Chapter 2561
"Gentlemen, you certainly have a refined sense of humor." Jovian took another sip of tea. "But I'm not exactly a brave man. I startle easily, so I'd appreciate it if you kept the jokes to a minimum." "Of course." Huxley smiled and nodded. " Just slight hearted banter to break the ice. If we've offended you, I apologize on behalf of Mr. Prescott. Please don't take it to heart." Jovian's expression eased slightly at that.
Since he had the nerve to attend this trap-laden dinner, he wasn't afraid of a few threats. He wouldn't mind sharing information with them if they were willing to have a proper conversation.
But they had tried to strong-arm him.
Their words were laced with veiled threats and demands as if he were someone they could push around. Naturally, that didn't sit well with him. He just didn't let it show-for now.
"There's no need for an apology. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," Jovian said flatly. He stood to leave and felt that continuing this conversation was pointless.
"Hold on." Huxley quickly got up to stop him.
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He smiled and said, "Since you're already here, why not make yourself comfortable? We've barely exchanged a few words and haven't even finished our tea. People might think we've been poor hosts if you leave now." With that, he strode forward and warmly guided Jovian back to his seat.
Unlike Warrick's hardline approach, Huxley knew when to switch tactics. If force didn't work, charm might. After all, there always had to be a good cop to balance out the bad.
"Do you have anything else to ask, gentlemen?" Jovian's tone remained indifferent. Although he had taken his seat again, he no longer bothered with keeping up the pretense.
"Since we're all on the spage here, I'll get to the point." Huxley dropped the niceties.
He continued, "We both know things in Oakvale have been chaotic lately. At a tlike this, West Lucozia's stance is crucial. So tellhas Lord Austin said anything to you? Which side is His Highness leaning toward? Or does he have other plans?" This was no longer a hint. It was a direct demand. If Jovian tried to play dumb now, the entire evening would have been for nothing.
"If you'd just askedupfront, Sir Thatcher, I would've gotten what you meant right away. There's no need for all this beating around the bush," Jovian said meaningfully.
"So, did Lord Austin tell you anything?" Huxley unconsciously leaned forward, his tone edged with urgency. Percival and Warrick perked up as they were eager for an answer.
"I understand your concerns, but unfortunately, Lord Austin didn't share anything with me." Jovian shook his head.
"That's hard to believe. You were at the castle with him for hours. You expect us to believe that you only discussed personal matters?" Percival frowned.
"That's right, Mr. Jovian. We agreed to be upfront. Keeping secrets isn't fair." Huxley narrowed his eyes and looked displeased.
Warrick didn't say a single word, but his face had darkened, and he looked ready to explode.
"I assure you, I've told you the truth," Jovian said seriously. "I asked Lord Austin about these matters, but he didn't answer me. So, there's nothing I can tell you." "You little punk! Do you think we're fools? Do you really expect us to buy that?" Warrick slammed his fist on the table, and his temper finally boiled over.
"Mr. Prescott, please calm down." Huxley quickly intervened to stop the increasingly agitated Warrick.
Then, he turned to Jovian, smiling. "Mr. Jovian, we're not asking without offering something in return. Here's the deal-tell us the truth, and the three of us will owe you a favor. No matter what trouble you run into in the future, we'll back you up.
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What do you say?" In Huxley's mind, this was a generous offer. Three high-ranking officials were willing to back Jovian. That was worth far more than gold or jewels.
"That's a tempting offer," Jovian said coolly.
He added, "If I had any information, I'd tell you. But the truth is, I don't know anything. Lord Austin invitedto the castle, but apart from dining and drinking, he simply gavea tour and spoke about family matters. He never once brought up politics. If you don't believe me, you can ask Boston. He'll confirm it.” "You two are in cahoots. Of course he'd cover for you," Percival shot back.
"Then, let's go ask Lord Austin together. See for yourselves whether I'm lying," Jovian retorted.
"You..." Percival was momentarily at a loss for words.
