Chapter 305 The Bait to Lure the Enemy into the Trap
"It's not that I want you to step down—you have no choice but to step down now." Knox pointed at those impassioned guards and said, "Do you really think that in this situation, even if you insist on staying in this position, they'll follow you?"
That was definitely impossible.
If his subordinates refused to obey him, then he certainly wouldn't be able to do his job.
Ollie was furious.
"Fine, since you're all forcing me to resign, I don't want this position anyway!"
He angrily threw up his hands and stormed off in a rage, looking extremely aggrieved.
Isabella watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but curl her lips in a good mood.
——
At the same time.
On one side of the castle's third floor.
Patrick sat at a chess table with an unfinished game laid out before him.
He toyed with the chess pieces, his shrewd old eyes full of calculation.
Uriah came before Patrick. "I heard Gwyneth has decided to set off for Regal City."
"Looks like the news we had people spread has reached her ears."
Patrick stroked his chin, his eyes heavy with murderous intent. "Once Gwyneth leaves this time, I'll make sure she never comes back!"
"Patrick, is Verity actually in Regal City or not?" Uriah asked.
Patrick let out a cold laugh. "The news we spread isn't false. Verity is indeed in Regal City."
"Then..."
Before Uriah could say anything, Patrick glanced at him. "Do you think Gwyneth can be a match for Verity?"
Uriah: "Hard to say."
If Gwyneth were only an ancient martial arts professional, she naturally wouldn't be a match for Verity. But if her hypnosis skills had also reached their peak, she might be able to fight Verity.
This was probably also why Gwyneth decided to set off for Regal City.
After all, Gwyneth practiced both disciplines. If it really came down to a life-or-death fight, it was hard to say who would win or lose.
Patrick held a chess piece and moved it straight toward the opposing "king."
His eyes flickered with intense interest. "But what if it's not just Verity waiting for her in Regal City?"
Uriah's expression changed. "You mean..."
"That's right. I've already reached an agreement with The Whispering Sect." Patrick's eyes gleamed. "Six top fighters from The Whispering Sect will help me kill Gwyneth and help me seize the position of head of the Powell family!"
Verity was merely bait to lure her into the trap.
Uriah's eyes widened as he said, "But those people from The Whispering Sect..."
"So what?" Patrick sneered, his eyes full of determination. "As long as I become the head of the Powell family, what's wrong with working with The Whispering Sect?"
"If anyone's to blame, it's Gwyneth for being too obsessed. She's so fixated on avenging her father's death that hatred has blinded her and made her lose her reason."
"Then..." Uriah hesitated before saying, "What about Lyndon Hubbard..."
"Go notify Lyndon that Gwyneth is setting off for Regal City. Once Gwyneth is dead, the date for the next king's election can be moved up. When that time comes, the position of king will be his for sure."
"Yes."
——
The main hall of the Powell family castle.
First floor conference room.
Around a thirty-foot-long table sat seven elders and dozens of core members holding important positions in the family.
Gwyneth sat in the center seat, with an old man in white robes standing beside her.
The white-robed elder stood next to Gwyneth, eyes half-closed, motionless.
"I've gathered the elders here to announce two things."
Gwyneth got straight to the point: "The first thing is, I plan to take Isabella as my disciple..."
Before Gwyneth could finish, the people below immediately started discussing among themselves.
Some people didn't even know who this Isabella was.
Patrick was especially agitated. He stood up directly. "Ms. Powell, you can't be joking with us? What's her background? She's neither royalty nor one of us from the Powell family. If you take someone of unknown identity as your disciple, what will others think when word gets out?"
He thought Gwyneth making this decision was no different from going crazy.
The other elders were also puzzled, with someone even asking: "Ms. Powell, what's this Isabella's background? Why have I never heard her name before?"
"Perfect timing—let me introduce her to everyone."
Gwyneth went with the flow and had someone bring Isabella in.
Isabella entered and stood on Gwyneth's right side.
"This is Isabella." Gwyneth introduced her.
Efren's gaze fell on Isabella, and he narrowed his eyes slightly.
How is it her?
When did Gwyneth meet her?
Efren had barely been at the castle recently and was completely unaware of what was happening around Gwyneth. He didn't even know how this girl he'd seen before came to know Gwyneth.
The people at the conference table all stared at Isabella and started discussing.
"I object!" an elder said. "If Ms. Powell takes a disciple, she should at least choose someone from within the clan!"
"That's right, I object too! The master-disciple relationship, once established, lasts a lifetime and carries great significance. As the head of the Powell family, you absolutely cannot establish such a relationship with someone of unknown origins!"
"Ms. Powell, please reconsider. We don't know this person at all. If you rashly take her as your disciple, I'm afraid it will bring you trouble."
"..."
Seeing everyone object, Gwyneth wasn't surprised at all.
She had expected this.
Gwyneth waited for them to finish speaking, then said casually: "That's right. An elder just said that the master-disciple relationship, once established, lasts a lifetime. So it's not that I want to take her as my disciple—I'm here to tell everyone that Isabella is my long-lost disciple. Because she and I established our master-disciple relationship over ten years ago. She came to Novaria alone just to find me."
"What?"
Hearing this, everyone at the table widened their eyes in disbelief.
Even Isabella looked completely confused.
What did Gwyneth mean by this?
She had been her master over ten years ago?
Could it be that her missing master... was Gwyneth?
Just then, Rodolfo spoke up: "Ms. Powell, we find your words hard to understand. Please explain clearly."
"That's right, Ms. Powell. What does this mean exactly? What's this girl's background?"
Gwyneth's gaze swept over everyone as she calmly explained: "Everyone knows that after I ran away from home, I lost my memory and forgot what happened during those twenty years away. I've been searching for my lost memories all along."
"Efren invited Lester to treat me. Lester's prescription was different from previous doctors'. After taking it, it was indeed effective, and my memory has been gradually returning..."
The elders were shocked to hear this. "What? Ms. Powell, you've recovered your memory?"
Gwyneth coughed lightly twice. "Not completely, but I've started remembering some things."
She pointed at Isabella. "And because of the Whitley family matter, I happened to see Isabella and indeed remembered that she's the disciple I took on while I was away. Her martial arts techniques all came from me. On this point, please feel free to verify, elders."
"I don't believe it!"
Patrick snorted coldly, stood up, and strode toward Isabella, staring at her intently. "Ms. Powell says your martial arts techniques were all taught by her! Are you sure?"
Isabella: "..."
I'm not sure.
Damn it, what was Gwyneth trying to do? Was what she just said made up on the spot?
Was Gwyneth really her missing master? Why did she feel like Gwyneth was a bit unreliable?
However, before Isabella could say anything, Patrick made his move. "If that's the case, then let me test whether you're lying or not!"
Patrick swung his palm directly at Isabella.