Chapter 740

chapter740

The operative’s eyes widened in shock. As he tried to force his blade forward, he felt an invisible, swirling force take hold of his wrist. It wasn't a static block; it was as if his arm had been caught in a gentle yet irresistible vortex, gradually rotating his wrist and neutralizing his momentum.

If he didn't yield, the sheer torque of the technique threatened to overwhelm his joints.

“Hyaah!” Seeing his companion neutralized, a burly operative lunged from the right, swinging a heavy tactical baton.

Alfred’s right hand moved with the same deceptive fluidity. Once again, employing a technique resembling a feather countering a ton, he redirected the strike at the precise moment of impact. Like the first man, the burly attacker found himself caught in an invisible current, his own strength being turned against him in a confusing display of high-level martial arts.

“Do not let him regroup!” The remaining two operatives charged, targeting multiple angles simultaneously. Their movements were ferocious, the calculated strikes of trained predators.

Felicity watched from the shadows, her body trembling with a mixture of fear and adrenaline. “Mr. Grishaw, why must you be so stubborn?” she whispered, her voice quivering. “I did not want it to come to this... but you left me no choice.”

In the eyes of an ordinary observer, it was impossible for one elderly man to defeat four elite specialists. It seemed Alfred’s fate was sealed.

Yet, in that critical moment, Alfred’s hands traced delicate circles in the air, as if drawing invisible patterns. A potent force pulsed through him, radiating a calm authority. The two men closest to him suddenly found themselves losing their footing, as if the ground beneath them had turned to water.

They tried to stand firm, but the momentum of their own attacks, amplified by Alfred’s redirection, sent them stumbling. With a controlled, rhythmic motion, Alfred extended his palms. The four operatives were thrown back by the sheer kinetic energy of the maneuver, crashing against the corridor wall with a dull thud.

Felicity was dumbfounded. She stood frozen, her gaze fixed on the elderly man. For a long moment, she couldn't find her voice.

She saw it now—the subtle shifts in his stance, the focused aura swirling around him. This was no mere rumor; Alfred Grishaw was indeed a martial arts grandmaster of the highest order. He had trained champions and led legends, and tonight, he had shown why he was the ultimate anchor of the Quillen estate.

“Ah...” Alfred let out a long, weary sigh. “Madam, over these past two decades, I have watched you grow from an idealistic bride to the distinguished woman you are today. It was my sincere hope that you would find a way to reconcile with the family. Before this disturbance reaches a point of no return, I implore you to depart.”

Felicity bit her lip, her expression a chaotic swirl of resentment and realization. “Do not expect gratitude, Mr. Grishaw. You have chosen your side, and I have chosen mine. I will reclaim what belongs to my husband’s legacy, no matter the cost.”

With those final, defiant words, Felicity turned and disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.

Only after her footsteps faded did Alfred activate his communicator, notifying Logan to secure the area and handle the aftermath.

In the master bedroom of the mansion, Terence Quillen had been awake all night, his gaze fixed on the moonlight filtering through the window. When Alfred finally entered, hands tucked into his sleeves, Terence let out a long-held breath.

“Has she left?” Terence asked quietly.

“Yes. I allowed her to depart,” Alfred answered with a nod.

Terence closed his eyes. “Perhaps the mistake was made twenty years ago. I should have foreseen that such a union would eventually lead to this fracture.”

“Regret is a hollow pursuit now, Old Mr. Quillen,” Alfred said, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Our priority must be the protection of those two items. If they were to fall into the hands of those who prioritize power over peace, the consequences would be global.”

Terence nodded slowly. “Indeed. That is why the ‘Heart of the Sun’ has remained hidden for so long. But I am aware that I cannot guard these secrets forever.”

“We are entering the twilight of our years,” Alfred agreed softly. “It is time to look toward the future. The weight of this responsibility must eventually pass to someone with the strength and the heart to carry it.”

The two old friends shared a look of mutual understanding. As Terence sat in the silence of his room, the image of Emmanuel appeared in his mind. When he had chosen the young man to join the Quillen family, he had seen more than just a partner for Mackenzie. He had seen a protector—someone capable of guarding the legacy that the rest of the world wasn't yet ready to see.