Chimaera's Conquest: The Legend Of The Devourer
Chapter 220: Royal Mess Up (3)

Chapter 220: Royal Mess Up (3)

"You joined the misty swords!?" George exclaimed. "Even after everything I told you about them?"

Adrian sighed, eating the fruit salad Sophia had prepared for him. "Look, I know what you’re thinking, but it’s nothing like that. I only joined them to take them down and rebuild the guild in my image."

"Rebuild, my ass," George replied, taking a watermelon out of Adrian’s bowl. "If there’s evil, it has to be them! Do you have any idea the kind of shit they had been involved in over the years?"

"Drug trafficking, prostitution, illegal gambling, it’s quite a big list, to be honest," Adrian smiled, handing George the list of names and the crimes they could be charged for.

As George went through the list, he couldn’t believe his eyes. There were names of people from his own firm involved in the crimes, and he had no idea about them.

In other words, the list Adrian gave George was a treasure trove for a lawyer to screw over an organisation like the Misty Swords royally.

"This is more than anyone has ever known about their operations," George said as he went through the folder. "How did you-"

"Does it matter?" Adrian shrugged. "Let’s say I borrowed some files from the vice guild master she doesn’t know about. I was dead serious when I said I’d take them down. We will get them, albeit slowly. Now, will you help me or not."

"Do I even have a choice?" George sighed, tossing the folder back to Adrian. "I made a promise to you all those years ago, and I don’t plan on breaking it."

"Great, then I’ll leave you to issue a statement to the media about it."

"What? Why do I have to do it?"

"Because I don’t want the guild to get the word out before us."

"What do you- Oh, I get it. You’re one conniving asshole, you know that?"

Adrian smiled, "I wouldn’t be your friend if I weren’t, would I?"

***

Michaela sat at her cluttered desk, sipping bitter coffee as she scrolled through emails on her computer. The office was quiet, and the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioning. Little did she know it wasn’t going to stay that way for long.

"Michaela!" he gasped, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts. "You need to see this!"

"Has everyone in this office forgotten how to knock?" she asked without lifting her gaze from the screen. "What’s with the rush?"

The man didn’t respond. Instead, he rushed over to the television mounted on the wall and turned it on to a news channel. Michaela furrowed her brow in confusion as she watched the screen, but her eyes widened when she realised what was happening.

The screen flickered to life, showing a reporter outside the DRA headquarters.

"And in breaking news," the reporter announced. "It has been revealed that the attempted curse on renowned blacksmith Shinon Flintlock was orchestrated by none other than Eudora Black, co-leader of the Misty Sword guild, over what seem to be personal grudges."

The bitterness of her coffee intensified as the news continued, detailing Adrian’s involvement in the situation and how he saved his friend from Eudora’s curse.

Not only that, the anchor also reported on his decision to forgive past transgressions and work with the guild. Michaela’s hands trembled as she watched, her anger simmering beneath the surface.

As the report ended, Michaela clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms.

The news they had been desperately trying to keep under wraps had been leaked to the media, and their carefully crafted plan to salvage their reputation by the grand reveal of Adrian joining them had backfired spectacularly.

Fury coursed through her veins as she crushed the hot cup of coffee in her hands, hot coffee spilling onto her desk and staining the papers beneath.

"FUCK!"

She cursed loudly before flipping the desk over in frustration as she realised the magnitude of the situation. How could this have happened? Who had betrayed them and leaked the information to the press?

"We were supposed to keep this under wraps," she mumbled, grabbing her head and trying to make sense of the situation.

If Adrian knew about what Eudora did, then why would he join them in the first place? It didn’t seem like he had any alternative motive, but since she couldn’t scan him properly, he could have planned everything from the start.

Just then, her phone began to ring. She glanced at the caller ID and saw Adrian’s name flashing on the screen. The fucker destroyed their image and now had the guts to call her?

As much as Michaela wanted to end the call, she was curious to hear what he had to say. So, after a deep breath, she picked up the phone, her fingers trembling with rage.

"Do you have any idea what you’ve done?" she snapped, her tone sharper than she intended.

"Shut up! What have I done?" Adrian yelled back at her. "First, your people leaked some made-up story about me being Shinon’s friend and saving him, and now you’re yelling at me?"

"We leaked it? What are you talking about-"

"I specifically asked the guild to keep my involvement with them confidential. So why the hell is the news all over the media?" Adrian continued to yell over her, not giving Michaela any chance to speak.

He continued, "Also, what is this news about your Co-leader going around cursing people? Do you think it’s the kind of press I want around my name?"

Michaela lowered her voice as she realised what he was implying. Could it be that Adrian wasn’t behind the leak after all? Could a whistleblower from within the guild have betrayed them?

For a moment, she thought that wasn’t possible. But when she heard Adrian’s voice, she knew he sounded genuinely upset, as if he had been blindsided by the news just as much as she had.

"I... I don’t know who is behind this," Michaela stammered, her anger dissipating as she realised the gravity of the situation. "But I’ll look into it, I promise-"

"I hope you do, Michaela," he said quietly. "But if this is how things are going to be and if you can’t keep your word, then I’ll have no choice but to reconsider my choices."

With that, he hung up the phone, leaving Michaela confused and worried until her eyes fell on Jack: "Call everyone in the meeting room, RIGHT NOW!"