Love at the Wrong Table
Chapter 2311 Eric Lannister
All eyes were on Santiago and Yorick as they chased after the figure in black.
At that very moment, a firm hand suddenly gripped Gautier’s shoulder from behind.
Fit YU %l
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Gautier’s heart nearly stopped. He hadn’t sensed anyone approaching–whoever it was, their martial prowess was completely beyond his understanding. He turned his head, and his shock intensified tenfold.
It was Ezra!
Panic set in. Could Ezra have figured out that he was the one who had goaded Magnus into trying to kill him? Was this payback?
But before he could react, Ezra simply shoved him aside and muttered, “Now’s your chance–run!”
Gautier was stunned. Why was Ezra helping him?
There was no time to ponder. If he didn’t seize this opportunity, he might never get another.
“Think you can just walk away? Not happening.”
Emmanuel, already on high alert, unleashed a devastating palm strike across the distance.
But Ezra had anticipated this. He had his Imperial Guard fighters intercept the attack, absorbing most of its force. In the end, he himself met the final remnants of the blow with both palms, dispersing it completely.
Emmanuel tensed, ready to give chase.
“Emmanuel!” matters!”
zie’s urgent voice snapped him back to the bigger picture. “We have more pressing
She was right. For all he knew, Ezra was baiting him into pursuit–luring him away, trapping him in some elaborate scheme.
Gautier wasn’t going anywhere. His time would come. But Zovince–Chanaea–that was the real battlefield today. Xarri had already warned him that the 80,000–strong army stationed at Summerton Palace had just begun their march on the capital. If they weren’t stopped, everything would fall.
“Zen Master!” Ethan stepped forward hurriedly, his voice steady but urgent. “The prayer ceremony must be postponed. There’s something critical I must attend to.”
“Peace be with you, Mr. Hale.” Zen Master had no need for details. He realized today was a day of crisis for Chanaea. Hands pressed together in a solemn bow, he declared, “As you command, Mr. Hale. The Chapel of Oros will handle matters here. May your journey bring peace to the land and harmony to its people. May fortune and virtue guide you.”
Ethan returned the bow, then turned and descended the mountain, flanked by Emmanuel for protection.
The Grand Hunt Alliance fighters surrounded them, their every step mirroring Emmanuel’s. But no one dared move.
“We can’t just let them leavel”
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Chapter 2311 Eric Lannister
The moment one fool took the initiative
Wham!
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Emmanuel didn’t even spare a glance. With a casual flick of his palm, a surge of internal strength blasted the man off his feet, sending him flying dozens of feet before crashing into eight others like a bowling strike.
The rest struggled to get up. The one who had been struck directly, however, didn’t move again.
Gasp!
The crowd collectively gasped in horror.
This was what it meant to face the doom slayer. Who still dared to stand in his way?
The only thing they could do was watch as Emmanuel and Ethan disappeared down the mountain.
Meanwhile, at the foot of the mountain, the man in black had successfully shaken off the battered Santiago and Yorick, dragging Gwain to a secluded spot far from prying eyes.
Gwain was still catching his breath, but inwardly, he was reeling. The masked man’s mastery of combat and movement was leagues beyond his own. So, this is Chanaea… A land filled with hidden talents, where the grandmasters lurk in the shadows, revealing themselves only when necessary.
As soon as his feet found solid ground, Gwain clasped his hands in respect. “Thank you for saving me, sir. May I ask your name? If fate allows, I—”
Smack!
A loud slap echoed through the night as the man in black struck him across the face.
For a moment, Gwain was stunned. He, Gwain of the Lannister family, had just been slapped like some punching bag?
“You’ve disgraced the Lannister name!”
The masked man’s voice had changed. Or rather–this was his real voice.
A shock like lightning through his spine left Gwain paralyzed. He suddenly recognized the man before him. And just like that, all his anger vanished; terror took its place. Immediately, he looked at the man in surprise and fear, like a child who had done something wrong.
The man in black ripped off his mask and pulled back his hood, revealing a middle–aged face glowing with health and a level of cultivation that spoke of unfathomable martial mastery.
Gwain gasped. “F–Father! It’s you!”
It had been years since he last saw Eric. His father had always kept a low profile, so much so that Gwain had convinced himself he had already caught up–perhaps even surpassed him.
But tonight had shattered that illusion. His father was far beyond Sage level. Far beyond him.
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Chapter 2311 Eric Lannister
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you did not carn, a name that placed you alongside a 5–Star Honored Battle General. And what did you do with it? You were utterly destroyed by Emmanuel today, humiliated beyond measure. You even lost to Victor’s son! You have shamed me beyond words.” he reprimanded, his voice cutting deep like a blade.
Gwain stood stiff, his head bowed. Though resentment simmered in his eyes, he did not dare talk back.
“You’ve had too little real combat experience!” Eric let out a weary sigh. “It’s all Artemis‘ fault. Thirty years of so–called ‘peaceful development–and now, an entire generation has grown up like fragile hothouse plants. No matter how well they score on exams, when it comes to real battles, they can’t even unleash their full potential!”
“Exactly!” Gwain’s eyes lit up with excitement as he cagerly agreed. “It’s the pro–surrender faction that ruined Chanaea–and ruined me! Father, believe me, I only lack combat experience. Once I gain enough, I will definitely defeat Xarri and Emmanuel!”
“Good, that’s the spirit!” Eric gave a nod of approval. “But defeating them is just a minor goal. Our true ambition is to dismantle the pro–surrender faction left behind by Artemis. The Lannister family must seize control of Chanaea’s power for ourselves!”
Gwain’s heart pounded. He was completely caught off guard. “But Father, hasn’t the Lannister family always stayed out of politics?”
“Hahaha!” Eric threw back his head and laughed. “That’s just what we tell the world! I never explained it to you, but I didn’t expect even you to believe it!”
Gwain stood there, stunned. For over 20 years, he had been living in a fairy tale. Tonight, his father was dragging him into reality.
“Back then, you were still a child, and there were too many prying eyes. I couldn’t tell you the truth. But now that it’s just the two of us, you deserve to know everything!” Eric placed a firm hand on Gwain’s shoulder, his gaze turning sharp. “Since your great–grandfather’s time, the Lannister family has been planning to seize control of Chanaea.
family. But in the our granduncle even fought on the battlefield, trying to wrest military power for our
family. But in the end, he and the Nine Saints were slaughtered by Lucian!”
Gwain froze. He had never even heard of this before.
“It was too humiliating,” Eric explained with a scoff. “Since Lucian and the president at the time never exposed the truth, we had no reason to bring it up, either.”
His voice dropped lower, laced with cold intent. “Not only that, but our family has been working closely with the Holy Trinity. The Warlord himself is an old friend of mine. Together, the Lannister family and the Holy Trinity will seize Chanaea’s power and divide it between us.”
Gwain’s blood boiled with excitement. With this kind of backing, he would have plenty of chances to cross swords with Emmanuel again–to crush that arrogant b*stard and reclaim both his honor and the Lannister
name!
Still, he had one lingering doubt. “Father, with your level of martial skill, why aren’t you ranked among the New Seven Saints?”
Eric burst into laughter. “Hahahaha… The Lannister family has long stood at the pinnacle of Chanaea’s martial arts world. Those so–called rankings and titles–do you think they’re decided by anyone but us?”
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