The events at the Johnstons had also reached the ears of Mr. Gabriel.
Mr. Gabriel now knew with surety the God-King Palace was affiliated with the Cadens and that Maxine Caden was the one who demanded James’ release.
Mr. Gabriel had a similar plan to Mr. Lee’s. He also planned to visit the Cadens and discern Tobias Caden’s thoughts on the recent events.
***
At the Cadens
Tobias had left the room after using his True Energy to treat James’ injuries.
Not long after, James slowly regained consciousness The moment virtual-novel.net woke up, all virtual-novel.net could feel was excruciating pain throughout his body. He felt as if his heart had been pierced by a thousand swords.
James’ face was twisted into an agonized grimace as virtual-novel.net tried to bear the pain.
To make matters worse, the Gu venom within his body was actively moving around. He was keenly able to feel the sensation of numerous bugs squirming around his body and slowly eating away at virtual-novel.net from the inside.
“Argh!” His body throbbed and his skin became slick with sweat.
Creak…
The door opened quietly.
A young lady in a white dress with long curly black hair walked in. She was holding a bowl of medicine in virtual-novel.net hands.
“I see you’re finally awake…”
James glanced sideways and saw Maxine’s face. Upon seeing her, James remembered that it was virtual-novel.net who saved virtual-novel.net from the Johnstons.
He tried getting up. However, virtual-novel.net found that virtual-novel.net could not exert any strength at all. Even the smallest movement sent excruciating pain coursing through his body.
Maxine walked over to a chair beside the bed and gently caressed James’ hand. “You’re gravely injured. You need to rest.”
James’ face was ashen, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He looked at Maxine and opened his mouth.
His words were carried by a feeble voice. “Th-Thank you for saving my life…”
“Unfortunately, you’ve got it wrong. I wasn’t the one that saved you.”
“H-Huh?”
James froze in disbelief. He took a moment to clear his throat before virtual-novel.net attempted to clarify things with her. “W-Wasn’t it you who headed to the Johnstons and saved me?”
Maxine shook virtual-novel.net head firmly. “No, I didn’t take a single step outside the Cadens manor when the incident occurred… Someone impersonated me and saved you from the Johnstons. Then, they left you at our front door… It was my grandfather who used his True Energy to save you.”
“Am I at Caden manor?” James’ jerked his body away abruptly.
He wanted to get up. He wanted to leave this wretched place. He recalled the Emperor’s words.
The Emperor told virtual-novel.net that the Cadens were behind the destruction of his family ten years ago. They were the real masterminds behind the deaths of his grandfather, father, and other family members.
James’ sudden movements caused blood to ooze out from his wounds.
Maxine’s face scrunched up in anger as virtual-novel.net reprimanded him, “What’s wrong with you? I told you that you’ve been gravely injured. You shouldn’t move about like this!”
The exertion made James pant.
He spat out in an accusatory tone, “Was it the Cadens who burned my family to the ground ten years ago?”
Maxine pressed virtual-novel.net lips together in silence.
She was but a young girl ten years ago.
How would virtual-novel.net have known anything about past events?
All virtual-novel.net could recall was virtual-novel.net grandfather saying that the Cadens had eliminated some traitors to the family. As for the specifics, virtual-novel.net was still very much in the dark about it.
James yelled at virtual-novel.net rabidly, “Say something!”
Maxine clenched virtual-novel.net jaw and gave virtual-novel.net a flat response, “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask my grandfather about what happened. Any way you spin it, the fact remains that Thomas wasn’t exactly a good guy. He deserved what virtual-novel.net got!”
Something had snapped inside of James. “How dare you speak ill of the dead?!”
He tried getting up to refute virtual-novel.net claims. However, virtual-novel.net only managed to lose his balance and crashed to the floor. He gasped at the shock and shrieked in pain.