That towering figure was the one who had once led them to countless victories, sweeping across nations. In every difficult moment, he had been their pillar of strength.Meanwhile, in the private room next door, Yzil and a few team members were raising glasses to Mapen. On the one hand, they needed to secure the access pass from him. On the other, they needed Mapen to sign off on an order to have his troops escort them. Without military protection, even with the access pass, they'd face endless harassment. This wasn't like Drakonia, where government officials worked with integrity and unity. Here, even a minor clerk could make life an unbearable mess for anyone.So, they took turns toasting Mapen, everyone except Xayne. He simply ate in silence. His mind was occupied with plans to bring Spencer safely back to Drakonia. Rescuing Spencer wasn't the problem. Mobilizing Dracarium's local network could locate him in minutes. The real challenge lay in the Ashlan Lanchester family and th
The young man shot a cold look at the bodyguard and sneered, "Such loyalty and bravery. Fine. Someone, bring in ten cases of wine. Let him drink as much as he wants!""No! Young Master, I'll drink it!" Gordon stepped forward, taking the beer glass from the table.Just as his fingers touched the glass, the young man sprang to his feet. His hand lashed out, landing a hard slap on the bodyguard's face."Who the hell do you think you are? Drinking in place of Gordon? What's next, eating his meals for him too?" The young man grabbed the bodyguard by the collar, yanked him close, and pulled out a handgun, pressing the barrel firmly against the man's temple."Please, Young Master, calm down! It's my fault he acted so rashly. Let me take responsibility on his behalf," Gordon said quickly, his voice calm but resolute. Without hesitation, Gordon pinched his nose and downed the glass of beer.A burning sensation seared through his stomach as the alcohol hit him hard.He clenched his teeth,
At that moment, Mapen was basking in unparalleled satisfaction.After all, the man standing before him wasn't just anyone. It was Xayne, the legendary King of the North, the former supreme commander of Drakonia, who had once crushed the forces of five nations with strategic brilliance. Had Xayne been a nobody, Mapen would've taken the money from Yzil long ago and handed over the access pass without a second thought. It's not worth his time to target a nobody.But no, this was different. Mapen wasn't just demanding a toast from Xayne. He had bigger ambitions. He wanted a photo to prove that Xayne had once raised a glass for him to boast about in the future.People boasted about being toasted by presidents of Newcroa, prime ministers of Eaglen, and even the emperor of Drakonia. But no one could claim they had Xayne's respect and toasted with him. That one photograph would be enough to make him a legend at every social gathering for years to come.As Xayne approached, holding a bottle
If they dare make a move, the Egenda's Elder of National Defense won't just sit back and watch. Egenda was still a sovereign nation.At the forefront of the standoff, a soldier bearing the stars of a general on his shoulders stepped forward, his voice sharp as he drew his pistol and pointed it at Yzil and the others and furiously shouted, "Who's in charge here?"Mapen raised a hand, motioning for the officer to stand down. He then turned his gaze toward Xayne, blood still trickling down his temple, and said. "Mr. Xayne, I'm going to need an explanation for what happened today. You can't just leave me bleeding like this and call it even.""Mr. Xayne, it's time to figure this out. We're well past the point of talking this through with a few words," Mapen added, his tone colder now.Yzil, unbothered by the tension, sat off to the side, shrugging as he said nonchalantly, "This isn't my problem. You all figure it out yourselves."Xayne met Mapen's gaze, calm and unyielding.At that mo
Even Xayne himself couldn't remember the last time he had to make a call like this. It was probably back when he first reunited with Serena.The call connected almost instantly. On the other end, a deep, respectful voice came through. "Drakon King!""I'm at the Hotel Delta. Come here," Xayne said plainly before ending the call.The room fell silent for a moment before Mape,n and the elder by his side burst out laughing. Even the soldiers behind them joined in with mocking laughter.He was in Carollan, the capital of Egenda. Mapen wasn't just some local official. He was part of the city's leader and one of its elite decision-makers, and Xayne was trying to call for backup to challenge Mapen. It was laughable.On top of that, Mapen's influence extended far beyond his political role. He was also a distant relative of the Elder of the National Defense. That's how, with a single phone call, Mapen summoned not just the military but also one of the most powerful protectors of the nation.
Xayne was fearless, daring to offend anyone."Xayne! Do you even realize who you're dealing with? How dare you show such disrespect to the Elder of National Defense of Egenda? Just for that, we could kill you, and even Drakonia wouldn't demand justice!" Mapen furiously shouted. Xayne's arrogance was beyond belief, and even with Janko present, he remained brazen.Janko raised a hand, signaling Mapen to stand down. His sharp, calculating gaze locked onto Xayne. "Xayne, the King of the North of Drakonia, a Celestial Dracarium Commander. Do you think that makes you invincible in this world?" Janko said, his tone cold and condescending.With a flicker of disdain in his voice, he continued, "Today, I'll broaden your horizons. I'll show you just how vast this world truly is."His gaze shifted to the dining table, and with a subtle motion of his hand, a knife lifted off the table. The blade shot through the air and embedded itself into the nearby wall, sinking nearly three inches deep.Ja
As soon as the words left his mouth, Janko's face darkened immediately. Before he could lash out, Spartan's phone was already connected. "This is Spartan. Get the president of Egenda on the line in the next ten seconds, or in three days, your country's flag will be replaced," Spartan commanded, his voice like rolling thunder.The sheer authority in his tone sent chills through everyone in the private lounge. It was an unmistakable threat, challenging the nation's president. But if anyone had the authority to make such a statement, it was Spartan, the regional director of Dracarium's operations in Afrishan.Before even five seconds passed, a steady voice came through the speaker. "Mr. Spartan! Hello! This is Castro. You wanted to speak to me?"The call was on speakerphone, allowing everyone in the room to hear every single word. In just one sentence, the president of a nation addressed Spartan with an honorific term."I'll give you five minutes to get to Room 412 of Hotel Delta. Be
Xayne’s tone was calm as he questioned."I was wrong!" Mapen stammered, tears streaming down his face as he dropped to his knees."End it yourself," Xayne said casually.Janko’s eyes blazed with fury as he turned to glare at Xayne after he commanded him to kill himself."Guards! Help him do it," Castro shouted without a moment’s hesitation.Before anyone could react, two of Castro’s bodyguards stepped forward, drew their pistols, and unloaded their clips into Mapen’s head.Yzil squeezed his eyes shut in terror as the room was filled with the deafening sound of gunfire. The floor was smeared with blood and shattered bits of skull."Mr. Xayne, does this resolution satisfy you?" Castro asked, turning back to Xayne, his hands extended for a handshake.Spartan stepped forward, blocking him. "Do you think you’re worthy of shaking Mr. Xayne ’s hand?"Castro’s face twitched as he bit his lip and stepped back, swallowing his pride.Xayne cast a dispassionate glance at Janko and said,