Chapter 486 - 419: Elder 9, Dead
Chapter 486: Chapter 419: Elder 9, Dead
Having just learned that Lex Cross had broken up with Flora Bloom and that her recent imprisonment and torture hadn’t truly been his idea, Nina Rook’s head was immediately filled with romantic fantasies.
Unseen by anyone, the black energy descended precisely in front of Nina Rook.
She gazed at the godlike man before her, the one who utterly captivated her, and saw that he was now looking at her with his full attention.
Any lingering trace of doubt she might have had vanished in that instant.
"Lex! I knew you still cared about me! Right?"
At that moment, Lex Cross’s mind was filled with Flora Bloom’s instructions: ’You have to sell the whole act.’ ’Don’t let all our work go to waste.’ ’Saul Sterling’s life is at stake.’
Taking a deep breath, Lex Cross lowered his gaze, struggling to conceal the disgust—even murderous intent—in his eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Nina Rook blushed, her large, soulful eyes welling with tears. "Lex, I’m not okay! Look at my arms, my body... Five and the others did this."
As Nina Rook moved closer, Lex Cross fought the urge to step back, his brow furrowed.
Nina, now completely lost in her role, misinterpreted his expression as a sign that he was heartbroken over her injuries.
"Lex, the good thing is, I didn’t leave! I just couldn’t believe you’d treat me that way, so I came back. Otherwise, this misunderstanding would have made us miss our chance!"
Lex Cross’s breath hitched, his face terrifyingly grim. "You..."
"What is it? Lex, what do you want to say to me?"
"Are you cold?"
Nina paused, then smiled through her tears. "The climate in Morhaven is quite pleasant, so I’m not cold! But Lex, if you hadn’t come for me, my heart would have grown cold!"
Just as the two were sharing their "tender moment," Five and Nolan Jennings heard the noise and came out, right on cue.
"Boss, you...?" Five stared at Nina Rook, his face a mask of shock. "What is she doing here?"
"What’s wrong? Am I not allowed to be here? Lex just told me everything! You’re his subordinates, so how could you ignore his wishes and do those things to me, all to help that bitch Flora Bloom!"
Nina Rook, wearing what looked like Rita’s innocent and kind face, delivered her speech with utter conviction. She was oblivious to the fact that by calling Flora Bloom a bitch, she had crossed a line with Lex Cross.
Lex Cross’s face was like a sheet of ice. Without even glancing at Nina, he said, "I’ll deal with what my men did. You should go get some rest. We’ll talk... tomorrow."
Nina Rook nodded eagerly. "I’ll come see you again tomorrow, Lex!"
The moment Nina Rook turned to leave, her smile widened. ’Good. He didn’t ask where Saul Sterling is. That means his change of heart has nothing to do with him.’
Breathing a sigh of relief, Nina Rook walked away with a cheerful spring in her step. She had no idea that The Crown Prince and Tanuki had already reached Flora Bloom’s villa. They had told Flora everything, and the group was preparing to launch a full-scale search for Saul Sterling.
Lex Cross vanished into the black energy. Nina Rook was still unaware that by the time she returned to Seth Warren’s villa, Lex had already slipped inside, unheard and unseen, and had found Saul Sterling in the basement.
Saul Sterling was unharmed, his injuries having mostly healed.
’I can rescue Saul now, but that would alert the others who came to Earth with Nina, and they’d go into hiding. I have to wait a little longer.’
Saul Sterling was tied to a chair, unconscious for some reason. Lex Cross didn’t wake him. Instead, he returned to the main part of the villa and followed Nina Rook to her room.
Sure enough, when Nina returned to her room, someone Lex Cross hadn’t expected to see was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking up at her.
"You went out?"
Nina Rook nodded. "Guess what I found out?"
"You look so happy, it must be good news. And the only good news that could make you this happy... has to be about Lex Cross, doesn’t it?"
"That’s right! Ninth Elder, Lex likes me!" The excitement sparkling in her eyes was impossible to fake.
Nina Rook had received the best upbringing and education the Rook family could provide. And while she was a deep schemer, her heart and mind were solely focused on Lex Cross.
Gavin Rook didn’t believe she would lie or joke about something like this.
"Is that really true?"
"It is! Lex told me so himself. I’m so happy! As long as I can be with him, this whole trip will have been worth it!"
"Haha! If that’s the case, then the marriage alliance between our families is settled! But..." The man, Gavin Rook, paused. "Our purpose here isn’t just Lex Cross. There’s also the matter of the Divine-level Space Fragment Crystal Stone. Do you have any news on that?"
’Well...’ She knew perfectly well that the Divine-level Space was already inside Flora Bloom. To get it, all they had to do was kill her.
’But if I tell the Ninth Elder, he’ll definitely act in the family’s best interest and take the Crystal Stone back to the family. Whether or not it would end up in my hands then would be a completely different story.’
’In the Rook family, competition among the bloodlines would never disappear, not even for her, the designated heir.’
’Not unless she had the unconditional support of the Cross family.’
’But even then, would the Divine-level Space really fall into her hands? Unlikely!’
’However, if Lex got the Divine-level Space, then after they married, her husband’s increased power would benefit her far more.’
’Besides, if Lex got it, wouldn’t what’s his be hers? And after that, wouldn’t she be the one calling the shots in the Rook family?’
To avoid sparking a conflict between the two families over the Divine-level Space, Nina hesitated, but ultimately decided to keep quiet for now.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them back with a sigh. "Ninth Elder, there’s no news yet!"
"But my sources tell me that traces of the Crystal Stone have appeared in the Argent region, and that it was obtained by Lex Cross." Gavin Rook’s gaze sharpened, his expression turning cold and sinister as he stared at Nina.
"N-Ninth Elder, I..."
Suddenly, Gavin Rook’s hand, radiating powerful Fire Element Energy, shot out and clamped around Nina Rook’s neck.
Instantly, Nina’s eyes flew wide open. Veins bulged on her neck and forehead as her face turned a ghastly shade of purple. It looked as though she would suffocate at any second.
"N-Ninth Elder... COUGH, COUGH... what... what are you doing?"
"Hmph. I’m well aware of your childhood crush on Lex Cross, but you need to remember something. Even if you get together with him, you are still a Rook! The family’s interests must always come first!"
"I... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
Just as Nina could barely breathe, the black energy in the air surged, lashing out at Gavin Rook.
A line of blood appeared across Gavin Rook’s throat. In his widening pupils, he saw only a fleeting black shadow. He took his last breath, his death filled with disbelief and regret.
Nina Rook collapsed onto the floor beside the bed, gasping for air as she watched the black shadow slowly dissipate.
In the center of the dissipating black energy stood Lex Cross, looking like a War God, his face an icy mask of indifference.
When Nina Rook saw Lex Cross appear like a deity descended from the heavens, her heart skipped a beat. "Lex..." Tears finally streamed from her eyes.
"You... you killed the Ninth Elder..."
"He was going to kill you..."
"You... you were worried about me...?"
Despite the family training and grooming she’d received since childhood, despite how accomplished she was, and despite all the grievances she’d suffered, no one had ever stood up for her like this simply because they were worried about her.
Not even in this way.