Chapter 10: The Capture
The hall of the Debbs family estate erupted into commotion.
“This, this…”
Many nobles stared at Alice in shock. The reason they could instantly recognize Alice as the heroine of the stone sculpture ‘Dream Awakening’ could only be blamed on Linley’s extraordinary carving skill.
Linley had surpassed the stage of ‘technique.’ Through the stone sculpture, he had fully captured the charm and allure of a woman. When these nobles saw Alice for the first time, they were one hundred percent certain in their hearts that the woman before them was the goddess of their dreams.
Many nobles looked at Alice, then turned their heads to look at Linley.
Silence!
Quite abruptly, the entire hall fell into absolute silence. Almost all the nobles had guessed something, and they understood that it was not good to speak out now.
But that silence caused Alice to feel flustered and embarrassed.
Alice glanced at Linley out of the corner of her eye. Linley, standing beside King Clayd, remained as steady as ever, just calmly looking at her.
Towards Linley.
Alice’s feelings were also very complicated. There was regret, and there was resentment. She resented that Linley’s stone sculpture had prevented her from becoming the primary wife, even putting her in an awkward position. Yet, at the same time, this same stone sculpture made her know the depth of Linley’s feelings for her.
Kalan also felt somewhat embarrassed.
“Everyone, allow me to introduce,” Bernard’s voice rang out. Bernard still had a smile on his face. “My son, Kalan, is holding his engagement ceremony today with Miss Lorine and Miss Alice.”
As he spoke, Bernard walked over to Kalan, then pointed at Lorine and said, “This is Miss Lorine, the primary wife of my son Kalan. And this is Miss Alice.”
Immediately, the entire hall buzzed with hushed discussions. From time to time, people would cast glances at Linley.
“Everyone, please take your seats,” Bernard said cheerfully.
The nobles and wealthy merchants in the hall took their seats one after another. During the banquet, some members of the Debbs family were very enthusiastic. However, many nobles frequently looked at Alice, and from time to time, they also looked at Linley.
Linley, holding a wine glass, walked to a corner of the hall and casually sat down on a sofa.
“Boss, I heard a lot of people talking about you,” Bebe said, jumping onto Linley’s lap.
Linley took a light sip of his wine. “Let them talk if they want. I’m fine, but… Alice probably feels terrible inside.”
Now, when it came to Alice, Linley was very calm.
He also understood now that his stone sculpture ‘Dream Awakening’ had indeed brought a great impact on Alice.
Sitting in the corner, Linley quietly watched Kalan, Alice, and Lorine mingling among the guests. He drank alone, pouring his own wine.
“Lord Linley, why are you drinking alone here?” A beautiful woman with fair skin and long, blue-green hair walked over. She naturally sat down beside Linley and extended her wine glass.
Linley clinked glasses with her.
“My name is Shasha. Before the banquet, I wanted to chat with you, Lord Linley. But it seems you are very popular with the ladies, so I didn’t even get a chance,” Shasha said with a smile.
Linley looked at Shasha.
Shasha was tall and slender, with a captivating charm in her every word and smile. There was also a hint of alluring seduction in her eyes and brows. This kind of woman had much more feminine appeal than those noble ladies.
“Ladies? Aren’t you a lady yourself, Shasha?” Linley asked with interest.
Shasha took a small sip of red wine, then smiled and said, “A lady? I’ve been married for eight years already, and you still call me a lady?”
Linley couldn’t help but be a little surprised.
“But, my man died on our wedding day,” Shasha said, winking at Linley and lowering her voice.
“Uh…” Linley looked at Shasha in astonishment.
Seeing Linley’s reaction, Shasha couldn’t help but let out a charming laugh. Then she took another sip of her wine and smiled at Linley. “Lord Linley, you are really, very cute.”
Linley couldn’t help but laugh.
This Shasha was indeed quite a tease.
“Shasha, what are you doing here?” Duke Patterson walked over with a smile.
Shasha turned her head to look at Patterson, pretending to be angry. “Duke, I was just chatting with Linley for a moment, and you had to come. Hmm, you two talk.” As she spoke, she threw a flirtatious glance at Linley, then got up and left.
Duke Patterson watched Shasha’s retreating figure for a moment before sitting down next to Linley.
“Linley, how was it?” Duke Patterson said to Linley.
“How was what?”
