2591
“Ledger?”
Langdon’s pupils contracted as he stared at the familiar red ledgers at his feet. His expression finally faltered.
He had never expected the enforcement team to uncover the ledgers he had hidden in a secret compartment.
Every transaction written on those pages was damning-evidence of years of collusion with officials and wealthy
merchants, of bribes and embezzlement.
He had kept them as leverage to ensure those officials wouldn't abandon him when things went south. But what
was meant to shield him had now sealed his fate.
His assets could be confiscated, and he could refuse to acknowledge his own children. But how could he possibly
talk his way out of a ledger filled with his handwritten records?
Langdon’s frown deepened as sweat poured down his face. Before he realized it, his back was already drenched.
“Mr. Langdon, why are you sweating so much? Is it too hot in here? Should | have someone fan you?” Axel
taunted with sneer.
The evidence they had gathered was more than enough to imprison Langdon, and no amount of denial would
save him now.
“Mr. Langdon, are you still trying to claim these ledgers are forged and have nothing to do with you?” Austin
smirked, his tone laced with mockery.
“T-That’s right! They're forged. This has nothing to do with me. | don’t keep ledgers like these. Someone must be
framing me.” Langdon stubbornly insisted.
At that point, he could only keep going down this path, no matter the consequences.
But no one believed him anymore. Even the royal advisors looked at him with disdain.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWas there any point in continuing to deny it?
No matter how stubbornly he denied it, the evidence laid out before him was more than enough to convict him.
Sometimes, refusing to admit the truth wouldn't solve a problem. It would only make the downfall more
humiliating.
“Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.” Austin clapped with a laugh.
He continued, “I've never met anyone as shameless as you. If you had confessed and shown remorse, | might
have spared your life out of respect for our relationship. But since you refuse to repent and insist on twisting the
truth, you have no one to blbut yourself.”
Austin turned to Axel. “Bring out all the evidence against Langdon. | want every crlaid bare today.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” Axel responded before taking a thick stack of documents from one of his subordinates and
reading them aloud.
“Driven by lust, Langdon assaulted a woman eight years ago. The victim later took her own life. To cover his
tracks, he bribed officials and threatened the victim's family.
“Five years ago, he conspired with a wealthy merchant named Lemur Pratt to murder Patch Sharmon and his
family, seizing their assets.
“Three years ago, Langdon’s son, Zeron Rhys, assaulted and killed a government official's daughter. When the
official filed a report, Langdon suppressed the case using ruthless means, then framed the official for multiple
crimes. The official was imprisoned and died under suspicious circumstances.
“Based on our investigation, Langdon has been directly or indirectly involved in over a dozen deaths. His crimes
are heinous and unforgivable.
“These are the gathered evidence and testimonies, Your Highness. Please review them.” After finishing his
report, Axel placed the stack of evidence before Austin.
As Austin skimmed through the pages, his expression darkened. At first, he thought Langdon was just another
corrupt, greedy, and lecherous official. He had never imagined the man was responsible for so many deaths.
“How will you try to talk your way out of this?” Austin asked coldly before hurling the documents at Langdon’s
face.
“Lies! It's all lies. | won't admit to this.”
Langdon scrambled to pick up the scattered documents and furiously tore them to shreds, abandoning all
“You dare destroy evidence in front of us?” Axel’s eyes flashed with fury, and he reached for his sword.
But Austin raised a hand to stop him. “Let him tear them up.”
“All these are fake. Every last one of them is fake.”
Under countless watchful eyes, Langdon shredded every document into pieces.
Austin merely watched in silence, showing no sign of stopping him. But his expression was as cold as if he were
staring at a dead man.
“Are you done?” he asked indifferently.
Do you have any last words?”
“Austin! Don’t think you can intimidate me!” Langdon shouted frantically. “I won't admit to any of this. You're
framing me, and I'm going to report you to the prince!”
“No last words? Then, take him away and execute him in three days.” Austin gave the order without hesitation.
“Yes, Your Highness!” Axel grinned viciously. He had been waiting for this moment and had no intention of letting
Langdon off easily tonight.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“You dare?”
Panic finally set in as Langdon’s bravado crumbled, and he barked a weak threat, ” I'm a member of the Rhys
family. Your elder, and your father’s brother. If you execute me, you'll be committing treason. You'll be betraying
your own bloodline!”
Austin’s expression remained impassive. ” My elder? My father’s brother?”
He continued, “You're nothing more than a distant branch of the Rhys family. Your wealth and status exist only
because of my father. How dare you stand here and demand respect?
“If you had quietly enjoyed your fortune, perhaps you would have lived out your days in peace. But you chose to
break the law and prey on the innocent. If | don’t make an example of you today, how many more will follow in
your footsteps?”
“You-" Langdon was at a loss for words.
“Guards! Take him away and show no mercy,” Austin commanded.
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Axel waved his hand. He ordered his men to shackle Langdon and drag him toward the door.
At that moment, Langdon finally broke.
Chapter 2592
“Hold on!”
Seeing that he was about to be taken away, Langdon panicked and shouted, “You have no right to arrest me
without a thorough investigation or a judge’s ruling! This is outright brutality! You're abusing your power!”
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you suddenly want to talk about the law? Do you really think that’s going to happen?”
“Mr. Langdon, if you have anything to say, you can tellin prison. We'll have plenty of tto chat.” Axel
strode forward with a wicked grin, clamping a firm hand on Langdon’s shoulder.
“Wait! | still have something to say.” Langdon swallowed hard.
Realizing he had no way out, he finally dropped the tough act and tried a softer approach. “Austin, we're family.
Do we really have to take it this far? Look, | screwed up. But can’t you cutsslack, just this once?”
In the past, his silver tongue had helped him turn situations around and distort the truth. But now, with all the
evidence stacked against him, there was no room for denial.
Once he was thrown into prison, getting out would be nearly impossible. Left with no choice, he had to swallow
his pride and beg for mercy.
