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Chapter 441
Diamond J's glance saved his life.
Qin Hanyue was a little worried.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Qiao Ying said to Diamond J, "Get up and come with me."
Diamond J heaved a sigh of relief and crawled up from the ground.
Flowing Shadow stepped forward a few steps, arms crossed over his chest, blocking Qiao Ying and Diamond J's way: "Where are you taking him?"
Qiao Ying: "Get out of my way."
Flowing Shadow: "He's quite crafty among those old guys, be careful you get tricked by him. It would be hard to find him again afterwards."
Thinking of Blood Shadow's formidable power, Flowing Shadow softened his tone: "I'll go with you and have his life after you finish questioning. I don't want to bust my ass just to let the tiger return to the mountain and breed future troubles."
Moon Shadow came up and pulled Flowing Shadow: "Let her take him away, don't worry, she wants him dead more than any of us." He glanced at Qiao Ying and said to Flowing Shadow, "She's way more ruthless than us."
Qiao Ying told Qin Hanyue who wanted to follow her, "No need to come along, wait for me at Lin Cheng's place, I'll be back later."
Qin Hanyue was silent for a moment before responding: "Alright."
A silver gleam flashed across Qiao Ying’s fingers. Diamond J had reacted quickly but still wasn’t fast enough. Three silver needles appeared on his neck.
He raised his hand attempting to touch them but heard Qiao Ying say, "Go ahead and try if you're looking to die." Diamond J froze his neck, not daring to touch the needles anymore.
He slowly put his hand down and caught up with Qiao Ying as she left the hall.
Worried, Lin Cheng asked Qin Hanyue, "Nothing will happen, right?"
Lin Guli: "Yeah."
Qin Hanyue: "It won’t."
Staring at the backs of the two leaving, Flowing Shadow asked Moon Shadow, "Should we follow them?"
Moon Shadow: "No need. I don't think Diamond J can exchange his life with just these petty tricks. She never makes a losing deal." He added, "Even if Blood Shadow craves familial bonds more than I anticipated and makes some kind of trade with Diamond J, don't forget that she is a rogue. She has no integrity."
Recalling certain matters, Flowing Shadow echoed: "That mouth of hers can rarely be trusted indeed."
It seems they had all suffered losses at her hands to some degree. Whenever running into her, they were bound to get short-changed.
Moon Shadow couldn't help lamenting: “He’s actually still alive. That’s a pleasant surprise. I thought there were only the two of us Shadow-named ones left."
Just as Moon Shadow was speaking, he noticed Qin Hanyue looking at them with unfriendly eyes.
Puzzled, Moon Shadow returned his gaze.
Sensing something, Moon Shadow wondered: We didn’t gossip about Blood Shadow, did we? What’s with his stare?
Just as he was thinking, sounds of movement caught his attention.
He looked over and saw Lafeier rushing up to Lai En, grabbing Lai En’s arms forcefully and painfully.
Somewhat hysterically, he asked: “Lai En, we didn’t lose! We didn’t lose, did we? We won, I’m the king, I’m the king’s father. From now on, the entire royal household belongs to us. The Karolin clan will be trampled under our feet ruthlessly. Their glory has come to an end, it’s over, hahaha!"
Lai En looked at his deranged father calmly before asking a strange question, “Where is my father?"
Lafeier froze as sanity returned in an instant.
The little prince remarked, “Looks like he’s losing his mind too.”
But then he heard Lai En addressing his father Lafeier as “Uncle Frank”.
“Lafeier’s” pupils suddenly shrank.
The little prince stepped forward in excitement, “Frank? Frank Howard? He’s not Lafeier!”
Kala: “Duke Frank? He, he’s not dead?”
Both Lafeiers are fakes? How dumbfounding!
Lin Guli: “Frank? Wasn’t he dead for nearly ten years? How is this possible? Could it be that the one who died back then wasn't my younger brother but my elder brother instead?"
Lin Cheng: “Things don’t seem that simple.”
Qin Hanyue wasn’t interested in this kind of family power struggle drama. At the moment, he just wanted to go back to the Duke's residence and wait for Qiao Ying. But...
He secretly glanced at Lin Guli and decided to stay for the time being.
Listening wouldn’t hurt. He could relay it as gossip to little Ying later.
“Lafeier’s” expression darkened gloomily. “What nonsense are you talking about? Your uncle has long died. I’m your father, Lafeier."
Lai En: “I did a paternity test, Uncle.”
Exposed, “Lafeier” was very displeased. His piercing eyes stared at Lai En as he separated Lai En’s arms and retreated half a step back: “When did you find out? Did that guy slip up and reveal himself?” He was asking about Diamond J.
Lai En: “I discovered it the day you disguised as my father and returned home.”
Frank exclaimed agitatedly: “Impossible! If you had found out that early, why reveal me only now?”
Lai En: “Because the Howard Family cannot be without my father. Even knowing you weren't him, I had to pretend otherwise.”
Lai En: “Although I had uncovered it early on, I always thought it was just you until that day at the hospital when I ran into that person. His eyes, his back, they resembled my father's very much.”
Lai En had assumed he was only dealing with the man before him. But it turned out that wasn't the case.
If it were only him alone, Lai En wouldn't be that wary.
But if not, then the bigger conspiracy lurking behind was likely detrimental to the Howard Family. So he had to do something.
If Frank hadn't been knocked out by him, Diamond J wouldn't have shown up directly. And they wouldn't have been trapped by Qiao Ying and company in the hall.
Not even knowing his hidden killers were dead too.
Judging from Diamond J’s prowess earlier, with his vigilance, he likely could’ve escaped had he sensed the threat from the shadows.
Lai En: “I just didn't expect my plan to backfire. Not sure if that idiom fits here, but Miss Qiao had already confirmed his identity. With her capabilities finding a foothold in C Country will be very difficult for him. I only wanted you to lose your backbone Diamond J...” He trailed off before continuing, ”In any case, I didn't anticipate such a complete and utter defeat.”
The little prince asked: “Then where is the real Lafeier?"
Lai En: “Where is my father?”
Frank looked at Lai En resentfully without answering.
Lai En: “We have already lost. The entire Howard Family has lost, and will never have a chance for a comeback. At least my future three generations have no hope, including me. You and I will both face lifelong incarceration. What’s the point of you still hiding things?”
Lai En: “He was killed by you guys, wasn’t he? It seems knocking you out was the right thing. Avenging my father, I have also contributed somewhat.”
After so many years, Lai En had always known the chances of his father being alive were slim. But without hearing it explicitly, he still held onto a sliver of fantasy.
Seeing Lai En’s resignation, Frank was simultaneously furious and resentful. “Useless thing! Even a mosquito would struggle desperately in its final moments. Yet you just give up so readily? I worked hard nurturing you to be the family’s future leader. With such poor capacity, you cannot even manage the family well, let alone the country!” He berated angrily.
Lai En didn't feel like saying anything. Treason was a gamble to begin with. Win it and you’re above everyone. Lose it and it’s eternal damnation. He had made full mental preparations, including for defeat.
Frank: "That's right, your father, Lafeier Howard, he's dead. I killed him with my own hands! Are you going to kill me to avenge him?"
When Lai En learned that his father's death was at the hands of Frank, he did not expect that it would be by his own hand. This kind of truth was hard for Lai En to accept: "Why?"
Frank laughed: "Why? You're asking me why?"