. But the Sterling Family is different."

Evelyn pressed. "How are they different? Please, don't keep me in suspense."

Old Master Castillo sighed. "At regular intervals, the Sterling Family releases prophecies concerning the world's major powers on the dark web. If they say a certain family is about to rise, that family, even if it's a complete mess, will suddenly soar to prominence. If they say a certain business titan is about to fall, that titan, even at the peak of its power, will collapse precisely at the time they predicted."

Evelyn's brow remained furrowed. "Couldn't that just be the result of their own covert manipulation?"

Old Master Castillo shook his head. "No matter how powerful a force, destroying a small family is easy. But the Sterling Family can make a world power go bankrupt. They can make a globally renowned alliance vanish. They can even completely alter the fate of a nation."

Evelyn was speechless.

Old Master Castillo's smile was bitter. "Does it sound unbelievable? If whatever they say comes true, wouldn't that make them the masters of this world? That's why I refused to believe it when I was young. Back then, when the Sterling Family invited the Castillo family to participate in the heir competition, I flatly refused."

He paused, his voice carrying the weight of years. "Then, I spent a lifetime proving that the Sterling Family is truly terrifying. If the Castillo family didn't align with them, we would likely face ruin. But if we joined them, the Castillo family's future would be limitless."

Evelyn was slightly dazed. "How do they actually do it?"

"I don't know."

Old Master Castillo shook his head. "Over the years, I've pondered this repeatedly. No single country or individual can truly control the entire globe. Yet the Sterling Family has done it. It's as if they possess some kind of magic. Their words become reality. I've verified it countless times, and in the end, I had no choice but to believe."

Listening to this tale that sounded like a fantasy, Evelyn couldn't help but ask, "Then do you know where the Sterling Family is located?"

"No."

Old Master Castillo shook his head again. "That's the most frightening part. A family so powerful, yet no outsider knows their whereabouts. They seem to be everywhere, capable of anything... I cannot fathom how vast the Sterling Family's influence truly is."

He looked at Alexander Vance. "Young man, what you said earlier about the Sterling Family using the world to breed champions is both right and wrong. Right, because that is indeed what they are doing. Wrong, because... the world's powers willingly let themselves be used. Because only by being useful to them can they secure growth."

...

When Evelyn and Alexander left Old Master Castillo's study, their minds were in turmoil.

She was utterly shaken by his words.

Old Master Castillo was not someone who hadn't seen the world. He was a member of a foreign royal family, from a wealthy, powerful, and highly respected nation.

Yet, even a person who had witnessed decades of global upheaval still regarded the Sterling Family with such awe.

Evelyn pressed her lips together. "Do you think, with the Sterling Family being this powerful, we can still rescue my mother?"

She recalled her earlier question to Old Master Castillo. "You mentioned the inheritance rights earlier. The winner inherits the Sterling Family. What about the losers?"

Old Master Castillo's answer still echoed in her ears. "The winner controls the Sterling Family's future. The losers... either die, or become breeding tools, producing the next generation for the Sterling Family."

So, her mother, Sophia Ashcroft, must have been one of the losers. How difficult must her life within the Sterling Family have been?

As Evelyn sank into contemplation, Alexander suddenly spoke. "Evelyn, you must believe in one saying."

"What?"

"Man can conquer nature."

Evelyn was taken aback.

Alexander looked at her with determined eyes. "Moreover, the Sterling Family is not nature."

Evelyn took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right."

As they walked out of the Castillo residence, they happened to run into Grace Lorenz. She looked worried, her brow furrowed with anxiety.

Evelyn immediately stepped forward. "What's wrong?"

Grace looked up. "I'm worried that Ethan Valentine overstepped his authority with his actions tonight."

Evelyn was puzzled. "Worried about what?"

Grace explained. "The Cortez Sect has always been our Special Operations Division's strongest backup. We maintain the highest respect for the Cortez Sect. Ethan called in so many Cortez Sect members tonight to help you, right? Him helping you personally is fine, but mobilizing so many sect members without the First Senior Sister's permission shows disrespect towards her."

Evelyn: "?"

Seeing her confusion, Grace hurriedly added, "Evelyn, I'm not saying you're at fault. It's just that the Cortez Sect's First Senior Sister holds an extremely high position within the Special Operations Division. The Cortez Sect's leader is practically on equal footing with my grandfather. That should tell you the First Senior Sister's standing. I've always admired such a figure. I feel our current actions show some disrespect towards the First Senior Sister..."

She grew more anxious as she spoke. "Evelyn, maybe I should accompany you to apologize to the First Senior Sister? Explain that tonight was an emergency, so she doesn't become displeased..."

Seeing Grace's deep concern, Evelyn couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. She looked at Grace and suddenly asked, "Do you know the First Senior Sister's name?"

Grace was startled. "What is it?"