The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 100. Invitation

Chapter 100: 100. Invitation

Leo stood in the interrogation room, his jaw tight, the air thick with tension. "Anything more?" he demanded, his voice low. Salvek slumped in his chair, his face bruised and bloodied, his breathing shallow. "That’s... everything," he gasped. "Nothing else."

Leo’s frustration surged, but he kept it leashed. Vivien’s kidnapping wasn’t just the Wolves’ revenge—it was a thread in a larger, cult-doing. He turned to the soldiers. "Lock him down. If he remembers anything, extract it." Striding out, his mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle tantalizingly close but incomplete.

On the manor’s rooftop, Nimbus, in panther form, prowled around the bloodied remains of the unnatural bird. A blood-soaked letter lay in the gore. Nimbus’s purple eyes narrowed, a low growl rumbling as he sniffed the paper, sensing its dark intent.

Gripping it carefully in his jaws, he leapt to the courtyard below, reverting to his cat form as he padded toward the Duke’s office.

Leo entered the office, where Alric stood by the desk, his face taut with expectation. "What did Salvek reveal?" Alric asked, his voice sharp.

Leo’s tone was steady, urgent. "The Wolves are under new orders, serving a cult figure—a man in a white robe, stronger than anyone they’ve encountered. They spoke of a ’ruler prophecy.’ It’s tied to me."

Alric’s expression darkened, his voice grim. "The cult’s influence runs deeper than I feared. And Cassian’s involvement?"

"A puppet, most likely," Leo said. "Marzella was their conduit, and her death reeks of the cult’s methods. We need to—"

A soft scratch at the door cut him off. Leo opened it, revealing Nimbus, the blood-stained letter in his jaws. The cat dropped it at Leo’s feet, his purple eyes gleaming with a warning. Leo knelt, examining the letter. "Nimbus, where did this come from?"

Nimbus growled, his tail flicking toward the roof. Leo’s eyes narrowed. "Father, deploy a team to sweep the manor’s perimeter. Whatever delivered this wasn’t natural."

Alric nodded, summoning a soldier with a sharp gesture. "Secure the grounds immediately. Full alert."

Leo carefully broke the letter’s seal. He read aloud, his voice growing colder with each line:

"Leonhardt Caulem, Prophesied Ruler, a pleasure. I’m shy, so no name here. Word is your sister’s gone missing—tough spot; interrogating guild masters is rough, I know. Here’s the deal: Vivien’s with me. Want her? Go to Grenfell town. The Crooked Hen tavern. Order ’Red Boar Soup’—exactly as listed. If I don’t like your approach, you’ll get another note. Messier."

Leo’s grip tightened, the paper crumpling slightly, and his jaw clenched.

Alric’s face hardened, his eyes blazing with suppressed fury. "They’re baiting you,"

Leo smirked as he met Alric’s gaze. "Then I’ll step into their trap."

Alric’s breath caught, his eyes searching his son’s face as Leo folded the blood-stained letter with deliberate care and slipped it into his pocket. Without another word, Leo turned and walked out of the Duke’s office, his steps echoing in the hallways. Alric followed him immediately, his heart heavy, catching up in the hallway.

"Leonhardt," he called, his voice firm yet tinged with a father’s worry. "Are you sure you should go alone?"

Leo’s pace didn’t slow down, his voice steady but sharp. "What other choice is there? Vivien’s with them, and they’re calling for me. It’s the only way to bring her home."

Alric’s jaw tightened, his tone urgent. "You don’t have to face this alone. We can muster soldiers, plan a strike—"

Leo stopped suddenly, turning to face his duke, his eyes blazing with a mix of defiance and old pain. "Why do you care now, Father? You barely looked at me all these years. Is this sudden love for the son you ignored?"

The words struck like a blade, and Alric flinched. Silence stretched between them.

When Alric spoke, his voice was low, trembling with regret. "I failed you, Leonhardt. I let my anger at your mother’s arranged marriage with me and my own pride blind me. Even when I brought Maria, your mother was silent. I was a fool and childish, and I pushed you away. The day I thought you were dead, when I saw those remains..."

His voice broke, his hands clenching. "It broke me. I realized I’d been a wretched father to a son who deserved better. You’re my blood, Leonhardt. I can’t lose you—or Vivien—to this insane cult."

Leo’s gaze faltered, his throat tightened, but he forced his voice to stay steady. "Words don’t undo the past, Father. And they won’t save Vivien. I’m going to Grenfell because I’m the only one who can face this. They want the ’Prophesied Ruler’? I’ll give them one."

Alric stepped closer, his voice desperate. "Let our forces handle it. We can—"

"You read the letter," Leo interrupted, his tone sharp but controlled. "They’re watching every move. If you send an army, Vivien will die before we reach her." He met Alric’s eyes, his resolve unyielding. "I won’t die, Father. Neither will Vivien. Prepare Lucian’s birthday banquet as planned; she’d be sad without it."

Leo turned, descending the grand staircase, his voice cutting through the hall. "Sir Dian!"

Dian hurried forward, saluting. "Young Master?"

"How long does it take for a letter to reach House Dranemount?" Leo asked, his mind already racing.

"Three to four days by courier," Dian replied. "A hawk can do it in one."

"Prepare a hawk," Leo ordered. "I need an urgent message sent."

"Brother?" a tentative voice called. Leo turned to see Lucian on the landing above, his face pale, eyes wide with worry and hope. "What’s going on?"

Leo’s expression softened, a rare, gentle smile breaking through his intensity. "It’s alright, Lucian. We’ve found Vivien. I’m going to bring her home."

Lucian’s face lit up, a spark of joy piercing his fear. "Really?"

"I promise," Leo said, his voice warm, unwavering. "Get ready for your birthday banquet—it’s going to be one to remember." He glanced at Liana, who stood nearby, her hands clasped tightly. "Liana, prepare the dress I ordered for the banquet. I’ll wear it for this."

Liana bowed, her voice steady despite the worry in her eyes. "At once, Young Master."

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.