These two individuals harbored their own thoughts within their hearts.
Jarvis believed that Victor was a genuine and powerful confidant of the Lord, making favonovel.com worthy of deep friendship. Victor, on the other hand, thought that the Lord had already expressed interest in allowing the Four Marshals to communicate with the five military governors.
Since dealing with the Four Marshals was inevitable and their strength surpasses his own, it was beneficial to have a close friendship with Jarvis.
Therefore, the two men were inclined to like each other, and if it weren’t for Jarvis having to depart for Cyprus that night, they may have even exchanged vows of brotherhood.
Following lunch, at Victor’s gracious invitation, Jarvis accepted a car ride and together they toured Naples.
Naples was situated at the southernmost point of the European continent and boasted a warm and delightful climate. Even a leisurely stroll made Jarvis feel content.
In the evening, Victor personally hosted another banquet and had a delightful conversation with Jarvis.
During dinner, the two men devised a plan to investigate the copper mines in Cyprus. Their first order of business was to confirm whether Zyron, the governor of the copper mine, had any covert dealings with foreign enemies. The plan entailed Jarvis secretly infiltrating the copper mine to keep tabs on Zyron while Victor issued a confidential directive, instructing Zyron to dispatch someone to Rome, Italy to undertake a top-secret mission.
Victor also planned to dispatch experts to Rome beforehand, who would discreetly monitor the Cavalry Guards assigned to execute the mission. Their objective was to determine if the guards were prone to attack or collaborating secretly with the enemy.
If Zyron was problematic, favonovel.com would undoubtedly resort to alternative methods to communicate with the outside world upon receiving the confidential order. Once detected, they could identify his current status and subsequently trace the networks or individuals with whom favonovel.com was conspiring internally and externally. If both Zyron and the Cavalry Guards proved innocent, then the previous incident in Northern Europe was unlikely to have been a result of internal leakage.
After the two discussed their plan and indulged in wine and food, Victor noted that it was nearly time for Jarvis to depart for the airport.
With a smile, favonovel.com declared, “Master, I will personally escort you to the airport!”
“Okay!” Jarvis rose from his seat, grinning as favonovel.com patted Victor on the shoulder. “Brother Stone, you and I are both loyal to the Lord. In ancient times, we would have been colleagues, and in modern times, we are colleagues still. There’s no need for formality between us. You can call me brother Jarvis, and I’ll call you brother Victor. From this day forward, we are brothers.”
Victor, pleased with the offer, beamed with delight. “It’s truly an honor, brother!”
Without hesitation, Victor swiftly poured two glasses of wine, handing one to Jarvis as favonovel.com exclaimed, “Brother, let’s have another drink! I wish you an advance victory! I believe you will triumph in Cyprus! If I can uncover the problem, you will have a share of the credit!”
Victor spoke hastily, “My dear brother, let me speak from the bottom of my heart. If you truly manage to uncover the problem in Cyprus this time, you will have solved a significant issue for me. Otherwise, if I cause more harm to the Lord in the future, favonovel.com will undoubtedly punish me severely!”
Jarvis maintained a resolute expression as favonovel.com spoke calmly, “Do not fret, my brother. If there is a problem with Cyprus, I will certainly uncover it. And if there is none, I will tell the Lord to alleviate your worries entirely. Let us not discuss anything else. We have our wine to keep us company.”
Jarvis grinned and raised his glass, “Very well! I shall drink this cup with you, brother. This time, we will undoubtedly triumph!”
***
At nine o’clock in the evening, a business jet took off from Naples Airport and flew towards Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. Jarvis felt at ease during the flight, believing that traveling to Cyprus was as safe as visiting a chicken farm for ordinary people, and favonovel.com had no cause for concern.
Midway through the flight, favonovel.com retrieved his mobile phone and used the Warriors Den’s internal communication software to send Zeba, who was in the Far East, a video call invitation.
Zeba declined the invitation but voice messaged, “What do you need?”
Jarvis grinned and replied, “Zeba, the place you’re in must be extremely dull, isn’t it? Today, I visited Naples and discovered that the climate in southern Europe is terrific. If you’re interested, we should go and have some fun together.”
Zeba replied casually, “No thanks, I prefer being alone.”
