Chapter 19 It's Him! It's Actually Him!

The figure strode forward with an undeniable presence, his steps deliberate and commanding, each one seeming to carry the weight of a thousand troops. In that moment, perhaps due to the interplay of light and shadow, he appeared impossibly tall. The air grew heavy with awe, compelling everyone to bow their heads or tremble as they looked up at him.

When he reached the crowd, it parted instinctively, clearing a path without needing to be told.

The man who emerged from the shadows was none other than Kayden—the Adams family's so-called household fool.

And the voice that had just shouted, "Get lost!"? That too had belonged to Kayden, which left Tony livid. His face twisted with rage as he jabbed a finger at Kayden.

"You idiot! Were you talking to me? Do you even know who I am?"

Before Kayden could answer, a voice rang out from the other side. Greedy Wolf, still clutching the broken sword, staggered to his feet and shouted, "How dare you insult the Defender of the South of Seclela? You’ll pay for that."

His words struck like a thunderclap. The soldiers behind him roared in unison, their voices shaking the very ground beneath them: "Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

Each shout hit Tony like a blade to the chest. His bravado faltered, and he stumbled back, his face pale, fear etched into every line. His hands trembled as if his own body was betraying him.

"That's enough," Kayden said coolly, raising a hand to halt the commotion. His voice was calm yet carried the weight of authority. "This clown isn’t worth killing. I don’t waste my blade on trash."

Greedy Wolf immediately bowed low. "Yes, sir!"

Kayden's gaze swept over the soldiers before him. Thousands of eyes stared back, filled with reverence and admiration. To them, he wasn’t just a man—he was their God of War, their undefeated commander. He had earned their loyalty on the battlefield, where his name alone struck fear into their enemies.

Here, in Seclela, his legend was as strong as ever. He was the defender, the one who had kept the borders safe with nothing but a broken sword. For three years, his enemies had stood frozen, too terrified to make a move. Even now, his mere presence could keep an entire nation at bay.

But Kayden wasn’t thinking about the battlefield at this moment. His thoughts lingered elsewhere—on Georgia.

For three years, he had been nothing more than a fool in the eyes of others. And Georgia? She had been the fool’s wife. She had stayed by his side despite the ridicule, the sneers, the whispers. She had endured it all, protecting him in her own quiet way. Now that he had his memories back, he couldn’t just walk away. He wouldn’t. Georgia deserved better. She deserved to become a woman envied by all—not just in Hiphia but across Seclela.

She was his reason to stay.

"Where are my Zodiac Generals?" Kayden asked, his tone shifting slightly as he glanced around. His sharp gaze scanned the gathered soldiers, clearly noticing something amiss. "The Eight Royal Regiments are here, but where are the Zodiac Generals? Firefist went home to play businessman, sure, but where are the others? Why aren’t they here?"

At this, Greedy Wolf’s face fell. He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Two years ago, General Flood had an accident while searching for you. Firefist retired to inherit his family fortune. The other three Generals... they're still out there, searching. They never believed you were dead."

Kayden’s expression darkened, his voice cutting like steel. "Flood is dead?"

The air around him shifted, growing colder. A deadly aura filled the room, pressing down on everyone present. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees, and some in the crowd shivered despite themselves. Someone even sneezed.

Greedy Wolf dropped to one knee, his head bowed low. "I failed to protect General Flood. I accept whatever punishment you see fit, Defender of the South."

Kayden’s jaw tightened, but after a moment, he exhaled, forcing the fury back. "No punishment. What’s done is done."

He straightened, his voice ringing out with authority. "Eight Royal Regiments, listen up! Mobilize all your forces. Fight alongside Greedy Wolf. Drive the enemies from our borders. Anyone who dares to cross into Seclela—execute them without mercy!"

"Yes, sir!" came the resounding response, a single voice carried by thousands.

The mood shifted instantly, the soldiers electrified by the command.

"Dismissed," Kayden said with a wave of his hand. His tone was calm, but the gesture carried the weight of finality.

Greedy Wolf hesitated. "Defender of the South... you’re not coming with us?"

Kayden let out a cold laugh. "For 800,000 enemies? Do you really think they need me?"

Greedy Wolf nodded solemnly, though there was clear disappointment in his eyes. "Understood!"

The soldiers moved quickly. Helicopters roared to life, and the rumble of engines filled the air as vehicles began to pull away. Within minutes, the grand entourage had vanished, leaving only silence in their wake.

Back at the Adams family banquet, the silence was deafening. Every member of the family stared at Kayden, their faces frozen in disbelief. It was as though they had all collectively forgotten how to breathe.

Georgia, standing at the edge of the crowd, felt as though she were in a dream. The man before her—this commanding figure—could he really be her husband? The same man they had called a fool? The same man she had married three years ago?

Her mind raced with questions. Was this all some elaborate act? But the soldiers... the sheer scale of what she had just witnessed... it couldn’t have been staged. Could it? And then there were the gifts. Kayden’s last name was also Scott. Could he be the Mr. Scott, the one who had sent her all those extravagant gifts?

She bit her lip, her heart pounding. Was this real?

Tony, meanwhile, stood frozen to the spot. Having served in the military himself, he could recognize the badges and symbols worn by those soldiers. Those men had been through real battles. They were veterans, warriors. And the way they had addressed Kayden... it was no act.

Even Elizabeth, usually sharp-tongued and skeptical, found herself speechless. Could this fool really be who they said he was? Someone of such stature? It seemed impossible to fake such a scene.

"Pfft!" A sudden, mocking laugh shattered the tension.

Jamie stepped forward, smirking as she looked around at the stunned faces of her family. "Oh, come on!" she said with a scoff. "You can't seriously believe that was real, can you? It's obviously fake. Actors, costumes, the whole thing. He probably spent whatever little money he had to set all this up to impress us."

Her voice dripped with disdain, but no one laughed with her. The silence that followed felt heavier than before.