Chris had plans to accompany Esther to the Jefferson family’s gathering-an event hosted by the most prestigious family in Amerosia. There was simply no time to take Lindsay Windson anywhere.
When Lindsay heard Chris say he was unavailable, disappointment flickered across her face.
Forcing a faint smile, Lindsay said, “If Mr. Shelby is busy, it’s fine. I’ll go by myself when the time comes.”
Curious about her demeanor, Chris asked, “Lindsay, is there any danger where you’re headed? Should I arrange for some practitioners to protect you?”
Lindsay quickly shook her head. “No need! If you’re busy, don’t worry about it. I’ll manage on my own.”
With that, she turned and left.
Watching her retreating figure, Chris couldn’t shake the feeling that Lindsay was hiding something. But his life was already a web of complicated entanglements. Could he really afford to get involved in Lindsay’s affairs? Another entanglement might just be the thing that ruined him.
—
That evening, back home, Chris spoke to Esther.
“Darling,” he said, “I’ll have to leave tomorrow, and it may take a few days before I’m back.”
Esther blinked in surprise, her curiosity piqued. “Where are you going?”
“I’m heading to the Star Continent,” Chris replied.
“The Star Continent?” Esther’s eyes widened. “Why are you going there?”
Chris sighed deeply. “It’s about Aiden Enyart. You know him, don’t you? The Hall Master of the Wizards. He’s in some trouble, and I need to help him.”
Chris then explained everything to Esther.
This trip wasn’t just about helping Aiden Enyart rebuild the Wizards. More importantly, Chris had to stop Daniel Williams’ plan. Since the fall of the Wizards, the Star Continent had become a research base for Daniel’s Super Warrior project. If Chris failed to intervene and Daniel succeeded, the consequences would be disastrous for all of Amerosia.
As Amerosia’s Primus, Chris couldn’t let that happen.
After hearing the full story, Esther’s face was filled with worry.
“You must be careful,” she said, her voice trembling. “Promise me you’ll come back safe. If something happens to you, Hope and I won’t be able to go on.”
Seeing the fear in her eyes, Chris nodded firmly. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back to you. I promise.”
But Esther’s eyes reddened, tears forming despite her effort to hide them.
Every time Chris set out on a dangerous mission, she was left behind, engulfed in anxiety. She still remembered the time he fell off a cliff and was missing for months. During those agonizing months, she cried herself to sleep every night.
Now, Chris was heading to the Star Continent, and the fear gnawed at her again.
Yet Esther understood. Chris was Amerosia’s Primus. Protecting their homeland was his responsibility. It was his mission, and no one could change that-not even her.
—
After dinner, Chris made a call to Tiger.
“Tiger, head to the Star Continent with the Death Guards ahead of me,” he instructed.
“Understood, Master,” Tiger responded without hesitation.
Next, Chris contacted Lynx, asking him to use the Springfield Crew’s intelligence network to investigate the situation on the Star Continent.
Chris knew this mission wouldn’t be simple. He had to prepare for every possibility.
—
Later that night, Chris returned to the bedroom.
“Darling,” Esther said as he entered. “I packed some clothes for you to take tomorrow.”
Chris walked over and pulled her into a tight embrace, guilt etched across his face.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I keep making you worry.”
Leaning against his shoulder, Esther replied softly, “I didn’t understand your identity before. But now I do. You’re Amerosia’s Primus. You have a mission, a duty. All I can do is support you in silence.”
Chris smiled and leaned close to her ear, murmuring, “Earlier today, Juliette interrupted us. Now, let me make it up to you… heh heh…”
“You’re terrible!” Esther giggled, but the mood quickly shifted.
Soon, the room was filled with sounds that made the night blush.
—
The next day, Tiger called Chris to report that he and the Death Guards had already arrived at the Star Continent.
Before leaving, Chris called Bull Parker, instructing him to ensure Esther and the others’ safety.
“Mr. Shelby, don’t worry. I’ll assign people to guard them 24/7,” Bull assured.
Satisfied, Chris ended the call. With Bull Parker overseeing security on the East Coast, he felt confident Esther would be safe.
—
Chris drove to the airport, where Aiden Enyart was already waiting for him. Without wasting time, the two boarded the plane to the Star Continent.
After a two- to three-hour flight, the plane landed at the Star Continent airport.
As they stepped off the plane, Chris turned to Aiden.
“Is the Wizards completely under Daniel Williams’ control now?” he asked.
Aiden shook his head. “Not entirely. The Wizards has endured for over a century. It’s not so easy to take full control. Daniel has only managed to seize the leadership. After his assault, some members went into hiding.”
The Wizards’ influence stretched far beyond the Star Continent. While the continent served as their headquarters, they had branches worldwide. Even here, Daniel had only managed to take over a portion of the organization. The rest had gone underground, preparing to strike back.
—
Suddenly, the roar of engines filled the air.
Black sedans pulled up, and several men in suits stepped out, bowing respectfully.
“Hall Master!” they greeted.
“Mr. Shelby, let’s get in the car,” Aiden said, gesturing toward the vehicles.
But before he could step forward, Chris grabbed his arm.
Aiden turned, puzzled. “Mr. Shelby, what’s wrong?”
Chris looked him in the eye and asked, “Aiden, do you trust me?”
The question caught Aiden off guard.
After a brief pause, he smiled. “Mr. Shelby, if it weren’t for you, I’d be dead by now. You’re my big brother. Of course, I trust you.”
Chris nodded. “Good. If you trust me, go tell those men we’re not getting in the car.”
“What?”
Aiden’s expression changed, his face growing serious.
“Mr. Shelby,” he said cautiously, “are you suggesting there’s a traitor among us?”
Chris’s gaze was steady. “I can’t be certain. But it’s better to be safe than sorry-especially now. We can’t risk exposing ourselves.”