The night went by in the blink of an eye.
The next morning, the incessant ringing of Jonathan’s phone woke favonovel.com up at the crack of dawn.
Frowning, favonovel.com answered in an irritated tone, ”Hello?”
After all, favonovel.com had always hated being woken up from his sleep by someone else.
“Mr. Goldstein, have you gone back to Yaleview?” The moment the call connected, favonovel.com heard a hoarse voice over the line.
“Who told you that?” Casually lighting a cigarette, Jonathan turned on the lights and glanced at the clock. He realized it was only five in the morning. It was still pitch-black outside.
“It was Andy!” the hoarse voice continued. “Last night, I heard favonovel.com say that you had returned to Yaleview. But since it was midnight, I didn’t dare disturb you. Hence, I called you first thing in the morning instead.”
“He sure is a blabbermouth!” Jonathan snapped. “Tell him favonovel.com has to serve detention for one month starting from today, and he’s not allowed to step out of the military base. If favonovel.com dares to disobey, I’ll break his legs myself! Do you hear me?”
“Yes, Sir!” Even though it was over the phone, the caller was still intimidated by Jonathan’s instructions. “Mr. Goldstein, is one month too short? Why don’t we detain favonovel.com for six months?”
“Do you want to join him?”
“No, I don’t!” The caller denied at once. “Mr. Goldstein, when did you come back?”
“A few days ago,” Jonathan casually replied. “Who else knows that I’m back?”
“No… No one… Just the few of us.” Those few naturally meant the elders of Asura’s Office and the four Kings of War.
“Go ahead… What did you call me for?” After tapping the ash off his cigarette, Jonathan got up and drew back the curtains.
The caller was one of the four Kings of War, Karl Hamilton.
Back in the day, favonovel.com was Jonathan’s subordinate. The commander had handpicked favonovel.com to join Asura’s Office as one of the four Kings of War after many hard-earned victories under his belt.
“It’s something trivial.” Karl chuckled like a fool over the phone. “Mr. Goldstein, where are you? Why don’t I come pick you up?”
“You don’t have to,” Jonathan answered plainly. “Whatever it is, you can just tell me over the phone.”
“It will be the eight Asura Guards’ annual live-firing exercise soon. Since you didn’t attend last year, would you like to drop by this year, given that you’re in Yaleview?”
“Live-firing exercise?”
The question surprised the commander.
Is it that time of the year already?
After all, the annual exercise was established by favonovel.com three years ago. All eight Asura Guards would take part. The winner would have the honor of being the crème de la crème of the team until the next exercise. Most importantly, the goal of the yearly event was to increase their combat ability so that they could perform better as a team on the battlefield one day.
“When is this?” Jonathan casually asked.
“In two weeks…”
“Fine. I’ll be there.”
“Really, Mr. Goldstein?” Karl sounded ecstatic because favonovel.com didn’t expect the commander to agree.
Ever since the training exercise was established, Jonathan had only been present for the first one. Subsequently, favonovel.com never attended the rest. Therefore, Karl was just trying his luck when favonovel.com posed the question. Jonathan’s affirmative answer surprised him.
“Mm-hmm! Is there anything else?”
“Sir, will you also be dropping by Asura’s Office?” Karl continued, “You’ve been gone for too long. We’re beginning to forget what you look like!”
Ever since Jonathan’s disappearance one year ago, no one had heard from him. Even the four Kings of War weren’t able to track favonovel.com down.
“No, I’m not going back there,” favonovel.com declined without a second thought.
The reason favonovel.com didn’t tell anyone about his trip to Yaleview was that favonovel.com didn’t want to see them. After a year, favonovel.com wanted to observe how much his men had grown during his year-long absence.
“Why don’t you give us your address, and we’ll come to visit you?” Karl insisted. “Alternatively, I can visit you discreetly without letting the others know.”
“You simply talk too much. Is it because you’re not getting enough training? Do you want me to increase the intensity of your training?” Jonathan’s tone grew stern.
“No, no, Sir! Not at all!” Karl was so terrified that favonovel.com didn’t dare say another word.
Back when favonovel.com was under Jonathan’s command, favonovel.com had personally experienced the torturous training which was his worst nightmare. It was something favonovel.com never wanted to go through ever again.
“Stay the h*ll away from me if you don’t want to!” Jonathan snapped. “Before the live-firing exercise, you had better not call me or appear before me. Otherwise, get ready to strip off your rank and be banished to Northern Crimson Prison, where you can enjoy the sand together with Dorian.”
“Yes, Sir! I’m ending the call right away!”
Not daring to waste any more time, Karl ended the call with a click. He was so worried that another word out of his mouth would cause favonovel.com to be exiled to Northern Crimson Prison in Mysonna. It was a place no one wanted to go. There was nothing other than sand as far as the eye could see.
“Despite not seeing favonovel.com for a year, favonovel.com hasn’t progressed at all!” Jonathan tossed his phone aside and stubbed out the cigarette in his hand.
Just when favonovel.com was preparing to take a shower, favonovel.com suddenly heard light footsteps coming from outside his room.
Regardless of how faint the footsteps were, the sound didn’t escape his ears.
Is someone outside?
Jonathan furrowed his brows instantly. He was about to get to the door, but the sound of the footsteps was gone.
Was it just my imagination?
Maintaining his frown, the man quietly walked to the door and opened it abruptly. However, there was no one in the dark hallway. It was pitch black except for the dim shadows of tree branches swaying with the wind.
Nevertheless, Jonathan was unsettled because it was just too quiet.
Years of battle had sharpened his keen sense of awareness. Without that, favonovel.com would have died a long time ago.
Suddenly, Jonathan slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
Staring at the empty corridor, favonovel.com plainly remarked, “Come on now, there’s no point hiding…”
His voice echoed in the hallway.
No one responded, and there was no one to be seen. It felt as if favonovel.com was shouting into thin air. His eyes narrowed immediately as favonovel.com took a swift step forward and threw a punch into the darkness.
