Mistaken Match: Marrying the Enigmatic CEO
Chapter 2367; To be Cruel
The bullets tore though the officer’s skull with a plop! Leaving it a mangled mess. Blood spurted from the wreckage, spilling across the deck, turning the wood slick with crimson.
Gautier, always thorough, kicked the body over the edge of the ship, sending it crashing into the sea below.
He didn’t stop there. He stripped the clothes off one of the fallen goons and tossed his lifeless form overboard. Then, with a calm precision, he began wiping away the blood, cleaning the deck like it was just another task on his list.
When the ship was as spotless as he could make it, Gautier didn’t linger. No, he wasn’t going to wait for some summon. He slipped into the warship’s interior, moving with quiet purpose.
That officer had taken the bribe, but Gautier had no faith in him. He wasn’t going to meet anyone important through a man who could be bought.
Trusting his gut, Gautier headed straight for a door he had spotted earlier. He knocked, the sound echoing in the hallway.
“Who’s there?”
The voice inside was sharp, irritated, obviously disturbed by the interruption.
“It’s me.” Gautier reply was simple, two words spoken in Chanaean. For a moment, there was silence.
Then, the door creaked open, as if responding to an unseen command.
Gautier took a deep breath and pushed the door wide, stepping int the room.
The sight that met him was unexpected. An old man sat before a screen, his back to the door, completely absorbed in whatever was on the display.
Gautier stepped forward, but the man didn’t so much as glance over his shoulder.
“Greeting, Sage Saint.”
Gautier bowed low, speaking with respect, but the man didn’t react.
“Sage Saint?” The old man’s voice was sharp, tinged with annoyance, but still, he didn’t turn around. “Puh-leeze. What nonsense.”
Most would’ve faltered, felt the sting of awkwardness, but Gautier wasn’t like the most. His confidence remained unshaken.
“Though I’ve never had the honor of seeing your face, your mastery of Chanaea’s language and your uncanny knowledge of my movements lead me to one conclusion. There’s no one else who could be but the Sage Saint, a man of unrivaled intellect, able to perceive the grandest schemes.”
“Hahaha…”
The old man’s mood shifted. He chuckled, a sound full of quiet amusement. “I never thought anyone would remember that old title from Chanaea.”
Gautier seized the moment, ever the opportunist. “Though you’ve long since left Chanaea, your legend persists. The people still speak of you, even now.”
The old man scoffed, a smirk tugging at his lips, though his back remained turned. “You’ve got a silver tongue, kind. Too bad your wisdom doesn’t quite match it.”
The old man, still facing away, spoke with a tone that dripped with disdain. “You’ve clashed with Emmanuel, plundered Yeringham for women and the Heart of the Sun, fought for Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in Zovince, and even sunk to the Canaan for the presidential race, always retreating in defeat. Not once have you won.”
The words hit Gautier like a slap, but he didn’t flinch. He shrugged, keeping his composure. “Victory and defeat are part of the game. As long as I’m still breathing, the outcome isn’t set in stone.”
The old man laughed, sharp and mocking, before finally turning to face him.
Gautier’s breath caught In his chest. Standing before him was none other than Orunis, the strategist of Eagle Nation.
“That’s why I wanted to see you.” Orunis said, his voice low but purposeful.
“You might not be as clever as Magnus, but you’ve got something better. You’re shameless, ruthless. You’ll surpass him, mark my words.”
The words were true, but they had purpose behind them.
Orunis understood the power of validation. He knew that when someone like him gave approval, others would take it as fact.
For decades, he’d used this tactics to create a network of loyal public figures in Chanaea, all of them rising only because of his influence.
The formula was simple; build himself into a paragon of humanity. Eagle Nation had sold him as the smartest man alive, and everything he said became the truth for his followers.
When Chanaea’s action clashed with his ‘wisdom,’ his people turned against their own country, all in the name of their leader’s vision.