“Cut you sslack?” Austin scoffed. “If | let you go today, does that mean | should let every criminal go too?
What's the point of having laws in West Lucozia if they're not enforced?”
“How can you compareto them? I'm your uncle, a member of the Rhys family,” Langdon said earnestly.” We
share the sblood. How can you lumpin with outsiders?”
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“I once respected you as an elder and gave you the chance to admit your mistakes, but you didn’t cherish it.
Now you want to play the family card?” Austin’s voice turned. ” It’s too late for that.”
“I messed up, | really did. Just giveone more chance. | swear I'll change and live honestly from now on,”
Langdon pleaded desperately.
“You're not sorry for what you did. You just regret getting caught.” Austin’s expression remained cold. “A man like
you, who is corrupt, ruthless, and treats human lives like nothing, deserves no mercy.”
“Austin-"
Langdon tried to speak again, but Austin cut him off. “Axel, what are you waiting for? Take him away.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Axel no longer hesitated. He restrained Langdon and dragged him out.
“Austin! Austin!”
Langdon turned pale with fear as he screamed and begged for mercy. But Austin simply watched with an
indifferent gaze.
As Langdon was dragged toward the door, his fear turned to rage. He dropped all pretense and roared, “Austin!
You ungrateful bastard! You're a disgrace to the family. | hope you rot in hell!”
His furious screams echoed through the reception hall even after he was dragged away.
Austin’s expression remained cold. As his icy gaze swept over the room, the royal advisors lowered their heads,
visibly shaken.
When they first walked in, they had thought of Austin as nothing more than an inexperienced young man. They
acted respectful, but deep down, they looked down on him.
However, after witnessing that day's events, they realized just how wrong they had been. The young man in his
early 20s had a sharp mind, a calculating nature, and a ruthless efficiency in dealing with his enemies.
He had given them evidence, reason, and a chance to repent. If they had admitted their mistakes sincerely, they
might have been spared.
But if they were too stubborn to repent, the consequences were severe. At best, their assets would be
confiscated, or at worst, they would be executed.
Langdon, who had just been thrown into Grimhold Keep, was the perfect example. If even a blood relative could
be thrown into prison without hesitation, what hope did the rest of them have?
“Do any of you... have anything to say?” Austin asked coldly, breaking the silence.
At that moment, several older royal advisors exchanged glances. Loud thuds echoed in the room as they
dropped to their knees.
“We admit our wrongdoings. We are willing to turn ourselves in and beg for leniency, Your Highness.”
Seeing their elders take the lead, the other advisors didn’t dare to resist anymore and quickly dropped to their
knees to confess. They knew that confessing could mean a lighter punishment.
They understood that trying to lie their way out would only enrage Austin and worsen their punishment. The only
way to survive was to admit guilt and hope for mercy.
“Hmph! At least sof you know how to read the situation,” Austin said coldly. “I'll give you a chance. Go to
Axel and confess your crimes. That way, | won't have to waste my tand energy digging up evidence.”
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The royal advisors bowed as they breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Austin didn’t investigate thoroughly or uncover their darkest secrets, they still had a chance to turn
things around. By allowing them to confess on their own, Austin had already shown them considerable leniency.
At worst, they would step down and retire to the countryside, keeping what assets they had. That was far better
than being imprisoned or executed.
“Get out.”
Austin waved them off impatiently, sending the crowd out the door.
Politics had its rules. Embezzling smoney wasn’t unforgivable as long as it didn’t involve murder or treason.
Those could be dealt with more lightly.
But Langdon had brought this upon himself. He had committed countless crimes, flaunted his power, and acted
as if he was untouchable. If someone like him wasn’t punished, what was the point of the laws in West Lucozia?
It didn’t matter if he was a distant relative of the Rhys family. Even direct descendants who defied public outrage
had to be dealt with accordingly.
Chapter 2593
As night fell, darkness crept across the city. Inside a modest residence, Warrick sat on the bed with his eyes closed. He was meditating to restore his energy.
After a day of recovery, he had expelled nearly all of the Tranqurin from his system. It was no longer a serious concern.
However, the city was under lockdown. All the major roads were blocked and wanted posters with his face were plastered everywhere. Though his strength had returned, he still couldn't escape from Celestria.
So, he had no choice but to lay low and wait for the storm to pass. As for the original owner of the house, he was nothing more than a corpse now.
Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door.
Warrick's eyes snapped open, and his hand instinctively reached for the sword beside him.
"Who is it?" In the living room, the Red Legion guards tensed up. Two of them quietly drew their blades, positioning themselves on either side of the door.
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"It's me." A familiar voice rang out.
The guards immediately exhaled in relief. One of them peeked through the door's narrow gap. After confirming it was their ally, they quickly unlocked the door.
Standing outside was a plain-looking man dressed in black. At first glance, he seemed unremarkable, but his eyes were razor-sharp.
"Geralt Finns! It's already so late. What took you so long? We thought something happened to you," Kalen Juggs, a burly man with a thick beard, grumbled.
"There were too many patrols on the way. If I hadn't been careful, I might not have made it back at all," Geralt explained. He removed his hat, then reached for the cup of water on the table and drank it in one go.
"So, did you complete the mission?" Kalen asked, leaning toward the door to ensure no one had followed Geralt before shutting it firmly.
"Yes. I made contact with our reinforcement. They've agreed to help us leave the city tonight," Geralt reported. "That's great. I'll inform Sir Prescott right away." Kalen's face lit up with excitement.
Just as he turned toward the bedroom, the door swung open.
The imposing Warrick stepped out, his complexion no longer pale.
"No need. I heard everything," he said. He studied Geralt for a moment, then gave a satisfied nod. "Good work. If we manage to escape, you'll deserve all the credit." "I was only doing my duty. I don't dare claim any merit," Geralt replied humbly.
"You are the ones I trust the most," Warrick said, scanning the people before him. "No matter what happens- whether we leave Celestria or even West Lucozia-I will make sure you live in wealth and comfort for the rest of your lives." "Thank you, Sir Prescott." The four Red Legion guards saluted him in unison.
