Chapter 82: The Rescue Mission Begins

"Of course, why else would I call you?" Elias's voice brimmed with fury, barely restrained as his emotions teetered on the edge of losing control. Yet, amidst Marcellus's growing frustration, Elias caught a fleeting trace of panic in his brother's tone. His heart sank. Quickly, he pressed on, "Stop pretending. Are you seriously saying Livia isn't in the castle now?"

On the other end of the line, Marcellus's tightly drawn expression faltered. He paused, as if realizing something, his voice low and filled with suspicion. "Could this be a ploy? Are you trying to make me believe she's gone so you can hide her whereabouts?"

Elias let out a cold laugh, suppressing his own turmoil, his tone sharp and cutting. "We've been brothers for years. Don't you know me by now? If I were setting a trap, do you think you'd realize it so easily? And let's get one thing straight—if Livia were under my protection, no one, not even you, could harm her. I wouldn't need to deceive you."

Marcellus's brows furrowed tighter. The situation seemed far more convoluted than he had anticipated. Still, he remained composed. "Or you could be putting on a show, using your words to throw me off and obscure her real location."

"Ridiculous!" Elias's anger surged again, his voice almost a roar. "Don't forget—she left today disguised as a man. Besides you and me, who else could possibly recognize her? If I wanted to hide her, do you think I'd need to go to such lengths to mislead you? Or…" He leaned closer to his suspicion, his voice laden with accusation, "Or are you the one pulling the strings? Did you imprison her somewhere, cutting her off from the outside world just to force her to help you find the 'Holy Grail'?"

Marcellus was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his tone was low, tinged with both irritation and a sliver of unease. "If I were the mastermind, do you think I'd be foolish enough to let you figure it out? And I certainly wouldn't call you, giving you a chance to catch any slip-ups. If I really wanted to act, I'd have already sent people to take her from you. Why bother with this charade? Do you think your forces could stop my trained men?"

Elias hesitated briefly, momentarily shaken. He knew Marcellus wasn't one for such crude tactics. Still, he couldn't completely let his guard down. "That doesn't rule out the possibility that you're pretending not to act while secretly orchestrating her abduction. You're no stranger to subtle schemes."

"Think whatever you like," Marcellus retorted, his patience wearing thin. Beneath his irritation, however, was an undeniable edge of urgency. "It doesn't matter whether you believe me or not. The fact remains—something has happened to Livia. Arguing over who's more suspicious is pointless. What's important is finding her, now. Once we do, the truth will come to light."

Elias took a deep breath. Despite lingering doubts, he knew this wasn't the time for mutual suspicion. His tone was icy, but resolute. "Fine. I'll mobilize my people to investigate. This matter will have a resolution soon enough."

"Then act quickly," Marcellus replied curtly, his voice betraying an underlying tension.

Both men fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Marcellus clenched his fists, his mind racing with questions: Who could have targeted Livia? And how had they seen through her disguise? Meanwhile, Elias was sifting through possibilities, torn between his distrust of Marcellus and the likelihood of other forces being involved.

As the seconds ticked by, the air grew heavier with tension and unease. Both men understood that this was no longer a simple game. Livia's fate now hung precariously in the balance.

Breaking the silence, Marcellus spoke first, his tone hard yet laced with urgency. "We need to pinpoint when she left. You said she was returning home. What time did she depart?"

Elias answered without hesitation. "She left around 7 p.m. By all accounts, she should have arrived at your castle within an hour. The route is straightforward—there's no reason for any delays."

Marcellus's brows furrowed deeper as he calculated. His voice was cold and sharp. "It's already past 9 p.m. by now. She should've been here long ago. Even with minor complications, there's no way the trip would take this long."

"Exactly!" Elias's voice rose, tinged with growing anxiety. "Before she left, she made it clear that she was heading straight home—no detours, no other destinations. This means she must have been intercepted en route or met with some kind of accident."

Marcellus fell silent, contemplating the possibilities. After a moment, he spoke with grim determination. "There are only two main roads from your place to the castle. Which one did she take?"

"The eastern route. It's wider and safer," Elias replied immediately.

"That's just like her," Marcellus muttered, a hint of self-recrimination creeping into his voice. "She always chooses the safer option, but that also makes her an easier target."

After another brief silence, the two reached an unspoken agreement. Setting aside their animosity, they focused on mapping out the routes and identifying potential ambush points.