When fate plays its hand

Chapter 932 Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Salvador paused the movements of his quill, his voice cold as ice as he said, “That statement wasn’t wrong. I do intend to cultivate new generals, but I am no fool. Even if I want to raise new blood, I would never abandon the veterans who have served the country loyally for half their lives.

“Doesn’t Rafael understand why I want to cultivate new generals? Though the Hell Monarch Army no longer answers to him, his prestige still commands respect. His unparalleled achievement in reclaiming the Southern Frontier stands as an immovable mountain, one I cannot shift by even a single inch. Yet, he dares threaten me.”

With a sharp snap, the red quill in his hand broke, the sound cracking through the tense silence. He threw it the desk, his expression darkening.

“I bet Rafael doesn’t want to be accused of being a traitor, but what can I do about it if he truly has ambitious designs?” Salvador added..

Anxious, Derek hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, I am certain the Hell Monarch harbors no treasonous thoughts. He is your brother.”

Salvador’s response was cold, simply saying, “I know he isn’t planning anything treacherous for now. But the longer someone sits in a high position, the more likely they are to develop ulterior motives. I keep an eye on him, not because I want to see us at odds, but because I don’t want to face a rift between brothers. He’d better not Harbor such ambitions, or I won’t hesitate to act with ruthless resolve.”

While Salvador was furious at his brother’s defiance, his anger subsided somewhat after the confrontation. If the prince were truly plotting something, he would never have been careless enough to expose himself over the matter about Dominic.

Now, Rafael’s dismissive attitude toward Dominic confirmed his current position–at least for the moment, he had no aspirations of rebellion.

Derek understood from these words that the king’s anger was more about his brother’s disrespect than any real suspicion of treason. Salvador still considered Rafael a potential threat, but had concluded that the prince harbored no rebellious intent.

Meanwhile, Barrett arrived at the Ministry of Justice, where Patrick personally oversaw his interrogation. He held nothing back, spilling everything about the events at Victory Pass, including his affair with Aurora.

He had known for some time that he couldn’t escape this. Even though the king had tried to protect him, the truth was plain for everyone to see. He had been the commanding general responsible for the Fawnrun City operation, and his affair with Aurora could not be denied.

There was no way for him to shift the blame now.

Once Barrett confessed everything, a weight seemed to lift off his shoulders. Accepting that he couldn’t distance himself from this any longer, he only hoped that Dominic wouldn’t be too deeply entangled in it all.

He owed everything to Wyatt, who had sacrificed his arm for him, and to the Sullivan family, who had shown him such kindness at Victory Pass.

But his time as the commander of the Nightsteel Guard would no doubt come to an end. Even if he wanted to join the Capital Guard as an ordinary soldier, that was no longer possible. Simply surviving this ordeal would be a mercy from the heavens.

The battle at Victory Pass, which Barrett once saw as the beginning of a glorious future, had instead become the event that ruined his career and tarnished the honor of his ancestors.

For now, Patrick placed him under temporary detention at the Ministry of Justice–not in a dungeon, but in a specially prepared cell originally intended for Dominic, though it had never been used.

After Barrett’s interrogation, Patrick returned to question Aurora once more, personally overseeing her session as before.

She had been through so much that she barely resembled herself anymore. Her hair was a tangled mess, her face sallow, and her fingers swollen from the torture she had endured. Every detail of her appearance testified to the miserable treatment she had experienced during her time at the Ministry of Justice.

But in reality, it hadn’t been that bad. To keep her alive, the ministry’s officers had refrained from using harsher methods of torture.

Patrick sat in his chair, his cold gaze fixed on Aurora, saying, “Commander Warren has confessed. Before you went to Fawnrun City, you never saw General Sullivan. In fact, by the time the operation began, he had already been struck by an arrow. So, it’s impossible that he gave you your orders.”

Aurora seemned stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Barrett confessed? You arrested him? No, that’s impossible!”

“Why is that impossible? He was the general in charge of the Fawnrun City operation. You’ve committed a crime of catastrophic proportions, and he naturally bears responsibility for it as well.”

Aurora took a deep breath and shook her head violently. “No, that’s impossible. The king has plans to groom him: Why would he drag Barrett into this? Didn’t General Sullivan already return to the capital for questioning? If he’s being interrogated, what difference does it make whether Barrett is involved or not?”

Aurora still assumed that Salvador was thoroughly investigating this matter just to give the Westhaven envoys an explanation. Since that was the case, wasn’t Dominic’s confession enough? Why involve Barrett at all?