"Geralt, anything happening outside?" Warrick asked.
"The streets are nearly empty, and patrols are everywhere. Every major checkpoint is heavily guarded. Without a royal badge, there's no way in or out," Geralt explained.
Then, as if remembering something important, he added, "Oh, and I think I saw General Steele today." "General Steele?" Warrick raised his eyebrows. "Which one?" "Draken Guardians-Jaxon Steele," Geralt said grimly.
At the mention of that name, the room fell into stunned silence. Even Warrick's expression darkened.
The Draken Guardians' reputation was well-known throughout the military. They were widely regarded as West Lucozia's most elite force. Any one of them could hold the rank of a general in any other unit.
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And their commander, Jaxon, was in a league of his own. His strength was unfathomable-even at his peak, Warrick wasn't confident he could defeat Jaxon. If the Draken Guardians ever cornered them, there would be no escape.
"Are you sure it was Jaxon Steele? You didn't mistake him for someone else?” Kalen asked cautiously. Geralt thought for a moment, then nodded firmly. "I met him once before, and the man I saw today was definitely him. There's no mistake." "Then, that's bad news." Kalen frowned.
If they were up against ordinary patrols, they could force their way through. But facing Jaxon and the an@the Draken Guardians was an entirely different beast. Even if the entire Red Legion were present, they might be unable to hold their ground.
"So what if the Draken Guardians have shown up?" Warrick scoffed. "As long as our reinforcements arrive on time, not even the Draken Guardians can stop us." The Draken Guardians might be formidable, but Warrick had powerful allies of his own. If a battle broke out, the outcwas far from certain.
"Sir Prescott, who exactly is coming to help us?” Kalen asked curiously.
"Why do you ask so many questions?" Warrick shot him a look. "You'll find out soon enough." "My apologies.” Kalen smiled awkwardly.
"Eat something and rest while you can. We may be in for a tough fight tonight.". Warrick glanced out the window at the darkening sky.
If he could slip out of Celestria under West the cover of chaos, C But if Lucozia wouldn't be a problem. But if things went south, they'd have no choice but to fight for their lives.
Chapter 2594
As night deepened, the streets were nearly empty under the city's full lockdown, save for uniformed patrols. The few civilians who were out walked hurriedly, afraid of drawing trouble.
At that moment, a ten-man patrol unit approached the small courtyard where Warrick was hiding.
Leading them was Mulder Frank, a burly man with a buzz cut. After ensuring the street was clear, he stepped forward and knocked on the courtyard door.
The knocking followed a distinct rhythm, like a secret code. After the first knock, there was no response, so he knocked twice more.
On the third knock, the gate finally creaked open a crack. A shadowed figure inside revealed only half their face and muttered in a low, deep voice, "The sun shines bright in the sky." Without missing a beat, Mulder responded, "I raise my glass and ask the blue sky." It was the secret code they had set up beforehand.
"Cin, gentlemen. Sir Prescott has been expecting you." The courtyard door swung open, and Kalen gestured for them to enter.
Mulder nodded and led his team inside.
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Once they were all in, Kalen poked his head out to scan the street. After confirming that there was nothing suspicious, he quickly closed the door.
At that moment, the residence door opened.
Warrick, accompanied by several of his personal guards, stepped out. He immediately recognized the uniforms they wore as those of the City Defenders.
After the enforcement team had taken over, the City Defenders had undergone a complete restructuring. All officials linked to Huxley had been placed under house arrest.
So, Warrick's former contacts were no longer useful to him. However, it was clear that Huxley had already planted inside agents within the City Defenders, which were now proving invaluable.
"Sir Prescott, Lord Poseidon sent us to assist you," Mulder said with a respectful salute.
"Poseidon?" The Red Legion guards glanced at one another, and their faces betrayed their shock. They had all heard of Poseidon one of the four royal Gods of the Hall of Gods.
A sworn enemy of West Lucozia.
The guards hadn't expected Warrick to have ties to the Hall of Gods. To them, such dealings bordered on treason.
But on second thought, given their dire situation, only a force as powerful as the Hall of Gods could get them safely out of Celestria.
"You have a way to get us out?" Warrick asked tentatively.
"Of course." Mulder gestured, and one of his men stepped forward to present a City Defender uniform with both hands. "I've already made the necessary arrangements," Mulder said. “Put this on and cwith us. We'll get you out of the city without a problem." "Just one uniform?" Warrick glanced at his four guards. "What about them?" "My orders were to escort you alone. Their fate is none of my concern," Mulder replied flatly.
"It's just a few extra sets of clothes. Is it really that big of a deal?” Kalen couldn't help but speak up.
One uniform or five-what difference did it make? They were all just trying to survive, so a little flexibility shouldn't be too much to ask.
"It's not just about the uniforms," Mulder said. "Even if I could get more, I wouldn't give them to you." "Why not?" Kalen frowned.
"Every patrol unit has a fixed number of men. I've secured one extra spot, just enough for Sir Prescott. If the rest of you try to blend in, it'll raise suspicion. And if we get exposed, getting out of Celestria won't be easy." Mulder's face remained unreadable.
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"You little-" Kalen was about to argue when one of his comrades held him back and said, "Our safety doesn't matter. As long as you can get Sir Prescott out of the city safely, we'll figure out the rest on our own." Mulder nodded and said nothing. He turned to Warrick and said, “We don't have much time. Let's go."
Warrick frowned, displeased with the arrangement. These men had fought Ο ΠΡ by his side for years standing with him through life and death. Abandoning them now felt like a betrayal of everything he stood for.
"Sir Prescott, don't worry about us.
m Just leave. We'll find a way out on our e own," one of them said reassuringly. "The patrol shift is about to change soon.
If we miss this opportunity, we'll have to wait until tomorrow," Mulder reminded him.
"This is your only chance, Sir Prescott. You have to leave now," Geralt urged.
"That's right," the other guard chimed in.
