An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2502

Chapter 2502
After a hearty meal, the burly Warrick sprawled lazily across the bed and drifted into a deep sleep. He slept soundly until dusk, lost in vivid dreams. Only when the sky was painted in brilliant hues of the setting sun did he finally stir, waking up at a leisurely pace.

The exhaustion from the previous day had melted away. He felt refreshed, invigorated, and in high spirits.

Meanwhile, Leigh had already set the table in the hall with quiet efficiency. Compared to the earlier meal, this spread was far more extravagant. At the center of the table sat a whole roasted pig, its golden-brown skin glistening with a crisp sheen. The rich, savory aroma filled the room, making it impossible not to crave a bite.

Warrick had never been one for formalities. The moment he saw the feast, he wasted no time. Striding over, he took a seat and dug in without hesitation. He ate greedily, giving no thought to Mulder, who was still out gathering intelligence.

Before long, half of the roast pig was gone. His face was smeared with grease, and he occasionally let out a satisfied belch.

Just then, the tightly shut door creaked open.

Mulder and his men entered, looking weary from their journey.

Seeing Warrick feasting alone, his face slick with grease, Mulder didn’t seem the least bit annoyed. Instead, he sat beside him and started eating as well.

His subordinates, however, could only watch hungrily from the sidelines, not daring to overstep their bounds.

“Well? Did you find anything useful?” Warrick asked.

Now that he had eaten his fill, he set down his fork and knife, let out a loud belch, then grabbed a nearby towel and casually wiped his mouth.

“I’ve got good news and bad news. Which one do you want first, Sir Prescott?” Mulder said, deliberately keeping him in suspense.

“The bad news,” Warrick replied.

Mulder’s expression darkened slightly. “The bad news is that West Lucozia’s forces have launched a full-scale manhunt for you. They’re combing through every city and village, leaving no stone unturned. If nothing unexpected happens, they’ll find this place within two days.”
“So, you’re saying we only have two days?” Warrick narrowed his eyes.

“That’s not all,” Mulder added. “West Lucozia’s military has locked down every port and dock. They’ve also seized control of several smuggling routes.”

“Hm?” Warrick frowned. “Are you telling me there’s no way out?”

“It won’t be easy, but there’s still a chance,” Mulder replied. “I had someone look into it. Four of the five smuggling routes we planned to use have already been compromised. With West Lucozia’s forces patrolling the area, trying to slip through would be too risky.

“But the good news is that there’s still one last hidden route they haven’t discovered yet. We can use it to escape.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s move,” Warrick said urgently.

With four out of five routes blocked, they couldn’t afford to waste time. If they didn’t act soon, even the last remaining path might be found. And if that happened, escaping West Lucozia would become nearly impossible.

“Sir Prescott, don’t be so hasty. Let me finish.”

Mulder paused briefly before continuing, “While it’s good news that we have another escape route, we can’t rule out the possibility that this is a trap set by Austin. He might have deliberately left this opening to lure us out, only to spring the trap at the last moment and take us all down.”

“A trap?” Warrick stroked his chin and scoffed. “Austin’s just a greenhorn. Sure, he’s clever, but there’s no way he could pull something like that. You’re overthinking it.”

“This concerns our lives. We can’t afford to be careless,” Mulder replied seriously.

Warrick nodded thoughtfully at his words.

Caution was the key to survival. The more critical the situation, the more important it was to stay calm and think clearly. Acting recklessly could ruin everything—a lesson he had learned through years of warfare.

“If you’re worried, why not send someone ahead to check for danger?” Warrick suggested.

“I already have. I sent two unfamiliar faces to investigate, but it’ll take some time. For safety’s sake, you’ll have to wait a little longer,” Mulder replied.

“You’ve got everything arranged, so I’ll leave it at that. But let me remind you—don’t drag your feet. If we miss our chance and the West Lucozia army seals off the last smuggling route, we’ll be trapped here for good,” Warrick warned.

Caution was necessary, but bold action was just as important in times like these. If they hesitated now, regret would come too late.

“Sir Prescott, please rest for a while. I’ll have an answer for you tonight,” Mulder assured him.

“It better be the right one,” Warrick said before returning to his meal.

He had already prepared for the worst. Even if things went south tonight, he could rely on his formidable cultivation to fight his way out.

As for Mulder and the others… well, they could serve as sacrificial pawns if necessary.