Nathaniel anxiously urged the guards, ” Hurry up! Pick up the pace.”
At that moment, he couldn’t help but blame the mansion for being too large because they couldn’t even reach the scene fast enough.
“Your Highness, what’s going on?”
Just then, Lycas and Bryce arrived with a squad of elite guards. Most of them rushed in without even having time to throw on a shirt. After all, this was the first time the alarm had ever sounded inside the mansion.
Nathaniel didn’t bother to explain and quickly ordered, “A thief sneaked into the mansion. Block every exit and don’t let him escape.”
“Hurry up and seal the entire compound,” Lycas shouted and quickly led the team into action.
They’d been training for years. Now it was time to prove themselves.
“Quick! This way,” Nathaniel said urgently.
He didn’t stop moving and led the squad of guards forward at full speed.
But just then, a deafening boom erupted from the vault’s direction. The ground shook like an earthquake, and rattled the entire place.
Roughly a hundred yards ahead, the ground gave way with a thunderous crash, and an entire courtyard collapsed. Tons of dirt and stone caved in as it swallowed the vault beneath and left a pile of rubble behind.
Dust billowed into the air, thick and fast like smoke rising from a battlefield.
Nathaniel stopped cold at the scene. His eyes widened, and he was stunned speechless.
This wasn’t what he’d expected. He thought it was just a break-in, and maybe some valuables had been stolen from the vault. The loss was still manageable.
But now, his heart ached as he stared at the ruins.
That vault held over a decade’s worth of his most valuable treasures. Everything was gone and crushed beneath the rubble. The loss was staggering. It felt like someone had driven a blade straight through his heart.
“Damn it! Fucking bastard!” Nathaniel cursed. His eyes blazed with rage, and his body trembled.
“What should we do now, Your Highness?”
The guards behind him exchanged uneasy glances and were at a loss for what to do.
They were supposed to protect the treasure and catch the thief. But now the vault was buried, the thief had disappeared without a trace, and no one knew what to do next.
“Quick! Dig out all those treasures,” Nathaniel roared.
He could accept losing the other treasures, but not the Dracan essence. If that were gone, everything he had done would be for nothing.
“Get more men down there and start digging!”
The guards didn’t dare hesitate. They split up, some calling for reinforcements while the others began digging through the rubble.
Just then, Lycas and Bryce arrived after hearing the commotion. One look at the wreckage ahead, and both men froze. They immediately realized how serious things had gotten.
This wasn’t just about catching a thief anymore. It was becoming a serious crackdown.
The mansion had been peaceful for years. Now, disaster had struck without warning. The most likely explanation was that there was a traitor among them.
Given Nathaniel’s suspicious nature, he was bound to launch a thorough investigation. Anyone remotely suspicious might end up at the bottom of the sea.
At that moment, he seemed to think of something. His expression darkened, and he shouted, “Lycas! Bryce! Bring your squads and come with me.
Without another word, he turned and marched off in the direction where Dustin was staying.
Lycas and Bryce said nothing. With a quick gesture, they led their men and followed close behind.
They knew Nathaniel was suspicious of Dustin. Everything had been fine before Dustin arrived, and now, after just one night, this had happened. It was hard not to suspect him.
“Logan, it better not be you,” Nathaniel spat through gritted teeth. His eyes burned with malice as he stormed toward the guesthouse where Dustin had been staying with lightning speed.
At that moment, the lights were still on inside the guesthouse.
Without a word, Nathaniel kicked open the gate and led a small group of his men rushing in behind him.
After hearing the noise, Dustin stepped out of the house, He was dressed casually and looked at Nathaniel with a confused expression.
“Your Highness, what’s going on? Why do you look so gloomy?” he asked.
“Where were you just now? Answer me!”
Nathaniel asked coldly.
“I’ve been in my room the whole time. I haven’t gone anywhere. What’s wrong?”
Dustin responded, feigning his innocence.
The truth was, he had no choice but to use brute force to escape when he was trapped inside the vault earlier. If he hadn’t, he would have been caught on the spot.
As a result, the courtyard collapsed, the vault was buried, and the noise was loud enough to alert everyone in the mansion. But given the situation, Dustin saw no other option.
“You’re sure you didn’t leave your room?” Nathaniel looked at him suspiciously.
If Dustin really destroyed the vault, there was no way he would have cleaned it up that well in such a short time. Nathaniel figured he must’ve left some trace.
“I’m sure,” Dustin said. He nodded calmly without showing any sign of nervousness.
“Search him.” Nathaniel signaled for his men.
Dustin’s clothes were clean, and nothing stood out. But there would surely be some evidence if he were guilty of stealing something. Nathaniel felt a quick search would reveal it.
“Hold on!” Dustin said.
Just as Lycas and Bryce approached him, he raised his hand to stop them.
“Your Highness, what is this about?” he asked with a scowl. “If I’m not welcome here, I can leave. Why humiliate me like this?”