"Every minute you stay here puts you in more danger. If you're safe, we can regroup and fight another day." Finally, Warrick nodded. He stopped hesitating and quickly put on the uniform.
"Let's go," he said.
"Hold on..." Mulder cast a cold glance at the four Red Legion guards "Sin Prescott, these men are a liability. If we leave them behind and they report us to the enemy, we'll be in trouble." "What?" Warrick's expression darkened. " What do you mean by that?"
Chapter 2595
“To avoid trouble, the four guards must die,” Mulder said bluntly.
The four Red Legion guards instantly turned pale upon hearing that.
Even Warrick frowned, his face darkening.
“What nonsense are you spouting? They are my personal guards, my brothers-in-arms. How could they possibly
betray me?”
“You never really know who you can trust. Betrayal happens all the time-even between comrades. For your
safety, we can’t take that risk,” Mulder said solemnly.
“A warrior can be killed but never disgraced. We've followed Sir Prescott for years, through life and death. No
matter the cost-even if it’s our lives-we would never betray him,” Geralt said.
“That's right. Don’t judge loyal men by your own petty standards,” Kalen snapped.
Hmph! Scum like you could never understand the bond between men who have fought and bled together,”
another added.
They responded to Mulder’s words with a mix of anger and disdain.
These men were Warrick’s personal guards -battle-hardened and fiercely loyal. They had faced life-and-death
trials and wouldn't hesitate to lay down their lives for him.
From the day they joined the Red Legion to the moment they were chosen as Warrick’s personal guards, one
belief had been drilled into them-his safety cbefore everything.
Not just their own lives-even if all their families’ lives were added together, they still wouldn't measure up to
Warrick’s importance. Loyalty and duty bound these Red Legion guards, but so did the unforgiving military code.
If Warrick fell, they were expected to take their own lives in atonement, and their families wouldn't be spared
either. That was why betrayal had never even crossed their minds.
“I may not care for your so-called brotherhood, but | understand human nature-and pain,” Mulder said coldly.
He continued, “If any of you get caught, no matter how tough you think you are, you won't withstand the
tortures inside Grimhold Keep. So, don’t bother arguing withbecause I used to work there. I've seen too
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many real-life examples, and there has never been a single exception.”
The punishments in Grimhold Keep were beyond what most people could imagine.
Anyone who hadn't experienced them could never fully grasp the depth of suffering and despair.
Plenty of so-called tough guys went in cursing and acting like they had nothing to lose, but those were usually
the first to break and rarely made it past half a day.
In that place, dying was a privilege, but most prisoners weren't given that option. They couldn’t live, but they
weren't allowed to die either.
One of the most infamous cases ten years ago involved a serial rapist who had assaulted over 100 women and
even murdered the daughter of a high-ranking official.
He had been imprisoned in Grimhold Keep for three years, tortured beyond recognition, and eventually turned
into a living corpse. His suffering only ended when the official's rage had subsided.
Having witnessed so much bloodshed, Mulder had no faith in human resilience. He didn’t believe anyone could
withstand the interrogation techniques used in Grimhold Keep.
At the mention of that place, the Red Legion guards fell silent, and their earlier defiance faded. Though they had
never seen the place themselves, they knew well enough how terrifying it was. It wasn’t a place where anyone
walked out whole.
If they were truly captured and sent there, could they endure the torture? None of them could say for sure.
“Sir Prescott, for your own safety, make a decision,” Mulder said.
Warrick lowered his head, and his face was clouded with uncertainty.
“If you can’t do it, | can take care of it for you,” Mulder added.
“No need.” A cold glint flashed in Warrick’s eyes. “They're my men. I'll do it myself.”
He drew his blade and swung it at the four men before him. The blade swept across in a blinding arc, fast as a
lightning strike.
The four guards shuddered as red lines bloomed across their throats.
“Sir Prescott... you...”
Kalen’s eyes widened in shock. He barely had tto speak before the red line on his neck split open. Blood
gushed out, and his head tumbled to the ground.
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They had never expected Warrick to be so ruthless-to kill them without hesitation.
They had been prepared to die for Warrick, but they had never expected to be killed by him.
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Mulder smiled. “Fast and ruthless-just what I'd expect from a man like you, Sir Prescott.”
Men like Warrick, hardened by war and countless battles, never showed mercy. They carved their way through
blood and death.
Mulder hadn't expected Warrick to be so ruthless. He'd assumed Warrick would leave the dirty work to him.
However, Warrick had handled it himself.
“Save your breath,” Warrick said coldly. ” If | don’t make it out of Celestria today, none of you will.”
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“That better be the case.” The murderous glint in Warrick’s eyes gradually faded.
“Sir Prescott, this way.”
Mulder signaled his men to open the courtyard gate. Then, he led the group out in an orderly fashion.
Now wearing a City Defenders
uniform, Warrick blended in. om
seamlessly tithe phil! As long
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knew him, no one would question it.
Chapter 2596
With Mulder leading the way, Warrick-disguised as a member of the City Defenders-walked openly through the
streets.
Night had fallen, and the streets were eerily empty-not a single soul was in sight. Only heavily armed patrols
moved through the city:
Every checkpoint along the main road was heavily guarded. Even the patrol squads had to show their emblems
to pass.
Warrick walked at the back of the group. His hat was pulled low so that it covered half his face. In the darkness,
it was nearly impossible to make out his features unless someone got close.
“Austin is more meticulous than | expected,” he muttered. “If it weren't for the Hall of Gods’ undercover agents
helping me, I'd never make it out of Celestria.”
Seeing sentries stationed openly on the streets and hidden in the alleys, Warrick felt a chill crawl down his spine.
In less than two miles, they had already passed seven or eight checkpoints.
In addition to the heavily guarded checkpoints on the main roads, countless hidden sentries kept a constant
watch on the streets. At the first sign of trouble, they’d move in immediately.
Warrick had initially planned to slip out of the city with his guards if he couldn't make contact with his allies. With
his level of cultivation, escaping Celestria should have been possible.
