Chapter 455 - 326: Startling Words (3)
A look of delight appeared on Rivers Archer’s face. He immediately said, "As long as the City Lord and Division Commander Preston don’t find me unworthy, I am willing to serve you loyally!"
Keith Preston roared with laughter, declaring him a promising talent.
With Rivers Archer as the bellwether, Leopold Koenig of the Koenig Family immediately followed his example and pledged loyalty to Maisie Joyce, leaving Clan Leader Arnold Koenig fuming but with no recourse.
But after years of being suppressed by the Woods and Forrest Families, he harbored his own resentment and thus went along with recognizing Maisie Joyce as the new City Lord.
Marcus Monroe watched with a cold, detached gaze. ’What a fine play,’ he thought.
’This Rivers Archer and Leopold Koenig must have been bought off a long time ago...’
’They’re acting like completely different people.’
’Recalling their long-winded, rambling speeches from this morning, it suddenly clicked. Those two were clearly stalling for time!’
’There were too many people around during the day, making it difficult to make a move.’
’Each of them rambled on for over an hour, so the others couldn’t very well be brief. Drag it out, drag it out... and just like that, it’s nighttime!’
’No wonder...’
’Going after the soft targets first. A surefire tactic!’
’And look, the Woods and Forrest Families are still holding their tongues. The people they brought along must not be so easily bought.’
Marcus Monroe’s eyes glinted with understanding.
Now that things had come to this, Maisie Joyce would probably stop holding back.
Sure enough, when Maisie Joyce turned her gaze back to the silent Keegan Woods and his cohorts, she looked at them as if they were already dead men.
"Since Uncle Woods and Uncle Forrest refuse to give me this chance, I’m afraid I’ll have to be disagreeable. Division Commander Preston..."
Keith Preston understood the signal. He raised his arm and sliced it downward.
"Kill!"
The conference room was now awash with blood, and the stench was overpowering.
Now that the show was over, Marcus Monroe unhurriedly pushed aside the long knife of a nearby soldier and stood up.
"Now that the new City Lord is decided, it’s time for me to leave."
Maisie Joyce whipped her head around, her heart pounding in alarm.
Keith Preston took a large stride, placing himself in front of her.
The soldiers instantly closed in, their stances hostile and ready for a fight.
Marcus Monroe’s lips curled.
"What? You think you can keep me here?"
The atmosphere was frozen for a moment. Then, Maisie Joyce noticed something: the soldier standing next to Marcus Monroe was stock-still. He looked unharmed, but his eyes were unfocused.
She understood at once. Not only had he long since broken free, but he could have easily killed her while she was busy dealing with the others.
But Marcus Monroe hadn’t.
She reached out, gently pushed Keith Preston aside, and met Marcus Monroe’s gaze. "Paige Summers took me in and comforted me when I was at my lowest. I will be grateful for that for the rest of my life. I never meant to harm you or her. What just happened was for show, dictated by the circumstances. You are free to leave whenever you wish."
"Once Southreach is secure, I’ll go to Bloodfall Base and explain everything to Paige Summers."
"I’m sure she’ll forgive me."
"If she’s willing, I’ll be her friend for life!"
Marcus Monroe shot her an expressionless glance.
"If you want to be friends, you’ll have to show some sincerity first."
Maisie Joyce froze for a second, then said, "Fine!"
Marcus Monroe gave a slight nod, raised his hands, and clapped softly three times.
Instantly, the conference room windows slid open from the outside without a sound. Figures flickered in the opening, and before anyone could react, more than a dozen capable-looking Superpower Users stood at Marcus Monroe’s sides and back, escorting him toward the exit.
Maisie Joyce fought to keep her lips from twitching. She knew this wasn’t because Marcus Monroe feared they would attack him—it was a warning to her!
’The message was clear: *Don’t think you’re the only one who can pull a stunt like this. I’ve had my own people in place all along. Bloodfall Base is off-limits, and you’d better not even think about getting any ideas about Paige Summers!*’
In truth, she wanted to tell him, ’You’re overthinking things!’
While her earlier words might have been a slight exaggeration, she was sincere about not wanting to harm him or Paige Summers.
Admittedly, she had hesitated.
’Marcus Monroe, Paige Summers, and Claire Chapman were all exceptionally powerful. Being on good terms with them should be a good thing for Southreach.’
’But they were too strong, which inevitably made one uneasy.’
’How can you sleep with a tiger by your bedside?’
That question resolved itself the moment she heard that Bloodfall Base had recently started trading in food and weapons.
’Bloodfall Base could not be touched!’
’She knew there was a restricted area behind Bloodfall Base. Connecting that fact with other intelligence she’d received, she guessed that must be where they were growing their food.’
’It wasn’t for a lack of seeds; she could acquire those easily enough. She’d even tried planting them before, but unfortunately, none of them would grow.’
’The soil was the same everywhere. If Central City couldn’t grow anything, but Bloodfall Base could... what did that imply?’