“Anders, you’re intelligent and gifted in both warfare and strategy, with a promising future,” Seamus said. “One day, all my authority and assets will be handed to you.
“You’re more than ready to handle things on your own now. I trust you know what you should and shouldn’t do.
“I’m getting old, and there’s nothing much I can do for you. However, I must remind you to think twice before acting and never outsmart yourself. Understand?”
He looked at Anders and offered his heartfelt advice.
“I’ll never forget your words, Godfather,” Anders said respectfully..
“Good. Make your arrangements, and I’ll play my part in staging this falling-out. From here on, you’ll have to tread your own path,” Seamus said and waved him off.
“I won’t let you down,” Anders promised, then turned to leave.
As soon as he walked out the door, his lips curved into a faint smirk.
Though he was known throughout Oakvale as the Veros Warrior, he had always lived in Seamus’ shadow. No matter how many victories he’d won or what titles he’d earned, outsiders always saw him as the man dependent on his godfather’s influence.
If Seamus had stepped down early and granted him full control of the Moseys’ forces and assets, Anders wouldn’t have harbored such resentment. Instead, he would’ve honored Seamus and fulfilled every duty as a loyal godson.
However, Seamus still maintained his iron grip on authority and had no intention of stepping down. His secret support of Matthias revealed just how far he was willing to go.
This was his bid for ultimate power and to become the kingmaker who controlled rulers from the shadows. Years of lying low hadn’t dulled that ambition in the slightest, and his thirst for power was as relentless as ever.
Anders knew he wouldn’t rise on his own merit if he were still under Seamus’ command. Therefore, he had to find a way to break free from Seamus’ control and forge his own path. Coincidentally, that unpredictable situation gave him the perfect opportunity and excuse.
He had no confidence in Matthias, who was nothing but a brute, while he trusted Nathaniel’s calculated and shrewd nature. That belief motivated his risky proposal for the staged falling-out.
Anders genuinely wanted to create a fallback plan, but he also saw a chance to break free and carve out his destiny.
If he helped Nathaniel seize the throne, he’d be counted among his earliest allies. A governorship would follow naturally, which was far preferable to staying in the Moseys under Seamuss’ thumb.
“Godfather, don’t blame me for choosing a better master. You brought this on yourself with your greed. After all these years, you’re still clinging to power. If you won’t step aside, how are those of us in the next generation supposed to build legacies of our own?” Anders muttered.
Outside the gate, he cast one final glance at the Mosey mansion before entering his car and driving off.
Anders didn’t think he had done anything wrong. After all, he just wanted to seek better opportunities for himself. There was nothing unusual about that.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel was at his mansion.
“What? The royal god Zeus is dead?” he exclaimed.
In the meeting room, he listened to his trusted aide’s report. His eyes widened in shock as he asked, “What happened? How could one of the world’s top powerhouses possibly be dead? Are you certain this information is accurate?”
Just days ago, Zeus had wreaked havoc in Oakvale and nearly threatened his life. Fortunately, Nathaniel had acted quickly and redirected the trouble toward Matthias.
That move not only extricated him from danger but also allowed him to suppress Matthias’ forces and pressure them to reveal their trump cards.
The outcome had been quite favorable for Nathaniel. He had even been contemplating whether he could leverage Zeus’ power again to eliminate his enemies.
Even so, he hadn’t anticipated starting the day with news of the royal god’s death. The revelation was nothing short of staggering.
“Your Highness, we’ve double-checked the information and can confirm the information is accurate,” Calder, his trusted aide, replied, lowering his head.
He went on, “It’s not just Zeus. Even Hera has also mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Given the circumstances, it’s likely she didn’t survive either.”
“How is this even possible?” Nathaniel frowned. “Two royal gods-one is dead and the other is missing. What in the world is going on?”
Calder replied, “Your Highness, there’s more. Besides the two royal gods being taken out, Oakvale’s underground forces underwent a major purge last night.
“Some mysterious force eliminated foreign forces led by the Hall of Gods. Several of our business operations were impacted. We’ve suffered a substantial loss.
“What?” Nathaniel’s face paled with shock. “Foreign forces were purged, and even our businesses were affected? Who’s behind this?”
Everything had been fine just two days ago. But when he woke up that morning, he felt like his whole world was falling apart.
“This force appeared out of nowhere. Not a single piece of intel surfaced throughout the entire operation. Our intelligence division can’t find so much as a thread to follow,” Calder replied.
“Incompetent fools! Every last one of you, “Nathaniel barked.
He slammed his fist against the table and continued, “Something this catastrophic happens, and not a single one of you saw it coming? Why did I even hire you?”
The sudden emergence of such a powerful, mysterious force in Oakvale was definitely not good news for him. If that force could effortlessly eliminate the Hall of Gods and other major factions, what would happen if they turned their attention to him? The consequences would be catastrophic.
“Please calm down, Your Highness. Our men are investigating with utmost urgency. I’m confident we’ll have answers soon,” Calder said, dropping to his knees in terror.
“If I have to rely on a bunch of incompetent fools, I’ll be dead before sunrise,” Nathaniel spat coldly. “Get the car. I’m going to the Spanner residence.”
