They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 345: There’s a Breach at the East Gate!

Chapter 345: There’s a Breach at the East Gate!

King Eglon stood frozen on his platform, his bowl of popcorn now forgotten, tumbling to the floor with a soft pat pat pat.

“What… What is going on?” he muttered, eyes darting toward the castle gate where thick smoke now coiled into the air like a serpent.

Another guard ran to him, panting. “Your Majesty, there’s a breach at the east gate! Armed men are pouring in!”

“Stop them!” Eglon barked. “Stop them and return with a full report!”

The guard saluted and dashed off into the chaos.

Minutes passed.

No one returned.

The sounds of the battle grew louder. Closer.

Eglon’s fingers twitched.

“You!” he pointed at another soldier. “Go and find out what’s happening!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Gone.

Silence.

Then, more screams. Screams that sounded less like war cries and more like the dying.

Eglon’s heart raced.

One by one, he sent the rest of the guards around him. Five. Then six. Till fifty. All vanished into the noise, none ever returned.

Only silence followed.

A silence filled with smoke… and dread.

“Where is everyone?” Eglon said aloud, panic creeping into his voice. He was sweating now, his fine robes clinging to his back.

The livestream cameras still rolled, broadcasting every moment to a world now holding its breath.

Eglon’s nerves snapped.

Everything was falling apart, the execution, the guards, the gate.

No more delays.

With a wild glint in his eye, he grabbed a rifle from one of the abandoned weapon racks near the platform. The wood was warm from the sun. His hands trembled, but his aim was steady.

“I’ll finish this myself,” he muttered, raising the gun toward the prisoners. “One bullet each.”

He cocked it.

Took aim.

And then

“Touch either of them… and I will bury you right where you stand.”

The words sliced through the air like a dagger.

Everyone froze.

Eglon’s finger hovered on the trigger, suddenly ice cold with dread.

Abuchi’s eyes widened. Nnenna’s breath caught mid gasp.

No one else needed to ask. They knew that voice.

From behind the smoke near the shattered gate, a figure stepped out, slow, deliberate. The air itself seemed to retreat from him.

The smoke curled around his boots like it feared to touch him. His coat fluttered in the wind, military, dark, clean, lethal.

He was flanked by two others, but it was the figure at the front who commanded attention. His military attire was sharp, refined, yet understated in its power. His stride was confident, purposeful, each step radiating authority.

His two companions moved with the same intensity, though their energy felt less polished compared to the man leading them.

Eglon, momentarily distracted by the sounds of battle still echoing from the distance, turned his focus to the newcomer. The man before him did not look like someone who had been part of the fighting.

He was cool, collected, and almost too composed for the situation. He carried himself as though he was above the fray, like he did not need to get his hands dirty, unlike the others in the field.

Eglon’s brow furrowed, trying to place him. His gaze flicked between the newcomer and his two companions, who were now standing just behind him, still moving, still sharp, yet with an air that made it clear they were following the lead of this one.

Then it hit him.

Eglon’s eyes widened. Where do I know him from?

I’ll ask first, Eglon decided, but before he could speak, the young man’s voice, clear, calm, almost effortless, cut through the air like a blade and repeated his previous words.

“Touch either of them…” he began, his voice cool, deliberate, and laced with a promise of violence if needed. “…and I will bury you right where you stand.”

Eglon’s blood ran cold.

He stared at the young man, trying to keep his composure. The weight of those words fell heavy on him, but he couldn’t shake the nagging thought in his head. Who is this?

Before he could respond, Abuchi’s voice rang out, laced with sarcasm.

“You stole a throne but didn’t bother to find out the identities of the people now attached to that throne.” Abuchi’s voice cut through the air, sharp and mocking.

Eglon’s eyes flicked nervously, the reality of the situation settling in. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice trembling, now laced with fear. The facade of control was crumbling rapidly.

Abuchi leaned in, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “What, can’t you see the resemblance?” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’s my elder brother, the Crown Prince of Lionara. Didn’t you say Lionara would never send any army to help? Well, look who just walked in.”

Eglon’s face drained of color as the words sank in. His mind raced, trying to process the enormity of his mistake. The figure standing before him was no ordinary soldier. This was no mere man. This was Somto, the Crown Prince of Lionara, the very heir to the throne.

Abuchi’s laugh was bitter. “You’ve been sitting on that throne, thinking you’ve won, thinking Purlit was powerless, but you’re in the presence of its powerful ally.”

Somto didn’t flinch neither did he say a word more. His military presence was calm and steady, almost regal, as if the entire world was watching him, and yet he paid no mind to it. He had no need to prove anything.

“You didn’t even bother to check who you were dealing with,” Abuchi continued, his voice mocking yet tinged with bitter disappointment. “Not only did you steal the throne, but you also insulted our kingdom by imprisoning and trying to kill my fiance and the royal family of Lionara in laws.”

Eglon’s eyes darted from Somto to Abuchi, his voice shaking. “You… you’re lying. This is impossible. The Crown Prince of Lionara is not in Lionara. He couldn’t have known any of this from yesterday to today. Everyone knows he travels a lot!” His words stumbled over each other in desperation.