Chapter 1266
Jerrick stared at her blankly.
“The Prescotts hired mercenaries to infiltrate the venue, planning to attack other competitors and sabotage the tournament,” Serena stated calmly.
“We have both the witnesses and the evidence p>
“Lock them up quietly. When it’s time to settle the score with the Severian authorities, we’ll use them as leverage p>
Jerrick was speechless.
He had only come here to check on his sister.
Instead of a family reunion, he was getting drafted into cleanup duty.
And by a girl barely out of her teens, no less?
He was the Special Forces King, for crying out loud.
Still, this concerned the safety of Elyndor’s competitors and the nation’s interests.
Naturally, he wasn’t going to argue.
But he couldn’t help a low chuckle. “You’re awfully comfortable bossing around the captain of the Dragon-Thorn Squad p>
She clearly didn’t see him as an outsider.
Serena glanced at him. “Should I not be p>
“Protecting the nation and keeping Elyndorian citizens safe. Isn’t that in your job description p>
Jerrick was left completely without a comeback.
It was an airtight argument.
Despite his exasperation, he found himself genuinely liking her unapologetic attitude.
Shaking his head, he pulled out his encrypted comms unit. “Wolf, grab two men and head to the backstage equipment room p>
“Extract a few pieces of trash quietly without alerting the venue’s security. Sanitize the scene p>
After relaying the orders, he looked up just as Serena was turning to leave. “Hey, wait p>
He called out to her instinctively.
Serena paused, looking back over her shoulder.
Her gaze was cool and steady, yet somehow strangely familiar.
Jerrick had wanted to ask her something.
Like why she had been in that underground garage last night.
Or how much she actually knew about the tech center.
But the words died in his throat.
Seeing his hesitation, Serena raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t you here to see your sister? If you don’t hurry, the Elyndor delegation is going to leave without you p>
That neatly shut down whatever he had planned to say.
Just then, Lydia Brooks’s voice echoed from down the hall. “Captain yo you run
where are you? out of
paper towels or something? You’ve
been gone forever p>
Serena ignored Jerrick and stepped out into the corridor.
As she crossed the threshold.
She shifted seamlessly, blocking the line of sight into the equipment room, and
pulled the door shut behind her.
Just before it clicked shut, she cast one last fleeting look at Jerrick.
She didn’t say a word.
But her message was unmistakably clear.
Clean up the mess. Leave no trace.
Jerrick stood alone in the dim equipment room, still awkwardly holding the pink pastry box.
He stared at the closed door, then
down at the artisan strawberry petite cake
a’s commanding.
presence lingeringan his mind.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
This girl, Serena Lancaster.
She carried an innate authority that made her seem more suited for command than
he was.
Ambassador Sterling and the others hadn’t been exaggerating her capabilities at all.
It was for the best, really.
With someone that terrifyingly competent leading the Elyndor team.
His little sister wouldn’t face any bullying or danger during the rest of the tournament.
Anyone stupid enough to mess with Elyndor was simply asking to be destroyed.
At the same time, he found his earlier, fleeting thought absolutely ridiculous.