Confronting Austin directly would be like walking into a trap. If Austin found quit that they'd been threatening Jovian, he'd be furious.
"I've said all I can and cooperated as much as possible. If you still don't! believe me, there's nothing more I ΕΠ can do," Jovian said coolly. A heavy silence fell over the room.
They weren't sure if Jovian was lying or if they were willing to take the risk of assuming he was.
Chapter 2562
"Gentlemen, I've done my part and had my tea already. I still have things to take care of, so I'll leave now. Farewell!" Jovian said.
When no one responded, he didn't say another word. He nodded respectfully, stood up, and exited the room. When the door opened, Warrick's face darkened, and his hand instinctively moved toward the hilt of his sword. But before he could act, Huxley gently touched his arm and shook his head.
Jovian noticed something was off and paused at the doorway before stepping out.
Boston, who was standing by the door, let out a quiet sigh of relief as he watched Jovian leave without a scratch. His relief was short-lived, though, when he saw the grim expressions on the faces of the three men inside.
It was clear that the meeting hadn't gone well. Fortunately, nothing too serious had happened. Otherwise, Boston would have much explaining to do to both sides.
"Why did you stop me? That arrogant brat clearly doesn't respect us. He'll think we're pushovers if we don't teach him a lesson." Warrick slammed his fist on the table.
The rosewood split apart under the impact, and food and wine flew everywhere. In the past, his temper would have led him to kill Jovian on the spot.
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"If he were anyone else, you could do whatever you wanted," Huxley said calmly.
"But Jovian isn't just from the Ballard family. He's also Lord Austin's guest. If something happened to him here today, do you think His Highness would let us off the hook?" "That's right," Percival added. "We can threaten and intimidate all we want, but harming him is out of the question. It's not worth provoking Lord Austin over a petty dispute.” Throwing out a few threats and trying to scare Jovian was one thing, but hurting him would cause a lot of trouble. Even though they weren't afraid of the Ballard family, they still had to show Austin respect.
"We can't insult or hit him. So we just let him leave?" Warrick still seemed unsatisfied.
If word got out about this, his reputation would take a hit.
"Mr. Prescott, calm down," Huxley said calmly. "We invited him here. Lord Austin will hold us responsible if something goes wrong on our watch. But if it happens somewhere else, it's a different story." Warrick paused for a moment, then seemed to get the idea. "You're saying that we should handle this... discreetly?" "Get a few skilled men, grab him, interrogate him, and make sure he vanishes without a trace." Huxley made a slashing motion across his throat and lowered his voice. "As long as we keep it clean and leave no evidence, even if Lord Austin suspects something, he won't have a reason to cafter us." "I like the sound of that." Warrick's eyes lit up.
Killing and covering it up wasn't anything new to him. If Jovian had been a local noble from West Lucozia, Warrick might have thought twice.
Jovian was from Oakvale and had sinfluence, but not enough to stir things up here. With their reach, Warrick didn't need to worry about the Ballard family's retaliation.
As for Austin, as long as they didn't make a scene, Warrick figured that Austin wouldn't make a fuss over a dead man.
"Gentlemen, this isn't something we should take lightly. Maybe we should think this through a little more," Percival said hesitantly.
Gathering information was one thing, but if it led to someone's death, he felt it crossed a line.
"If you're scared, don't get involved. Lethandle it," Warrick said coldly. "But letmake one thing clear- everyone knows what happened today. If this leaks, don't blme for turning on you." "Don't worry, Mr. Prescott." Percival laughed awkwardly. "Considerabsent today. I know nothing." He was close to retirement and wanted to enjoy his remaining years without causing trouble. If he could avoid it, he would. After all these years in politics, he knew that sometimes, it was best to let things slide and tolerate a little trouble when necessary.
Warrick scoffed before remarking, "The older you get, the more timid you become. “He cast a sideways glance at him. He was clearly displeased but didn't say anything more.
