NOVEL WEB Chapter 238: Going back
"Duke, are you sure?" Caius asked with a smile as he took a comfortable sitting posture.
"I mean, I'm no longer the Crown Prince... shouldn't you go to Theron?" Caius asked with a sly smile.
The Duke was having a headache already. He was really tired of these mind games. Who could believe that the mighty Duke family could fall to this extent?
The Duke family once controlled massive power both in the military and political affairs yet in just a week, they were stripped of it. Their position was compromised, their strength fallen to the bottom.
They were riding on empty prestige. Power ..gone. Wealth,seized. And they were even in debt.
"Caius, you are the eldest, and that comes with knowledge. The entire Duke household apologizes. Please accept our support from now on. The Duke family will die if you wish for it."
"Hmm, tempting but..." Caius paused as the Duke spoke up.
"The Duke family's wealth and power is for you to control," the Duke said as he bowed his head.
***************
Outside in the Federation...
Two shocking, headline-breaking news stories were released. First, the Duke family had pledged allegiance to Eldest Prince Caius.
The next was even bigger: the Brojik family had fully declared their support for Eldest Prince Caius.
In one week , one move by Eldest Prince Caius had taken down two families. And with Caius supporting the Duke family, their power and wealth were restored. The Eldest Prince, Caius, had officially started a move on Theron.
******
At the Umbraxis Royal Mansion...
Theron could be seen discussing cooperation between himself and some aristocrats when a servant entered.
"Crown Prince, I ask for audience," the servant said, kneeling before Theron.
"What is it?" Theron asked, clearly dissatisfied at being interrupted.
The aristocrats present all looked at the servant curiously, waiting for him to speak.
"It's about the Duke family and Eldest Prince Caius," the servant said hurriedly, his expression flustered.
The moment those words were spoken, both Crown Prince Theron and the aristocrats immediately sat up. The Duke family and Eldest Prince Caius were far too important to ignore.
"It's like this... the Duke family has declared support for Eldest Prince Caius. Same with the Brojik family..."
Boom.
The servant's voice faded as the aristocrats felt their minds spinning.
The Duke family did what?!
Didn't Eldest Prince Caius just return a week ago? And now he had the backing of two powerful families? Especially the Brojik family, a top-tier force. This was no small matter.
You must understand, the strongest support Theron had was only on the same level as the Brojik family.
"...Hmmm," Theron murmured as he closed his eyes.
His thoughts were a mess.
He had given the Duke family a chance. A chance to come to him... to support him. But what did they do? They ran to Caius instead. And now, with Caius' support, all the pressure he had placed on the Duke family was nullified. They were regaining their strength.
Worse still, Theron had unknowingly gifted the Duke family to Caius.
"Sorry, Crown Prince. Let's put a pause on our cooperation. We'll have to reconsider things. Our apologies," one of the family representatives said before leaving with the others following him.
Why did they leave?
Because no one expected Caius to actually shake anything. They thought he was finished. But now? Two powerful families had joined him, and he was rising fast.
Though Theron had made a strategic mistake, giving the Duke family away... there must be something special about Caius for the Duke to have chosen him.
If just one more family joined Caius, he would become a top contender on the same level as Theron, and possibly even the rising Darius.
Watching them leave made Theron smirk.
Did they really think he wasn't prepared?
He had Flora,his ace and a perfect decoy to take the fall for his spy network.
No one would suspect Flora,Lydia's younger sister as a spy.
Who would've thought Flora's deep jealousy for her older sister had turned into such intense hatred?
For Theron, she was the perfect pawn.
As Theron calmly mapped out his next move, suddenly, there were multiple knocks at the door.
The servant still kneeling was stunned. Theron hadn't told him to leave, and now... more knocks?
Were the aristocrats who just left coming back?!
As the servant tried to process it, Theron calmly spoke:
"Come in."
The door opened. Multiple servants entered, each kneeling as they spoke.
"Crown Prince Theron, the Shi family has declared support for Eldest Prince Caius."
"The Jiko family as well..."
"And the—"
One by one, they announced more.
About fifteen families, none of them weak, had pledged their allegiance to Caius.
Theron's eyes were cold, void of emotion.
"Brother!!!"
Theron roared in rage.
*******
"Galaxy Realm..." Dared muttered as he collapsed on his bed. He had hit a wall.
He was at the peak of the Planetary Realm, all he needed was one more push to break through.
He didn't need to follow the Federation's gene system. Just raw training would get him stronger.
But now, no matter how strong he got, no matter how much he trained, he couldn't reach the Galaxy Realm.
Why?
Dared was confused. Azarek simply watched him calmly.
"So it turns out this physique has limitations... as expected. A physique without limits is impossible," Azarek thought.
"No... the Chain of Madness clearly said this physique was limitless. So why am I stuck? Or... is there something I don't know?" Dared thought, stunned.
"Why don't you ask them yourself?"
Azarek had heard it too. But maybe it was all a lie. Still, Nehem had spoken with so much confidence…
"Maybe you're right... I should go back. It's been three weeks. I wonder how the Federation is doing." Dared muttered, getting up from bed and walking into the restroom.
Soon, the sound of running water filled the room as he took a bath.
A few minutes later, Dared was done.
He threw on his coat and walked out of the house. Thankfully, his parents weren't home otherwise, he'd be stuck sitting through an emotional goodbye.
During the last three weeks, he'd only come down for dinner before disappearing again. His mother tried to talk to him, but he wasn't interested. They were drifting apart.
According to what he knew, if you wanted to return, you only needed to wish it in your heart, and a spaceship would appear.
He didn't know how it worked and he didn't care enough to ask.
Standing alone in a wide-open space, far from the Central Federation, he wished to return to the Dreadborne Organization.
Then he felt it, a slight tug on his chest and suddenly, wind rushed against his face.
Looking up, he saw a sleek, black, twenty-meter-long spaceship hovering above.
"Still can't get used to this," Dared said with a grin.
Unbeknownst to him, a figure cloaked in the surroundings was watching silently…
With two brown eyes locked onto him.
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Sorry for now posting, exams..now am done and free.
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Another chapter tomorrow...