Mistaken Match: Marrying the Enigmatic CEO
Chapter 2352; The Fateful Confrontation
Yorick had never been one for idle chatter. The moment he confirmed that Eric was the black-cad figure from years past, he acted without hesitation, launching into full assault.
Their collision was swift and fierce, a blur of strikes and counters that left the crowd breathless. The sheer speed of their movements stirred the air itself, and Yorick’s aggressive style swept through the battlefield like a storm. Panic rippled through the onlookers.
The Lannister Estate, already in ruins, groaned under the strain of yet another devastating clash.
This confrontation mirrored the one from earlier when Emmanuel had taken on the four elders alone. Not just the Lannister family, but even those of comparable skill Emmanuel and Xarri included were left shaken by the sheer force behind every blow.
Yorick charged like a wild beast unleashed, each strike carrying with it a pulse of dread. Eric, in contrast, moved with a quiet grace, as if he were gliding through a field of blossoms. His steps were light, his evasions fluid, and every attack Yorick threw seemed to miss its mark by mere inches.
Eric’s movements move together speed, precision, and technique. Each feint and redirect used Yorick’s momentum against him, making it increasingly difficult for the older man to land a hit.
The battle pressed on, neither side yielding an inch, when suddenly a sharp glint flashed through the sky.
A cold streak of light tore through the air moments later, a Silver Dragon Spear came flying toward them with alarming speed.
Even Eric, no stranger to ambushes, was caught off guard. He retreated in a swift leap, ascending a nearby tree to avoid the strike.
Yorick’s scowl deepened as he turned toward the direction of throw. From the shadows, Santiago stepped forward, his voice gravelly with emotion.
“Heh, today isn’t about winning or losing,” he said with a crooked grin. “Today, we fight together, for Jane! Besides, the Lannisters ambushed us with sheer numbers. Whether it’s one enemy or a hundred, we stand united.”
“Fine! Yorick barked, pointing at Eric’s silhouette among the branches. His jaw clenched as he growled, “You can’t deny it now, You might’ve changed your techniques, but you’re still the same figure from back then, I can feel it in every move you make!”
Eric sneered, his tone sharp and cold. “If you’re determined to blame me, you’ll always find a reason.”
He refused to back down. “Today, the two of you, along with that so-called Wolf Warrior, band together to threaten my family. Go ahead, we may fall in battle, but we won’t be slandered!”
“Dad, you’re right!” Gwain suddenly called out, stepping forward with sword drawn. His grip was steady, and his voice rang out loud and clear. “For a hundred years, our family has stood with honor. We will not let that be tarnished by lies and accusations!”
Emmanuel frowned, his gaze turning colder by the second. What outrageous pride. How could they twist the truth so boldly?
Santiago had heard enough. “Eric, you still want to argue?” he snapped, “You can’t hide behind your words any longer! That night tried to assassinate Artemis, you used the same ‘Jade Cloud’ technique to dodge my spears! Even after all these years, the style hasn’t changed. Who else could pull that off? No one but you!”
Eric froze. Even Gwain, who had learned the move himself, knew he couldn’t escape those attacks unscathed. More importantly, he had been for too young to be the one responsible.
Then, Eric laughed, low and bitter. The truth could no longer be hidden, and he didn’t intend to. “You’re right. I was the one in black that night. It was me who disguised myself as Yorick to hunt down Jane!”
“At last! You admit it!” Santiago barked out a laugh. “Then, I’ll even give you that much, you were bold enough to do it. That’s more than most.”
His expression turned grim as he pointed a finger at Eric. “But why? Would could your family possibly gain from it?” No one expected a response, not Santiago, not Yorick, not even the spectators.
Yet, Eric’s eyes glinted with cold amusement. “You want to know why?” he disappearing in to the shadows. Before anyone could react, both Santiago and Yorick had taken off after him.
Now only Emmanuel, Gwain and the remaining three elders of the Lannister family remained, locked in a silent standoff.
Gwain’s expression twisted as he glared at Emmanuel. “What more do you want?” he spat. “Our family will never bow to the remnants of Victor’s bloodline!”