But now, he realized how naive that plan had been.
With the city under lockdown-guards stationed every ten steps and hidden sentries every hundred-sneaking out
was nearly impossible.
If he were spotted, the entire city’s forces would descend on him. Even with his extraordinary abilities, breaking
through such a tight encirclement would be a hopeless task.
The streets were silent, and no one in the group spoke. Even when they passed other patrols, there was no
exchange of words-just a simple nod before moving along.
And just like that, Warrick blended seamlessly into the patrol team as they made their way toward the outer city.
After nearly three hours of walking, they were stopped at the final checkpoint just as they were about to exit the
inner city.
This was the central passage between the inner and outer city-the most critical checkpoint.
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Since the lockdown, vehicles had been prohibited from entering the inner city.
The only way to get a ride was to reach the outer city.
The border between the two was heavily guarded, with troops stationed to prevent anyone from slipping through
unnoticed.
While City Defender patrols could move freely within the inner city, their authority didn’t extend to the outer city.
As Mulder led the group toward the checkpoint, the hundred or so elite guards on duty immediately grew alert.
“Stop right there! The City Defenders are only responsible for inner city security. What are you doing here?”
Colton Dane, the guard captain, fixed them with a razor-sharp gaze. His tone was firm and commanding. As he
spoke, his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
The surrounding guards mirrored his stance, their piercing gaze locked onto Mulder and his team.
Warrick frowned slightly and silently channeled his energy.
Everything had gone smoothly up to this point. They'd passed through every checkpoint without issue. He hadn’t
expected to be stopped at the final checkpoint.
Did someone notice something?
“Sir Prescott, no need to be nervous. This is just standard procedure. Leave it to me,” Mulder murmured before
striding toward Colton with a friendly grin. “Mr. Dane, it's me. Mulder.”
“Mulder?”
Colton’s sharp gaze lingered on him before his expression gradually relaxed.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “I remember your unit was assigned to patrol the inner city. Without
deployment orders, you're not supposed to leave.”
“I'm just following orders from above, Mr. Dane. | was told to take care of something in the outer city,” Mulder
replied. Then, he asked with a grin, “Could you doa favor and let us through?”
“We all work for the government, so you know the rules. Right now, the entire city is under strict lockdown.
Without an emblem, you're not authorized to pass.”
Colton kept a straight face.
Under normal circumstances, bending the rules wasn’t a big deal. At worst, it might just earn him a reprimand.
But now things were different. The whole city was under lockdown, and there was a manhunt going on. A single
mistake could cost him his position-or worse, land him in prison.
His future and safety were on the line. There was no room for errors.
« ,
Of course, Mr. Dane. I'd never put
q »
you in a tough spot.” Mulder hygtled
and took outg brope(entem rom
" ao 2
his, oat Ris is a direct order from
Axel Cruz of the enforcement team.
, q q oq q »
I'm just carrying out his instructions.
« ”
Mr. Cruz?" Colton took the emblem
and studied it closely. Once he om
confirmed it was gekuink, he Handed
Q » 2
itlpaok. Why did Mr. Cruz send you
to the outer city in the middle of the
q ” q
night?” The content is on
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chapter there!
wy ’ . a
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It's not that I'm trying to be secretive,
but this is a sensitive matter. Mtn
Cruz explicitly odehédfoto
réveal airing, or | could lose my
ang »
position. | hope you understand,
Mulder answered in a low voice. The
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the latest chapter there!
“If this is Mr. Cruz's order, | won't press further.”
Colton gave Mulder and his group a once-over before turning back to his men. With a wave of his hand, he
ordered, “Clear the checkpoint and let them through!”
As soon as he gave the command, the guards quickly pulled back the barricade blocking the road and cleared a
path.
“Thanks, Mr. Dane.” Mulder smiled and gave a respectful nod.
Colton nodded in return but said nothing.
“Alright, let's move,” Mulder instructed, gesturing to his men and leading them forward.
But just as they were about to pass through the checkpoint, Colton’s gaze fell on the last person in line.
“Stop right there!” he barked.
That order made Mulder and the others immediately tense up.
Chapter 2597
“Stop right there!” Colton suddenly shouted and stopped Mulder just as he was about to pass through the
checkpoint.
In an instant, everyone tensed up. Mulder’s hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his blade, and Warrick
clenched his fists, ready for a fight.
“Mr. Dane, is there a problem?” Mulder turned, smiling calmly.
“Are these men your soldiers?” Colton’s gaze swept over the men, scanning each one from the front to the back.
“Of course. | trained them myself.” Mulder nodded, the easy smile still plastered on his face.
“Showtheir ID badges. | need to check them one by one.”
“Is that really necessary? I'm in a bit of a hurry to carry out my mission.”
“I'm just doing my duty, and I'd appreciate your cooperation,” Colton replied, his gaze unwavering.
“Mr. Dane, it’s not like we just met. Do you still not trust me?” Mulder’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Besides, | have
Mr. Cruz's signed authorization right here. Even if you won't doa favor, surely you wouldn't disrespect him,
right?”
Colton frowned and looked hesitant. He didn’t mind offending Mulder, but crossing Axel could spell trouble for his
career. Still, if he didn’t check carefully and something went wrong, he'd be the one held accountable.
After a few moments of deliberation, Colton stood his ground. “Rules are rules. Please showthe ID badges.”
Mulder’s smile slowly faded. “Since you insist, | guess we have no choice but to comply.”
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He turned to the dozen or so men behind him and gave them a subtle nod. “Show your IDs to Mr. Dane.”
The men remained silent as they pulled out their badges.
Colton stepped past Mulder and began inspecting their badges, starting from the front. The first ten men
checked out without issue. But when he reached the last man, the other party stood with nothing in his hand.
“Hmm? Where's your badge?” Colton frowned.
The man at the end of the line was unusually large, and his towering frmade him impossible to miss. His
face, partially hidden by a thick beard, carried a rugged and intimidating appearance.
