Chapter 25
The bearded man tossed a black ID card through the window.
The middle-aged officer took a quick glance at the card, his breath catching. He immediately put his gun away, raising a trembling hand to salute. “Greetings, Colonel…”
His voice shook.
“Frontier Corps.” The ranks within the organization were distinct: privates, sergeants, majors, colonels, and generals—often referred to as the wardens. The man before them was clearly a colonel. He wielded the power to mobilize over 300,000 troops.
Angelica, watching from the car window, furrowed her brow. “Captain Holt, this guy looks like a fraud. Have you ever seen a colonel just wandering around on his own?”
Jupiter raised an eyebrow, considering her words. He was about to respond when five patrol cars and three high-end vehicles, clearly belonging to political leaders, appeared on the horizon.
The chief of the Jonford Inspection Office and the governor of Jonford stepped out, walking toward them.
Jupiter’s eyes narrowed. With the arrival of the governor and his superior, it seemed the colonel’s identity was confirmed.
Angelica, too, felt the weight of the situation. What was going on? Was this man really a colonel? And why was he here?
The chief of the Jonford Inspection Office, the governor, and their entourage approached the colonel in unison.
Stellar, the colonel, frowned. “Who told you to come? Didn’t I say I wouldn’t be seeing anyone?”
The governor of Jonford smiled awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable. “Colonel, we… we wish to meet the warden.”
Stellar scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “Do you think anyone can just meet the warden? Get lost!”
His words carried an unmistakable authority. The governor and chief recoiled, their faces pale as they hurriedly retreated, sweat dotting their foreheads.
Hera had just finished a phone call when she saw that Nash had not yet exited the car. She was in a rush to attend to some matters at the company and approached the vehicle. “Nash, why are they looking for you?”
Nash gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s nothing. They’re just asking about Hannah.”
Hera turned to the law enforcement officers and said firmly, “You can ask me or my family about Ms. Hannah. Nash only arrived at the Lewis Estate less than two days ago. He doesn’t know anything!”
Jupiter wiped sweat from his brow and nodded with a smile. “Alright… Let’s head inside.” He opened the car door and said, “Mr. Calcraft, you can leave the car now.”
With the colonel’s clear instructions to take Nash, there was no reason to refuse. Nash stepped out, his gaze fixed on Stellar.
“Is he here?” Nash asked, his tone casual but curious.
Stellar shook his head. “I came to you to ask for your contact information.”
Nash nodded and extended his hand. “Give me your phone.”
Stellar handed over a special satellite phone. Nash entered his number, then returned the phone. Stellar pocketed it without even glancing at it, his face unreadable.
“My boss will arrive in Jonford in three days. Be prepared. You must be on call within that time.”
Nash’s expression remained unchanged. “I understand.”
His mind flashed to the past, remembering how his master had once taken him to the Southern Region’s border defense. His teacher had treated the warden’s illness for free. Afterward, his teacher had cryptically warned him that by helping those who had contributed greatly to the country, Nash would stand to gain from their aspirations and ailments. At the time, he hadn’t fully understood what that meant.
Stellar turned and walked toward a distant Rolls-Royce, without a word or glance back.
Nash’s eyes flickered to the cracked window of the patrol car. There had been no noticeable fluctuation in Stellar’s inner energy. Yet, with a simple strike, he had shattered the glass. Stellar’s strength was likely far beyond that of a grandmaster—his cultivation method, a mystery that Nash couldn’t quite place. Perhaps it was a breathing technique that masked his true power.
Angelica’s voice broke through his thoughts. “Captain Holt, what should we do now?”