Kahn and the others had all settled down, going about their own affairs as usual, resting and recuperating as they waited for the right moment.
But unlike the peace on Kahn's side, Ozai's days were far from comfortable.
Ever since Iroh's defection, Ozai had dispatched countless elite troops to capture and hunt him down, yet he had seen no results.
Not only was Iroh still at large, but the frequent movements of troops within the country were difficult to conceal. Many citizens had begun to feel an inexplicable unease, and public sentiment was growing unsettled.
Even so, Ozai showed no intention of giving up. Instead, he kept assigning more men, intending to conduct a sweeping search.
There was no helping it. Iroh was simply too important.
To Ozai, the threat Iroh posed alone far exceeded even that of the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom!
Whenever he thought of this, Ozai's face turned livid, and his hatred for Iroh deepened.
If I had known this would happen, I should have killed him outright back then!
Though he gnashed his teeth inwardly, he actually understood that even if time turned back, the present outcome could not be changed.
Had he never thought of getting rid of Iroh back then? Of course he had. He simply had not been able to.
When he first usurped the throne, his footing had still been unstable, and he lacked the ability to deal with Iroh. Once his power was secure, Iroh had always behaved so obediently that he never left Ozai the slightest pretext to act against him.
Moreover, Iroh's own strength had reached the pinnacle, and he was seasoned and experienced. Assassination methods had been utterly useless.
Looking back now, how had Iroh's behavior been cowardice or incompetence? He had clearly been biding his