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As Colton stepped closer, he caught a faint scent of blood on the man.
“I didn’t bring it,” the man muttered.
“You didn’t bring it?”
Colton slowly raised his head. In the dim moonlight, he suddenly realized the man’s face looked familiar-like he
had seen him somewhere before. But with his head lowered and his high collar hiding half his face, it was hard to
be sure.
“Look up!” Colton ordered, now on high alert. His hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword.
“So, you saw through it after all.”
The man slowly raised his head, revealing his face.
It was none other than Warrick.
“You...”
Colton’s expression changed drastically. Just as he was about to draw his sword, Warrick struck-his hand pierced
straight through Colton’s chest and ripped out a bloody heart.
Colton’s body jerked; his face froze in terror.
“I told you to let us through, but you just had to get in the way,” Warrick snarled with a wicked grin. “You're
getting paid peanuts for this job. Why risk your life over it?”
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled Colton’s body more than ten yards away. The lifeless body skidded across the
ground, leaving a long, dark smear of blood in its wake.
For a brief moment, the checkpoint guards stood frozen as they struggled to process what had just happened.
They were stunned by the sight. None of them had expected a member of the City Defenders to suddenly attack
and kill someone at the slightest disagreement.
“Attack!”
Mulder was already prepared. Without hesitation, he drew his blade and charged into the crowd.
The dozen or so skilled men behind him didn’t hesitate and drew their weapons as they joined the slaughter.
“Enemy incoming! We're under attack!”
The checkpoint guards finally snapped out of their daze. They drew their weapons and clashed with Mulder and
his men.
At the stime, a piercing horn cut through the night air and echoed across half the inner city. It was the signal
that they were under attack.
Once the horn sounded, it meant they had encountered a strong enemy. All nearby patrols, including the guards,
were required to rush in for backup right away.
“You must have a death wish.”
Warrick appeared in a flash before the guard who had sounded the horn and slammed a fist into his chest.
The guard’s body exploded like a watermelon hit by a cannonball. Blood and flesh rained down, scattering across
the ground along with the shattered remains of the horn.
Though the horn had been silenced, the commotion had already caused a stir. Soldiers began pouring toward the
checkpoint from all directions.
Warrick didn't care. His fists struck
like hammers as he charged int the
crowd and stgried his (Dassacte.
Epeisince Re beca fugitive, he
had been bottling up his rage, and
now he was finally letting loose. The
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the latest chapter there!
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As a powerhouse halfway to
becoming an ultimate grandmaster,
Warrick was in a le yeyof bigot.
Dealing itd Sr soldiers was
like slicing through melons-one
punch, one Kill. In just two minutes,
more than half of the hundred guards
lay dead or dying. The content is on
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chapter there!
“Sir Prescott, it’s not safe to linger. We need to retreat now.”
Mulder saw the tide turning and quickly grabbed Warrick’s arm to stop his rampage.
While the hundred or so guards were
not a threat, the endless streayof
reinforcementsaastahdther matter.
Ifitney got surrounded, escaping
would becnearly impossible.
Chapter 2598
“Damn it!” Warrick cursed. “I was just getting started.”
He was covered in blood. His eyes burned with a wild, excited gleam.
Warrick lived for the fight. After two days in hiding, he was itching to let loose-and now that he had, he wasn’t
ready to stop.
“Sir Prescott, think about the bigger picture. If we don’t leave now, it'll be too late,” Mulder urged, grabbing his
arm.
At the far end of the street, dark figures were already visible in the distance, rushing toward them. Though
Warrick still seemed reluctant, he quickly calmed down.
“Fall back!” he shouted.
With that, he and Mulder charged past the checkpoint and led a handful of battered soldiers into the outer city.
Unlike the inner city, the outer city had much weaker defenses. The sheer size of the area made it impossible to
secure every corner, so only the main thoroughfares had a strong military presence.
Mulder had already mapped out their escape route and prepared the gear.
According to the original plan-if they hadn’t drawn any unwanted attention they'd leave the inner city by car and
make a clean getaway.
But if they couldn’t make it out of the city or if their cover was blown, they’d have to use the backup plan-the
secret tunnels.
The Hall of Gods had secretly dug several underground tunnels in the outer city, each leading from the inner city
to the outside.
These tunnels were invaluable, and the Hall of Gods rarely used them under normal circumstances. If war broke
out, these tunnels could change the tide of battles.
As a core member of the Hall of Gods, Mulder hadn't planned on using the secret tunnels to escape-doing so
risked exposing them.
But after the chaos just now, he had no choice. At that moment, survival was his only priority.
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Following Mulder’s lead, the group sprinted through the dark streets. Half an hour later, they finally reached an
unremarkable house. They slipped inside, wiped away the bloodstains, and changed into fresh clothes.
After lingering in the hideout for a few minutes, Mulder signaled for them to move. They slipped out quietly and
headed into the Central Village.
The area was a tangled mess of run-down buildings packed tightly together, with narrow alleys and winding
streets that could easily confuse anyone unfamiliar with it.
Mulder had clearly been here before. He wove through the maze of alleys and twisting paths with practiced ease.
Warrick soon found himself dizzy and completely disoriented. Just as he was starting to lose his patience, Mulder
suddenly veered into a small Strequan-style house with a courtyard.
The others immediately followed, copying his every move.
Once inside the house, Mulder entered the living room and peeled back the rug beneath the coffee table,
revealing a hidden trapdoor. He hooked two fingers into the holes, gave a firm tug, and pulled it open.
The trapdoor slowly creaked open, revealing a dark passage leading underground. Standing at the tunnel
entrance, they could feel a cool breeze drifting up from the tunnel.
“Sir Prescott, after you.” Mulder gestured toward the tunnel.
“You go first,” Warrick replied, peering into the darkness. It was pitch-black, and it was impossible to see
anything.
“You're as cautious as ever, Sir Prescott,” Mulder said with a faint smile. Without hesitation, he led his men into
the darkness.
