Chapter 495 (+25 Bonus)

At Hell Monarch Estate, Carissa helped Rafael pack, her expression worried.

“Why don’t I go with you? I’m not comfortable with you going alone.”

“I won’t be alone. I’ll have Dylan and Jacob with me. You should stay behind to handle Kiera’s wedding arrangements. Besides, Ryan will be going to the academy soon.”

“How is Jacob’s martial prowess?” Carissa wasn’t very familiar with Jacob. Although he was an important figure in the estate, he often seemed inconspicuous.

“He’s average in skill but sharp-witted.”

Hearing that, Carissa remained uneasy, considering the dangers of infiltrating the Sandorian border city.

“Then, perhaps Violet should go with you?”

Rafael embraced Carissa, kissing her forehead. Her concern genuinely pleased him.

“No need. I’ve invited my master to accompany me.”

“Sage Everett is going with you? That’s good.” Everett was highly skilled and elusive; even from afar, he seemed to appear whenever needed, as if omnipresent.

“Yeah, don’t worry. I’ll rescue Septimus.”

Rafael kissed his wife’s cheek, reluctant at the thought of being apart for at least a month.

“His name is Septimus Tetra?” Carissa asked.

“That’s right. He sent us intelligence while mingling with the Sandorian supply convoy headed to the Southern Frontier. He verified that Westhaven soldiers had disguised themselves as Sandorian troops.”

“After we reclaimed the Southern Frontier and returned to the capital, Louis took over coordinating with him. The plan was for him to stay in Sandoria for a year and only return once we were certain there would be no more conflict,” Rafael explained.

“Septimus Tetra… Septimus Tetra,” Carissa repeated. “Is that a codename?”

“No, it’s his actual name. His surname is a little unusual, I know,” Rafael said, pausing thoughtfully. “A codename? In another language, Septimus means seven, while Tetra means four. Wait… seven plus four is eleven…”

As Carissa gently pushed him away, their eyes met, and an unlikely thought emerged in both their minds. Almost simultaneously, they exclaimed, “The Farrell family’s eleventh son, Thomas Farrell!”

Rafael’s heartbeat quickened. “Is that possible?”

Chapter 495 (+25 Bonus)

But why not? He had heard Timothy mention Thomas several times on the Southern Frontier battlefield. Thomas had been young and brave; if he hadn’t died on the battlefield, he would surely have been a commanding figure by now. Timothy had both cherished and respected his cousin.

Rafael recalled, “General Farrell once said that the battle was fierce and chaotic. The Sandorian soldiers launched a surprise night attack and set fire to the camp, resulting in heavy casualties. The soldiers’ remains were buried in a large pit, many burned beyond recognition.”

“Timothy saw Thomas fighting fiercely against the enemy in the firelight. Thomas was eventually injured and kicked back into the flames, but the battle was so chaotic that Timothy couldn’t look for him.”

Carissa mused, “If Thomas was injured and kicked back into the fire, he might have crawled out unnoticed by Timothy and been captured.”

Rafael nodded solemnly. “That’s a possibility.”

Carissa remembered Thomas’s mother, Alice. Since her son’s death, she had been reclusive. She had attended Helen’s birthday banquet, but seeing her former daughter-in-law, Viola, had been a significant blow.

If Septimus was indeed Thomas, then… it was unfortunate that he had been captured by the Sandorian forces and was likely being tortured. Carissa hoped Oliver could stall the negotiations long enough to give Thomas a chance to be rescued.

“I hope he remains unharmed. Whether or not he is Thomas, he has contributed greatly to the reclaiming of the Southern Frontier. He must safely return to Starhaven,” she said, her heart aching for him. On the battlefield, anything could happen, but those who survived the direst situations were few and far between.

“I won’t wait any longer. I’ll leave the city tonight. There could be unforeseen developments,” Rafael declared. He couldn’t predict Oliver’s temperament. Though Salvador had yet to decide whether or not to agree to Sandoria’s proposal to exchange Septimus for a city, Oliver would certainly refuse. Rafael feared that if Oliver refused too decisively, the Sandorian people might execute Septimus on the spot.