And now, he wanted to mold Gautier into same kind of weapon, a vicious dog runed loose on his own people.
“Thank you, Sage Saint, for your kind words! Gautier said, his voice eager.
Words from anyone else meant little, but from Mr. Orunis, they carried weight. Magnus’ fame? It was Mr. Orunis who had granted it.
“I expect you to be more brutal with Chanaea than you were with your father, more ruthless than when you took on Ashdon Nation.” Oraanis said, his tone turning darker.
“Can you do that?”
Gautier didn’t hesitate. A sinister grin spread across his face. “My father’s already in the ground. Do you need me to take care of the rest of the Verkade family to prove my loyalty?”
Orunis froze for a moment, his eyes narrowing, before he erupted in laughter.
“That’s the spirit I was hoping for,” he said, his voice full of approval. “Now I know you’re the one to crush Chanaea.”
“Leave it to me,” Gautier said, pounding his chest with pride.
“No one knows how to deal with Emmanuel better that I do. No one understands how to fight Chanaea like I do.”
Had had nothing left now.
Only by allying with Eagle Nation could he ever hope to come out on top again.
“Do you know why I brought you here?” Orunis asked, his tone suddenly more serious.
Gautier pointed sharply toward the window. “Because I know, when the time comes to deal with Chanaea, the one I’ll choose to lead it will be you. Come, I have something to show you.”
Gautier followed his gaze. Out across the Kasngo waters, a massive merchant ship cut through the mist.
It was loaded to the brin, it’s course set straight for Ashdon Nation.
“You’ll be interested in this,” Orunis said with a knowing smile, his voice heavy with purpose. Without waiting for a reply, hu turned and walked out of the room.
Gautier, curiosity piqued, trailed behind. They boarded the merchant vessel, only to discover it wasn’t an ordinary ship.
It was heavily escorted by military warships, their ominous presence hinting at the immense value of the merchant ship.
Eagle Nation soldiers lined the deck, rifles at the ready, their eyes watchful.
Orunis moved with an air of authority, every soldier saluting as he passed. The respect they showed him spoke volumes about his status.
Moments later, a soldier approached with a large, heavy create, placing it before Orunis.
“Open it.” He ordered, his voice calm, almost casual.
The crate was cracked open, and the sight inside froze Gautier in place.
“The heart… Heart of the Sun?!” he whispered, his voice barely a breath. His eyes widened, disbelief setting in.
He knew the power of the Heart of the Sun.
The Quillen family’s possession of a single one had driven the world to madness, its allure impossible to resist.
But a crate full of them? If they were used correctly, they could bring an entire solar system to its knees.
Just as quickly, Gautier shook his head, snapping out of his daze. “No… this isn’t the Heart of Sun. This… This is something else!”
“Haha, exactly!” Orunis laughed, a deep, rich sound. He stroked his beard, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“This is a Sun Stone, not the Heart of the Sun. We have plenty of these. But the Heart of the Sun… these are only two in existence.”
Gautier nodded, his attention sharpening.
“The Sun Stone may not pack the raw power of the Heart of the Sun, but it still holds immense potential. It can enhance a warrior’s abilities. We’re teaming up with Ashdon Nation and the Airspace Group for some experiments. We’ll create an army of superhuman soldiers.”
Orinus spread his arms wide, a gleam of ambition in his eyes.
“This might even involve the Holy Fire Organization. With this army, we’ll find the perfect moment to strike Chanaea, annihilate them, and secure Eagle Nation’s dominance for Millennia!”
Gautier’s breath caught in his throat, a low hiss escaping as he processed the magnitude of it all.
But within moments, his expression darkened, his lips curling into a fierce grin. “I’ll give everything, body and soul, to help you and Eagle Nation crush this mission.”
“Good!” Orunis beamed, his eyes alight with satisfaction.
“With your inside knowledge of Chanaea, we’ll know them like the back of our hand. This will be a walk in the park.”
4v8bke