However, under Emmanuel’s heavy gaze, the young man who had moments ago spoken, with such certainty now faltered. The four elders, too had grown silent, their earlier bravado dissolved under the weight of the confrontation.
Emmanuel’s voice was low, but it carried an unmistakable power. “This duel is over Gwain has lost. Now, I will ask once, do I have your support for Xarri to succeed his father and take leadership of the Lannister family? Who will stand with me and against me?”
Though calm, his words struck like iron, and none dared challenge him. This was the Supreme Commander of the Northern Region. With twenty thousand soldiers under his direct command, and a hundred thousand more in reserve, Emmanuel was not someone anyone could afford to cross.
Earlier, Gwain’s performance in the dual had earned him some lingering support, but now?
To stand by Gwain meant defying the family’s long-standing rules. Worse, it meant opposing Emmanuel himself. And that was not a burden many were willing to bear.
“I’ll ask again,” Emmanuel said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “Who dare to oppose me? Speak now.” Noe one did. Not a word. Not even from the elders.
“You… You can’t do this!” Gwain stammered, panic creeping into his voice. “My father is still the head of the family! You’re betraying everything we’ve built! If you do this, then…” But his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Though none openly pledged allegiance to Xarri, not a soul dared to stand besides Gwain either. No one was willing to become an enemy to Emmanuel.
“Since no one objects, the future leaders of the Big Four will be Xarri and Quell!”
Emmanuel’s voice rang through the hall, calm yet commanding, his tone leaving no room for doubt. The declaration settled over over the room like the closing of a heavy door. Quell stood tall, chin lifted with quiet pride as he surveyed the members of the Lannister family before him.
Xarri hadn’t expected immediate acceptance. He knew these people wouldn’t embrace the outcome so easily. He alone lacked the influence to command them outright.
Still, as long as there was no open resistance, that was enough for now. Control, he believed, could be seized in time, Influence could be earned or taken once he held the reins.
Emmanuel didn’t move from his place. His gaze lingered in the direction Eric had gone, thoughtful and sharp. He understood all too well: unless Santiago and Yorick eliminated Eric, there would be no future where Xarri truly led the Lannisters.
Meanwhile, far from the main hall, Santiago and Yorick pursued Eric without rest. The chase stretched deep into the back mountains, where the trees grow thicker and ground uneven.
There, Santiago finally struck. With a flash of his spear technique, Dance of Six Spears, he launched a piercing assault that threw Eric off balance.
Yorick followed swiftly, unleashing Savage Tiger Roar with the full force of his body, aiming to end the fight with one fatal blow.
But Eric wasn’t ready to fall. In that crucial moment, he drew upon every ounce of strength he had left, calling forth the Big Dipper to redirect their combined strikes.
“Wait!” he cried, his voice cutting through the chaos. “Let me say one thing, just one!”
Yorick wasn’t interested in conversation. His fists tensed as he stepped forward, ready to finish what they’d started, but Santiago raised a hand to stop him. “Let him speak,” he said calmly. “Its just a matter of time before we finish him off anyway.” With a begrudging grunt, Yorick let his hands fall back to his sides.
“You both fight well, your skill is beyond impressive,” Eric said, offering a respectful bow and faint smile. “But it’s a shame your minds haven’t kept up with your fists. To be strung along by a women for all these years… what a waste.”
The air shifted. Santiago’s eyes sharpened, his voice low and threatening. “You trying to die now?”
Eric only laughed, the sound light and unbothered. “I’m just telling the truth. I’ve watched you both since the Zovince Grand Martial Tournament, thirty years ago. Back then, I even thought about bringing you into the fold, uniting forces to build something greater. But alas, such a pity. Such a waste.”
“A pity?” Yorick asked, his voice flat and cold.
Eric nodded slowly. “The Sheffield-Grey family snatched you away first, Mr. Dotson. And as for you, Mr. Santiago, the Tanner family had their way, luring you in with beauty and lies. Had you both stood with me back then. Chanaea would be a very different place today.”
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