With Huxley's help, dealing with Jovian was easy enough. He felt that Percival's presence wasn't necessary.
In a moving jeep, Jovian sat with his eyes closed in the back seat while Boston looked uneasy beside him.
"Jovian, I think something's off. You should leave West Lucozia now. The sooner, the better." Boston finally spoke up after a long pause.
"I've already made arrangements with Lord Austin. We're supposed to head back to Oakvale tomorrow. If I leave now, I'd be going back on my word." Jovian slowly opened his eyes.
"Forget that. Right now, your life is more important." Boston frowned. "Sir Prescott has a quick temper, and he's ruthless. You embarrassed him today, and he won't let it slide. If you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave tomorrow." "You mean he's planning to kill me?" Jovian raised an eyebrow.
"Given my understanding of him, that's a strong possibility," Boston said seriously.
"I'm Lord Austin's guest. If they kill me, how will they explain it to him?" Jovian said flatly.
"As long as they cover their tracks, Lord Austin won't be able to do a thing. After all, they're the pillars of West Lucozia, and His Highness won't stir up trouble over the Ballard family," Boston said solemnly. At this, Jovian fell silent. He thought about it for a moment. It was true that this was his first tmeeting Austin.
No matter how well they got along, Austin wouldn't risk offending influential figures in West Lucozia for a dead man.
Moreover, Jovian had no reason to bet his life on it. There was nothing to gain by winning, but losing would mean losing everything.
Chapter 2563
"Jovian, listen to me. West Lucozia's trouble runs deep. You won't be able to handle it. You need to get out of there," Boston urged.
When Jovian remained silent, Boston couldn't hide his growing concern. After all, they were comrades, and he didn't want to see his friend die on the street.
"You're right. I'm not afraid if they cathead-on. What worriesis if they catfrom behind." After hesitating for a moment, Jovian nodded. "Alright, Boston. Takeback to the hotel. I'll pack my things." "Now that's more like it." Boston sighed in relief. "As they say, there's always a chance as long as you're alive. The most important thing is to stay safe." “Thanks, man. I'll buy you a drink next time." Jovian smiled.
Without Boston's constant advice, Jovian might have taken a chance. But if things went south, he'd regret it too late.
Back at the hotel, Jovian wasted no time. He packed quickly, then hopped into Boston's car to head to the airport. With the burden lifted, they joked and laughed along the way.
As they neared a junction, a large truck ran a red light and sped straight toward them.
The driver reacted too late and steered the wheel just in tto tip the jeep over. It rolled several times before crashing through a guardrail and landing in a roadside ditch.
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The driver passed out on the spot while Jovian and Boston were thrown around. They were severely shaken. Fortunately, their strength kept them from serious injury.
Boston kicked open the mangled door and climbed out.
"Goddamn it..." He was about to curse when he saw three figures jumping off the truck.
The figures were all dressed in black, with their faces hidden behind masks. Long shadows stretched under the dim streetlights, giving off a menacing, almost otherworldly vibe.
Jovian climbed out of the car, and his gaze locked onto the three figures. He frowned, and an uneasy feeling settled deep in his chest.
"It looks like we've been set up," he said grimly.
It was clear to him now. This wasn't just srandom accident but a planned attack.
"Yeah. Something tellsthat they're not here to chat." Jovian shrugged off his jacket to reveal his toned build. He'd thought he was being careful, but it wasn't enough to avoid this trap. It seemed that Boston had been right all along. The real danger from Warrick was far from over.
"Jovian, we're close to the airport. I'll hold them off for a while. You should go first." Boston unsheathed a short knife. His eyes were sharp as he watched the men in black.
"What nonsense are you saying? I may not be the best, but I won't leave you behind." Jovian cracked his neck and said with a determined look. “We're not helpless. We can handle ourselves in a fight.” "Good! It's been a while since we've last fought together. Let's take this chance to show them what we're made of." Boston got into a fighting stance without saying much.
