Wrong Marriage and Sweet Love

Midway up Ropponsho Shrine Mountain, Luther, Joyce, Darrin, and Grizela, along with several elite units from Reuben and the Imperial Household Agency, stealthily infiltrated the area. Earlier at the foot of the mountain, they had seen signs of a struggle, indicating that one side had overpowered the other. Now, all forces were concentrated midway up the mountain, suggesting that the enemy intended to trap those at the summit and push them into a corner.

Joyce’s pistol-shaped brooch was now useful, clipped to her collar and connected to a special satellite band from the Imperial Household Agency for communication. They had already tested it; mobile signals were cut off here. Only special satellite connections worked. Some people cut off their own communication systems to sever others’ lifelines as well. This ensured that no one could call for large-scale reinforcements, keeping the conflict within controllable limits.

Although Hajime hadn’t come personally, he was closely monitoring their movements and progress. As they approached midway up the mountain, Darrin scouted ahead and returned. “Mr. Warner, we bet right; it’s indeed people from the Yoshikawa family. They’re ambushing the Crown Prince and Lord Reuben tonight. The Yoshikawa family’s guards are all up ahead.”

Luther nodded slightly; it was as he had suspected. “I need to rescue Lord Reuben!” Grizela wanted to rush forward.

Darrin pulled her back. “Don’t rush. They have more people than we do. If we’re exposed, no one can be saved.”

Grizela protested, “But…”

She was anxious. Whether Clint wanted to kill Lord Reuben or the Yoshikawa family did, it was all the same to her. She needed to protect Lord Reuben; it was her duty. Her life had been saved by Lord Reuben before, so it was only right to return it.

“Listen to me. Don’t be impulsive. Think about me, okay?” Darrin reminded her. “I don’t want to watch you die.”

Grizela fell silent, feeling a wave of emotion. She wasn’t without attachments anymore.

Darrin then directed other guards to hide in the bushes and slowly advance. They were all dressed in black, blending seamlessly with the night, making them hard to spot from a distance.

Hiding behind a low bush, Joyce asked Luther, “Why do you think Clint might not kill Reuben but rather that the Yoshikawa family wants to rebel? I don’t understand how you came up with that.”

Luther gently held Joyce’s wrist. “Instinct. I’ll explain later. Although I didn’t interact much with Clint when he impersonated Grayson, I have some other thoughts about him that can’t be explained in a few words. Right now, saving people is urgent; I’m worried this will escalate into our country and put the Heath family in a difficult position.”

“Okay,” Joyce agreed because Hirota had previously suggested using her to threaten her parents into deploying troops.

Who knew what more vicious methods Hirota might come up with? After all, Hirota wanted to usurp power now.

They bypassed the most heavily guarded part of the mountain and headed towards Ropponsho Shrine at the summit.

With limited visibility at night, the squad wearing night vision goggles led the way while those behind moved slowly.

The rustling sound of guns and clothes brushing against bushes was particularly clear in this quiet night.

Everyone approached the target area methodically, narrowing their range while staying alert for any sudden attacks from hidden enemies.

As they walked,

“Swish!”

It was the sound of a bullet fired from a silenced gun.

Joyce immediately pulled Luther down. “There’s movement.”

Luther nodded as those ahead also stopped.

Suddenly, Darrin quietly relayed a message backward. “Alert! We’ve been discovered!”

Before his words faded, gunfire erupted.

Someone shouted “nine o’clock direction,” and everyone instantly reacted by turning around and firing back towards where the bullets came from. The forest echoed with countless gunshots and flashes of fire.

Joyce and Luther took cover on one side.

At this moment, Grizela caught a Yoshikawa family guard and dragged him back after injuring him. Under interrogation, they learned that Lord Reuben had been spotted escaping from Ropponsho Shrine towards the southwest; they were pursuing him.

After extracting this information, Grizela knocked out the guard.

Darrin then said, “We must split into two groups; otherwise, we won’t have enough manpower.”

Luther glanced at Joyce. “You go with Grizela to rescue Reuben. I’ll go with Darrin to find Clint.”

Joyce nodded.

With clear rescue directions, Grizela eagerly led a team towards the southwest.

Joyce hugged Luther with some reluctance and worry. “Be careful.”

“Yes, with Darrin here, don’t worry.” Luther hugged her back briefly before letting go. He paired her with Grizela because Clint’s side would likely face greater danger. Joyce was an expert marksman; Grizela was also highly skilled-they should be fine together.

Darrin and Luther led another team in a different direction.

Judging by movement traces left by their opponents in the mountainside terrain, Clint seemed to head northward.

As they walked,

Darrin suddenly fired at a shadow not far away; it fell unconscious with a thud.

Darrin quickly approached and searched him for a satellite communicator.

He pressed its button swiftly to intercept enemy communications.

A command came through: “Permission granted for direct elimination of targets without further instructions-repeat-permission granted for direct elimination.”

Darrin exchanged glances with Luther-it confirmed that Hirota wanted both Clint and Reuben dead without exception!

With so many enemies nearby clearly surrounding this area-Clint must be hiding here too!

Luther signaled silently while whispering softly-“One o’clock direction.”

Darrin nodded affirmatively.

Having alerted their opponents earlier-a commotion arose around them again-

Continuous suppressive fire swept over them-

Darrin & Luther took cover behind large rocks-bullets nearly grazed overhead-

Luther lay flat amidst grass-no other cover nearby except these rocks-

Wind rustled through swaying grass-

Darrin held his breath-hearing faint “click”-he flicked his wrist lightly-tossing mini-grenade-

Boom! An explosion lit up surroundings-fragments & heat waves surged forth-the attackers scattered instantly-

Luther seized opportunity under cover-aimed at someone trying ambush Darrin-

“Whizz”-target fell instantly-

Darrin turned hearing shot-thumbs-up towards Luther-

Working alongside Marshal long enough improved Mr. Warner’s marksmanship significantly too!Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

Next, Darrin threw smoke grenade-

Before smoke cleared-they finally found someone trapped inside stone cave-

However, it wasn’t Clint-it was Reuben!