The Seven Sisters and Their Hidden King-Chapter 316 – Faith Requires Mystery

Bertha huffed, hands on her hips. "My zodiac sign is the tiger. You deserved it!"

She bared her shiny canines with a smug smile.

John just stared at her, speechless.

Bertha didn't let up. "Now, are you gonna explain why you stopped me from telling my teacher who you really are?"

John exhaled slowly. "Don't you remember what your teacher told me earlier? She said I should keep my head down to survive. That was a warning—not to show off or make myself a target."

"You're the King of Horizon. Me telling the truth isn't 'showing off,'" Bertha shot back.

"You don't get it," John said firmly. "The King of Horizon has become a symbol—a belief. And belief needs mystery. If my identity is exposed too casually, that mystery disappears.

And when mystery fades, so does faith.

People project their fantasies, their ideals, onto the King of Horizon. But if the legend becomes just a man, that faith can't go back to what it was. The halo dims. The myth dies."

John didn't even know exactly what he was saying—it just sounded right in the moment. But to his surprise, it worked.

Bertha blinked, caught off guard.

"...Is it really that deep?"

"I just wanted to surprise her, that's all. It's not that serious, is it?" she asked, looking a little lost.

To her, this was just an identity reveal. Nothing to trigger some world-shaking collapse of belief.

Hell, she used to worship the King of Horizon too. And when she found out it was John? Her feelings didn't die—they deepened. Her admiration turned into something... more.

Still, she couldn't find a good argument, so she let it go.

"Fine, fine," she muttered. "I won't expose your identity. But why you gotta be so mean about it? You scolded me! Scolded me!"

John's tone had been sharp earlier—unintentionally—but Bertha wasn't letting it slide.

Just a minute ago, she'd been all soft and respectful, thinking about how powerful her little brother was.

But now?

Now he was just her little brother again.

And Bertha was back on her bullshit.

You think you can scold me, King of Horizon or not? I'll bite you again.

She narrowed her eyes and gave him a defiant glare, her confidence instantly rebounding.

They say men and women push and pull, balance each other out—when one is strong, the other yields. When one yields, the other rises.

Sure enough, the second Bertha got cocky again, John's aura crumbled.

It had taken him so long to establish himself as the almighty King of Horizon... only to get steamrolled by his own sister.

John saw it coming.

Back when his sisters didn't know his identity, they admired the King of Horizon like a god.

But once the secret was out?

Yeah, they were shocked at first—but over time, the awe faded. He was still their brother. And now that they knew who he really was, they couldn't help but tease him, even challenge him, sometimes just to knock him off his pedestal.

Because let's face it—

Everyone enjoys the bragging rights of saying, "I punked the King of Horizon."

As the saying goes: Men conquer the world to win women. Women conquer men to own the world.

It's about pride. It's about the thrill of it.

So what could John do?

He raised both hands in surrender and sighed dramatically.

"Fine! I admit it! I'm just your little brother. Long live my sister!"

When they returned to the office, Alexandra and Hugo gave them a strange look.

Their dynamic wasn't exactly giving off "siblings" anymore. Not the usual kind, anyway.

After all, they were sworn siblings—no blood relation.

Still, neither Alexandra nor John brought up what had happened before. It was like the earlier conversation had never existed.

They chatted casually for a while.

Then, just as they were about to leave, Alexandra approached John quietly while Bertha wasn't looking.

Her voice was low and cold.

"You'd better leave Houston as soon as possible—whether it's for your own sake, or for Bertha's."

John smiled faintly. "I'll keep your warning in mind. I'll keep my head down... and I'll leave."

He emphasized "keep my head down," echoing her earlier words.

Alexandra's expression hardened. Her eyes narrowed.

"You've got guts," she said, scoffing through clenched teeth.