If they didn't fight together in a life-or-death situation, they'd both end up dead. Boston didn't believe for a second that the assassins sent by Warrick would let them off easily.
The three men in black pulled out their knives as they got within about 30 feet of the two.
"To hell with it! We're going all in," Boston shouted, and the two charged forward.
After all, when two brave souls clashed, one would cout on top. In such fights, momentum would often determine the outcome. It was a relentless, fearless drive forward.
In a brief but intense sprint, the five men collided.
Boston was a powerhouse. His military knife slashed through the air with precision, and his attacks were fast and deadly.
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In contrast, Jovian was a master of hand-to-hand combat and grappling. His agility and speed let him strike first, quickly overpowering his opponents with decisive moves.
But the assassins were no amateurs. Each one was close to being a master in their own right. In terms of raw strength, they held the edge.
Yet, Jovian and Boston's seamless teamwork and unyielding fighting spirit kept them in the fight, and they refused to give an inch.
After a brief skirmish, both sides were bleeding. Boston had been om slashed three times with blood pouring from the wounds, while Jovian had a deep gash across his chest and abdomen. But neither of them cared about the pain. The adrenaline was pumping, and their determination only grew with every strike.
The three assassins were on the back foot.
They hadn't expected their opponents-who they'd pegged as weaker to be so vicious. This was nothing like the intel they'd received. "Kill them! You bastards, I'm going to rip you apart!" Boston roared, and his face twisted into a savage grin.
With an aura of death surrounding him, Boston looked like a demon from hell who struck fear into anyone who saw him.
Jovian remained cool-headed. His focus was unwavering as he and Boston exchanged heavy blows with their attackers.
Seeing that they were losing ground, the assassins fought with everything they had: And then the Battle exploded into a brutal, life-or-death struggle.
Chapter 2564
The sounds of battle echoed under the streetlights. Shouts of pain mixed with the clash of weapons could be heard. Five figures were locked in a deadly struggle, and blood splattered across the ground.
The fight raged for nearly half an hour until the noise gradually subsided. The five figures lay motionless in pools of blood.
Under the dim glow of the streetlights, three of the black-clad assassins were confirmed dead. One's neck was snapped, another's chest pierced, and the last had bled out from a fatal wound.
Jovian and Boston were in no better condition.
Boston was soaked in blood. His body was riddled with deep cuts, sso severe they exposed the bone beneath.
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Jovian wasn't much better. His abdomen and shoulder were slashed. His right arm had been severed, and he was left in a pitiful state.
Boston coughed. After taking down the last assassin, he collapsed to the ground. He gasped for air as blood poured from his mouth.
His chest and abdomen were torn open, and his organs spilled out. He was pale, and his breathing was shallow and erratic. His life was slipping away.
"Boston... Boston!" Jovian cried out. He staggered to his fallen comrade's side while clutching his own wounds.
He hurriedly pulled out a tablet and tried to feed it to Boston. He then tore strips of cloth from his shirt to try and stop the bleeding. But Boston's injuries were too severe. The tablet had no effect, and the makeshift bandages did little to stop blood flow.
"Boston, hang in there! I'll get you to the hospital," Jovian shouted frantically as he tried to lift Boston. But with only one arm, he struggled to maintain balance and failed repeatedly.
"Jovian... Listen to me..." Boston's bloodied hand gripped Jovian's arm and said weakly, "I'm done for... You need to go while you still can. Take care of my wife and kids... for me...' "No! You're going to make it. We've been through hell together-Red Tombsea, remember? You're not dying here! I'll get you out of here." Jovian gritted his teeth as he struggled to lift Boston onto his back. Blood stained the ground as he limped toward the truck.
But despite Jovian's efforts, Boston's head lolled to the side. His body turned limp, and he was gone. "Boston! Boston! Wake up!" Jovian shouted, but there was no response.
Boston lay still as if he had simply fallen asleep. Jovian stopped in his tracks, and his heart was heavy with grief. Boston deserved a peaceful life, but because of his involvement, he had been dragged into this hellish situation and paid with his life.
