All Novel Sweet
Chapter 2099
Chapter 2099
“Look, you’re the one who lured me into this mess!” Roselynn masked her discomfort over being tricked by using a playful tone. “Me?” Emmanuel pointed to himself, the picture of innocence. “That scoundrel Gautier faked death, used Al to copy your voice, and somehow knew everything about m situation. I bought it completely, never guessing he was alive. Who’d have guessed he’d go to such lengths just to get his hands on the second half of the Dragon Tome?” She sighed, frustration clear in her voice. If I’d known the Dragon Tome would cause this much hassle, I’d have never laid eyes on it!novelbin
“So, did you recite it for him?” Emmanuel asked, watching her closely. “As if!”
She smirked with a hint of pride. “If I had, do you really think I’d still be standing here?” She understood the stakes well enough–these people were desperate for the Dragon Tome, and they definitely wouldn’t want the secret spreading. And the moment they’d wrung her dry, she’d be nothing but a loose end to tie up.. Emmanuel chuckled. “Roselynn, you really have a sharp mind! But since they went through all that trouble to bring you in, maybe you should’ve tossed them a little something to keep them busy!”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Emmanuel?” Roselynn asked, startled.
“Simple.” He smirked. “Let’s give Gautier something to keep him off your back -a little ‘gift‘ that he’ll think is what he wanted.” She caught on right away.
Knowing her brother’s cunning, she realized his plan was to create a convincing but fake version of the Dragon Tome, just enough to throw their enemies off the scent. Since he suggested it, she played along without hesitation. He dictated, and she transcribed dutifully–understanding that her well–known handwriting would make it look authentic. As long as no one saw her penning the text herself, they’d have no reason to doubt its truth.
“Let’s put the fake scripture back where it belongs and get out of here!”
Emmanuel commanded his team, instructing them to return the imitation text before he departed with Roselynn. Meanwhile, Gautier was too wary to show his face back at the house. He suspected that Roselynn had likely been rescued escued by Emmanuel, leaving his elaborate scheme in shambles! He was convinced that his plan to feign death was foolproof, a clever idea he had concocted after his encounter with Magnus, aiming to achieve multiple objectives at once. Yet, he completely misjudged Emmanuel, who proved to be more than just a mere brute. Rather than recklessly attacking the Lannister family, Emmanuel had outsmarted him, cleverly tracking Roselynn down and dismantling his ruse before it could take effect. Now, with the Dragon Tome still out of reach, the prospect of capturing her again seemed utterly unattainable!
The last thing Gautier expected was to receive an intriguing surprise right after leaving the Chamber of Commerce meeting. “Mr. Verkade, we discovered this in the room. Miss Roselynn must have forgotten it in her hurry. to escape!” one of his men reported, holding out a torn piece of Roselynn’s coat, covered with rows of handwritten text. For a moment, his heart leaped ith satisfaction. But as he examined it more closely, suspicion quickly crept in–Emmanuel must have planted this as a decoy to mislead me! While his martial prowess might not be exceptional, he was sharp enough to recognize a setup when he saw one. It was clear to him that this so–called “tome” was fake. Still, he couldn’t reveal that he suspected Emmanuel’s trickery- admitting so would expose my entire plan to feign death as utterly ineffective. Later that evening, he decided to present what he claimed was the second half of the Dragon Tome and took it to meet with Teddy.
Teddy’s mood was far from cheerful that day. Emmanuel’s unexpected visit with Julian had dredged up more damaging information than he was prepared to handle! Though he was a seasoned strategist in navigating media relations and manipulating public perception, the mounting controversies were taking a toll. If Emmanuel and Mackenzie kept up their disruptions, his role as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce would soon e hanging by a thread! His resolve for retaliation had reached a boiling point. So, when Gautier appeared with what he claimed was the second half of the Dragon Tome, his eyes gleamed with a flicker of hope.
“Ah, Gautier, did Roselynn actually record this herself?” Teddy asked, his curiosity barely hidden. “That’s right. My fake death trick failed to spark the battle between Emmanuel and the Lannister family, but it still had some impact. This is the Dragon Tome that Roselynn transcribed to save her life!”
Gautier smoothly spun his tale. “Initially, I planned to eliminate her, but fearing retaliation from Emmanuel, I decided to let her go. I rushed to bring this scripture to you for validation right away!” Teddy replied with a grin, obviously pleased, “Excellent work! You know, the Lannister family has poured everything into obtaining the Dragon Tome and still failed. Ha!” Gautier responded, feigning humility. “Your praise is undeserved. I too have exerted considerable effort, though I can’t be certain if this is the real thing.” He understood clearly that Teddy only valued those who were of use to him. If he hoped to rise in the ranks, he would need to consistently provide results in order to solidify his position as Teddy’s most trusted ally.
Teddy held the lower portion of the scripture in his hands, his brows furrowing after a long moment of contemplation. “It’s difficult to say for sure… really difficult.” Gautier asked, feigning curiosity, “Master, what seems to be the issue?” While his martial prowess wasn’t the highest, his sharp intellect allowed him to sense that Emmanuel might have planted something dangerous within this martial arts technique. Teddy then explained, “On the surface, this scripture appears flawless, intricate even. But there’s a catch–it can only be confirmed through direct experience. The only way to know its authenticity is by testing it personally!”
Gautier instantly understood the gravity of the situation! The first half of the dragon Tome was known to drive even the most seasoned martial artists into madness. If the two halves were practiced together, and this one was indeed a forgery, it could result in disastrous consequences–perhaps even fatal. Despite his internal motives, he still said, “This was something Roselynn, wrote down herself to protect her life. If even you, Master, can’t find anything wrong with it, then surely it must be authentic, right?” However, his true intention was for Teddy to take the risk of testing it. If it turned out to be real he could secretly practice it. If it was a fake, however, it would be Teddy who took the risk.
But Teddy, far from being naive, immediately responded, “Considering what you’ve shared, I am inclined to trust it’s authentic. But we could make this work to our advantage. Why don’t we pass it along to Gwain? He can test it for us, and in the process, he might even assist with our other matters. It’s a brilliant way to achieve two goals at once.”
Gautier had already anticipated tis direction, but since his efforts had already secured some success; whether the scripture was authentic or not became secondary. So, he simply followed along. “Master, what task do you have in mind for the Lannister family? Didn’t you already tell Gwain that the condition for the scripture’s second half was Emmanuel’s death? Given his capabilities, that might be a stretch. Let’s find a different way.”
Teddy, unfazed, responded swiftly, “How about we ask the Lannister family to assist with securing a marriage alliance between the Tanner and Chapman families? Once Gwain agrees, we’ll hand over the scripture right away. After all, if he masters it, he’ll owe us–and in return, he’ll take care of Emmanuel for us!”
“Master, I’ll handle it immediately!” Gautier responded promptly. “Ah, Gautier, you’ve really outdone yourself. Since you’ve become part of my team, I’ve gained someone truly reliable, haha…” Teddy laughed. “I appreciate your kind words, Master. I’ll keep pushing forward!” Gautier smiled humbly before owing and exiting the room with respect.