Wolf bit his lip, lowering his head hastily. “Master Gavin, that’s not what I meant! I do have feelings for Miss Sophie, but I would never think of doing such a thing!”
“Not think of doing such a thing?” Gavin’s brow furrowed as he let out a scoff. “Wolf, are you even a man? You like Sophie, and I’m giving you the chance to spend a night with her, yet you say you don’t want to? Do you have some kind of… hidden problem?”
His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Wolf with a peculiar expression, almost as if he were assessing someone with an unspeakable affliction.
Wolf shook his head quickly. “No, Master Gavin! I’m perfectly healthy!”
“Then what is it? If you’re healthy, take the opportunity! I’ll set everything up for you. Don’t worry.”
“No, Master Gavin!” Wolf exclaimed. “I do admire Miss Sophie, but it’s a pure admiration, a genuine kind of affection! I’ve never thought about violating her or having that sort of relationship with her.”
“Ridiculous!” Gavin gave him a sharp glare, his tone filled with disdain. “How can a man have pure feelings for a woman? Isn’t the whole point of liking someone to eventually claim them? Ha! Your thinking is twisted.”
“As a man, if you like her, you should take her! Sophie is no longer the untouchable woman she once was. You should teach her a lesson, make her realize her status has changed.”
Gavin, Sophie’s uncle, had now devolved into something less than human-a despicable, vile creature.
Wolf, unwilling to continue the conversation, shifted the topic. “Master Gavin, about what I mentioned earlier-have you forgotten?”
Gavin froze for a moment, then asked, “What are you talking about?”
As expected, he had forgotten. Wolf reminded him, “I’m talking about the man Sophie met when she was studying in Inassea. Have you forgotten about him?”
“Oh, him!” Gavin chuckled at the mention. “Wolf, do you think I’d forget? Of course not. But that guy is useless now! There’s no need for us to worry about him.”
“He’s been dismissed! He no longer has any military power. Why should we fear someone like that? And besides, he’s struggling to protect himself now. Do you really think he has the time or ability to concern himself with Sophie’s affairs?”
Gavin spoke with confidence, fully aware of Kayden’s downfall. He had known about it even before it happened. Kayden had offended Hellblazer and Asher Voss-his death was inevitable. In Gavin’s mind, the moment Kayden lost his position, he became worthless.
“Even if he wasn’t dismissed, I never saw any evidence of a relationship between him and Sophie,” Gavin continued. “I’ve been observing Sophie closely while she’s been in her low spirits. She hasn’t reached out to him. That proves their relationship isn’t romantic. I also found out that guy has a family-a wife!”
“So your concerns are unfounded. He won’t interfere in Sophie’s matters. And even if he does, it would be his own demise! Azure Cloud Resort has nothing to fear from someone without military power.”
Despite Gavin’s confident words, the one-armed man’s expression remained grim.
He instinctively glanced at his missing left arm and muttered, “Master Gavin, I’m afraid things won’t be that simple. To this day, I still don’t know the full extent of his abilities. If he really comes for us, Azure Cloud Resort won’t be able to handle him-not in the short term, at least.”
“Wolf!” Oliver Prescott, who had been silent until now, frowned and spoke in a deep voice. “What are you saying? Are you undermining our strength and boosting his? That doesn’t sound like you. Where’s your pride?”
“Master!” Wolf turned to Oliver Prescott, his tone heavy. “That man is far from ordinary. He severed my arm with a single move. I estimate he’s at least at the upper Grand level. And that’s just my assumption-he might even be at the Master level. He can turn his palm into a blade and manifest crimson energy from thin air.”
The memory of their last encounter haunted Wolf. The scene played over and over in his mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the man had been holding back, that he hadn’t fought with his full strength. Against him, Wolf had felt utterly powerless.
Swallowing hard, he continued, “Master Gavin, Master, he told me something during our last encounter. He said that if anything happens to Sophie, he’ll destroy our base.”
Hearing this, Gavin burst into laughter. “Destroy our base? Wolf, you’re too naive.”
Gavin was brimming with confidence now. He had powerful backing-a force that had eliminated his father and brother. With such support, he feared no one.
“Exactly, Wolf! Where’s your pride?” Oliver Prescott’s voice rose, his anger evident. “Did losing your arm make you lose your courage too? You’re not someone who cowers so easily! He cut off your arm. You should be looking forward to the day you can take his in return, not succumbing to blind fear.”
Oliver Prescott’s face darkened, his voice growing harsher.
“Master Gavin kept you around after you lost your arm because of me. Don’t embarrass me now with this pathetic display!” Oliver Prescott’s fury was palpable, his expression twisted with disdain.