Guilt washed over him. He regretted asking Boston for help. If only he hadn't crossed paths with those wolves in human clothing. Maybe none of this would have happened.
Just as Jovian was consumed by despair, the roar of engines cut through the night. Several black SUVS screeched to a halt and blocked the road.
Doors flew open, and a dozen masked assassins in black poured out. They quickly surrounded Jovian.
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The leader of the group, Ronan Barley, glanced at the bodies of his fallen comrades and frowned. "You took out three of my men. Impressive. But it won't save you." "Did Sir Prescott send you?" Jovian growled through clenched teeth.
"A dead man doesn't need answers," Ronan replied coldly. He gestured to his men. "Take him down." At his command, the assassins lunged forward.
"I'll take you all down with me!" Jovian charged at them with what little strength he had left. His remaining arm swung wildly as he dove into the fray.
Despite his injuries, his fighting spirit burned brighter than ever. Fueled by rage and desperation, he fought like a ve wild beast, using every part of his body as a weapon. He bit, headbutted, and striked with everything he had left. "Capture him alive!" Ronan barked.
The assassins hesitated and were wary of getting too close. Instead, they circled Jovian to wear him down with hit-and-run tactics.
It didn't take long for Jovian's strength to wane. He was gasping for breath, drenched in sweat, bi§ M wounds worsening with every move. If this kept up, he'd collapse from exhaustion before they even landed the final blow. Seeing no way out, his eyes hardened with determination.
"Think you'll catchalive? Dream on! I'd rather die than let you win!"
With a defiant roar, Jovian raised his remaining arm and slammed his palm into his own head. He chose to end his life rather than fall into their hands. The will be updated first on this website. Cback and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 2565
A dull sound echoed through the air.
Jovian's body shuddered. Blood streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose as he crumpled to the ground, lifeless. He was dead. After fighting to his last breath, he had chosen the only honorable way out.
The scene had left even the assassins, who were no strangers to bloodshed, momentarily stunned. Taking one's own life so decisively wasn't something just anyone could do. Even the lowest of creatures had the instinct to cling to life, let alone a human being.
"This guy... He's ruthless," Ronan muttered, and his face darkened.
Warrick had given strict orders to capture Jovian alive, but now he was dead.
Now, Ronan had no way to deliver. If he had known it would cto this, he would have personally intervened to kill Jovian first.
"What now, boss?" one of the assassins asked.
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"Clean up the scene," Ronan ordered. “I'll take the body back myself." With that, he hoisted Jovian's body onto his shoulder, tossed it into the vehicle, and drove off.
Warrick and Huxley were enjoying a casual tea session inside a luxurious private estate while waiting for the mission's update.
"Mr. Prescott, it's been a while, and there's still no word from your men. Don't tellthat they've failed," Huxley inquired.
"Impossible," Warrick replied firmly. "My assassins are the best of the best. There's even a grandmaster martial artist among them. Taking down two nobodies should've been effortless." He rarely deployed these elite assassins. But when he did, the mission was always a guaranteed success. There had never been an exception.
"If you say so, then I won't worry." Huxley looked relieved.
If Jovian had escaped, it would've spelled trouble for both of them.
"Don't worry about my men. Jovian will be captured. The real question is, can you erase all traces of this?" Warrick shot back.
"Mr. Prescott, the entire enforcement team in West Lucozia's capital is under my command. I've already given the order. Nothing from tonight will ever be leaked. By sunrise, Jovian will have vanished without a trace," Huxley assured him, smirking.
"Good." Warrick nodded approvingly. "I'll handle the interrogation. You clean up the mess. We each do our part." "To a successful partnership." Huxley raised his teacup in a toast before draining it.
As the two men settled back into their conversation, someone knocked on the door.
"Enter," Warrick called.
