An Early Assassination, Kevin's Doubts

William wanted to use him as a whetstone for John Maslow, testing whether the governor could deliver a satisfactory answer under pressure from an imperial envoy. If John's answer failed to satisfy him, the emperor would use ruthless measures to replace the governor of Faoken with someone better suited to rule this place. What a bold move. What a ruthless one!

The moment Kevin understood why William had appointed him envoy, wariness flashed through his eyes. It quickly gave way to a sneer. Using him to test John Maslow was a clever move, no doubt.

But Kevin thought the emperor was overestimating his hand.

What made William think a mere governor of an autonomous region could control him?

And what could John possibly do to make him wary, let alone persuade him to help Faoken pass the military review?

Threaten his life?

He had brought twelve elite High Mages from the Western Frontier. Fighting together, they could keep even a transcendent Mage from harming him. With Faoken's meager forces, there was no way John could capture his entire party without anyone noticing.

Besides, if anything happened to him in Faoken, his father would make the region pay dearly. John Maslow would never dare threaten his life. On the contrary, he would have to guarantee Kevin's safety throughout the visit and make sure he did not lose so much as a hair. And if a death threat was out of the question, what could an imperial viscount with no power behind him offer in a bargain? Utterly ridiculous!

With the situation clear in his mind, Kevin's sneer deepened.

Still, he did not mock John for his wishful thinking. After all, he was on John's turf.

He doubted a man with John's intelligence and cunning would do something as foolish as drag