Chapter 2279 Emmanuel’s Bold Choice.
Once the couple were alone, Emmanuel turned to Mackenzie. “Why did you respond to Mr. Hale like that earlier?”
“If you step in too forcefully to protect him, it will only make things worse,” Mackenzie replied.
He hesitated as she continued, “You tend to act on impulse. Staying close to Mr. Hale might seem like the best way to keep him safe, though it could also give his enemies an excuse to accuse him of breaking Chanaea’s laws. Now that the Wolf Warrior Unit is back under your command, you must prepare for the battles ahead–not just on the battlefield, but politically as well.”
“That arrest warrant is like a curse,” she warned.
“Never underestimate it. Once enforced, it can carry more weight than any weapon. Mr. Hale may have. the highest approval ratings, but if he ignores Zovince’s rules, people will see it as violating Chanaea’s laws. He isn’t president yet, so he has no power to pardon himself or anyone else. His rivals will take advantage of that, flipping the election results before they’re even announced.”
Emmanuel nodded, absorbing her words. “Politics can be more powerful than war. A single calculated move could change everything.”
“Exactly,” Mackenzie remarked, nudging him. “If you go up the mountain under your own name, Mr. Hale won’t be dragged into this. Focus on keeping him safe. Once he’s in office, he’ll have the authority to clear your name. That’s the smart approach.”
Everything became clear to Emmanuel–the meaning behind the Zelinsky family’s arrest warrant, the hidden traps within this political game. Two choices lay before him. He could follow the law and stand by Francis, or he could risk everything, defy the authorities, and climb Divine Mountain alone. His wife had/ already made her stance clear. No reason remained to hesitate.
“Emmanuel, are you bringing the Wolf Warrior Unit with you or going alone?” she asked.
Despite being a wanted man in Zovince, his command over the unit remained intact. They would still follow him, though every step they took would be illegal. The risk of punishment–perhaps even execution–loomed over them if Ethan failed to win the election.
“The Wolf Warrior Unit has its own responsibilities. I’ll go alone,” Emmanuel decided. His voice held no doubt despite knowing that Divine Mountain was crawling with enemies who wanted him dead.
Mackenzie’s concern was evident, though she also understood the greater stakes. Her husband’s courage had always been one of the things she admired most. “Then, I’m going with you.”
Emmanuel met her determined gaze and smiled. “Alright, we’ll face this together.” His wife was never a burden. Her insight and decisiveness had proven invaluable too many times to count.
Before they could set out, Francis reappeared with his men. Having overheard their discussion, he let out a dry chuckle. “Guess my job here is done.”
Emmanuel nodded.
“Good luck to both of you,” Francis added before leaving without another word.
The couple had barely taken a step outside when a voice called out.
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Chapter 2279 Emmanuel’s Bold Choice
“Emmanuel! Mackenzie! Where are you going? Take me with you!”
+ Pearls
A group rushed toward them: Shane, Frederick, Lexi, Larry, Sonia, Denis, Angela, Stanley, and others. Their concern for Emmanuel and Mackenzie was clear, though their eyes also sparkled with exciternent. They couldn’t miss the chance to witness the events on Divine Mountain firsthand.
Mackenzie scolded, “Beatrix, don’t be ridiculous! This mission is too dangerous. Stay somewhere safe.
As an older sister, she could never bear to see her younger sister put herself in danger.
Beatrix folded her arms and stood her ground. “No way If something happens to you both, we’re doomed anyway. Why not go together? Three heads are better than one, and as long as you two are around, no one will dare lay a finger on us.”
Though stubborn, she had a point.
Mackenzie hesitated, only for Lexi to step forward. “Ms. Quillen, trust us. Besides, Ms. Beatrix is right. We aren’t part of the Wolf Warrior Unit, so this doesn’t affect military operations. If we go, we can take care of the small details while you focus on the real threats.”
A glance at Emmanuel was all it took.
“Let’s all go together,” he agreed without hesitation. None of them were primary targets, so their wouldn’t cause additional complications.
Eighteen people. Three vehicles. One destination.
presence
At that moment, preparations for the prayer ceremony had already been completed on Divine Mountain. It continued as scheduled despite the chaos of the previous night.
1200 Imperial Guards from Zovince had been stationed below the mountain, ensuring security. Leading a group of Congress officials, Ethan made his way up the path. The journey remained uninterrupted.
“Mr. Hale is here!” A friar’s voice rang out, drawing every gaze toward the white stone staircase.
Smiling warmly, Ethan waved at the gathered crowd. He carried himself with the ease of an old man who had spent a lifetime among the people–humble yet exuding a quiet authority that commanded respect.
While he spoke with officials and responded to questions from the press, another conversation unfolded on the sidelines.
Kellan Crowley, a councilor from Shoiya, approached Yorick, who sat quietly in a corner.
Lowering his voice, Kellan murmured, “Lord Dotson, when Ethan enters the Chapel of Oros to cleanse himself before the prayer ceremony, he’ll be alone for about thirty minutes. His Royal Majesty expects you to make your move then. Ethan must never walk out of that chapel.”
Yorick barely reacted. His eyes remained closed, his expression unreadable.
Kellan shifted uneasily. “Lord Dotson-”
A sudden energy shift cut him off. An overwhelming force radiated from Yorick, forcing/Kellan to retrea his breath catching in his throat instinctively. The oppressive aura was enough to leave him pale and shaken.
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Chapter 2279 Emmanuel’s Bold Choice
+8 Pearls
This was not Shoiya’s domain, and the sheer presence of Yorick was enough to silence any further arguments. The king’s orders had been given. Whether or not they would be followed was now in Yorick’s hands.
On the other side of the venue, Gwain sat among the guests. His interest in the prayer ceremony itself was nonexistent. His focus remained on what would come after–the long–awaited clash between Chanaea’s martial arts elite and the Savage Martial Saint.
Clive appeared at his side without warning, placing a token into his palm.
A single word was engraved onto its surface–Lannister
Surprised, Gwain’s gaze darkened. “The command token?! What’s the order?”
Clive leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. “Your father has ordered you to kill someone.”
