Chapter - 5918

At that moment, the weakened Victor Steel was unaware of where his fate would lead him next.

The intense pain in his hand left his mind oscillating between clarity and confusion.

As he grappled with his nerves, he suddenly heard a knock at the door. Leo Grant's voice came from outside, politely saying, "Governor, the ancestor has sent his subordinates to discuss some important matters with you. He is still waiting on the other end of the line."

Victor Steel frowned. The ancestor that Leo Grant mentioned was his great-grandfather Aemon. However, he found it puzzling that Aemon hadn’t contacted him directly about the urgent matter and had sent Leo Grant instead.

Filled with uncertainty, he noticed an unsettling twitch in his right eyelid, which didn’t seem to bode well.

Nonetheless, he couldn’t afford to delay. Leo Grant had mentioned that the great-grandfather was waiting on the other end of the phone, suggesting that there was something of significance to be conveyed to both of them.

So, he struggled to his feet and opened the door. Leo Grant entered holding a phone, saying, "Governor, the old man is calling via video."

He handed over the phone's screen to Victor Steel.

Victor Steel saw Aemon on the display and immediately urged, "Come in and let’s talk."

Leo Grant stepped inside with the phone and announced, "Sir, I have arrived at the Governor's place."

Aemon replied from the other end, "Activate the speakerphone."

"Alright, Grandpa." Leo Grant activated the speaker and then affirmed, "Grandpa, the speaker is on."

"Good," Aemon responded in the video before asking, "Victor, can you hear me?"

Victor Steel quickly replied, "I can hear you, Grandpa. What instructions do you have for me?"

Aemon explained, "I called to relay the Lord's order to both of you."

Victor Steel's expression froze, and he instinctively blurted out, "Grandpa, please go on. I'm listening!"

Aemon paused briefly, then said slowly, "Victor, the British Lord has ordered the Three Elders to amputate your left hand as punishment for your poor performance and the losses at the Morocco garrison. However, considering you lacked any ill intent, he has shown mercy and decided not to execute you. Do you understand the significance of this leniency?"

Victor Steel did not hesitate and immediately responded, "Grandpa, I fully appreciate the Lord's kindness. From now on, I will dedicate myself to serving the Lord faithfully!"

Aemon sighed, saying, "Victor, the Lord has ordered you to have your left hand cut off. Now, the enemny is scheming to use the remodeling pill to regenerate your left hand and cruelly remove your right hand. This tactic aims to instigate internal conflict within the Mirren family and create instability. Therefore, the Lord has specifically instructed Leo Grant to amputate your left hand immediately. The issue with the remodeling pill must be handled exclusively by the two of you. You must not disclose any of this to anyone else, or face severe penalties for treason!"

Upon hearing this, Victor Steel felt his world crumble. He pleaded with Aemon on the video, "Grandpa, this left hand is all I have left. If it's cut off too, what reason will I have to continue living?"

Leo Grant stood frozen, horrified. He had never anticipated that after Victor Steel's right hand had already been lost, the Lord would now demand his left hand be severed. If this order was irreversible, he too would be losing all of Victor's hands—an experience likely unique to Victor Steel alone.

Aemon spoke again, helplessly, "Victor, this is the Lord's command, and I am powerless to change it."

Victor Steel wept and pleaded, "Grandpa, please speak on my behalf to the Lord. If I return to the Right Army Governor's Mansion without both hands, people will talk and ridicule me. I won't be able to lead the Governor's Mansion effectively, which wouldn't be good for the Right Army Governor's Mansion!"

Aemon pressed his lips together and said, "Victor, the Lord has other directives regarding personnel changes at the Right Army Governor’s Mansion. After your left hand is removed, your brother Sebastian will be installed as the new governor, and the Lord will spare your life, allowing you to return to your family. Your brother will be instructed to take special care of you and your family so that you can live a life of wealth and comfort."

Aemon added, "Victor, this is the best outcome for you. Remember your brother—his fate is much worse than yours."

In that moment, Victor Steel felt completely despondent.

His eyes became vacant, his expression lifeless, and he remained silent for at least half a minute.

Half a minute later, he lowered his head to wipe away the tears pooling in his eyes with his left hand. He gazed at his left hand and murmured, "Though the Lord has spared my life, from this moment on, I will be utterly useless. I won't be able to eat or dress myself, I can't wipe my tears when I cry, and I won’t even be able to clean myself after using the toilet... As a man standing seven feet tall, living under such conditions is worse than death..."

Aemon urged, "Victor, people often say that it's better to live than die. This is an undeniable truth, so don't despair. Furthermore, I want to remind you that dying wouldn't change anything for you. Even in death, you still cannot hold on to your left hand. Its continued existence is the greatest risk to the Warriors Den and the Mirren family!"

Victor Steel realized that it was futile to complain or beg for leniency. Even if a deity came to his aid, he wouldn’t be able to save his left hand.

Even if the mysterious figure offered him another remodeling pill, it would make no difference. If Morgana were to learn of this, she would surely take both of his hands as well.

The thought sent a chill down Victor Steel's spine.

