Chapter 1139: The Hostage Drama
Moments ago, Yamamoto had clearly provoked him intentionally, baiting him into launching an attack to gauge his actual power. Now, he didn't even have the opportunity to mount a counteroffensive.
"Old friend, in victory or defeat, you have already lost. Today is the day of your death," Yamamoto grinned. "But before you die, I want you to watch your descendants be slaughtered!"
Saying this, he snapped his fingers.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh..."
In the next moment, a large number of ninjas emerged from underground. These ninjas were meticulously trained assassins of the Tatsuharu Family, each of them highly skilled. Not only were they powerful, but they were also masters of assassination techniques. They appeared like ghosts, making it difficult to defend against.
"Hold them off!" General Murray roared.
The black-clad assassins of the Murray family immediately drew their swords and rushed forward. Although they were outnumbered, they were much more skilled, and facing multiple opponents was not a problem for them.
However, the ninjas from the Kingdom of the Golden Phoenix kept coming, and as soon as one was killed, another would immediately emerge from underground. For a while, the two forces were deadlocked.
"Stop! Stop all of you! Otherwise, I'll kill her!"
At this moment, a loud voice rang out. Tatsuharu Nakamura, who was among the crowd, suddenly walked out, grabbing Shiela and placing a knife against her throat.
"Shiela?!" General Murray's face immediately changed.
The members of the Murray family were equally stunned and incensed. The previous explosion had reduced the entire banquet hall to rubble, and the ensuing mayhem had diverted everyone's attention, preventing them from noticing Nakamura's moves. It was inconceivable that this individual had concealed himself among the guests, covertly snatched Shiela, and was now using her as a hostage.
Now, even if they wanted to resist, they had to be careful not to provoke him further.
"Nakamura! You have some nerve to hold my daughter hostage! Release her immediately!" Caden was furious.
Just earlier, the two sides had reached an agreement to cooperate in dealing with Dustin. They had not expected Nakamura to turn on them so suddenly.
"Caden, don't attempt to intimidate me. The Murray family is already on the brink, and it's now the Tatsuharu Family that's in control!" Nakamura sneered. "Now, swiftly command your people to disarm or I'll kill her!"
As he spoke, he lightly lifted the blade, piercing Shiela's skin.
A thin stream of blood flowed down her fair neck.
"Hahaha... My grandson truly doesn't disappoint! Excellent job!" Tatsuharu Yamamoto erupted in laughter once more.
In a direct confrontation, even if they emerged victorious, the painstakingly cultivated strength of his own family would incur substantial losses. However, with Tatsuharu Nakamura holding Shiela as a hostage, he could compel them to capitulate entirely without resorting to combat.
"Why? Aren't you supposed to be Garrett's friend? Why are you doing this?" Shiela found it hard to believe.
"Friend?" Tatsuharu Nakamura chuckled, his tone mocking. "Shiela, do you have a problem with your brain? I'm from the Kingdom of the Golden Phoenix, and you're from the Dragonmarsh. How could we ever be friends?"
"What about last night?" Shiela was puzzled.
"Hehehe... Shiela, can't you see it now?" Nakamura sneered. "Last night, I kidnapped you to use as leverage against Dustin."
"I just didn't expect that when the truth came out, Garrett would actually speak up for me and deliberately slander Dustin. I can only say that you Dragonmarsh people never change. You always fight amongst yourselves. It's because of this that you gave me the opportunity."
With these words, Shiela was thunderstruck, frozen in place.
Chapter 1140 Deceptions and Lies
"What... What did you say?"
Shiela was utterly bewildered, struggling to grasp the situation. "You... You kidnapped me? Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"That's correct, we all deceived you," Nakamura admitted bluntly. "But you can attribute it to your own naivety. You lacked the discernment to separate truth from falsehood. A few casual remarks, and you took them to heart. Utterly gullible!"
"So... I misunderstood Dustin? I misjudged him?" Shiela quivered, tears brimming in her eyes, overwhelmed by profound regret.
She had never anticipated that the reality would be so different. She had believed that her cousin wouldn't deceive her, that her closest friends wouldn't betray her trust, and that Dustin was genuinely up to no good. Yet, Nakamura's recent revelations made her suddenly realize that everything she had believed was a fabrication.
Garrett had duped her, her closest friends had lied to her, and only Dustin had been sincerely attempting to rescue her, to assist her. But she not only failed to recognize it but had even attempted to expel him from her household.
What had she been thinking? How could she have been so misled, so foolish?
"Why? Why did you all deceive me?" Shiela turned her gaze toward Chase and Vivian, her expression marked by doubt and bewilderment.
She couldn't fathom why her closest friends would deceive her.
...
Under the weight of Shiela's accusatory stare, Chase, Vivian, and the others lowered their heads, their silence speaking volumes. They hadn't anticipated Nakamura's brazen challenge to the General's Residence, which had shattered their carefully constructed facade.
"Dustin, I'm so sorry... I never expected things to turn out like this," Shiela said to Dustin amid the onlooking crowd, her cheeks continuously wet with tears. She felt ashamed, full of regret, burdened with pain, and deeply self-reproachful.
She had always despised those who repaid kindness with malice, yet she had become one of them.
"Madam Shiela, this isn't the time for such words. Our immediate concern is to ensure our survival," Dustin replied, shaking his head gently.
He harbored no resentment toward Shiela, but their friendship could never be the same again. Some wounds were irreparable.
"Dustin, Brother..." Shiela attempted to explain but found herself at a loss for words. She could keenly perceive that his gaze had shifted, becoming unfamiliar and devoid of its former warmth.
"Enough! Stop chattering here. Call everyone to drop their weapons immediately, or I'll kill her!" Nakamura impatiently threatened, pressing his blade against Shiela's wound, causing blood to drip ominously.
"Hold it! I caution you not to make any rash moves! If my daughter is harmed in any way, I promise you'll meet a horrific demise!" Caden thundered.
"Now, I have the hostage. I dictate the terms. I'll begin counting to three, and if you don't lower your weapons, I'll sever her arm first!" Nakamura threatened once more.
"Old man Yamamoto, if your grandson dares to harm my granddaughter, even if I have to stake my life, I'll kill him!" General Murray declared sternly.
"Old friend, your own life is hanging by a thread, and you're still concerned about so much?" Yamamoto sneered.
General Murray, despite his grave injuries, maintained a watchful stance, apprehensive that Nakamura might make a rash move.
"Three..." Nakamura began counting.
"Wretch! You dare!" Caden shouted.
"Two..." Nakamura remained undaunted.
"Caden, release the Dragon-Binding Rope for me, and I can rescue your daughter," Dustin suddenly interjected.
Previously restrained by the Dragon-Binding Rope, he couldn't move freely unless he resorted to forcefully activating his secret technique, rendering escape nearly impossible.
"You? What makes you believe you can rescue her?" Caden furrowed his brow.
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