James was currently in an extremely feeble state.His injuries from Rain's brutal attack were left
untreated and he also had not eaten anything in an entire day.
James lay on the ground weakly and looked at the Johnstons standing before him.
He had no idea what they were planning to do.
"Patriarch, it’s almost nine o’clock.There’s still no sign of the Cadens.Have they given up on James?"
An important figure of the Johnstons voiced his question.
Hades was sitting on a red wooden chair.
Lifting his hand to look at his watch, he said, "What’s the hurry? Let’s wait a little while longer.If no one
comes for him by midnight, we’ll just kill him."
"I sure hope that no one comes,"
Kennedy said ominously as he scanned his surroundings.
He knew that if the Cadens came for James, it would mean that they were somehow affiliated with the
God-King Palace, and that James was acting on their behalf.
Moreover, it would also mean that the Cadens had started moving against the rest of the Ancient Four.
The members of the Johnston household all waited silently and patiently.
The sound of footsteps cut through the silence of the night.
The Johnstons lifted their heads to look at whoever had come for James.
Creeaak! The gate of the manor opened noisily.
A woman walked in accompanied by four masked men in black robes.She was wearing a white dress
and had long, curly, black hair that was adorned by a white tiara.Her facial features were refined and
delicate, and her skin was fair and smooth.She walked towards the Johnstons.
The Johnstons fixed their gaze on her.
When they recognized her face, the faces of Hades, Kennedy, and the other important figures of the
Johnstons all contorted.
"Hades, my grandfather is currently preoccupied with some prior engagements.So, I have come in his
stead."
The woman walked over boldly to the group and stopped right in front of them.
She threw a cursory glance at James who was barely alive before examining the Johnstons standing
before her.
Clearing her throat, she addressed them without a trace of fear in her voice.
"|I will be taking James then."
Hades stood up and glared at her.
"Maxine Caden, is your family behind the God-King Palace?"
Kennedy, on the other hand, noticed the four men in black robes and informed Hades, "These men
were the ones who kept me busy to allow James to kill Theodore."
The Johnstons tensed up.
All of them were a hair’s trigger away from starting a full-blown battle.
Thea was scared out of her wits.
She had never dealt with such a situation in her life.
However, she knew how important it was not to let her nervousness show in her expression or her
gestures.
She looked at the Johnstons and replied stonily, "The Emperor committed many crimes while he held
his position.James was merely acting on behalf of the nation when he executed him.As one of the
Ancient Four, the Johnstons have broken the taboo by choosing to show their support for the
Emperor.May I remind you that the ancestral teachings of the Ancient Four stipulate that we are not
allowed to interfere in the affairs of the outside world? By assuming the position of the Emperor,
Theodore has gone against these very teachings.In that vein, shielding him from his crimes makes the
Johnstons equally as guilty."
She replied to them frankly, as if she were simply stating facts to the Johnstons.
"What about him?"
One of the Johnstons pointed at James and asked, "He's also a part of the Cadens.Did he not assume
a governmental position as well?"
"Him?"
Thea, who was disguised as Maxine, pretended to give a disinterested look at James and said, "He’s a
descendent of Thomas Caden.Thomas had been expelled from the family thirty years ago.Strictly
speaking, he technically isn’t considered a Caden.However, since Caden blood runs through his veins,
we can’t simply sit idly by while you prepare to put an end to his life."
She then turned to look Hades directly in the eye.
"I'll repeat myself once more.May I take him now?"
Hades glowered at her.
Maxine came on behalf of the Cadens’ patriarch.
If he did not let James go, it could be interpreted as them antagonizing the Cadens.
However, how could the Cadens just expect the Johnstons to simply release him just like that? The
only thing Hades was sure of was that the God- King Palace definitely aligned itself with the Cadens.
It meant that the Cadens would surely make a move against the Johnstons in the future.
However, the Cadens had yet to prepare for a showdown.
After brief contemplation, Hades finally relented.
"Of course, you may.Let’s not forget that he also killed a member of the Johnston family, so we cannot
simply let him go unpunished."
As he said that, Hades raised his arm to the sky.
Threads of powerful energy gathered and swirled in his palms, lifting James into the air.
Then, Hades struck the air with his palms.
"AAAAGH!"
James howled in pain.
Then, he fell to the ground and lost consciousness.
"You..."
Thea glared at him, eyes burning with rage.She took a few steps back as the four men in black robes
stepped forward and lunged toward the Johnstons.
Seeing this, Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, also pounced into action.
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