Revenge

Just as Wharton and Nia confirmed their relationship, a fierce battle was taking place at Linley's estate far away in Fenlai City. The entire estate had been utterly wrecked beyond recognition.

After obtaining the poison from Hisse and making all the necessary preparations, Linley invited Clyde to tour his estate.

Caught completely unprepared, Ransom, a Level Eight Expert, was easily pierced through and killed by Bebe, the Shadow Rat.

But his death had not been unjustified. Given Bebe's strength, even if Ransom had faced him head-on, he likely would not have lasted more than a few moves.

"Ransom!" Clyde and Meritt were both shocked by the sudden turn of events.

A dignified Level Eight Expert had actually died before their eyes in a single exchange, and neither of them had even had time to react.

What shocked them even more was that he had died at the hands of such an inconspicuous little rat. As they stared at the Shadow Rat, a magical beast no larger than a palm, Bebe actually leaped onto Linley's shoulder under their watchful eyes.

"Bebe, well done." Linley stroked Bebe's little head. Even Clyde and the others had no idea why this had happened.

Seeing how much Bebe enjoyed Linley's caress, narrowing his eyes, it was obvious that what had just happened had been ordered by Linley.

Linley's gaze was completely different from before. He turned and stared coldly at Clyde, and those icy eyes made even Clyde, already a Level Nine Warrior, feel a chill down his back.

"Linley, what are you trying to do?" Clyde gathered his courage and shouted coldly, while circulating the combat qi within his body according to his combat qi manual.

But at that moment, Clyde felt a faint pain in the meridians that had once been filled with combat qi. They were no longer as smooth as before when he circulated his combat qi, as though they might rupture at any moment. Even if he forced himself to circulate it, he could at most unleash half his usual strength.

"Your Majesty, don't shout. Don't resist. No matter what, you're all going to die today," Linley said crazily. Since beginning his journey, this was the first time Linley had ever felt such intense killing intent toward someone. Even Linley himself was somewhat affected by it.

"Linley, why are you attacking me? I don't think I've treated you poorly." Clyde looked at Linley and spoke with feigned calm. At the same time, he sent a message to his magical beast through their soul contract, but inwardly he was terrified as he prayed, Snow Lion, bring people here quickly. Quick, quick!!! As a Level Nine Expert, Clyde also possessed a magical beast—a peak Level Eight Snowland Lion that could potentially become a Level Nine Magical Beast.

"Yes, you did treat me well! But what about my mother?" Linley stared fixedly at Clyde.

"Your mother? Wasn't your mother dead long ago? Didn't she die in childbirth?" Clyde asked in shock.

"Childbirth?" Linley burst into wild laughter, then looked coldly at Clyde. "That was merely a lie used to deceive people like you."

"Clyde, after my mother gave birth to my younger brother, she and my father went to the Temple of Light to pray for blessings. But on the very night they returned to the hotel, she was abducted."

"Clyde, have you forgotten? Twelve years ago, you had Paderson send people to abduct my mother. But that vile deed was far from the only one you committed. It doesn't matter if you don't remember." Linley glared coldly at Clyde. "Don't deny it. Paderson has already confessed everything."

"Th-that was your mother?" Clyde was completely stunned.

Although he had done quite a few things, he remembered this matter deeply. It was also because of this incident that he had risen from a Level Seven Warrior to his current peak Level Nine strength. Though the price was that he would never be able to advance again, it was already enough for him. Otherwise, relying on his own training, he might not have broken through to Level Nine even by the time he died.

More importantly, because of this incident, he had gained the attention of the Bright Church's upper ranks. Even within the Holy Alliance, his status was higher than that of the other kings.

The Snowland Lion that Clyde had subdued was tended by more than a dozen people in the royal palace. After caring for it for so long, the attendants looking after the Icy Snow Lion had learned to guess its meaning from its roars.