Chapter 443
Neil didn’t even blink when the two new robots showed up. At this point, nothing could rattle him.
Shermaine was almost done reprogramming them. All that was left was to reinstall the chip and bring the units online.
But then, the robots' eyes lit up. Both turned toward her in perfect sync.
“Target acquired. Target acquired.”
The message pinged on Harry’s screen. He immediately issued a new command – open communication.
Within seconds, the connection was established. The robots were now linked to his console.
“Mrs. York,” Neil called, eyeing the two machines warily. “These two are acting weird. Just standing there, like statues.”
His voice came through loud and clear that Joshua and the others heard every word.
Shermaine looked up, calm as ever. She unplugged the chip, shut her laptop, and said simply, “Let’s go check it out.”
Her voice cut through the static, reaching Joshua on the other end. His breath caught. “Sheary…”
She paused, then answered, steady and clear, “I’m here.”
She hadn’t expected the robot’s comms to be open to the outside, but somehow, it was.
“Sheary!”
“Shermaine!”
That was Molly and Roy. Their voices followed, full of relief.
Shermaine responded to each of them without hesitation.
Judy watched, expression unreadable, clearly baffled by the depth of their concern.
Joshua’s voice came through again. “Are you hurt? Are you alright?”
Shermaine was just about to respond, but Judy gave Harry a look, and he cut the connection without a word.
It was cruel, calculated, and deliberate.
She didn’t want Joshua to know anything more than necessary.
And while no one could say for sure what condition Shermaine was in, the sound of her voice had been enough to reassure them she was still holding on.
But Judy wasn’t worried.
As long as she got the booklet, and Joshua put on the wristband she’d prepared, it wouldn’t matter what Shermaine did. Once those two conditions were met, she’d give Harry the order to unleash the robots. They’d sweep the fourth-dimensional zone and hunt Shermaine down like prey.
“I’ll release her,” Judy said smoothly, “once you agree to my terms.”
She knew perfectly well that Shermaine was Joshua’s only vulnerability. He wasn’t the kind of man who played games with the lives of the people he loved.
That gave her all the leverage she needed.
They might all believe in Shermaine’s strength, but when someone used her as a bargaining chip, none of them, especially Joshua, dared to take risks.
Even Molly didn’t dare speak.
Without a second’s pause, Joshua said, “Fine. I’ll agree to your terms. But I want to speak to my wife every single day. And if you break your word…”
His voice dropped, lethal and cold. “I swear, you’ll regret ever setting foot in this world.”
There was no mistaking the threat. The raw force of it hit like a shockwave – fury, grief, and power tightly coiled in his words.
Harry felt the blood drain from his face.
He’d known this was a bad idea. He never thought bringing Joshua to the Kingdom of Xyperia was safe, and now that fear was turning into certainty.
If Judy couldn’t keep control, this one mistake might drag the whole kingdom into crisis.
A man with nothing left to lose might just burn the world down.
Even if they didn’t need Joshua himself, Apocalypse only required his DNA. Once they had that, they could fabricate something close enough to replace him.
“Your Highness,” Harry said quietly, leaning in, “I really think we should reconsider…”
But Judy wasn’t the type to be persuaded. Arrogant and iron-willed, she refused to believe there was anyone she couldn’t control, least of all Joshua. “I don’t go back on my word,” she said flatly.
Yet even as she spoke the words, she was already fantasizing about crushing Shermaine the moment this deal was done.