Lara knew like William that danger wasn't over. He was inside the corridor leading to the Lost City, entrapped there, unable to get out through any door.
William tried to open all the doors here, not knowing which one led to Lara's place. But he was willing to take the risk. Appearing out of nowhere, even in the middle of hostile lands, was something that'd take his enemies by surprise.
He planned that during the commotion of his sudden appearance, he'd slip through and make a run for his life towards Lara's portal area. However, he was depressed to find out that he was unable to open a single door.
He guessed that these doors must be opened by something like a key or something. He managed to slip here as he already saw how the merchants did it before. As he got entrapped, he got two options, either to go into the Lost City and hide himself there, or to ask help from Lara.
As he was sure his enemies included many of the Vancouf family, also wanting him dead, he decided to not risk going into a place filled with tons of Vancouf masters.
If he did, he might survive after fighting a little, but the consequences would be severe. He'd have to fight for his life, activating all the formations, and ending up with a huge massacre.
Lots of the Vancouf family members would fall in this attack. And even if he'd keep his head intact, he'd turn the Vancouf family against him. Like this, he'd lose everything he struggled to build so far in the city.
It was a tough choice, and he made up his mind to wait for Lara in the corridor. If things went south, and they indeed did, then he'd have no other choice but to go to the Lost City.
[Issue an order, make all the masters of the Vancouf family hide inside defensive arrays. Make sure you state it clear that all Vancouf members will stay away from this clash, or else whoever dies has no one to blame but themselves]
"Sure… Just hang in…"
"Hi cousin, how are you doing today?"
Just before she'd continued speaking with William, even before she'd continued her words, she froze in her place motionless when she opened the door.
In front of her, the distasteful face of Richard appeared with a smug and very irritating smile on his face.
"You… What are you doing here?" she said in a tone that was filled with tons of enmity.
"What else? I have lots of things to ask you about, I'm going to take the lead after you leave. And frankly, I don't get most of the things going on in the family and city," he laughed, shamelessly acting as if he didn't know anything about what was going on out there with William or being the mastermind behind all this.
"Not now," she didn't change the hostile look on her face, not even when Richard showed a very innocent expression on his, "go and ask Stark for anything you want, I'm busy."
She was about to get out and pass him, yet he stopped her by placing his arm firmly over, blocking her path forward.
"This…" she looked at him with more aggression, and he didn't change that smug look and smile on his face.
"Sorry cousin, but Stark hates me."
"And whose fault is this?" she rolled her eyes, "if Stark won't help, then ask you master, Larry. Aren't you his dog or something?"
"Cousin, come on! Don't be this harsh on me," he said, but this act of innocence wouldn't trick her.
"Then I have to ask you to leave," she moved to close the door, deciding to wait until he'd leave before going to rescue William. But the door got blocked by Richard's foot.
"Cousin, please… Don't make this any harder for me," he said and meant something entirely different. And she got what he wanted to really say, got what he wanted to do by being here.
"Screw you!" she instantly held a Message Paper in her hands, "This is an order from your leader… Agh!"
Just before she'd continued relaying the order, and in such a brief moment of rashness, she lowered her guard. And then she felt something hitting her belly hard.
"Agh!" Richard kicked her fiercely, showing a strength that never matched what was known about him.
Her body flew in the air, landed on the ground in the middle of her room. Richard stepped inside, took something out while shaking off his head.
"Oh cousin, you don't know how truly I admire and like you. Why did you have to stand on that outsider's side? Don't worry, I won't kill you, not yet. You are going to have a long and nice nap. And when you are awake, you'll suffer tons of pain. I heard this potion vapour can make one scratch out his skin with his nails out of immense pain, and even dig his muscles and organs out. Of course, I got the antidote, so it's fine for me but not for you, hahahaha!"
At this moment, Richard showed the real face of his. He took a bottle out. And as he spoke, he smashed it on the ground, releasing tons of black smoke that started to fade fast in the place.
eaglesnov?1,сoМ "When you wake up, come and look for me. I won't say no to another obedient hot girl in my bed, hahahaha! Ah, that kid you liked this much, that damn outsider… He is going to die by the time you will regain your consciousness. Right now, the entire city is looking for him. And even our forces inside the city will attack him. So, drop any idea of resistance, you are already doomed the moment you stood against me."
Richard went outside while laughing and closed the door. Once he got out, he returned to put the same innocent mask over his face. He gave her a long look before he closed the door and went on his way in a great mood.
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