Warrick followed closely behind, his senses on high alert. They might be allies for now, but that didn’t mean he
fully trusted Mulder.
Caution never killed a man, but recklessness did. Warrick wasn’t going to entrust his life to someone he barely
knew.
In the outer city, countless patrol squads began scouring the area to track down Warrick and the others.
Axel rushed to the scene with his elite troops as soon as he received the news. He was determined to make up
for his earlier failure.
His gaze swept over the blood-soaked ground, littered with corpses. He frowned, then strode forward and
grabbed a lightly wounded guard.
“What happened? How did Warrick suddenly show up here?” he demanded.
The inner city was on lockdown. By all rights, Warrick should have been trapped. It was only a matter of time
before they found his hiding spot.
Axel couldn't understand how Warrick managed to cross a hundred miles and appear right on the border
between the inner and outer city.
« . »
It... it was Mr. Mulder Frank.” The
) . . 9
guard's face twisted with Lem
“ )
rage. sods he ed the
rebels t rough the checkpoint and
: ”
killed more than half of our men.” The
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“What? Mulder?” Axel’s expression darkened. “Are you sure?”
wp Pl
I'm certain,” the guard growled through clenched S20 Thatgly's a
. J hl .
atid sijeep's Slot ing. I'd recognize
: H ”
him even if he turned to dust.” The
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“How could this happen?” Axel frowned, and a chill ran down his spine.
Mulder was Axel’s brother-in-law and an officer in the City Defenders.
He was ambitious, responsible, and
had no known vices. It was precisely
because of that repytatipndhiat el
hadino Pasetvations about marrying
his sister to him. But never in his
wildest dreams did he expect Mulder
to be a traitor. The content is on
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If word of this reached Austin, no amount of explaining would clear Axel’s name.
Chapter 2599
“Damn you, Mulder! You've really screwedover this time.”
Axel gnashed his teeth as rage boiled inside him. Mulder’s betrayal hadn't just implicated Axel’s sister, but it had
also dragged Axel himself into the mess.
Mulder had climbed the ranks to assistant chief of the City Defenders in just a few years, and Axel had played a
major role in backing him.
Now that this mess had blown up, Axel was right in the middle of it. No matter how he tried to explain, he was
going to take the fall for it.
“Everyone, follow me! Let's capture that traitor.”
After learning Mulder’s escape route, Axel waved his hand and led his enforcement team out at full speed.
He had already messed up by failing to capture Warrick, which was a serious lapse in duty. Now, with his brother-
in-law openly rebelling against them, things had only gotten worse.
If Axel didn’t turn this situation around and bring those traitors to justice, his days as an enforcement team
captain were numbered.
After a thorough search, he finally located the hideout where Mulder and his accomplices had been staying. But
by the tthey arrived, the place was already deserted. All that remained were a few bloodstained clothes.
“Keep searching. | don’t care if you have to tear this city apart-find them!”
After another dead end, Axel was growing increasingly frustrated and barked out a series of orders.
The enforcement team, City Defenders, and all the other guards sprang into action. They launched a full-scale
search centered around the hideout.
Checkpoints were set up at every major route out of the outer city, with additional troops deployed.
Inside the castle, Austin stood in the courtyard. He gazed at the night sky, enjoying the peaceful moment alone.
The news of Warrick forcing his way through the checkpoint reached Austin not long ago. Without the effect of
Tranqurin, capturing him would be challenging for the enforcement team. Now, their only chance was to rely on
the Draken Guardians and Jaxon.
“Who's there?”
Austin’s ears twitched as he suddenly sensed something. He turned and looked at the rooftop behind him.
Standing there was a figure clad in black.
The man was tall and imposing, with a subdued yet powerful presence. The darkness obscured his face, making
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it impossible to identify him.
Austin becvigilant, and his hand instinctively moved toward the hidden weapon at his waist.
Whoever that man was, he’d managed to infiltrate the castle, bypassing all the guards and sentries without
raising an alarm. That alone spoke volumes about his skill.
Then, a familiar voice rang out.
“It's me.”
The figure vanished from the rooftop in a blur. When he reappeared, he was standing directly in front of Austin.
The shadows on his face receded, and it revealed a strikingly handsface.
It was Dustin Rhys.
“Dustin?” Austin was startled for a moment. Then, his face lit up with joy. ” When did you get here? Why didn’t
you givea heads-up?”
“l cas soon as | got your message.”
Dustin skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point. “What happened? Jovian just arrived in West
Lucozia, and he hasn't pissed anyone off. Why would someone want him dead?”
“Here's what happened...”
Austin didn’t hide anything. He recounted everything in detail-from the moment Jovian set foot in the castle to
the city-wide lockdown, leaving nothing out.
Dustin frowned, and his expression turned somber. “I never thought the officials in West Lucozia had sunk this
low. It's tfor a major purge.”
“I am also responsible for Jovian’s death. If | had been more careful and sent someone to protect him, maybe the
outcwould have been different.”
Austin sighed. His brother had entrusted him with this task, yet he had botched it. Now, the guilt gnawed at him.
“This isn’t your fault. Blit on the people who think they're above the law.”
Dustin's eyes hardened with cold fury. He assumed that once he gave Austin a heads-up, Jovian’s trip would be
uneventful. He never imagined that disaster would strike.
a“ q q
Warrick is strong, and he had help.
) . . 2
He's still on the run, and catching him
P ) :
won't be easy. But Kl robilize elety
ayaifgblelredource to track him down.
Even if | have to chase him to the
, ] 3
ends of the earth, I'll bring him to
a q » q q .
justice,” Austin said firmly. The
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« se q 5 .
Celestria is a big city, so hunting
down a grandmaster-level martigh
: f f )
artist like him ward Sas: stead
oBvBstigon a wild goose
q » 3
chase, why not lure him out?” Dustin
suggested. The content is on
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chapter there!
“Oh? Do you have a plan?” Austin asked, intrigued.
“Where do you think Warrick would go after fleeing Celestria?” Dustin asked.