“Shasha, of course.” Duke Patterson gave Linley a knowing wink. “Linley, Shasha is a beautiful woman pursued by many in the noble circle. Look at that figure, those eyes, that little mouth. Oh…”
Linley could only smile.
“I can tell you, Shasha seems quite interested in you. Seize the opportunity, and you can have her,” Patterson patted Linley on the shoulder and said in a low voice.
Linley glanced at Patterson. “Not interested.”
Patterson looked at Linley in surprise.
“Linley,” Patterson suddenly lowered his voice and said to Linley, “After the banquet tonight, don’t leave in a hurry. I have something to discuss with you.”
Linley was taken aback.
Why so mysterious?
“You won’t refuse me, will you?” Patterson said, pretending to be angry.
Linley looked at Patterson and thought to himself, “Let’s see what you’re up to.” Linley was actually looking for an opportunity to get closer to Patterson.
“Duke, rest assured. I will wait a little longer tonight,” Linley replied with a smile.
By around eight o’clock in the evening, many nobles began to leave. But Linley didn’t leave in a hurry because he remembered his appointment with Patterson.
“Let’s see what you’re up to.”
Linley quietly stayed in the hall.
“Linley, I’m leaving now,” Clayd said to Linley before departing. The number of people in the hall grew smaller and smaller. Feeling a bit anxious, Linley walked out of the hall and stood in the corridor, letting the cool night breeze blow over him.
Just then, a male servant quietly approached.
“Lord Linley, the Duke requests your presence,” the male servant whispered.
“So secretive?” Linley was surprised.
“Lead the way,” Linley said, maintaining a calm exterior. Bebe was curled up in Linley’s arms. The male servant led Linley down a narrow, gloomy path. Judging by the traces on the path, it was clearly rarely used.
“Where are we going?” Linley asked in a low voice.
The male servant respectfully replied, “Lord Linley, the Duke ordered that no one else should see you.”
“Oh?”
Linley frowned. But he wasn’t afraid. He continued to follow the servant. The two of them, one after the other, passed through a narrow path, then through a small forest. They opened a hidden door before finally arriving at a small building.
“The Debbs family has such a hidden place,” Linley thought to himself.
Unless someone could fly, finding this hidden small building would be quite difficult.
The male servant led Linley directly towards the living room of the small building.
“Duke, Lord Linley is here,” the male servant said respectfully, standing at the entrance of the living room.
“Haha, Linley is here?” Patterson, wearing a black robe, came out of a room inside the living room. Patterson’s eagle-like eyes lit up with surprise when he saw Linley. He quickly walked over. “Linley, come in quickly.”
The male servant beside him immediately said respectfully, “Duke, I will take my leave now.”
“You may go,” Patterson said casually.
The male servant respectfully turned to leave. But suddenly, Patterson, who had been all smiles, shot his right hand out with incredible speed. Patterson’s right hand, like a sharp blade, viciously stabbed into the male servant’s left chest cavity from behind.
“Ah!” The male servant turned his head with difficulty, looking at Duke Patterson in disbelief. He couldn’t understand why the lofty Duke Patterson would want to kill him!
Unfortunately, his heart was completely ruptured. In an instant, the light in his eyes faded completely.
“Duke, what is this?” Linley, standing nearby, remained relatively calm.
Duke Patterson was a level 7 warrior. Killing an ordinary servant who was only at level 2 warrior strength was indeed very easy.
Duke Patterson took a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the blood from his hand, and then casually threw it on the ground.
“Linley, it’s nothing. I just didn’t want anyone to know about our meeting,” Duke Patterson said with a beaming smile.
Linley looked at Duke Patterson with confusion. “Not let anyone know?”
Duke Patterson nodded confidently. “Don’t worry. I had Bernard arrange this secret place. Bernard only knows that I need to use this place, but he doesn’t know who I’m meeting. As for the only servant who knew about our meeting, he’s dead. So, no one knows about our meeting.”
Linley felt a little more at ease and stepped into the living room.
“Duke Patterson, this seems very important,” Linley said, smiling at Patterson.
Patterson nodded. “Of course. I’ve already arranged a double. In the eyes of others, I returned to the Duke’s mansion long ago. Besides Bernard and my butler, probably only you know I’m here.”
“A double?”
“Duke Patterson, what is it that you want to see me about so secretly?” Linley asked with interest.
Duke Patterson looked around, then closed the door to the living room.
