The next day, Biskeland was a hive of activity. Every department, every war zone, was in overdrive, all hands on deck for the Commander's wedding.The buzz reached the central Grand Pendragon Department's Four Elders, and Secretary-General Ywain Darryl's face was etched with urgency as he bolted from his office to the main conference room.As Ywain made his way through the corridors, members of the Grand Pendragon Department could not help but notice the worry etched deep into their Secretary-General's face. They paused, whispering and peering around corners, convinced that something monumental must have happened.Reaching the grand doors of the main conference room, Ywain paused, inhaled deeply, and rapped lightly on the wood."Enter!"Quickly adjusting his rumpled suit, Ywain strode into the room.Inside, the Four Elders were deep in a clandestine discussion. The First Elder, Timothy, greeted him with a grin. "What's the rush, Ywain?"Standing tall and respectful beside the co
Chastened by Timothy's stern warning, Ywain fell silent, his head bowed, lost in the weight of the moment.The other three elders frowned in disapproval, their eyes fixed on Ywain. Geoffrey chastised, "Ywain, Liam has been our shield on the Biskeland frontier for seven years. He led hundreds of thousands in the Pendragon War Zone, faced death countless times, and held off the armies of eight nations. He's kept our people safe. Now, he's about to get married. What's so wrong about giving him a wedding fit for a hero?"The other elders nodded in agreement. Timothy, with a thump on the table, added, "He's right! Liam's a war hero, a guardian of our nation. A grand wedding is the least we owe him. Besides, when has a commander ever had anything less than a state wedding? It's been ages since Biskeland has seen such a celebration!"Ywain mopped his brow, nodding fervently. "Absolutely, I've got it!"Timothy, still a force to be reckoned with despite his retirement from the top brass, ra
Geoffrey's feigned disapproval could not fool anyone, least of all Michael and Jim, who could not help but tease him. "Come on, Geoff, you're one to talk about Timothy. Take a look in the mirror. Your grin's so wide it could wrap around your head!""Exactly, Geoff. You act all grumpy, but you're always quick with a jab!"Timothy shot back with a grin, "What's it to you if I'm happy, Geoff? That young man is as dear to me as my own grandson, and I worry about him just the same! And look at you, trying to play it calm while you're practically splitting your cheeks with that smile!"Remembering something, Timothy narrowed his eyes at Geoffrey and added, "And let's be honest, Geoff, you're the king of trash talk, and when it comes to playing favorites, you take the crown. Don't think I haven't noticed all the extra gear you've been sneaking into the young man's unit. The other four zones haven't even seen some of that stuff! If their commanders catch wind of this, there'll be hell to pa
In the Crystal Elegance Palace's main hall, a middle-aged man was bent over his work at a desk, a golden beaded curtain hanging before him, shielding his face. However, even that could not mask the powerful vibe he gave off."Your Majesty!"The moment Timothy and his crew entered the hall, they were hit by the man's formidable presence. It was a quiet kind of power, but it made them want to step back in respect. They made their way to the heart of the hall and bowed deeply."What's the matter?"A strong and commanding voice rolled out from behind the golden beads, filling the hall like a tolling bell."Your Majesty, the Commander, Liam, is getting hitched in a royal wedding!" Timothy announced with all due respect.The man behind the beads paused, pen in mid-air, and lifted his head. His face remained a mystery behind the curtain.Then, a guy in a suit, holding a pale golden scroll, descended the steps from the side of the platform and approached Timothy and the others, giving a
Timothy shot back, and the others quickly agreed, their faces lighting up as they made their way to their sleek cars.Meanwhile, a different scene unfolded in a long-abandoned villa on the outskirts of Biskeland Athenapolis.In the vast, dimly lit hall, a group of figures clad in black, their faces hidden behind masks, bowed in reverence.Dominating the room was a man in a black suit with a ghostly mask, his presence casting a bone-chilling aura over the silent assembly."Useless fools! You assured me that seven years ago, not a single soul from the Cole family in Drunham City was left breathing. So why are we seeing their remnants now?"With those words, the man in the ghost-face mask flung three photographs to the ground.One photo showed Liam with his arm around Jovie, shopping at the mall. The second was a clear shot of Jovie's face, and the third captured Celena.The leader of the black-clad men at the front picked up the photos, studied them for a few seconds, and then spo
Liam, worn out from the day's events, slumped on a bench in the empty hospital corridor. Night had crept in, leaving the space deserted, the sterile tang of disinfectant hanging in the air, adding to the chilling silence.Suddenly, darkness swallowed the corridor as the lights flickered. The floor's glow-in-the-dark markers offered a faint guide, while the wind's mournful howl outside seemed to carry the echoes of pain and rage.Unmoved, Liam remained seated, his eyes piercing through the blackness with the intensity of a predator stalking its prey.Soft footsteps, barely perceptible against the whispering wind, approached from the corridor's end. There were three figures.Liam's sharp ears did not miss a beat. He quickly sized up the newcomers. How many and how dangerous?Were they there with bad intentions to take him out?Had enemy spies slipped into Drunham City?Liam stayed put, his presence as undetectable as a shadow.At the corridor's end, three silhouettes clad in bl
Crack!Laim effortlessly broke the wrist of the man in black, who was gripping a dagger!"Ah!"The pain was immediate and intense. He let out a stifled scream, muffled by the mask he wore, which prevented the sound from traveling far.However, the eyes that peered out from the mask betrayed his excruciating pain.At that same moment, the dagger the assassin held dropped, but Liam was faster. In no time, he snatched the dagger from the air and hurled it backward!Swoosh!The dagger flew, a silver flash cutting through the air, its lethal intent as chilling as ice. It went straight through the throat of another assassin, blood spurting out as the blade impaled his windpipe before clattering to the ground behind.Bang!The assassin fell before he could even grasp what had happened, his eyes still wide with a murderous rage that would never be fulfilled. He hit the ground with a heavy thud.Dead before he hit the floor.The last assassin in black saw his ally on the ground, bloo
Pain contorted the assassin's face, and blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. His mask hid his expression, but the spasms racking his body left no doubt about his agony.Liam stood at the third-floor window, gazing down with icy detachment at the two figures sprawled below. Without hesitation, he vaulted from the window, plummeting three stories to the ground.For anyone else, such a fall would be fatal or crippling. However, Liam landed easily, the ground thudding under his feet and the tiles fracturing beneath his weight.He approached the downed assassin, his face set in a grim mask of authority. Towering over the survivor, he demanded, "You're quite skilled. You've been trained, haven't you? Talk. Who do you work for? What's your business here?"The injured assassin squinted up at Liam, his face obscured by the shadows, and gasped, "I don't know what you're talking about!"Liam's boot came down hard on the man's chest. A slight press and a sickening snap of ribs breaki