“He's spent most of his life in the city. All of his friends and family are in West Lucozia, so he doesn’t have many
places to turn to,” Austin replied thoughtfully.
He continued, “Heading to Oakvale would be too risky since he wouldn't escape pursuit there either. The north is
too far, and the climate there is nothing like West Lucozia.
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“Given his personality, he'd probably look for a place that’s both prosperous and secure-somewhere our
influence can’t reach.”
Austin’s eyes suddenly widened in realization. “I get it now! His first choice would be to flee to Artea in
Streuqua.”
Exactly.” Dustin nodded. “The Hall of
Gods in Artea has influence across
the globe. They ve defiately got Spies
plantedlin West Lucozia. If Warrick
)
wants to seek refuge, they won't turn
down a grandmaster martial artist
q lr »
who is willing to pledge loyalty.” The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
Artea had always been at odds with Dragonmarsh, and it wasn’t far from West Lucozia.
From Warrick’s perspective, joining the Hall of Gods for protection would be the best option if he was backed into a corner.
Chapter 2600
“Here's the problem-even if we know Warrick’s intentions, how do we stop him?
“Austin asked.
Right now, Warrick had already disappeared without a trace. Austin’s team hadn't even cclose enough to
get a hold of him, so there was no way to track him down.
West Lucozia’s vast territory and resources made it impossible to seal off every exit route completely. While it
might be manageable in the short term, prolonging such an operation would significantly impact West Lucozia’s
economy. Wasting resources on a single fugitive wasn’t a wise move.
“Warrick is a wanted man across the entire city. There's no way he’s leaving through official channels. He'll have
to sneak his way out,” Dustin analyzed.
He continued, “According to the maritcharts, if he’s traveling from West Lucozia to Artea, he'll have to go
through Thaloria. That's our lead. Get someone on it immediately-find out how many smuggling routes there are
from West Lucozia to Thaloria.”
“Got it. I'll get it done right away,” Austin replied with a nod. He quickly summoned his guards and relayed the
orders.
The castle's intelligence network worked efficiently. In less than half an hour, a special route map was delivered
to Austin.
As he spread it out, he saw dozens of winding paths-all leading from West Lucozia’s border to various docks and
ports in Thaloria. However, five of these routes were marked in bright red, which stood out sharply.
These routes weren't found on any standard map, and few knew they existed. In other words, they were the
secret channels used by smugglers. Unscrupulous merchants and corrupt officials had long exploited these
routes for profit.
The castle had been aware of them for stbut had chosen not to take action. Cracking down on them
would be a massive undertaking.
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In sways, letting them go unchecked had its benefits-it was like allowing a dangerous situation to fester,
knowing it would eventually implode.
“Dustin, look-these five routes are the main smuggling paths to Thaloria,” Austin said, pointing at the map. “If
your guess is right, Warrick will have to choose one of them. If we set up an ambush at these locations, we're
bound to catch him.”
“Warrick is a grandmaster martial artist, and his senses are razor-sharp. If we send too many troops to lay an
ambush, it'll be too obvious, and we'll alert him before we get a chance to act,” Dustin replied.
Right now, Warrick was like a startled bird, and the slightest disturbance would send him fleeing.
“Yeah, that’s true.” Austin nodded thoughtfully. “If we mobilize a large force, it'll tip him off. But if we only send a
handful of elite squads, I'm worried we won't have enough manpower to stop him.
Even after being drugged with Tranqurin, Warrick still managed to escape from the castle. Regular armed forces
couldn't stop him at all.
Only elite troops like the Draken Guardians stood a chance of taking him down. The problem was that there were
only about 100 of them. It was nowhere near enough to cover all possible smuggling routes. Splitting them up
would only weaken their strength, and that wasn’t a smart move.
On top of that, Warrick had the backing of experts from the Hall of Gods. If it cto a confrontation, the odds
of failure were high.
“No need to go through all that trouble,” Dustin said coolly. “Just deploy your forces to seal off four of the routes.
As for the rest, leave it to me.”
“I get it now. So, this is what you meant by ‘ lure him out.” That's brilliant.” Austin quickly caught on.
By blocking four routes and deliberately leaving one open, they would give Warrick the false hope that he could
escape. Dustin would then wait at the exit and capture him the moment he walked into the trap.
It was a clever strategy that wouldn't raise any suspicion but would guarantee success.
As for whether Dustin could take down Warrick, Austin had never doubted it. Even top-ranked martial artists on
the Champ-Tier List had fallen by Dustin's hand, so what chance did a lowly general like Warrick have?
In the end, Warrick had only himself to blfor provoking the wrong person.
Dawn was breaking, and the search operation in Celestria, the capital of West Lucozia, was still underway.
Although Dustin and Austin already had a plan to capture Warrick, they still had to put on a show to avoid
arousing suspicion from the Hall of Gods.
In an old estate outside Celestria, a hidden door behind a bookshelf slowly creaked open as a mechanism clicked
into place.
Soon, Mulder stepped out, followed
by several subordinates. After
scannin they surdddings on
cBhnfirmi Fons were safe, Mulder
»
turned back and called out, ” All clear,
: ”
Sir Prescott. You can cout now.
“Damn it! | was suffocating in there.”
Warrick exited from the secret tunnel, cursing. He looked grimy and haggard.
After spending the entire night navigating the dark, damp tunnel, he finally had a chance to breathe fresh air
again.
He slumped into a chair and poured
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himself a cup of Serene
"ps gonito Re sip, he hesitated
and glanced warily at Mulder. The
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The memory of drinking a drugged tea at the castle a few days ago was still fresh in his mind .
« P .
Don't worry, Sir Prescott. The tea
FO) ” :
isn't drugged. der ees
te cuptam Wei K's hand, and
downed it in one gulp. The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“Can’t be too careful after what happened.
“Warrick shook his head before drinking the tea.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from the doorway.
Warrick’s face tensed. In a flash, his blade was drawn and ready to strike.
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