“Come, let’s talk inside.” Duke Patterson took Linley’s arm and led him towards a room inside the living room. After entering the inner room, Patterson activated a mechanism. With a ‘creaking’ sound of stone moving, a stone door appeared.
This small building also had a sealed secret room inside.
“Linley, come in,” Patterson said to Linley with a smile.
Linley nodded and stepped inside.
The secret room was dim. Patterson lit three candles before smiling at Linley.
“It can’t be helped. Whether it’s my Duke’s mansion or your residence, there are too many eyes from others. It’s not safe,” Patterson said with a long sigh of relief.
Linley knew that his own residence had always been under the watch of the Radiant Church and Clayd’s people.
Because the residence was arranged by Clayd, and the servants were sent by Clayd, it was normal for there to be Clayd’s spies among them. The guards came from the Radiant Church. In fact, Linley’s actions in the residence were always exposed to both sides.
“Duke Patterson, this matter seems very important today. Go ahead, what is it?” Linley said with a smile.
Patterson took a magic crystal card from his pocket. “Linley, this contains ten million gold coins.”
“Ten million gold coins?” Linley waited for Patterson to explain.
Patterson said helplessly, “Linley, to be honest with you, after my brother appointed me as the ‘Finance Minister’ of the Fenlai Kingdom, I used my power to amass wealth for myself. I’ve always done it perfectly. But this time, the smuggling operation I ran with another family was too large. Based on my intelligence, my brother… may have already discovered it.”
Patterson was still keeping his word, not revealing the Debbs family.
“The smuggling operation was too big? But what does that have to do with me?” Linley smiled at Patterson.
Patterson quickly said, “Of course it has to do with me. Although Clayd and I are brothers, I know very well that he shows no mercy when he strikes. I have to find a way out for myself. After all these years, I’ve done too many things. If this matter is exposed, many past deeds will also be uncovered.”
“So, I want you to help me talk to Young Master Yale of the Dawson Conglomerate. I know you and Yale are good brothers,” Patterson forced a smile.
“Yale?” Linley had a vague idea of what he meant.
Patterson said helplessly, “If things go wrong in the future, there are very few forces on the entire continent that can save me from the royal capital of Fenlai City. The Dawson Conglomerate is definitely one of them. The Fenlai Kingdom wouldn’t dare to provoke the Dawson Conglomerate! And the Radiant Church certainly wouldn’t go after the Dawson Conglomerate over a corruption case.”
“If the Dawson Conglomerate gets involved, they can easily save me. But when I contacted the people from the Dawson Conglomerate, they weren’t willing to anger Clayd for my sake.” Patterson looked at Linley with hope.
“Linley, Yale is the son of the Dawson Conglomerate’s president. His words carry a lot of weight. And the Dawson Conglomerate thinks highly of you. If you speak for me, it will definitely work.” Patterson pleaded. “If you don’t save me, I might die in the future. Please, help me. No one knows about our conversation.”
“As long as you save me, the ten million gold coins are yours. Linley, please.” Patterson’s tone was sincere, and his eyes were full of hope!
Linley smiled.
“No one knows?” Linley’s smile was very bright.
“Yes, no one knows.” Patterson nodded repeatedly, a glimmer of joy in his eyes.
Suddenly, Linley’s appearance began to change rapidly. Black dragon scales emerged on his body, black spikes sprouted from his forehead, his hands transformed into dragon claws, and his eyes became the dark gold eyes of a Spiked-Back Adamantine Dragon.
“You—” Patterson’s face changed drastically. Sensing danger, he immediately activated his battle qi, and his muscles began to bulge.
“Whoosh!”
Linley’s tail, like a steel whip, cut through the air with a terrifying screech. At a speed that Patterson couldn’t even react to, it viciously lashed against Patterson’s body.
“Crack!”
Patterson, a level 7 warrior, was sent flying by the blow, blood spraying everywhere.
In the same instant, the steel whip-like tail coiled around Patterson’s entire body. With a shudder of bones, Patterson was tightly bound, unable to move a muscle. Patterson struggled with all his might, but his arms couldn’t break free from the binding.
Linley controlled his dragon tail, lifting Patterson up to eye level.
Fully ‘dragonized,’ Linley’s cold, merciless dark gold eyes stared intently at Patterson. A cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth. “You said, no one knows? Haha… That’s absolutely perfect. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.”
“You… you…” Patterson was completely stunned by this sudden turn of events.