Awakened: Evolving to Godhood

The artifact could determine the authenticity of any information, and as long as the information was correct, it will release a green light. However, this was the first time the artifact has released a bright and blinding green light. Even they didn't know what that means, but one thing was for sure, the information provided to them by Joker is the truth.

"Ahem! That was quite unsightly of us."

Moments later, Lord Aiden's shocked face changed into a serious expression and he said those words, snapping his daughter out of her daze.

"Yes, father," Johanna said, still feeling overwhelmed. The man her young miss brought with her has managed to do what not even the best appraisers were able to do, even though they were said to be the best, after all.

Lord Aiden placed the sheets back onto the table before looking at Johanna again, this time with respect in his eyes.

"Everything that is said in these sheets is true. You've done a great job this time. Honorable Lord Joker is our lucky charm and we must keep him by our side, no matter what. He is our last hope to remain afloat in this business. You must treat him with the utmost respect from now on. Do everything he asks of you and never question him. If he is dissatisfied with us and ends up leaving us, then we would lose our only chance to get back to our feet."

After most of the best appraisers left the artifact gallery, the revenue dropped tremendously. This month alone, they have suffered a huge loss of several million magic coins, and not only that, but their reputation has also started to plummet as most of the appraisers working for them didn't have enough knowledge to appraise the items of their VVIP customers, which had led to them becoming disappointed in him and his business, and most investors have pulled out their investment, causing many others to sell their shares and push the stock's price of the artifact gallery down even further.

"I understand, father." Johanna felt happy to have been praised by her father, and she nodded, agreeing with her father's words as she knew that their artifact gallery was near the brink of destruction.

It was like a drowning ship, and its main members, staff members, investors, and customers were making a run for their life, getting on other boats, although small, still safer than a drowning ship.

Thus, the appraisers were resigning from the artifact gallery, day by day, leaving the creators feeling betrayed by them and isolated, and the only one that could keep this ship from sinking was mister Joker.

"Give him a million magic coins for helping us out and another 800 thousand for appraising the artifacts." Lord Aiden said, telling his daughter to bait him with a lot of magic coins.

"Well then, I'll excuse myself, father."

"Wait! One last thing before you go."

"What is it?"

"Your mother is pressing for your marriage, and so is the family head. Me too. You're already twenty years old and still a maiden. If you fail to find yourself a man in a year then you will be marrying whoever your mother desires."

"B-but... I don't want to."

"Let's be clear. Your mother isn't asking for your permission. She is only telling you."

"Father, won't you help me?" Johanna said, looking at her father with eyes begging for help.

Lord Aiden turned around, looking away from her to hide his guilt. "To be honest, I have no say in the family politics. Everything is decided by the family head and the family elders like your mother. I do want to warn you about your mother's nephew, Anges. He has been lusting after you for years and has already begged your mother for your hand in marriage. And your mother is intent on selling you to that bastard."

"What? Mother agreed to marry me to that sex-crazed criminal? How could she do that to me?!"

Johanna didn't have a good relationship with her mother, and she ran away from home to become a businesswoman to escape her vicious clutches. She did become successful. Though the words she heard now devasted her to the core. Her years of hard work, all gone to waste, and now, here she was, still being haunted by her mother, a great threat of arranged and forced marriage looming over her head.

'if I marry that bastard, then I would be raped to death!'

Who didn't know the infamy of Anges?

He was the greatest pervert to exist in Xavier, and also the only person who doesn't even spare his maids or even his pets!

She tightly clenched her fist. And because of the strength used, her sharp and long fingernails dug deep into the palm of her hand, causing stinging pain to assault her senses.

Johanna broke down but didn't cry. She didn't want to show her weak side to her father, after all.

She bit her thumb, thinking, "should I do? How do I save myself."

As if he could understand what Johanna was thinking, Lord Aiden said in a calm voice, "To be honest, you're the only one who can protect yourself. Find yourself a good man and marry him before you face the worst."

Johanna pouted, knowing full well that her father didn't have enough authority to go against the decision of an elder. She turned around, thinking that the only way she could save herself was to marry another person who would have enough authority and fame in the upper society to protect her from her self-absorbed mother.

"Honorable appraiser Joker isn't a bad choice."

Before she left the room, her father's voice sounded in her ears, telling her that the key to saving her life wasn't far away from her.

young miss was in love with the honorable Joker and she won't be able to betray her and that her

She silently walked away from the room, heading back to her office.