Chapter 5897

At that moment, Duke Mining was engulfed in flames. When Darius Talmidge received a message from the lieutenant instructing him to locate Captain Decker, he was taken aback for three seconds. Gazing at the inferno, he murmured, "How on earth am I supposed to get in there?" As he spoke, the immense steel framework of the refinery warped under the intense heat, before collapsing with a thunderous crash. A massive shockwave swept through the area, momentarily suppressing the blaze beneath the fallen roof, only for the flames to surge back even higher than before. Darius Talmidge hesitated, then decided to record a video response for the lieutenant: "Lieutenant, it’s not that I don’t want to enter, but the fire is too intense, and I can’t get anywhere near it!" This message was relayed to the lieutenant, who then reported to Governor Victor Steel. Upon seeing the raging fire, Victor Steel recognized that it was futile to try to enter the premises to search for anyone. The heat radiating from Duke Mining was likely hotter than that of a crematorium. The priority now was to inform the Lord about the situation, and for Tara, all he could do was hope for her safety. But as he reflected on such a significant issue occurring under his leadership, Victor Steel felt a wave of fear. He contemplated how he would face punishment if it came to that. Nevertheless, he understood that despite his trepidation, he had to report the truth; failing to do so would lead to accusations of delaying military intelligence. With a heavy heart, he picked up the phone and dialed Aemon, the chief steward serving the Lord. Aemon, who was over a century old, had been by Morgana’s side for nearly a hundred years. He was well acquainted with the Warriors Den and Morgana's ways. He knew that starting tonight, the Governor's Office of the Right Army would undergo significant changes, and with the Three Elders currently in the territory, Victor Steel's call could only signal trouble. Aemon, sensing impending complications, was quick to message as soon as the call connected: "Victor, what’s happened?" "Grandpa..." Victor Steel's voice trembled as he said, "It’s a disaster, Grandpa. There’s been a situation with the dead soldiers under my command, almost like what happened in Cyprus..." Aemon, the eldest son of the Mirren family, had been trained by Morgana as a confidant while sacrificing his personal life—including the right to marry and bear children. Not being a eunuch, Aemon had nonetheless accepted this price for his longevity and loyalty. With no interest in familial ties, he preferred to remain with Morgana, aspiring for immortality. If Morgana were to pass away while he still lived, he would inherit the Warriors Den and take her place as leader. Victor Steel, along with the other Mirren heirs, descended from Aemon’s younger brothers. It was only natural for Victor to refer to him as grandpa. Upon learning about an incident in the garrison, Aemon quickly inquired, "Is that man moving again?! Didn’t he go to Nigeria?!" "No!" Victor Steel lamented, his voice heavy with distress. "It seems the mysterious figure has anticipated our moves. He hasn't shown up in Nigeria for a while. Although the Three Elders are sequestered, they frequently use their abilities to scan the area. No monks have been detected. Just now, I received news that the Moroccan dead soldiers camp was destroyed, and Tara is missing..." Aemon gasped in disbelief. "What did you just say?! Tara was there?! I thought she was at the governor’s mansion?! How could she be involved?!"

Victor Steel explained, "I wanted her to venture out into the world and gain some experience. I thought it would be a harmless task, not realizing it would lead to such chaos..." Aemon began to pace the room furiously, expressing his anger and concern. "You… you are being reckless! Tara possesses exceptional talent, rare among countless individuals. The British Lord has long sought to take her under her wing, but he has been unable to manage her directly lately, so he asked you to provide for her at the Governor's Mansion. How could you send her away like this?!" "I..." Victor Steel was momentarily at a loss for words. Sending Tara to Duke Mining had been entirely a means to foster a closer relationship with her, treating her as if she were family. He believed she must have been bored in the Governor’s Mansion; despite her title, there was no significant authority attached to it. He thought a brief trip to Morocco would serve as a pleasant getaway. While framed as a mission, it had truly been a chance for her to relax and gain a sense of achievement by exploring. He had assumed that, given her capabilities, it would be straightforward for her to accomplish such a task in Morocco, never anticipating that calamity would strike. It felt akin to a boss wanting to reward a top salesman with a trip, only to have her get into a disastrous plane accident. The regret washed over him. However, regret was futile now; the event had transpired. What remained was to request guidance from the British Lord. If punishment awaited him, he would accept it promptly to mitigate any consequences of prolonged delay. Should the Lord have other directives, he would follow them swiftly in hopes of rectifying the situation. Aemon, now anxious, whispered, "Victor, the Lord is very confident in Nigeria’s plans. She has been eagerly anticipating good news regarding the Three Elders’ success. If she learns that all our strategies have been compromised by the enemy, and they have taken another base, let alone losing Tara Decker, a prodigy, she will be furious..." Victor Steel was increasingly anxious, quickly asking, "What should I do, Grandpa Aemon... I... I really don’t know! I haven’t left Nigeria in days; I've been too afraid. You know my subordinates' capabilities are limited; there aren’t many true cultivators, and the mysterious figure is powerful. The four marshals are unable to confront him. I have no one to stand against him. Wherever he goes outside of Nigeria, the outcome will likely be the same..." Aemon pressed him, "Your garrison must maintain strict confidentiality measures and not leak any hints of the current situation, yet how did he still find you? This alone could lead to serious penalties for gross negligence!" Victor Steel wailed, "Grandpa, this... this isn’t solely my fault... That person possesses extraordinary powers. No matter how cautious I am, I can’t conceal anything from him!" He then panicked further, asking, "Wait, Grandpa... If our adversary has long been aware that Nigeria was a trap, does that mean... that he has been secretly monitoring us? With the Three Elders here, if they are being targeted, wouldn’t that spell endless trouble for us?!" Victor Steel’s heart raced at Aemon’s words, and without thinking, he exclaimed, "This is bad! We may be too passive! Hold on, I will consult the Lord of England!"