Chapter 364: Preparation and departing

[A day earlier]

[Lockhart Mansion]

[Montclair]

Since traveling to Fortis regularly while Ethan was stationed in Montclair proved difficult and time-consuming, Kyle had suggested holding their meeting here instead.

Naturally, every major clan maintained a residence in each of the prominent cities across Guhang.

Around eight in the evening, Ethan could be seen serving a glass of orange juice to the man seated before him, who was quietly going through a list in his hand.

Kyle hummed in acknowledgement before looking up. "You have secured several major approvals to begin operations at the new production branch."

"Indeed, my lord. I presented them with assurances they could not refute, and the trust they place in our clan helped me considerably as well." Ethan responded with a respectful nod.

Kyle leaned back in his seat before asking, "What about our operations these days? I have reduced their frequency as you suggested. Hopefully, there haven’t been any special investigations targeting your men."

Ethan’s response confirmed Kyle’s concern.

"The PSC has taken notice of them recently, and a few of our raids have been disrupted by their interference. The warriors managed to leave without much trouble, but if this continues, we may have no choice but to target only those rifts located beyond the PSC’s reach."

Kyle frowned. He had expected this.

The PSC was pursuing Ethan’s men not for their material gains or even to uphold the law. No. Their true interest lay in discovering how these people were able to locate rifts before they appeared.

That information was far more valuable. If the secret behind it could be uncovered, the PSC could gain some much-needed breathing room in dealing with the rifts.

After a brief pause, Kyle said, "I can carve out a way to avoid the PSC, but there is something I want to know, Ethan."

Leaning forward, Kyle stared directly into Ethan’s golden eyes before asking, "How much can you trust your men, even now?"

Ethan took a moment to answer. Partly because the question made him uneasy, and partly because he was recalling his recent conversations with the commanders of the four teams.

"Master, I may need to reestablish my trust in one of the commanders. He’s become a little too curious lately."

Kyle leaned back once more. "I want integrity within those teams, Ethan. And I don’t need to tell you what it takes to maintain it."

Ethan’s eyes turned cold as he nodded.

"I won’t disappoint you, my lord."

Kyle hummed in response and soon rose to his feet.

The tension in the room gradually eased before Kyle asked, "Have you prepared everything I asked for?"

Ethan nodded and followed after Kyle as he replied, "Everything is packed in a bag. Your new identity, several backdated certificates, and the data at the orphanage have been tampered with as well."

After a brief pause, Ethan asked hesitantly, "Master, when will you be leaving?"

Kyle stopped before the window, gazing out at the silent city of Montclair below. For a moment, he remained quiet before finally muttering, "Tomorrow. I will make my appearance tomorrow."

....

[Present day]

[Coastal Area of Eastern Guhang]

Kyle arrived in a taxi. After paying the driver, he retrieved his bag, settled his hat firmly on his head, and walked toward a certain silver-haired woman already waiting for him.

The entire area was deserted, largely because the waves were particularly rough here and it was far from the season for beachgoers.

"Hey," Kyle called out as he approached.

From her reaction, he immediately realized that she had been too deep in her thoughts to notice him coming.

"You arrived. How was the journey?" Veronica asked with a smile as they exchanged a brief hug.

"Full of people. And their snoring."

He had taken a train and then a bus to get here, deliberately distancing himself from the luxury Veronica and many others could have provided. He needed to immerse himself in the ordinary life he had fabricated around his new identity.

"Well, I’ve traveled a lot by public transport. There are certainly some positives to it."

Kyle nodded. "I heard more than twenty life stories along the way. Though half of them sounded suspiciously like boasting."

Veronica chuckled at his nonchalant tone.

Her smile gradually faded as she asked, "Are you not worried?"

"What am I about to do?"

She nodded, prompting Kyle to continue.

"I’m not, actually."

Veronica’s expression remained troubled. "But these people have eyes and ears everywhere. What if they suspect the evidence Ethan and I prepared so carefully? I mean, there are more than ten inconsistencies they could sniff out and use as a reason to place you under surveillance."

Kyle hummed. "That’s true. They might have already seen me with you a couple of times, which should be enough for them to believe I’ve been a complete nobody until now."

Exhaling softly, he added, "But I’m still not worried, Veronica. Because now, I always have an alternative plan for achieving what I want."

Veronica’s brows rose. "What will you do if they discover your intentions? To them, Arthur is the jewel in their crown. Without him, the entire kingdom could lose its significance."

From everything Veronica had witnessed, Arthur had not reached his current position through strength and ability alone. It was the influence he wielded simply by being present, and the sheer number of people who would be affected should he suddenly disappear.

In truth, even if they exposed what Arthur had been doing with Christopher to the authorities, they would likely do nothing to Arthur. They would, however, turn their attention toward those who had exposed him.

Before Veronica could dwell on the thought any further, Kyle rested his hands on her shoulders.

"Don’t overthink it, Veronica. Just trust me and take care of Amanda while I’m gone."

The silver-haired woman pressed her lips together before giving him a silent nod.

°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying the story so far, please leave a review for the future readers.