Thirteenth General

159 Thirteenth General

His words struck like thunder.

Even Skyler Grant's expression hardened.

Karim Shaheen had already wreaked havoc in Vancouver, and now they were accusing his recommended candidate of Vancouver General of being another Karim Shaheen. This was essentially calling him senile and blind to his face.

However, in this situation, the old man remained silent.

He remained silent because there was nothing he could say—he couldn't defend someone he'd only met twice.

Moreover, the reason why he brought this up, besides wanting to show off his discerning eye, was because someone else had vouched for him.

Chloe sank back into her seat with resignation. She didn't care if the accusations were true. Given Cascadia's desperate situation, what did it matter how someone had gained their power if they were willing to lend their strength?

But now that the issue had been raised—now that the seed of doubt had been sown—it could not be ignored.

She asked listlessly, "What evidence do you have?"

The Salem General said in a deep voice, "There is no evidence, but he has grown too fast."

"Ridiculous. If there's no evidence, there should at least be a reason, right?" Chloe sneered and shook her head, mocking, "Even Moonfeather died at his hands. He's a great vampire? What is he plotting?"

"What is he plotting?" The Salem General was not afraid of this Gold Bell Vampire Hunter. He looked over smugly. "For example, gaining the trust of H.A.R.M., and when the Admiral and the Blood Moon Vampire King are facing off, coming to the Admiral's side and stabbing him with a crucial blow. Can you bear the consequences?"

"I would like to know—who among those present dares to take this responsibility?" He swept his gaze across the room, his voice cold.

Rose was completely lost. She just wanted to recommend John to her master, but in a few words, John Kane had gone from being a temporary general to a great vampire who could threaten the Admiral.

Just as everyone was silent, a cold and calm voice came from the first seat on the left.

"I do!"

Aisha Patani, a vision in black armor, had been a silent observer throughout the proceedings, her presence almost forgotten amidst the heated debate.

But now, she emerged from the shadows, her sleek mid-night dark hair framing a face of striking beauty. Her clear eyes, usually cool and composed, held an unfathomable depth, a hint of steel beneath the surface.

She casually stood up and said coolly, "Any other questions?"

Theodore Montgomery's eyelids flickered, but he remained silent.

The other generals exchanged glances and also remained silent. The Salem General let out a sigh and wordlessly shoved the file back into his briefcase.

"If there are no further questions, this meeting is adjourned," Aisha Patani said with a slight nod as she walked toward the main entrance.

Her tall, lithe figure cast a captivating silhouette against the backdrop of the grand hall, standing imposing in the chilling black armor, the scarlet cloak swaying gently behind her.

"..."

The H.A.R.M. generals instinctively rose from their seats, only to freeze awkwardly when they realized the Admiral remained seated.

Theodore waved his hand dismissively. "Why are you all looking at me? If she says to adjourn, then we adjourn."

He looked at the back of his second disciple, his feelings grew more complex. His curiosity was piqued by the name that had come up so often in their discussion.

What kind of person was he, to make these generals, who usually remained unfazed, argue so rarely, and even involve Aisha?

"Well then…" Albany Laurent seemed to have gotten used to his junior sister's cool demeanor. He shook his head gently. Sure enough, the two young people had met... The Sun-Shattering Bow was as good as gone.

The Salem General's heart felt heavy. Nothing more he could say would carry the same weight as Aisha Patani's casual statement.

The reason was simple: she was Cascadia's only hope. Her approval alone would render any questions about Kane's supposed vampire identity meaningless.

At that moment, Rose stepped out from behind her master, her face flushed with indignation. "John cannot be a vampire!" she exclaimed. "He mastered the Harmonious Quartet in mere days! If vampires possessed such extraordinary talent, they would have overrun all twelve cities of Cascadia long ago!"

"Senior Sister wouldn't defend him if she wasn't absolutely certain! She believes in him!" The girl clenched her fists.

Max Vierkant also stepped forward. Though intimidated by the assembled generals, he maintained his composure. "He mastered Shadow Touch in just five days... Colonel Kane is truly a genius."

Vampires typically relied on their supernatural powers and innate abilities. If they could also master martial arts with such extraordinary talent... that would be really terrifying.

It took Karim Shaheen more than a hundred years to learn the martial arts of Crown Mountain. And he still relied on his demonic cultivation to establish his reputation.

Kane, however, was different. He had mastered two of the Admiral's secret techniques. These techniques couldn't have been leaked beforehand—there was no way he could have practiced them in advance.

He had simply flipped through the manuals in front of them and then mastered techniques within days.

His extraordinary talent made it impossible for him to be a vampire.

If he were truly a vampire, it would mean the Admiral himself was complicit in this deception.

… …

Theodore Montgomery suddenly noticed the suspicious gazes of H.A.R.M. generals directed at him.

He cleared his throat and said softly, "Never mind. Someone needs to help share General Grant's responsibilities. Open the internal armory and prepare a set of Armor of the Faithful for our new general."

Upon hearing this, Rose calmed down, but then she suddenly felt that something was amiss.

Wait a minute—hadn't she come here to recommend John as a disciple to her master?

How had he become a H.A.R.M. general?

She widened her eyes in disbelief.

"..."

Ten minutes later, the previously quiet H.A.R.M. headquarters erupted into bustling activity.

Almost all the agents, captains, majors, colonels, and lieutenant generals rushed out.

They gazed at the open internal armory where more than twenty personal attendant lieutenant generals—each bearing distinct silver patterns on their collars—moved in perfect unison around General Skyler Grant at their center.

In General Grant's hands, a brand-new set of black armor gleamed ominously, accompanied by a scarlet cloak that rippled like a blood-stained banner.

Before today, there were only twelve sets of such attire in the entire Cascadia.

Skyler Grant took two steps, then abruptly halted. "By the way, where is my personal attendant?"

He suddenly realized that Kane, who was assigned as his guard for the day, had not been seen at all.

"..."

The gathered crowd exchanged bewildered glances.

It was unprecedented for Cascadia to appoint a temporary general, and now they couldn't even locate him?

Chloe stood with her hands behind her back, clearly disgruntled. She felt as though a master had been stolen from the Vampire Hunters. Even more frustrating was that before his departure, he had used up all of the Cascadia Vampire Hunter's Martial Abbey Cleansing opportunities. Why? Were Vampire Hunters somehow lesser than H.A.R.M. generals?

Under a distant tree, Theodore Montgomery sat with a smile on his face. Before him stood a graceful woman with an elegant bearing and mature charm.

The person they were discussing was the girl in light armor beside them.

Aisha Patani gazed calmly at the sky, a hint of weariness flickering across her elegant features.