Chapter 392: The story and trust

The scene was bizarre even for Veronica, who should have expected something like this by now.

Considering Arthur’s personality, however, it was understandable why anyone witnessing the sight would be confused and astounded. The man was down on one knee, his head bowed, presenting an unmistakable image of submission.

And Arthur and submission being used in the same sentence was strange enough on its own.

"You may rise," Kyle said.

He stood before the man for a moment, watching him closely as Arthur slowly rose to his full height. Yet even after standing, Arthur kept his head lowered, his usual pride nowhere to be seen.

Kyle broke the silence.

"Arthur, do you realize what has changed since the last time we were standing like this?"

Arthur nodded slowly.

"I have finally come to understand the extent of true strength, and I have willingly submitted myself to that light."

He slowly raised his head, and the reverence in his eyes was impossible to miss.

"And now, I wish to serve the one Lord I have come to respect and admire."

Kyle hummed thoughtfully.

Arthur was different from Ethan, not merely because of their different personalities, but because of what had brought him to this point.

Arthur had been a proud man for as long as he could remember, a man hailed as the strongest from a very young age. He had spent years standing at the peak with few opportunities to face anything capable of truly threatening him. Without realizing it, that lack of opposition had gradually convinced him that he was invincible.

Then Kyle had appeared.

For the first time in Arthur’s life, he had encountered a force he could neither defy nor hope to overcome. The realization had shattered the foundation of his pride and bent his will far more easily than Kyle had originally expected.

And that was both good and bad.

Taking a seat, Kyle leaned back slightly before speaking.

"If you wish to serve me, you won’t be some mastermind sitting behind a desk all the time. I want a warrior, not a diplomat."

Arthur immediately lowered his head.

"Understood, my Lord. I shall fight any battle you command until my final breath, so long as I am still capable of standing on my feet."

Kyle nodded.

That was better.

Arthur’s authority and influence would certainly make him a valuable asset in the short term, but Kyle knew better than to place too much value on titles when the real storm arrived. When hell descended upon the world, authority would mean very little.

In the end, when everything else was stripped away, only strength would matter.

"Now, about the incident. What will you say when Seraph Klaus arrives here?" Kyle asked.

Elena had already contacted her father and told him where she was. It wouldn’t be long before he arrived.

"I would apologize for my carelessness. Unlike anyone else, I knew exactly what Bullshot’s arrows were capable of, so I didn’t waste any time. I teleported Miss Elena somewhere she could receive proper treatment."

Elena’s eyes widened. "Wait. But you’re the one who saved my life."

Kyle sighed.

"Elena... if I told him that, I’d be facing an unimaginable number of questions. I’d already drawn more attention than I wanted. Revealing myself as the one who saved you would only make things worse."

Veronica nodded in agreement.

"This is the safest choice. Everyone knows Arthur has connections with some of the finest healers in the world. The wound was severe, so even with treatment, it took quite some time to heal Elena. That gives us a reasonable explanation for why you waited before contacting her father."

Kyle nodded, then finished constructing the story.

"Arthur will keep the healer’s identity anonymous. Reaching them is normally impossible because of how discreetly they operate. And since the healer doesn’t want their location or identity exposed, Arthur had to keep his phone and tracker switched off the entire time."

The explanation was simple enough to withstand casual questioning while giving Seraph Klaus little reason to dig deeper.

More importantly, it placed the entire incident neatly within Arthur’s established reputation, leaving Kyle out of it completely.

Elena was slightly stunned. She turned toward Kyle, her expression tightening as she asked, "Would you really let him get away with this? He deliberately refused to deal with Ray and endangered both of our lives."

She knew that if Arthur gave the statement they had just agreed upon, her father would have little reason to accuse him of anything. Arthur would simply return to his usual life, as though nothing had happened.

The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth. She could not bring herself to accept that Arthur would walk away from what he had done without suffering any consequences.

Kyle calmly turned toward her.