The door swung open. Ronan stepped in first, followed by two subordinates carrying a stretcher. A body lay on it, draped in a white sheet.
"Well? Did you bring him in?" Warrick asked coolly.
"Sir Prescott, the target took his own life. All we could bring back is his body," Ronan replied succinctly. "What? He's dead?" Warrick jumped to his feet. "You useless fools! I specifically ordered you to bring him in alive. And now you've broughthis body?" His voice boomed through the room.
Ronan immediately dropped to his knees. "I've failed my mission. I accept any punishment." "Useless fool! I should kill you where you stand." Warrick unsheathed his blade in one swift motion.
Before he could strike, Huxley raised a hand to stop him. "Calm down, Mr. Prescott. No one expected Jovian to kill himself. What's done is done. Punishing them won't change anything. We should focus on cleaning this up." Warrick scowled but reluctantly slid his sword back into its sheath. "Fine. You live. But you won't get off easy. You'll receive 80 lashes. Now get out of my sight." "Thank you for your mercy, Sir Prescott," Ronan said quickly, bowing low.
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80 lashes meant two weeks of being bedridden, but at least he'd keep his head.
"Hold it," Warrick called just as they were about to leave. “Did you leave any loose ends? Any witnesses?" "No survivors," Ronan replied. "Our men are already cleaning up the scene."
"Make sure it's spotless. Not a single trace left behind," Warrick ordered coldly. If I find even a whisper of this leaking, you'll pay with your heads." "Got it, Sir Prescott!" Ronan gave a crisp response before turning to leave.
Silence settled over the room, broken only by the steady drip of blood soaking through the stretcher's sheet. Warrick stepped forward and yanked the cloth away.
Jovian's face stared back at him, twisted in death. Blood caked his features, and his lifeless eyes were frozen in defiance.
"You were so arrogant before. Why so quiet now?" Warrick sneered. "This is what happens when you cross me."
With a sudden motion, he drew his blade and severed Jovian's headn from his body, Then, with a kick, he sent it flying across the room like a ball. Behind him, Huxley frowned slightly, but he quickly composed himself.
Jovian's suicide had thrown a wrench into their plans. Not only had they failed to extract any useful information, but they'd also created a mess that needed to be cleaned up. Still, there was no turning back now. As long as they covered their tracks, they could avoid any fallout. The gwas far from over.
Chapter 2566
The next morning, after breakfast at the West Lucozian castle, Austin tried calling. Jovian. However, his calls went unanswered. After several attempts, he still couldn't get through.
"Huh?" Austin was puzzled.
They had made plans the previous day to head to Oakvale that day. Why was Jovian suddenly unreachable? Had he stood Austin up? After thinking it over, he found that unlikely. He and Jovian had gotten along well and even called each other brothers. On top of that, they had promised to travel together and watch out for one another.
If Jovian had an urgent matter that required him to leave West Lucozia, he would have at least given Austin a heads-up. Jovian wouldn't just disappear without a word.
"Could something have happened to him?" Austin's unease grew.
He quickly summoned his trusted aide. "Go find out where Jovian is. Report back toas soon as you have any information." "Yes, Your Highness," the aide replied before hurrying off.
Austin poured himself a cup of tea and waited in silence.
About an hour later, the aide returned.
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"Well? Any news?" Austin stood up immediately, his voice urgent.
While waiting, he had tried calling Jovian multiple times, but there was still no response.
"Your Highness, I went to the hotel where Jovian was staying. The staff said he checked out last night," the aide reported.
"He left last night?" Austin raised an eyebrow. "Did he already leave for Oakvale? "I checked the departure records. Jovian booked a flight, but he never boarded. It seems he's still in West Lucozia," the aide explained.
"He booked a flight but didn't board it?" Austin muttered, his frown deepening.
Could something have happened to him?" Jovian was a distinguished guest, someone Dustin had specifically told Austin to treat with the utmost respect. If something had happened to Jovian, how would Austin explain it to Dustin? "Is there anything else?" Austin asked urgently.
