“And as for the rest of you, I’ll be investigating each of you one by one.” Austin’s gaze moved past Langdon and landed on the royal advisors.
He sneered and added, “You’d better keep your records clean. If I find anything on any of you, I’ll handle it by the book, and there won’t be any mercy.”
At these words, panic swept through the room. Everyone exchanged nervous glances, and their hearts pounded like war drums.
As soon as they realized Austin was angry, they quickly fell silent. Langdon had always been making all the noise, but now they found themselves caught in the fire.
Anyone who’d held a position like theirs usually had some skeletons in the closet.
In the past, Rufus had been willing to turn a blind eye and let things slide. But now, Austin clearly wasn’t following the usual rules. If he decided to investigate thoroughly, most of them would likely find their careers and reputations destroyed.
“Mr. Rhys, what do we do now? Lord Austin seems dead serious about this.”
“That’s right, Mr. Rhys. If he really starts investigating us, we’re all in trouble.”
“We only came here because of you. You can’t just let us take the fall.”
The royal advisors crowded around Langdon and spoke over one another in anxious voices.
They had come at his request and hoped to clear Warrick of any charges. If they succeeded, it would boost their reputation and earn them his favor.
But if they failed, they weren’t willing to risk offending Austin, as that would be disastrous for them. It was clear that the situation was already beyond their control.
If they didn’t handle this carefully, none of them would walk away unscathed.
“You’re all grown men-why are you panicking like this?”
The clamor grated on Langdon’s already frayed nerves. He was frustrated enough as it was, and their complaints only made it worse.
“Mr. Rhys, you’re in a position of power. Of course you’re not worried. But the rest of us? One misstep, and it’s over for us. And didn’t you hear? After Lord Austin is done investigating you, he’s coming for us. What are we supposed to do then?”
Several advisors who had been agreeing with Langdon earlier now started to grumble. If Landon hadn’t been so stubborn and determined to confront Austin, they wouldn’t be in this mess. In their eyes, they were the victims of his stubbornness.
“As royal advisors, how can you be so spineless?” Langdon’s tone was filled with righteous indignation. “Our role is to stand against injustice and tyranny. If a few threats are enough to make you cower, then you might as well go home and be farmers.”
The royal advisors’ expressions darkened.
All this talk of justice and tyranny was just empty rhetoric.
Everyone knew Langdon’s visit was motivated by self-interest. While he put on the facade of a loyal advisor, the truth was that he had a shady deal with Warrick.
If Warrick fell from power, Langdon stood to lose a great deal. That was why he had rallied the other advisors to pressure Austin in the first place.
At first, they had come with the simple intention of doing a small favor and lending some support. But they never expected Langdon to completely disregard their safety and continue to provoke Austin.
As a result, everyone needed to be investigated. In a way, Langdon had pushed them into a corner. Yet, he showed no remorse and had no intention of trying to salvage the situation. If this kept up, they were all doomed.
As the full weight of their situation hit them, the advisors began to think of ways to save themselves. Relying on Langdon was no longer an option, so they needed to find a way to appease Austin before it was too late.
Time ticked by slowly. In the reception hall, Austin sat calmly, sipping tea and nibbling on snacks as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
On the contrary, the advisors were trapped in the room, their anxiety mounting with each passing minute.
As for Langdon, he maintained a composed exterior, but inside, he was a storm of anxiety. If Austin uncovered something incriminating, how would he defend himself?
Just then, a guard rushed in and reported, ” Your Highness, Mr. Cruz has returned.”
At those words, the advisors and Langdon felt their hearts leap into their throats. Whatever evidence that Axel found would decide their fates.
“Send him in.” Austin set down a grape he had been about to eat. He remained seated, as steady and unshakable as a mountain.
He was well aware of the enforcement team’s capabilities. Even if they didn’t uncover everything about Langdon, they would have more than enough to take him down.
Two minutes later, Axel strode into the reception hall with several enforcement team members.
“Well? Did you find anything?” Austin asked indifferently.
“Yes, Your Highness. We have all the evidence we need to bring someone to justice.” Axel shot Langdon a mocking glance.
Langdon’s eyes twitched, and his heart raced. He felt as though disaster was just around the corner.
