After a night of chaos, some of the Red Legion’s members were killed, others were captured, and the entire force had been wiped out.
But the fallout didn’t stop there. The Prescott estate was also raided. All embezzled wealth was confiscated, and those found guilty were thrown into prison.
Anyone connected to the Prescotts was placed under house arrest and subjected to rigorous investigation.
And the man behind it-Warrick-had become the kingdom’s most wanted fugitive.
Until he was captured, Celestria remained under lockdown. Major roads were sealed off, and patrol teams scoured every corner to ensure Warrick had no way out.
Austin’s crackdown sparked outrage among senior officials who didn’t know the full story. They voiced their dissatisfaction, with some even gathering outside the castle gates in protest. They stomped their feet in outrage, just short of openly cursing him.
To them, Warrick had made great contributions to the nation. Even if he had committed crimes, he didn’t deserve to be executed.
The entire situation had spiraled into chaos, with raids and a city-wide manhunt causing a storm throughout the city.
“This is ridiculous. Locking down the city at the drop of a hat wastes resources and manpower. What will outsiders think of us? “one of the elders shouted.
“He’s right! Even if Mr. Prescott is guilty, he should stand trial. But why use vigilante justice? This is a farce!”
“I always knew that brat lacked integrity, but I never expected him to be this unruly and vicious. He’d wipe out entire families over the slightest offense. If West Lucozia ever falls into his hands, we’re doomed.”
Outside the castle gates, a group of elderly men in their 70s with gray hair gathered, gesturing and grumbling among themselves.
As royal advisors, they could no longer tolerate Austin’s abuse of power. If they stayed silent, they would be failing their duty.
Besides, they didn’t take him seriously. To them, he was nothing more than a spoiled, impulsive brat-unworthy of comparison to his father, Rufus.
With Rufus now bedridden, these elders saw it as their responsibility to rein in his wayward son.
Just as their heated debate dragged on, the castle gates suddenly creaked open. Axel, flanked by members of the enforcement team, stepped out with a cold, unreadable expression.
“Mr. Cruz, what the hell is going on? Do you have any idea how much a single day of lockdown costs Celestria?” One of the elders, a man with a ruddy nose, stepped forward and demanded harshly.
His name was Langdon Rhys. He was a high – ranking official and a distant relative of the royal family through the Rhys bloodline.
By seniority, he could be regarded as Austin’s uncle. As far as he was concerned, his status gave him the right to speak his mind.
“That’s right! Locking down the city and hunting down a respected general isn’t some child’s game. We demand an explanation.”
“Tell Lord Austin to come out! We’re not leaving until we get answers.”
The other elders joined in. Each one putting on a show of righteous indignation.
Axel remained indifferent as he said, ” Gentlemen, please calm down. Lord Austin has prepared tea in the reception hall. He awaits your presence.”
The unexpected response caught them off guard. They had assumed Austin would keep hiding behind closed doors like a coward. Instead, he had invited them in.
For a moment, they were all unsure of what to make of the situation.
“Mr. Langdon, what do you think?”
The elders exchanged glances before turning to Langdon. He outranked them all in status and seniority, and he was also Austin’s elder. Naturally, they would follow his lead.
“Since Lord Austin has invited us for tea, we should accept the offer. Let’s go in.” With a flick of his sleeve, Langdon stepped inside first.
As a frequent visitor to the castle, he knew Austin well. No matter how unruly the other party was, Austin wouldn’t dare to overstep with him.
“Let’s see what’s going on in there.”
The others hesitated for only a moment before following close behind. As royal advisors, they lived by loyalty and integrity. When necessary, they were willing to risk their lives to do what was right.
Led by Axel, the group marched into the reception hall. Inside, the table was already set with tea and refreshments.
Austin sat at the head of the room. His expression was unreadable, giving away neither joy nor anger.
“Uncle Langdon, you’re here. Have a seat.” As soon as the group entered, Austin immediately got up to greet them.
“Hmph.” Langdon didn’t bother with pleasantries. He made no effort to hide his seniority and took the most prominent seat to Austin’s left.
The other officials followed his lead and sat down one after another. None of them bothered with pleasantries or greetings. Instead, they sat stiffly with a grim face, as if they had come to collect a debt.
“Uncle Langdon, what pressing matter brings you here with an entourage?” Despite their attitude, Austin remained unfazed and continued to smile.
“Austin! Tell me, why did you order the arrest of Sir Prescott? And why did you lock down the city?” Langdon fired off his questions without pause.
He continued, “Do you have any idea that because of your reckless actions, the entire capital is in chaos? How many citizens are living in fear? How many companies have been forced to halt their business? Can you even take responsibility for these losses?”
Austin raised an eyebrow, then calmly took his seat. “Are you here to discuss personal matters or official business?”
“And what if it’s both?” Langdon said with a straight face.
“If it’s personal, then I’ll respect you as my elder and you have every right to lecture me.” Austin’s gaze suddenly sharpened.
He went on, “But if it’s an official matter, then you’d better remember your place. Who is the ruler, and who is the subject? Do you think you have the right to sit while speaking to me?”
