Chapter 321
The King of Northguard had already taken note of someone who had been standing outside for some time.
The individual who had arrived was one of his subordinates.
In that instant, he recalled how he had bowed before Gavin, his humiliation weighing heavily on his mind.
‘If my subordinates had witnessed the recent events, wouldn’t my reputation be irreparably tarnished? The proud King of Northguard had, in fact, played the role of a servant in Gavin’s presence. What would my subordinates make of this?’
The mood of the King of Northguard darkened further. The more he dwelled on the situation, the less he could bear to accept it pa*sively.
Yet, even when he saw Gavin standing nearby, he still didn’t dare to display insolence in his presence.
This was primarily due to his awareness of the vast difference in power between himself and Gavin. If he were to raise his voice before Gavin at this very moment, he understood that his fate would be sealed without question.
He couldn’t possibly engage in a life-and-death struggle with Gavin at this moment and allow his subordinates to witness Gavin overpowering and beating him, could he?
‘Wouldn’t that situation be even more humiliating than the current one?’
The King of Northguard contemplated the situation carefully and, at this moment, had no choice but to concede.
However, he couldn’t help but wonder why his subordinates had chosen this particular moment to appear. ‘Did they have something urgent to report? In any case, it was clear that this was not an opportune time for such interruptions. The King of Northguard set down his coffee cup and turned his gaze towards Gavin. With a somewhat awkward smile, he timidly began, “Um… I have some matters to attend to. I’ll return shortly!
“You can give instructions to my attendants if needed. I’ve made that clear, then.” Gavin’s eyes remained closed, and he paid no heed to the King of Northguard. Nevertheless, he had heard all he needed to hear.
The King of Northguard observed Gavin before him, choosing not to respond or intervene. He offered a smile and said, “Very well, I’ll take my leave for now. I’ll return shortly.”
Then, he swiftly departed, seizing his subordinate by the collar as they both disappeared in a hurry in a certain direction.
As the King of Northguard exited the room, Gavin cast a sidelong glance at the
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door, a subtle smile playing on his l*ps. However, he made no immediate move.
Inside the chamber within the courtyard of the Northguard Imperial Residence.
The King of Northguard tossed the person he had been gripping to the side. Despite the pain, the individual crawled to the feet of the King of Northguard, step by painful step, ultimately kneeling before him.
The King of Northguard glared furiously at his subordinate before him and said.
“Did you witness everything that just transpired?”
The subordinate, with a panicked expression, gazed at the enraged King of Northguard, trembling visibly as he hastily replied.
“King of Northguard, I swear, I didn’t see a thing!
“I really didn’t see anything.
“Your Highness!”
The King of Northguard let out a cold, disdainful snort. As he gazed at the subordinate kneeling before him, beads of sweat trickled down the man’s forehead.
Recognizing that his subordinate was unlikely to divulge any information carelessly, the King of Northguard spoke indifferently.
“If I ever catch wind of you speaking about today’s events to anyone, don’t expect me to hesitate in ordering the execution of your entire family.
“In the future, think long and hard about the consequences of your actions before you proceed. Is that clear?”
Upon hearing the King of Northguard’s admonition, the subordinate looked up urgently and replied, “I heard it loud and clear.
“Even if I had ten times the courage, I would never dare utter a word about it.
“Your Highness, I’ve been loyal to you for so long. How could I ever speak ill of you?” the subordinate protested earnestly.
The King of Northguard gazed at his kneeling subordinate and, after a moment, closed his eyes with a heavy sigh. He then uttered.
“Why did you come seeking me?”
The subordinate who had been kneeling on the ground slowly rose to his feet and approached the King of Northguard. He then began to speak.
“Your Highness, we’ve found those two women, but…”
The King of Northguard’s eyes sparkled with interest upon hearing this news.
They managed to locate the two women quite rapidly.
Did this mean that he could promptly relay the situation to Gavin?
