Chapter 504: Waking Up In The Lands Of Britannia

A frown hadn’t left King Augustus’ face since an hour ago.

He had dispatched the Shadow Guards to capture the rest of the Frontera Family and bring them to the capital city of the Kingdom.

Yet, the only report he had gotten from them was the Frontera Family’s escape. After that, silence. None. All he knew was that his subordinates must be pursuing them.

He had gone to sleep, thinking he’d receive good news when he woke up the next morning. With that expectation in mind, he took out his communication crystal as soon as he opened his eyes.

But the Shadow Guard Captain wouldn’t reply to his summons.

He had been frowning since then.

Although displeased, he decided to wait. Perhaps they were just resting after pursuing the enemy all night. He could just try again after eating breakfast.

But the communication crystal in his hand remained dim and unanswered.

"This has never happened before..." King Augustus muttered.

The Shadow Guards were all elites. They had been trained at a young age to become the perfect agents that would serve the King of the Kingdom.

And yet, his prized special forces had yet to give him a follow-up report or leave any hint that their mission had already succeeded.

King Augustus couldn’t help but have a bad feeling. For the first time since he came to power, things kept going wrong.

In the end, he prepared himself for the worst-case scenario that the Shadow Guards had been wiped out by the Frontera Family.

But King Augustus couldn’t accept this idea.

’There’s no way the Frontera Family has this kind of fighting force,’ King Augustus mused. ’Someone might have helped them escape.’

The King was right. The Frontera Family alone did not have that kind of special force that could contend with the Shadow Guards.

However, Helen’s side of the family was different.

Her grandfather was the Hero of the Radiant Empire, and he had met many prodigies in his life. He had trained these people to become his subordinates, creating a powerful organization that obeyed his will.

’I still have Marco,’ King Augustus thought. ’As long as I have him, the Frontera Family has no choice but to show themselves.’

All he needed to do was ?announce that the Viscount of the Frontera Family would be executed for treason.

The King didn’t believe that the Viscount’s family would leave him alone and watch his head roll along the plaza of the capital city of Britannia.

Suddenly, one of his communication crystals glowed faintly.

King Augustus hurriedly answered the call, hoping for good news.

"Your Majesty, we have failed to locate and capture Edward Frontera," General Duran reported. "The hunters have found his horse, but the eldest of the Frontera Family is nowhere in sight."

"Incompetent fools!" King Augustus finally lost his composure and shouted angrily. "I gave you a simple order, and you can’t even make it happen?!"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," General Duran replied. "I will accept any punishment you wish for me."

"Find him!" King Augustus roared. "Find him at all costs!"

"Understood, Your Majesty." General Duran bowed his head before ending the call.

King Augustus raised the communication crystal and was about to smash it on the ground in anger.

But in the end, he still held back and angrily yelled for his Prime Minister to come to him.

"Send people to the Frontera Viscounty and investigate where they went," King Augustus ordered. "Make sure you only pick those who can produce results!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Theodore bowed his head respectfully. "It will be done."

King Augustus leaned back on the throne and covered his eyes with his right hand.

It had been one bad luck after another ever since he accepted the call of the Aurelion Empire to join hands in conquering the Borderlands.

He couldn’t help but think...

If he didn’t accept their offer, things would have been different.

Well, he was only half-right.

If he didn’t plan to attack the Borderlands, Leone wouldn’t have asked his grandfather for help.

But the seed he sowed in the Borderlands would still grow and bite him back. The only difference was that he had brought doom upon himself sooner.

It might have taken Leone another year or two, but he would definitely return with an army that would make the Britannian King regret his decision to exile him due to his petty personality.

————

Inside Stoneguard Fortress...

Leone slowly opened his eyes, only to see an unfamiliar ceiling above his head.

When he looked to his right side, he saw Yuni sleeping peacefully by his side while holding onto him.

On his left was Aria, also sleeping right beside him with her hand resting on his chest.

Seeing his two lovers, Leone felt more at ease. He softly planted a kiss on their cheeks before leaving the bed quietly.

It seemed that both ladies had watched over him until dawn, having only fallen asleep a few hours ago.

Leone walked toward the window and opened it.

There, he saw a fortress that looked both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

"Is this..." Leone frowned. "Stoneguard Fortress?"

Leone had taken the room meant for the VIP guests in the fortress.

This allowed him to have a good view of his surroundings, which eventually confirmed his suspicion.

"Daedalus, where are you?" Leone called out.

A moment later, a grimoire flew toward the window of his room and hovered right in front of him.

"Good morning, Leone," Daedalus greeted. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes," Leone replied. "I am feeling better. Are we in Stoneguard Fortress?"

"That’s right." Daedalus nodded. "After you passed out last night, Kael gathered everyone and launched a night raid. Lord Azar tweaked the teleportation gate of this fortress and connected it to Aslan City. This fortress is now under the control of the barbarian tribes."

Leone was a little shocked that his people had decisively taken over the fortress while he was asleep.

Since Leone had no idea of what had transpired during his sleep, Daedalus filled him in on the information needed to keep him updated.

"Hassan, Astravor, Blitz, and the Gryphon Battalion have all flown toward the Frontera Viscounty to rescue your family," Daedalus reported. "But when they arrived, your family’s residence was already burned down to the ground."

A look of anxiety flashed across Leone’s face, but he forced himself to calm down.

He knew his mother was very competent and resourceful. Also, if she had been captured by the enemy, there would be no reason for them to burn the house down.

Since Hassan and his group had flown directly toward the Frontera Viscounty, none of them followed the land routes that carriages and wagons used to travel.

"Where is Hassan now?" Leone asked.

"He’s still searching for traces of your family alongside Astravor. As for Dominic and the Gryphon Battalion, they were forced to return here. They should be arriving soon."

Since the Gryphon Battalion of the Kingdom no longer existed, the guards stationed at the various cities would surely notice if hundreds of Gryphons were to suddenly appear flying above their cities.

As much as Daedalus wished to give the King of Britannia a heart attack, it still had to wait for Leone to wake up and wait for his orders.

And now that he was awake, it was time for the youngest chieftain of the Borderlands to tell them the next step in their plan to save his family.

When Daedalus finished his report, Leone sent Kael a telepathic message and told him to gather the chieftains, as well as the leaders of the organizations that were helping them.

It was now time for him to take over the reins of this operation, and let the King of Britannia understand that there were people that his filthy hands... shouldn’t touch.