Grace no longer looked at Warren. She fixed her gaze on Gilbert, who was scared out of his wits, and Frederick, whose face had gone completely pale. Her voice was sharp and unwavering, radiating undeniable authority.
“You’ve broken the law, led a gang to commit violence, carried weapons, harmed others, and threatened public officials. Your criminal history is well established, and the evidence is undeniable. You will face the harshest punishment the law allows.”
Her eyes swept to Warren, still on his knees, and warned him one last time. “If anyone is to blame, blame your dear nephews. They did what they shouldn’t have and offended the wrong people.”
She spoke deliberately, each word cutting through the room as she sealed the brothers’ fate.
“Effective immediately, all privileges and status held by Gilbert and Frederick are revoked. They will be transferred to the judicial authorities and severely punished in accordance with the law. From now on, they’ll spend the rest of their lives in prison to reflect on their crimes.”
The thought of his nephews spending a lifetime behind bars struck Warren like lightning. His face turned ashen as he collapsed to the ground, unable to utter even a plea. He knew that once Grace delivered her judgement, there was no room for negotiation.
Gilbert and Frederick’s fates were sealed. Their family’s hard-won favor with Grace and Valon was now irreparably tarnished. After hearing the verdict, Gilbert finally snapped out of his paralyzing fear. He let out a blood-curdling scream as he scrambled toward Warren.
“No! Uncle Warren, save me. Please save me. I don’t want to go to prison. I don’t want to.”
Frederick’s face went deathly pale. His lips trembled as he tried to speak, but no sound came out. Only an endless wave of fear and despair consumed him.
“Take them away,” Grace ordered, waving her hand dismissively without another glance. Behind her, two men in black, who looked like special operatives, stepped forward.
They efficiently restrained the thrashing, screaming Gilbert and the rigid Frederick, then secured them in specially designed handcuffs.
“Uncle Warren! Uncle Warren, say something to save me. I’m one of the Chandlers.”
“Let go of me. Do you know who I am?”
“Your Royal Highness, I was wrong. Please spare me. I’ll never do it again.”
The Chandler brothers’ cries, struggles, and desperate pleas echoed through the holding cell, sharp and full of hopelessness.
Warren remained on his knees, watching helplessly as his two nephews were being dragged away. Their cries faded into the distance, and his heart ached, but there was nothing he could do.
He didn’t dare utter a word or lift his eyes to look at Grace. From this moment on, he knew Gilbert and Frederick’s lives had plunged into utter darkness, without hope or escape. And all of it had happened because they had crossed a seemingly ordinary person.
Gilbert and Frederick were taken into a black, special vehicle that had arrived outside at some point. It vanished into the darkness of the night, and their cries were cut off completely.
The entire detention area at the police station fell into deathly silence. Only the devastated Warren remained, along with Cedric and the others, who stood frozen in fear. After everything was settled, Grace took out her phone and dialed a number. She spoke only a few words.
“It’s all taken care of.”
“Thank you,” Dustin said on the other end.
“There’s no need for such formalities between us,” she replied with a faint smile.
“If you run into any trouble in the future, just contact me.”
“Okay. We’ll talk more another time.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Grace still felt unsettled. She was surprised when Dustin had contacted her earlier. In her mind, he was someone who could handle anything, and there was almost nothing he couldn’t resolve. That confusion deepened once she learned what he wanted her to do.
To him, Gilbert and Frederick were insignificant. He could eliminate them with just a snap of his fingers
Despite her surprise, she didn’t press him for an explanation. She acted at once, mobilizing her intelligence network and using her authority to arrest the Chandler brothers.
At Dustin’s request, they were sentenced to life imprisonment.
After leaving the police station, Dustin and Natasha didn’t head straight home. They stopped by the hospital for a quick bandaging, then found a small diner to grab a late-night snack. The place was busy, filled with the mouthwatering smells of sizzling burgers, fries, and grilled chicken wings.
She ordered a pile of sliders, a plate of cheesy fries, and two ice-cold milkshakes. Resting her chin in her palm, she watched Dustin’s profile. He looked slightly weary but still calm, and she felt a mix of concern and curiosity.
“What do you mean you can’t use your cultivation anymore? Is it serious?” she asked in a low voice. Dustin grabbed a hot, juicy slider and took a bite, his eyes narrowing slightly at the first taste.
“It’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, it’s a necessary stage before breaking through to the next realm. I need to gain certain experience before I can advance. But during this period, I can’t use my cultivation,” he explained.
Natasha didn’t fully understand, but hearing him say it was fine put her mind at ease.
“Then eat more and take care of yourself,” she said, handing him a plate of hot, crispy chicken wings. He smiled and offered her a bite from his slider in return.
They sat there amidst the diner’s bustle, enjoying the simple comfort of being alive. Their conversation was quiet and casual, yet it carried an unusual sense of peace.
Just then, Natasha’s phone suddenly rang.
She answered it, and her expression immediately changed.