It would also facilitate his swift departure from the Northguard Imperial
Residence.
In that moment, the King of Northguard was solely focused on the first part of the sentence, not anticipating any complications to follow.
Suddenly, a thought seemed to strike the King of Northguard. He opened his eyes and furrowed his brow as he regarded the man before him.
“But what?
“When have I ever instructed you to withhold information? “Spit it out!”
In fear, the subordinate gazed at the infuriated King of Northguard and stammered.
“However, it appears that these two women have been dispatched to a bar in Provence Hotel,” the subordinate explained hesitantly.
Upon hearing the name, Provence Hotel, the King of Northguard’s gaze sharpened as he turned to his subordinate. His pupils contracted, and he uttered. “Cruto Industries?” King of Northguard inquired with a mixture of surprise and
concern.
His men nodded in confirmation.
The King of Northguard’s eyes flickered as he pondered the implications.
‘While the a*sets of Cruto were situated within my fief, they were not under my direct control. Furthermore, the influence of Cruto could not be underestimated. Most crucially, I have no desire to confront Cruto unless it is an absolute necessity, as it may lead to unwarranted international disputes. I surmise that dealing with such a situation in the future could be quite troublesome.’
With these considerations in mind, he turned to his subordinate and stated. “This is going to be a challenging situation,” King of Northguard remarked with a sigh.
Upon hearing his words, his subordinate’s eyes brightened with hope.
“Your Highness, this matter is evidently quite manageable!” the subordinate exclaimed with enthusiasm.
The King of Northguard turned to his subordinate, slightly taken aback by the sudden optimism.
“Are you suggesting that you have a viable solution?
“Go ahead and share your idea.”
Seeing that the King of Northguard was keenly interested, the subordinate proceeded to say.
“Gavin tasked us with locating these two individuals, but he never specifically instructed us to rescue them. I merely conveyed this information to Gavin, who is now preparing to confront Cruto on this matter,” the subordinate explained. “At that point, whether Cruto’s people face consequences or Gavin is dealt with by
Cruto, it would ultimately work in our favor. It’s a win-win situation for us,” the subordinate elaborated.
Upon hearing this perspective, the King of Northguard’s eyes brightened, and a sense of enlightenment washed over him.
Indeed, the subordinate’s reasoning made sense. In such a scenario, both parties. involved would potentially find resolution.
As the King of Northguard had no desire to provoke either side, the prospect of benefiting from the situation without directly participating appeared increasingly appealing.
The King of Northguard was delighted with the idea. He happily patted his subordinate’s shoulder and exclaimed, “Well, well, you may not have much else, but you certainly possess a knack for cunning ideas, my boy.
“This approach is truly splendid!”
The man replied with a mischievous grin.
“I’ve learned a thing or two from Your Highness’s wisdom,” he added with a touch of humility.
Hearing his subordinate’s flattery, the King of Northguard’s expression swelled with pride. He affectionately patted his subordinate and replied, “At least you know how to recognize what’s in your best interest!
“Don’t fret, if this plan proves successful, I’ll make sure to reward you handsomely!”
Just as the King of Northguard was about to sit down for a cup of coffee, it appeared that a thought had struck him, causing him to leap up from his chair abruptly.
He thought, ‘Oh no, I’ve been away for too long. I need to return quickly. What other sinister schemes might that remaining youth be plotting? I need to hurry back; otherwise, I may fall victim to Gavin’s cunning once more. After enduring servitude for so long, I am already worn out. If this young man had any more tricks up my sleeve, life might not be worth living.
After conveying his instructions to his subordinates, the King of Northguard swiftly departed from the location.
Upon returning to his room, he was taken aback to find it empty, with no one present.
‘Where had Gavin gone? I had only been away for a brief period, and now he was nowhere to be found. But where could he have gone? Would he return to cause trouble for me later? These questions raced through the King of Northguard’s mind.
Alone in the room, the King of Northguard felt a sense of bewilderment and uncertainty.