He pondered anxiously, "What if that fiend returns and forces another remodeling pill down my throat? What then?"

Meanwhile, Aemon no longer had the patience to wait for his response. He instructed Leo Grant, "General Grant, the British Lord has commanded you to sever the Governor's left hand without delay. I will witness the entire process!"

Leo Grant was at a loss. He quickly turned to Victor Steel and stammered, "Governor... Your subordinates…"

Understanding he could not escape this fate, Victor Steel sighed, "Since the Lord commanded you to perform it, you must proceed."

In a panic, Leo Grant stuttered, "Governor... Your subordinate... doesn’t have a suitable knife... Besides, your subordinate lacks the strength of the Three Elders to transform reiki into swords..."

Victor Steel, with a heavy heart, walked to the cabinet, opened it, and retrieved Tara's sword. He gritted his teeth as he handed it to Leo Grant, insisting, "Just use this sword. It's a magical weapon given to Captain Decker by the Lord. It can cut through iron effortlessly. Use it; it will make your movements more nimble."

Leo Grant felt helpless. He worried about whether Victor Steel would harbor resentment towards him once this ordeal was over. Even if Victor understood that he acted under orders and didn’t blame him, it would be difficult not to feel uncomfortable witnessing an act so harsh.

However, he recognized there was no other choice. He took the sword and said, "Governor, should I tightly bind your wrist to minimize the bleeding?"

"Yes," Victor Steel replied, pulling off his belt with one hand and offering it to Leo Grant. "Tie it up, and tie it tightly."

Leo Grant placed the sword and the phone aside, bound Victor Steel's wrist firmly with the belt, then picked up the sword and said to him, "Governor, I'm truly sorry..."

Victor Steel nodded, placing his hands on the table. He turned his face away, tears streaming down his cheeks.

When he had killed his own brother, he had thought that his chance for greatness had finally arrived, and he would rise to prominence.

Yet, he had never anticipated that he would pay the price of losing both hands, having held the position of Governor for merely a few months, only to fall from grace.

He felt an unsettling mix of unwillingness and shame.

Suddenly, he heard a rush of air as Leo Grant swung the sword, severing Victor Steel's left hand in one swift motion. The excruciating pain caused Victor Steel to leap up, wailing as he shook his wrist.

On the other side of the video, Aemon could only sigh in despair.

Leo Grant wrapped Victor Steel's severed hand carefully and inquired, "Governor, what should I do with your left hand?"

Victor Steel grimaced as he replied, "It's a burden to keep it—burn it!"

Leo Grant hurriedly responded, "I'll take care of it right away."

Just as he readied to leave, Aemon's voice stopped him. "Wait a moment."

Panicked, Leo Grant asked, "What is it you need, ancestor?"

Aemon replied, "General Grant, the Lord has decreed that to protect the secrets of the Warriors Den from being exposed, you must be prepared to sacrifice your life for the Society."

Leo Grant's face turned ashen, and in his shock, Victor Steel's bloody left hand slipped from his grasp.

With an anguished expression, he pleaded through the video, "Grandmaster! Please tell the Lord that I will never disclose a word to anyone. I just ask that he spares my life for my loyalty to the Warriors Den so that I may continue serving!"

Aemon replied flatly, "The Lord’s order is beyond my influence. But don't worry; the Lord has stated that once you depart, you will be posthumously honored with the title of General of the Cavalry, and your family will receive the benefits that come with that rank."

Aemon continued earnestly, "General, if you are honored posthumously as General of the Cavalry, your family will have prosperity and will no longer endure the same fate as you. Sacrificing yourself for the future of your descendants is a rare opportunity."

By this point, Leo Grant was already in tears.

He had not expected that after severing Victor Steel's left hand, he himself would also pay with his life.

Deep down, he understood that despite Aemon's seemingly kind words about his family enjoying a good life, there was a darker implication: should he fail to comply, his family would suffer the consequences.

Leo Grant realized that, like Victor Steel, he too had no choice.

Now that Victor Steel had lost both hands, and with the Three Elders far away in Nigeria, he could attempt to flee briefly.

But what good would that do?

If he fled, his family would undoubtedly be punished and likely executed.

And without the antidote, he would die a painful death soon regardless.

Thus, it seemed inevitable that he would meet his end today!

Understanding this weighed heavily on him. He looked at Victor Steel, his voice cracking as he said, "Please take care of my wife, children, and elders..."

Victor Steel related to his helplessness. Though he believed he bore the greatest burden with both hands lost, he recognized that Leo Grant, who was innocent in this matter, would also be silenced cruelly by the Warriors Den simply for being an unwilling participant.

With a sigh, he assured Leo Grant, "General, go ahead. I promise to look after your family as best I can."

Leo Grant managed a bitter smile as he murmured, "Even if I loathe you completely, I won't utter a word. Life can be so frustrating! So frustrating!"

Then, without warning, blood began to flow from all orifices, and he collapsed.

Victor Steel realized that Leo Grant had bitten down on a poisoned tooth during their exchange and had died instantly...