"My investigation shows that Jovian left with Boston last night. I went to Boston's residence, but like Jovian, he's also missing," the aide stated.
Austin's eyes sharpened. "Find them! Search every inch of Celestria if you have to. Bring them back!" "Understood!" The aide saluted and left in a hurry.
What had started as a simple search for a person had now escalated into a full-scale city-wide operation. The West Lucozian monarchy had its own dedicated enforcement team, which stood above all other institutions. Once mobilized, all official personnel in West Lucozia had to drop everything and cooperate fully. More importantly, the royal enforcement team had the power to act first and report later.
Whether they were a high-ranking official or an influential noble, anyone who obstructed the royal enforcement team's work could be executed on the spot. Resistance was met with severe punishment-beheading at best, or the annihilation of an entire family at worst.
There had been a case years ago involving a high-ranking official who, relying on his achievements, had flouted the law and allowed his family to commit atrocities. When the enforcement team arrived to make arrests, he called on his private army to resist.
In the end, all his direct family members, including the official himself, were executed. An entire family of over 300 people was wiped out in a single night.
From then on, the royal enforcement team beca nightmare for all West Lucozia's officials. So, whenever the team was mobilized, the entire capital city of Celestria was thrown into a state of unease, with people scrambling to avoid drawing their attention.
Inside the Prescott estate, Warrick was engaged in live combat training with his guards on the training ground. Shirtless, his impressive physique on full display, he wielded the long spear with expert precision. Even against ten guards, he maintained the upper hand.
Though these guards were all elite, handpicked from the best of the best, they were forced to retreat under Warrick's relentless assault. Within minutes, over ten men lay sprawled on the ground.
"Useless fools!" Warrick slammed his spear into the ground, then pointed it at one of the guards' noses.
He continued, "I told you to train more and improve your skills, but you all had to slack off. Now, you're a bunch of weaklings. You couldn't even block three of my moves. If I had to rely on you for protection, I'd be dead by now." "Sir Prescott, it's not that we're not capable. It's just that you're too strong. There aren't many in all of West Lucozia who can last three moves against you," the guard captain said, cradling his dislocated shoulder. Though the guard looked miserable, his flattery seemed to please Warrick.
"Hmph! I'll let it slide this time. But if you're still this pathetic next time, don't blme for breaking out the disciplinary rods." Warrick tossed his spear, and it landed perfectly in the weapon rack.
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Ignoring his dislocated shoulder, the guard captain quickly grabbed a dry towel and hurriedly handed it to Warrick.
Warrick wiped the sweat and casually tossed the towel back.
The guard captain immediately retrieved a coat and draped it over Warrick's shoulders his movements smooth and practiced. It was a testament to the captain's dedication. "Mr. Prescott! Mr. Prescott!" Huxley barged into the training grounds, looking anxious Two guards moved to block his path, but he shoved them aside and sent them sprawling.
Seeing this, the guard captain stepped forward to block Huxley, but Warrick raised a hand to stop him.
"Mr. Thatcher, what's the rush? It's very unlike you." Warrick sat down leisurely and motioned for the guards to pour tea.
"I just received news that Lord Austin has mobilized the royal enforcement team. They're conducting. city-wide search for Jovian. We might be in trouble this time." Huxley looked solemn. He thought Austin wouldn't make a big deal over Jovian. To his surprise, Austin deployed the royal enforcement team just one night after Jovian's disappearance.
The last tthe enforcement team was fully mobilized was three years ago when the Cosplans family was annihilated. Over 300 members of their bloodline had been executed. None had survived.
Chapter 2567
"Hm?" Even Warrick frowned at the news.
The royal enforcement team was rarely mobilized. When they did, it was always for something monumental. The question was, did a minor figure like Jovian Ballard really warrant such attention from Austin? "Mr. Thatcher, are you sure the royal enforcement team has been mobilized? And it's because of Jovian?" Warrick asked skeptically.
