Chapter 1468 Arthur's Fury: Wolf of Layos
Nysa's inquiry was being conducted by Arthur in his briefing room.
The holographic display showcasing Nysa's background revealed that she had graduated in the same year as the Edinnica Battle, placing her in the same generation as Arthur's late son, Jason Renar. As he absorbed this information, memories resurfaced, and his demeanor softened somewhat. Recognizing her age alignment with Jason's, Arthur felt inclined to minimize any undue hardship, if possible.
Anticipating Arthur's query, Nysa had come prepared with a response. In answer to his question, she retrieved an array disk from her ID Storage and positioned it prominently on Arthur's desk. Returning to her previous posture, she began speaking
"Your Highness Arthur, kindly review the contents of this array disk. It has a recording of a man I encountered within the Layos battalion I engaged," Nysa conveyed in a neutral tone, prompting Arthur to access the visual data stored within the array disk.
Arthur's brows lifted at Nysa's words. Activating the array disk, he sought to understand the rationale behind her actions. As he delved into its contents, his expression shifted.
"This... this motherfucker... was present during your attack on the battalion?" Arthur's formidable Grandmaster-level presence began to emanate, causing the desk before him to creak, and the room's safety enchantments to activate abruptly, warding against his overwhelming emotional turmoil.
Exposed to the fierce intensity of Arthur's aura, Nysa was almost physically forced to her knees, overwhelmed by the sheer force of his emotions.
Arthur's fleeting surge of anger stemmed from laying eyes on someone he detested even more than the notorious Osan Woods' Butcher. The array disk Nysa presented to him captured the brief visage of Adam Loyroost.
Adam Loyroost, a Layos spy deeply embedded within Edinburgh, had served under Arthur Renar's command for an extensive period. Employing the polyjuice potion, Adam had assumed the persona of Jaime Lancaster, thereby gaining Arthur's trust.
Under the guise of Jaime, Adam had been dispatched by Arthur to probe into the enigma of the Osan Woods' Butcher. He had even sworn loyalty to Arthur despite serving as an LA professor.
However, the truth behind this facade only emerged during the Edinnica Arena battle, when Arthur discovered that Jaime was an elaborate ruse, concocted by Adam to exploit Edinburgh's resources from within.
But Adam's transgressions extended beyond this deception. He played a pivotal role in broadcasting the manipulated footage of Sansara World 1.0. Arthur first thought that Jaime was concealing Jason's identity as a demonic Ranker with the manipulated footage. By the time the duke learned of Adam's identity, Jason was already dead.
Adam had masterfully orchestrated Arthur's belief in Jason's survival till it was too late. Thus, in the end, Arthur was unable to take action against Jason's killer– Ivor Osan who Arthue believed to be the Osan Woods' Butcher
Adam's motives weren't personal vendettas against Arthur or Jason. Instead, his actions were motivated by his desire to safeguard Layos' aspirations for Sansara World 1.0. Adam adamantly rejected the label of "traitor," asserting his lack of loyalty to Arthur or Edinburgh from the start.
Adam's had clashed with Lin and Linda. Managing to evade Sage Garos Renar's intervention, he slipped away from the tumultuous Edinnican Arena, later reemerging in Layos as a celebrated hero. His feats earned him the moniker "Wolf of Layos," a title highlighting his cunning and courage in deceiving even the enemy duke.
Adam's growing fame within Layos only fueled Arthur's sense of humiliation and fury. Each mention of Adam's name felt like a daily slap on his face to the Duke of Edinburgh, a continuous reminder of his powerlessness. Therefore, encountering Adam's fleeting image on Nysa's array disk was like salt on an open wound for Arthur, leading to an instantaneous outburst of temper.
This wasn't the first instance of Arthur's emotions spiraling out of control in such a manner. The last time his office suffered the brunt of his unbridled rage, he had been confronting the Earl of House Riverine.
Arthur's inclination toward quick anger and temper flare-ups had hardly waned, despite the profound lessons he'd learned from the war and his son's tragic death. Although these experiences had undoubtedly imparted wisdom, they hadn't tamed his propensity for anger.
Nonetheless, Arthur retained his grasp on reason, even when consumed by fury. He had grown adept at reining in his emotions, often as rapidly as he'd lost control.
In the wake of the incident, Arthur acknowledged his lapse and took a moment to regain composure. He approached Nysa in a more restrained manner, apologizing for his outburst and explaining his connection to Adam.
As he deactivated the array disk to eliminate Adam's infuriating visage from his view, Arthur confessed the history between them, his voice tinged with exasperation.
Turning his attention back to Nysa, Arthur pressed on with a more collected tone. He questioned whether her assault on the Layos battalion was motivated by her knowledge of his interest in capturing Adam.
With a nod, Nysa acknowledged Arthur's inquiry, her gaze avoiding direct contact with his eyes. She spoke cautiously, her voice measured.
"Indeed, Your Highness Arthur. You had instructed us to engage this man upon sighting him and had assured your readiness to assume accountability for any potential operational complications resulting from the engagement.
Although this order was issued a decade back, since there was no change in the order given to me, I proceeded to assume that the order was still valid and took action," Nysa explained in a composed manner. Subsequently, she delved into a detailed account of her encounter with Adam, recounting her experience in a steady narrative.
Nysa led a group comprising not only her own squad but also three additional squads. Their path converged with the returning Layos battalion, fresh from securing a recently contested region.
This encounter unfolded within the unclaimed neutral forest area, lying beyond the jurisdictions of either kingdom. In a move that defied official authorization, Nysa boldly issued a challenge to the opposing battalion before plunging into the confrontation.
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AN: Jaime first reveals his real identity as Adam Loyroost in chapter 1150. Adam dupes Arthur with fake broadcasting of Sansara World 2.0 in chapters 1151 and 1154.
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