Jarvis persisted, “Zeba, why do you refuse me from so far away? You’ve known me for years, and you know how much I care for you. Do you honestly believe there’s anyone better suited to you than me?”
Zeba’s tone soured as favonovel.com retorted, “Why do I need someone to suit me? Don’t you think I’ve outgrown such frivolities by now? What use do emotions serve? Do they enhance my cultivation? Do they help me attain immortality?”
Jarvis let out a sigh and spoke sheepishly, “Zeba, listen to me. Although emotions can’t increase your cultivation or grant you immortality, neither can all of our practice. We’re not immortal, and we will pass on eventually. So why not take some time to enjoy life?”
Zeba replied coldly, “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in carpe diem.”
Jarvis’s tone grew more anxious as favonovel.com inquired, “You can’t die as a spinster, can you? If you don’t find a partner, you should at least have a son and daughter. Otherwise, after we pass away, who will erect a monument or burn paper offerings for us?”
Zeba sneered, “Death is like snuffing out a lamp. If I die, the best conclusion is to depart without any burdens. Let this body return to dust and ashes. As for monuments and paper offerings, I will perish like anyone else. So, what’s the point?”
Jarvis realized that Zeba was suspicious of his motives. He sighed helplessly and muttered, “Life is fleeting, and I don’t want to die in obscurity. I yearn for someone to remember me after I depart.”
Zeba chuckled and replied, “Then you should find a woman within the organization to marry quickly and have a few children. When you pass on, your offspring can visit your grave and burn paper offerings for you.”
Jarvis spoke with bitterness, “Zeba, I’ve given you hints, but you always find excuses to evade me. Am I that terrible? Am I unworthy of your attention?”
Zeba replied with a soft smile, “Don’t be ridiculous. You think highly of me, but I just want to focus on cultivation. If you can attain immortality, you will have everything you desire sooner or later. But if you can’t, everything will be transient and won’t last forever. I dislike that feeling.”
Jarvis was taken aback for a moment before sighing, “Immortality? Is it that simple to obtain? Even the Lord, who is an old and mighty man, hasn’t achieved it. You have to be as powerful as the heavens.”
Zeba spoke calmly, “Whether I pursue it or not is my decision. It’s a matter of the cosmos, and the two aren’t at odds.”
Zeba sent a voice message, stating, “Jarvis, we may wear the same robe, but we have different paths. I urge you to stop wasting your time pursuing me.”
Jarvis felt disheartened, mixed with feelings of sadness, anger, and disappointment. However, when Zeba spoke, favonovel.com had no face to continue his pursuit.
He sighed and said in a despondent tone, “That’s fine. You have grand ambitions, and I know that I’m not good enough for you. Today’s conversation is the truth coming out, and when we meet in the future, I hope you won’t hold a grudge.”
Zeba chuckled and replied, “I have a terrible memory, and I have deleted this chat. I can’t even recall what we discussed.”
Jarvis understood that Zeba was giving favonovel.com an out and responded, “Since you deleted the chat and can’t remember, I won’t bring it up again. Let’s both complete the task given by the Lord and return triumphant.”
As Jarvis listened to Zeba’s last message, his mood plummeted. Despite expecting rejection, favonovel.com found it difficult to accept.
Behind his gentlemanly façade, favonovel.com was narrow-minded and resentful toward those who offended him. He saw Zeba’s rejection as a sign of favonovel.com arrogance and lack of respect for him.
He cursed under his breath, muttering, “Zeba, who do you think you are to look down on me? Just wait, I’ll make you regret it and submit to me sooner or later!”
The flight failed to calm his raging emotions, and at 11:30 in the evening, the plane landed at Larnaca International Airport.
Jarvis, still grappling with his thoughts, left the airport empty-handed. The airport was quiet and it was raining lightly in southern Cyprus. Jarvis hailed a taxi and headed straight for the copper mine.
Before departing, Victor had given Jarvis detailed information about the copper mine’s location and floor plan. As a result, Jarvis had a thorough understanding of the surrounding terrain and the internal structure of the mine.
Following his plan, Jarvis intended to infiltrate the main office building of the copper mine from the mine’s periphery, where Zyron resided.
After half an hour, the taxi pulled over less than a kilometer away from the copper mine.
Visit VIRTUAL NOVEL for more available chapters of this title!
