Chapter 129 Henry's Identity

"What do you mean?" Kenny asked, bewildered.

"General Beckett is implying that besides him, you've got me to deal with," a voice came from a nearby barracks.

Out strode an officer well into his fifties, looking somewhat weary but still moving with a commanding presence.

Kenny and Marcus turned pale when they saw who it was.

"Harold?!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Indeed, that’s me," Harold said calmly, standing next to Kenny's fallen figure with a look of amusement on his face. "Generals, I bet you didn't expect our reunion to be under these circumstances."

"Harold, have you lost your mind? In the past, Beckett didn't even show you respect. If you don't help us, it's fine, but why are you helping him?" Kenny's disbelief was palpable. "Once the Second Division and Third Division are gone, the First Division will be next to fall into misfortune!"

"Of course not. My relationship with General Harold is much stronger than you might think!" Beckett recalled the indifferent figure of the young man, his heart skipping a beat. "No need for your attempts at manipulation You’re just wasting your breath. Order your men to disarm and stand down!"

Even with a winning hand, there was no need for needless bloodshed.

Besides, Henry had made it clear. keep it quiet. He couldn't let Ravinia City find out or it would ruin his surprise for them.

"Impossible!" Marcus knew very well that as long as his men outside were on guard, he and Kenny stood a chance of survival. If their men surrendered, both of them, as Generals, were as good as dead.

Seeing the inevitable defeat, Kenny became maniacal, "Come on, kill me if you dare! When I die, my men will revolt. I'll drag the Tiger Gang and all the soldiers of the First Division in Freton City down with me!"

"I don't care about my life anymore! Anyone who doesn't kill me is no grandson of mine!"

Harold and Beckett exchanged glances, both frowning.

If it weren't for Henry's orders, they would have dealt with Kenny right then and there.

"Grant his wish, let him die."

A voice came from the shadows, detached, as if the speaker had no concern for Kenny's life or death.

Hearing the voice, Beckett tensed and realized who was present.

Footsteps approached, and from the darkness emerged a group of four.

Henry walked in front, indifferent.

Directly behind him was Stefano, with a calm gaze.

Then there was the intimidating presence of the cold and deadly Stefano.

Phoenix, clad in red, alluring yet with icy-cold eyes.

"General!"

Beckett and Harold quickly fell to their knees in utter respect.

Within Beckett, there was a deep-seated fear.

Henry hadn't said he was coming, and Beckett hadn't ordered his men to prepare. Yet, here was Henry, quietly passing through his camp and appearing before him.

This only suggested two possibilities.

Either Henry and his party could become invisible, unseen by anyone.

Or, someone with high standing in the Tiger Gang had dismissed all the sentries!

Beckett was no fool, he knew the truth.

His fear of Henry had now grown.

He suddenly realized that in the presence of King Henry, the ruler of the Northern State, his position as the leader of the Tiger Gang was easily replaceable!

Henry waved a dismissive hand, beckoning the two to rise, “If Kenny here is so eager to court death, let's oblige him the courtesy.”

“What fools!” Kenny declared boldly, undeterred by the subservience of his underlings, Beckett and Harold. “My men are right outside. Any of you try anything, and you'll be going toe-to-toe with the ten thousand fiery souls of Freton City’s Second Army!”

“If I die, many will follow. They will join me in death!”

“I’d like to see who dares to strike me down!”

Nodding, Henry gestured to Beckett. “Come here, hand me the pistol.”

Beckett jogged over, lifting his holster flap to present the weapon with both hands.

Henry didn’t hesitate, pulling back the slide and taking aim at Kenny.

Cold sweat streamed down Kenny’s forehead, but clenching his teeth, he remained convinced that the young enigma wouldn’t dare pull the trigger.

His Second Army, and the Third, had cornered the Tiger Gang with plenty of contingencies in place, framing them as traitors.

The Tiger Gang didn’t have a clean reputation in Freton City, and surely no one would rise to their defense.

To take down the Second and Third armies, would be an act of treason in its purest form.

Without any reports from the powerful families, the boiling public sentiment alone would catch the attention of Ravinia City.

That’s without considering the sheer number of casualties in a clash between the four major legions.

“You won’t shoot!”

Kenny shouted; teeth still clenched.

Henry ignored him and squeezed the trigger.

Bang!

A scream pierced the air as the bullet destroyed Kenny’s ear. Agony surged, but under the effects of curare, he couldn’t move to cover the wound. He could only continue to shout incoherently.

“I knew it... I knew you wouldn’t kill me. You can’t handle that kind of heat!”

“Torture me all you want, it’s pointless. Fire one more shot, and I’ll make my men charge at you!”

“Idiot, come on then! Shoot me! Kill me!”

Henry frowned and tossed Beckett’s gun away. “What a piece of junk. I tried to fire one serious shot, and I’m not even used to it. I aimed for the head and hit the ear instead.”

Beckett winced; that was a custom piece, worth a pretty penny, not just some junk.

If that’s junk, then what’s a good gun?

“Phoenix, give me your piece. I want to try it out.”

Phoenix made an affirming grunt, flipping her wrist and handing over her delicate little pistol, no larger than her palm.

Beckett was taken aback, questioning if this toy-like object could truly be a formidable firearm.

"Trying to scare me with that peashooter? Who do you think you're fooling?!" Kenny blurted out with a mocking laugh. "Go back to playing in the sandbox, kid."

Without hesitation, Henry raised his arm and fired a shot.

"Bang!"

"Missed again. My shooting skills have gotten rusty. Need to practice and get back on track." Henry shook his head, then smiled. "Though with this particular gun, precision isn't quite as critical."

The bullet whisked past Kenny's neck, narrowly missing him before slamming into the ground and leaving a sizable crater.

As for Kenny, everything above his lungs, including his entire head, erupted into a cloud of blood mist the instant the bullet grazed by.

Beckett's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Is that a handgun?"

Upon Kenny's abrupt demise, the now terrified deputies behind him scrambled to their communication devices, planning to inform their forces that the General was dead, and it was time to fight for their lives.

Yet, a single sentence from Henry froze them in their tracks, leaving them standing motionless for a long time.

"I am Henry, but I also have another title, King Henry, sovereign of the North State," Henry's voice was chilling. "I don't mind if you take action; getting rid of all of you is of no consequence. However, consider this carefully, do you want to avenge Kenny?"

"You have three seconds to give me an answer. Otherwise, Kenny's fate will befall the entirety of your second and third armies."