Xayne Xavier, The Ironclad Protector

Chapter 4

"Supreme Commander, what should we do?" Chesley expressed his concerns. "I've already ordered Shalholm's combat division to be on standby, but I'm worried that once the Dragonbreakers Legion, with their three hundred thousand troops, arrives in the five provinces of East Yoskea, it will create unnecessary trouble and cause public outrage."

Rhaega's expression turned serious, his face darkened. "Establish immediate contact with the Drakonian Council to inform the four elders about this situation! Also, personally go to Shalholm! Hurry!"

Afterward, Rhaega stared at the red dot symbols representing the three hundred thousand Northern Plains army on the electronic screen, consumed by deep panic!

"Contact the Shalholm authorities right away! Demand the mayor, Chief Enforcement Officer, and the stationed combat division to provide updates on the situation every half an hour! And make sure Linford Haith takes charge of this for me! If there are any oversights or consequences, he'll answer to me!" Rhaega shouted, his voice strained, delivering a powerful blow that shattered the table into pieces!

Meanwhile, in the Far East region, North Afrano, North Amaloria, and other major extraterritorial military theaters, all three thousand Dracarium elites rushed to the airport. They boarded the fastest specialized aircraft, heading toward Drakonia!

The news of the three hundred thousand fully armed troops of the Dragonbreakers Legion marching toward the five provinces of East Yoskea had already spread, shaking the entire world. Even within the borders of Drakonia, the impact was immeasurable.

However, amidst the turmoil, Shalholm remained eerily calm.

In a hill villa on the outskirts of Shalholm, Xayne had already awakened. Although he suffered from a hidden ailment, he had temporarily regained composure, thanks to Stephen Saye, one of the three renowned physicians and the successor of the Pharma Master.

"Supreme Commander, your injuries have been accumulating for far too long. You can't afford to lose your temper like that again. If it happens once more, even I won't be able to assist you," Stephen warned, a seasoned expert with silver hair standing tall beside Xayne, carefully removing his treatment needles.

"Dr. Saye, I appreciate your efforts." Xayne nodded respectfully and anxiously inquired, "What about my daughter's condition?"

"Rest assured, she is unharmed with those two by her side," Stephen smiled, squinting his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Xayne grew increasingly anxious. He hurriedly made his way to Coco's bedroom. However, as he approached the door and caught sight of Coco lying on the bed, Xayne slowed his steps. He walked softly to the bedside, gazing at Coco's peaceful sleep before turning to the two doctors and asking, "How is my daughter?"

Rudolf, an elderly doctor in his seventies, exuding an air of wisdom, stroked his white beard and shook his head. "Supreme Commander, to be honest, her injuries are severe. For now, we have only managed to suppress the damage within her body. Next, we will need to perform surgery to remove the four broken bones. The process will be lengthy. Moreover, her head has suffered significant damage. Even if she wakes up, we cannot predict if there will be any lasting effects. I hope you are mentally prepared."

When Xayne heard this, his eyes turned bloodshot, filled with intense rage that seemed to pierce the heavens. 'My daughter has been severely injured!'

Then, Xayne slowly bent down, his hand gently reaching out to touch Coco's beautiful, doll-like face on the bed.

How lovely and beautiful Coco was. Her eyes bore a striking resemblance to Serena's. Even though Coco was currently asleep, a sweet smile graced her lips. Perhaps it was because she had finally fulfilled her wish of meeting her father, whom she hadn't seen in five years.

'Is she truly my daughter?' Xayne's heart swelled with warmth and love. He tenderly kissed Coco's forehead and whispered, "Coco, my little princess, no matter what it takes, I will make you wake up. From now on, no one in this world will be able to harm you or your mom. Rest well, and when you open your eyes, you'll see me."

As if Coco had heard Xayne's voice, her delicate little hand suddenly clasped onto his warm, large hand. In her dreamlike state, she murmured, "Daddy, I miss you so much... I really miss you. When will you come back to see me? Mommy said you're a superhero, out there saving the world, but I wish you could be my very own superhero..."

Upon hearing these words, the maid and the two doctors in the room were deeply moved, silently wiping away their tears. 'Poor child, even in her slumber, she yearns for her father. How she longs for him to return and be with her, how she craves a father's love...'

Xayne's eyes grew moist as a surge of guilt from the past five years washed over him. He gently tucked Coco's little hand under the blanket and said, "Doctors, regardless of the outcome, please spare no effort in treating her. I will cover all expenses!"