"Of course I'm sure," Huxley replied with a grave expression. “I've just received orders from above. The enforcement team captain will be taking over my duties temporarily. From now on, they'll have full control over the city's defense and investigative operations." "That's strange. Why would Lord Austin go to such lengths for someone so insignificant?" Warrick was confused, his brow furrowing.
According to his intel, this was the first tJovian and Austin had even met. Even if they had crossed paths before, it shouldn't have been enough to justify deploying the enforcement team.
It seemed Warrick had underestimated Jovian's importance to Austin.
"It looks like Lord Austin is serious this time. Do you have a plan?" Huxley probed cautiously.
With all his authority handed over, he couldn't mobilize any soldiers for the tbeing. That left him feeling uneasy.
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"There's no need for a plan," Warrick replied coolly. "Just act like this never happened because we wiped out all traces. Even the enforcement team won't find anything linking us to this." He had anticipated the possibility of an investigation. Hence, he sent nameless assassins without identification so that nothing could be traced back to them.
Every trace of last night's events had been meticulously scrubbed away, leaving no loose ends. Jovian's body had been incinerated and burned to nothing-no corpse, no proof, nothing left to investigate.
Even if Austin grew suspicious or the enforcement team started an investigation, they couldn't do anything to Warrick without solid evidence.
His surprise lasted only a moment before he regained his composure.
"I understand your confidence, but walls have ears. The enforcement team is known for their methods. If they uncover even the smallest clue, it could spell trouble for us," Huxley said with a frown.
"What could they possibly find?" Warrick scoffed. "Unless you've slipped up, there's no way they'll find anything." He paused, then shot Huxley a sideways. glance. "Letask again-can your men be trusted?" "My men are loyal. They've been through thick and thin with me. I trust they won't leak a thing. What I'm worried about are the assassins you sent. Can they be trusted? "Huxley countered.
"Don't worry. I've already sent them out of West Lucozia last night. Even if the enforcement team had supernatural abilities, they still wouldn't be able to track them beyond our borders," Warrick said confidently. "Good... that's good..." Huxley let out a sigh of relief. “Still, just to be safe, we should coordinate our stories. If the enforcement team does cknocking, we can't afford any inconsistencies." "Mr. Thatcher, you're being overly cautious. We've covered our tracks perfectly. Their investigation will hit a dead end. There's no need to worry," Warrick teased.
"I'd rather be paranoid than careless," Huxley replied with a faint smile.
He had been uneasy ever since he heard that the royal enforcement team was involved. His anxiety only grew when they temporarily took over the city's defense operations. That was why he had rushed over to confer with Warrick.
After exchanging information, he finally felt more at ease.
Later that afternoon, Austin sat in the meeting room inside the West Lucozian castle with a dark expression. Standing beside him was Axel Crux, captain of the royal enforcement team.
"Your Highness, based on our investigation, Jovian only cinto contact with three people after leaving the castle. I suspect his disappearance is connected to them," Axel reported.
"Who are they?" Austin's gaze was icy. By now, he was almost certain that something had happened to Jovian.
"Huxley Thatcher, Warrick Prescott, and Percival Wentworth," Axel stated.
"Those three?" Austin frowned.
He remembered seeing them among the crowd gathered outside the castle gates yesterday.
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"According to our findings, the three hosted a banquet last night and specifically invited yovian.
e Things apparently got tense during the meal.
Shortly after, Jovian mysteriously disappeared without a trace, "Axel explained. "So, it's safe to asshis disappearance is tied to them?" Austin's expression turned grim.
Pulling something this bold right under his nose was like robbing a king in his own throne room.
"Tis short, and we haven't found concrete evidence yet but they are our prsuspects," Axel confirmed. "Hmph! Those fools have snerve.
They dared to mess with my guest like I didn't matter." Austin slammed stthe his hand against the table. "Bring F them toright now so I can question them myself." "Yes, Your Highness," Axel responded before turning to leave.
