Chapter 2493
An Understated Dominance
As night fell, darkness crept across the city. Inside a modest residence, Warrick sat on the bed with his eyes closed. He was meditating to restore his energy.
After a day of recovery, he had expelled nearly all of the Tranqurin from his system. It was no longer a serious concern.
However, the city was under lockdown. All the major roads were blocked and wanted posters with his face were plastered everywhere. Though his strength had returned, he still couldnât escape from Celestria.
So, he had no choice but to lay low and wait for the storm to pass. As for the original owner of the house, he was nothing more than a corpse now.
Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door.
Warrickâs eyes snapped open, and his hand instinctively reached for the sword beside him.
âWho is it?â
In the living room, the Red Legion guards tensed up. Two of them quietly drew their blades, positioning themselves on either side of the door.
âItâs me.â
A familiar voice rang out.
The guards immediately exhaled in relief. One of them peeked through the doorâs narrow gap. After confirming it was their ally, they quickly unlocked the door.
Standing outside was a plain-looking man dressed in black. At first glance, he seemed unremarkable, but his eyes were razor-sharp.
âGeralt Finns! Itâs already so late. What took you so long? We thought something happened to you,â Kalen Juggs, a burly man with a thick beard, grumbled.
âThere were too many patrols on the way. If I hadnât been careful, I might not have made it back at all,â Geralt explained. He removed his hat, then reached for the cup of water on the table and drank it in one go.
âSo, did you complete the mission?â Kalen asked, leaning toward the door to ensure no one had followed Geralt before shutting it firmly.
âYes. I made contact with our reinforcement. Theyâve agreed to help us leave the city tonight,â Geralt reported.
âThatâs great. Iâll inform Sir Prescott right away.â Kalenâs face lit up with excitement.
Just as he turned toward the bedroom, the door swung open.
The imposing Warrick stepped out, his complexion no longer pale.
âNo need. I heard everything,â he said. He studied Geralt for a moment, then gave a satisfied nod. âGood work. If we manage to escape, youâll deserve all the credit.â
âI was only doing my duty. I donât dare claim any merit,â Geralt replied humbly.
âYou are the ones I trust the most,â Warrick said, scanning the people before him. âNo matter what happens-whether we leave Celestria or even West Lucozia-I will make sure you live in wealth and comfort for the rest of your lives.â
âThank you, Sir Prescott.â The four Red Legion guards saluted him in unison.
âGeralt, anything happening outside?â Warrick asked.
âThe streets are nearly empty, and patrols are everywhere. Every major checkpoint is heavily guarded. Without a royal badge, thereâs no way in or out,â Geralt explained.
Then, as if remembering something important, he added, âOh, and I think I saw General Steele today.â
âGeneral Steele?â Warrick raised his eyebrows. âWhich one?â
âDraken Guardians-Jaxon Steele,â Geralt said grimly.
At the mention of that name, the room fell into stunned silence. Even Warrickâs expression darkened.
The Draken Guardiansâ reputation was well -known throughout the military. They were widely regarded as West Lucoziaâs most elite force. Any one of them could hold the rank of a general in any other unit.
And their commander, Jaxon, was in a league of his own. His strength was unfathomable-even at his peak, Warrick wasnât confident he could defeat Jaxon. If the Draken Guardians ever cornered them, there would be no escape.
âAre you sure it was Jaxon Steele? You didnât mistake him for someone else?â Kalen asked cautiously.
Geralt thought for a moment, then nodded firmly. âI met him once before, and the man I saw today was definitely him. Thereâs no mistake.â
âThen, thatâs bad news.â Kalen frowned.
If they were up against ordinary patrols, they could force their way through. But facing Jaxon and the Draken Guardians was an entirely different beast. Even if the entire Red Legion were present, they might be unable to hold their ground.
âSo what if the Draken Guardians have shown up?â Warrick scoffed. âAs long as our reinforcements arrive on time, not even the Draken Guardians can stop us.â
The Draken Guardians might be formidable, but Warrick had powerful allies of his own. If a battle broke out, the outcome was far from certain.
âSir Prescott, who exactly is coming to help us?â Kalen asked curiously.
âWhy do you ask so many questions?â Warrick shot him a look. âYouâll find out soon enough.â
âMy apologies.â Kalen smiled awkwardly.
âEat something and rest while you can. We may be in for a tough fight tonight.â. Warrick glanced out the window at the darkening sky.
If he could slip out of Celestria under the cover of chaos, escaping West Lucozia wouldnât be a problem. But if things went south, theyâd have no choice but to fight for their lives.