Seeing how things had turned out, Troah couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. Despite the pain wracking his body, forced himself to walk over to the spy holding Bastian hostage.
“Maceo, bet you didn’t see this coming, huh? There’s always a way out after all,” Troah sneered darkly. “Get out of the way and let us go. Otherwise, your son’s dead!”
Maceo’s face shifted through a storm of emotions.
Looking into his son’s frightened eyes, was torn. As the city lord, couldn’t just let a spy from Winged Tiger City walk away freely.
But that was his son. How could stand by and let be harmed?
“Don’t do anything rash,” Jared stepped up and whispered. “Let them leave first. We’ll deal with the rest afterward.”
Grinding his teeth, Maceo finally relented, gradually pulling back the formation.
“You can go now,” warned coldly. “But know this, everything Winged Tiger City did today, Rhino City has taken note. We’ll settle this, one way or another!”
Troah chuckled with satisfaction, signaling his men to start pulling back. “Maceo, we’ll meet again. I hope you’ll still have this same fire in you!”
As the silhouettes of Winged Tiger City’s spies faded into the distance, Maceo clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, blood trailing down his fingers.
“Father!” Rainah ran out of room. The sight of brother being held hostage brought tears to eyes. “We have to save Bastian!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring Bastian back,” Maceo said, his eyes blazing with determination. “For Winged Tiger City to act this boldly in my city… They’ll pay dearly for it!”
Then turned sharply to the guards, his voice thunderous. “Who was on guard today? How did these people get in?”
Access to the city lord mansion requires a token… So, how had a group of spies from Winged Tiger City gotten inside without interference?
Maceo was baffled. He began to suspect there might be a traitor inside the mansion. After all, even the owner of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion had turned out to be one of their spies. He was starting to doubt everyone.
“My lord, it was our shift today. The Winged Tiger City spies entered using a valid token. We verified it. That’s why we let them through,” one guard stepped forward and spoke nervously.
“How could they have a token?” Maceo’s face twisted in confusion.
At that moment, Jared seemed to realize something.
With a sheepish look, said, “I think… I might’ve been the one who gave it to them…” Jared remembered how had pawned the token at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.
“You?” Maceo stared in shock. “How’d you end up with a token to the city lord mansion?”
Before Jared could answer, Rainah looked at him, voice tinged with disbelief. “Wait, why is it you? Did you pawn my token?”
Jared nodded awkwardly. “I was strapped for celestial coins back then. I had no other choice. So yeah… I pawned the token at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion…”
Maceo turned from Rainah to Jared, his confusion deepening. He couldn’t understand how his daughter even knew Jared.
“No wonder I couldn’t trace the token’s location after,” Rainah said bitterly.
“I’m really sorry…” Jared apologized again, then explained to Maceo how came to possess the token in the first place.
After hearing the whole story, Maceo didn’t press further. After all, Jared was now his boss, and didn’t dare push too hard.
“Jared, there’s no way you could’ve seen this coming. It’s not your fault. I messed up. I didn’t see Troah for who really was. I never imagined was a spy from Winged Tiger City…”
Thinking of Troah made Maceo boil with rage. If had the chance, he’d rip Troah to pieces.