"I understand how you feel, but the Arthur you hold animosity toward is already gone."

Elena frowned and looked at Arthur.

He stood there in silence, making no attempt to defend himself or refute Kyle’s words. The man who would once have bristled at even the slightest challenge to his pride now accepted Kyle’s judgment without question.

"Are you sure he’s trustworthy, though?" Elena asked, raising her brows.

Kyle nodded.

There was one thing he knew about his Apostles with absolute certainty.

Their loyalty was unwavering.

Some had been forced into that loyalty, while others had embraced it willingly. One had already reached the point where the blessing no longer needed to influence her actions at all. Her loyalty had become indistinguishable from her own natural personality.

Arthur was different from all of them in his own way, but Kyle had no reason to doubt where he stood now.

Elena exhaled softly. "Very well, then."

Kyle soon took his leave. Seraph was on his way, and Kyle had no desire to remain there only to answer a barrage of questions from the man.

"Are you going to meet Blake?" Veronica asked as she stepped outside to see him off.

"Yeah. He has arrived and is already on his way to Montclair."

Kyle could only shake his head in exasperation. The man apparently couldn’t stay put for even a week when there was trouble brewing.

Blake had left early under the pretense of having some urgent work to handle. In reality, Kyle knew it was because he had been unable to reach him, and the rumors surrounding Kyle and Arthur had only given him more reason to worry.

"Well, he has a valid reason to be worried, so don’t be too hard on him," Veronica said with a warm smile.

Kyle nodded. Then, before Veronica could react, he stepped closer and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.

She froze for a moment, caught completely off guard.

"Don’t stay cooped up in your office all day. Get some rest, okay?"

Veronica could only nod.

She watched him walk away, her fingers unconsciously brushing against the spot where his lips had touched. For several seconds, she remained standing there, watching until the sound of approaching vehicles finally pulled her attention away.

A convoy of cars was arriving at the front of the base.

Veronica exhaled softly before stepping forward to meet them.

The moment the lead vehicle stopped, the door swung open and Seraph Klaus stepped out. More than twenty guards followed him, spreading out around the convoy with the readiness of men accustomed to protecting their master.

Veronica’s expression remained composed.

"Mister Seraph, this isn’t your working base where you can bring your entire security detail. This facility is supposed to remain discreet. May I ask you to have your people and the convoy move away from the premises?"

Seraph barely seemed to hear her.

"First, tell me..." His voice was tense as he looked directly at her. "Is she inside? Is she safe?"

Veronica nodded.

"Yes. Miss Elena is safe and currently in my office."

Seraph released a long breath, some of the tension finally leaving his shoulders. He then turned toward his butler.

The older man stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Officer, would it be acceptable for me to accompany my Lord?"

Veronica crossed her arms before giving a small nod.

"Yes. A single person is allowed to accompany Mister Seraph."

The butler bowed his head gratefully again.

"Thank you."

He then turned toward the guards and issued a series of quiet commands. The guards began moving away from the entrance, directing the convoy out of the immediate area until the front of the base was once again clear.

Only then did Seraph and his butler follow Veronica inside.

After completing the necessary security procedures, they were finally allowed inside the base.

Several officers recognized Seraph the moment he entered. One by one, they rose from their seats, staring at the legendary Hunter in stunned silence. The atmosphere shifted almost instantly, whispers dying before they could even begin.

Veronica paid them no attention and continued leading Seraph and his butler through the front area toward her office.

Click.

She opened the door and stepped aside.

"She’s inside."

Seraph did not waste a moment. He strode into the office, his eyes immediately searching for his daughter.

But Elena was not the first person he saw.

"You..."

The instant his gaze landed on Arthur, Seraph’s Genesis erupted.

The pressure that burst from his body was suffocating.

In the span of a heartbeat, the calm and worried father who had entered the room vanished, replaced by the King of Hunters standing on the verge of snapping someone’s neck.