The two doctors immediately shook their heads and said, "Supreme Commander, please don't say that. We will exert every ounce of our abilities to treat her. If it weren't for your intervention back then, our families would have perished in that conspiracy. So even if it means risking our lives, we will ensure your daughter's recovery!" Rudolf and Henry swiftly arranged for the necessary personnel to transform the bedroom into an operating room.

Xayne stepped out of the bedroom, casting three lingering glances back before standing at the doorway, watching the door slowly closed by the two maids. Through the crack in the door, he caught a glimpse of the two doctors beginning the surgery on Coco.

In that moment, tears streamed down Xayne's cheeks. He clenched his fists tightly and turned around. A chilling determination surged within him as he demanded, "Ace! Have you discovered who is responsible for harming my daughter?!"

Ace and the others had already changed into casual attire to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. "Supreme Commander, we have found out! It was a deliberate accident orchestrated by the Golding family, the emerging power in Shalholm. It was a premeditated act of murder!"

"Murder?! Very good! Very good!" Xayne's voice turned cold, his murderous intent resonating like the roar of a dragon, filling the entire hillside villa with an icy atmosphere.

Xayne then regained his composure. "...Where is Serena now?" He spoke her name, feeling overwhelming guilt whenever he thought of her. She was once a bright, lovely, and kind lady.

'Five years... How did she, a delicate woman, endure it all? What has become of the once radiant lady? Does she resent me?' These thoughts flooded Xayne's mind.

"Supreme Commander, your wife has been taken to the Platinum Palace Hotel by Tristan, the eldest son of the Golding family. According to the information we've gathered, five years ago, after giving birth to your daughter, she was expelled from the Swift family and removed from the family registry. For the past five years, she has been living with your daughter, facing financial difficulties and hardships. Three months ago, Tristan became interested in her, and when she rejected him, he arranged for someone to intentionally harm your daughter, hoping to coerce your wife into submission. The poor little girl... it's just..." Ace's voice quivered with tears. He paused for a moment and glanced at Xayne's expression, realizing that it had become terrifyingly intense. Ace had only witnessed this expression once before, during the Eight Nations War when Xayne single-handedly defeated the eight warriors and established his reputation.

Xayne's eyes narrowed, an overwhelming surge of murderous intent welling up within him. He was about to speak when suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the hill villa. Dozens of black armored vehicles surrounded the entire estate, cutting off all access points. Squad after squad of Raptor Operators, fully armed and dressed in black combat uniforms with berets, sealed off every entrance and exit of the villa. The sound of helicopter blades reverberated through the sky as two helicopters circled above, closely monitoring every movement within the estate.

Then, a thunderous voice reverberated through the villa via a powerful loudspeaker system.

"Listen up, everyone inside! This is Mark Jagger from the Patrol Enforcement Division in Shalholm's Mount Shaw area! I am issuing an arrest warrant against you for the deliberate infliction of harm upon others! Drop your weapons and surrender! Exit the premises with your hands raised for questioning! Failure to comply will result in forcible entry!" Mark Jagger, donning a black leather jacket, shouted angrily through the in-car microphone positioned outside the hill villa.

Hex and a few Dracarium Warriors had already withdrawn into the villa and positioned themselves on either side. They locked eyes with Xayne, their determination unwavering, and asked, "Supreme Commander, shall we fight our way out?!"

Furrowing his brows, Xayne replied, "Let's not engage in conflict with the municipal authorities hastily. First, let's go out and assess the situation." With that, Xayne led Ace and all the Dracarium Warriors out of the estate. They stood before the heavily armed Raptor Operators, a specialized unit numbering nearly a hundred members. The Raptor Operators had their weapons aimed at Xayne and his men.

Upon seeing this group emerge from the villa, Mark's expression grew serious. He raised his hand and shouted, "Take them into custody!"

To Mark, Xayne and his companions were regarded as a dangerous and ruthless group, believed to be responsible for a grave incident resulting in injuries at the hospital. It was one of the most significant emergencies that Shalholm had faced in recent years. Therefore, Mark couldn't afford to take any chances.

The group of nearly a hundred Raptor Operators immediately raised their weapons and aimed at Xayne and the others, triggering an intense surge of icy killing intent from all eight Dracarium Warriors.

However, a piercing screech of brakes resonated in the distance, followed by a loud thud. Harold from the Bureau of Law Enforcement forcefully swung open the car door and swiftly emerged. He dashed through the crowd, his voice echoing as he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Halt right there, all of you!"

Then, he pivoted and directed his anger toward Mark, his voice filled with fury. "Get out of here! Who gave you the authority to intervene? Haven't you heard my instructions? No one, I repeat, no one is permitted to approach this location! Order your men to withdraw immediately! Every single one of them! Now!!!"