Nicholas slammed the letter on the desk, "This is an outrage! The Crimson Raiders have crossed the line. My people are living in fear, and now they threaten my wife! I cannot let them continue to wreak havoc on our nation."William shook his head sadly as he went through the last report. "Just as I feared, Erik had issued a ransom of five million dollars per hostage. This is bad."One look at William's face showed Nicholas that he was out of ideas. Nicholas had also seen the report earlier that morning but he didn't think much about it. Nicholas knew that even if they paid the ransom, it wouldn't end things. Erik would only keep making demands. Erik Cavanaugh was out for revenge. He isn't going through all these troubles for monetary gains. Now that Nicholas thought about it, Harry had indeed been lying to him from the very start. He lied about his surname. Cavanaugh was Harry's surname. How could he be so stupid to befriend a man like that without digging into his background?N
As the sun began to set on another day, the king's convoy of cars made its way through the bustling streets of the city. Lady Isabella sat in one of the cars, her heart heavy with worry. It had been decided that for her safety, she would temporarily leave the country until the threat of the Crimson Raiders was neutralized.The convoy was surrounded by a tight security detail, with armed guards accompanying the vehicles. They were well aware of the danger that lurked in the shadows, and their vigilance was evident as they scanned the surroundings for any signs of trouble.As they approached the airport, tension filled the air. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the piercing sound of gunshots. The Crimson Raiders had launched a surprise attack, their masked figures emerging from the shadows with deadly precision.Chaos ensued as the security personnel sprang into action, exchanging gunfire with the terrorists. Lady Isabella's car veered to a halt, surrounded by the clash of bu
Erik slammed Julia against the wall, his face contorted with rage as he towered over her. His grip tightened around her collar, and he spat his words with venomous intensity. "Who sent you? Where is Lady Isabella? Speak, or I'll make you regret it!"Julia met Erik's furious gaze with a defiant expression. "You think you can intimidate me? Nicholas will tear you apart when he finds out what you've done. He won't rest until he has your head."Enraged by her audacity, Erik lunged at Julia, his fist connecting with her jaw. She stumbled back, but her determination remained unwavering. Blood trickled down her chin as she stared defiantly at him.Breathing heavily, Erik smirked. "You don't understand, do you? This entire area is rigged with explosives. And I hold the detonator." He displayed a small button in his hand, his finger hovering ominously above it. "If I press this, the entire place will go up in flames, along with all the hostages. Your precious Nicholas won't be able to sav
Nicholas tightened his grip on the binoculars as he observed the treacherous mountain road ahead. The rugged terrain of Hollow Creek presented a formidable challenge, but he was undeterred. He had brought a small but highly skilled team from the phoenix army, ready to confront the Crimson raiders and rescue Julia and the other captives from Erik's clutches.Sitting beside Yumi, Nicholas engaged in a conversation about their mission. "Yumi, we have to be prepared for anything. Erik and his men won't give up without a fight. Our priority is to ensure the safety of the hostages and neutralize the threat. We cannot let them harm anyone else."Yumi nodded, her eyes focused on the road ahead. "I understand, Your Highness. We have a strong team, and with the intelligence provided by Lazarus, we have a better chance at success."There was a long pause then Yumi asked, "I'm worried about Julia. Would she be alright?""Julia is tough," Nicholas replied. "She wouldn't back down without a fight
As the dust settled from the explosion, Nicholas's heart sank at Yumi's revelation. The realization that Hollow Creek was rigged with bombs sent shivers down his spine. The danger had escalated far beyond what he had anticipated. Lives hung in the balance, and every step they took could be their last.With a determined expression, Nicholas approached Yumi, his voice filled with urgency. "We need to find a way to defuse those bombs. Lives are at stake, and we cannot let Erik succeed in his ruthless plan."Yumi nodded, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of the explosives. "We must act swiftly and cautiously. We need to locate the bombs and neutralise them before it's too late."Lazarus joined them. "I'd send my men to accompany you. I'm sure Erik stationed men across the mountain side. If he's crazy enough, he might be attempting suicide bombing."Nicholas was more worried than ever. "We'd take the risk and deactivate the bomb before rescuing anyone."As the three of the
"Erik Cavanaugh!" Nicholas voice echoed down to Hollow Creek. "I'm calling you out! Come out here you coward!"Erik's eyes widened in surprise as he heard Nicholas's voice calling out to him from afar. The shock washed over him, quickly replaced by a mix of anger and disbelief. He had considered Nicholas a coward, incapable of facing him on the battlefield. Yet here he was, defying Erik's expectations.He stepped outside and snatched his binoculars from the nearby guard. He found Nicholas on the mountain hills with a megaphone. Erik slowly brought down his binoculars and turned to face the others. "Get me a mega phone and double the security. There's no telling what could be out there."As the guards scrambled about, Erik took out the detonator device and held it in his hands. If Nicholas goes on the offensive, this entire ghost town would go off in flames. Nicholas having gotten Erik's attention, he spoke with a determined expression, his voice filled with anger. "You sick bast
The gunshot echoed through the air, signaling the start of Nicholas and Lazarus Mann's carefully planned operation. They had been waiting for this moment, strategizing and preparing for the rescue of the hostages.Nicholas turned to Lazarus, "That's the signal. Julia and Yumi must've deactivated the last bomb."Lazarus Mann looked convinced, "I believe so too. Let's end this. My men are ready whenever you are."Nicholas, with Lazarus Mann's men, took the lead as they moved swiftly and fast down the outskirts of Hollow Creek. They had to go through the maze of Erik's men, who were stationed throughout the town, ready to defend their leader at all costs.But there was a flaw in Erik's part. His men were disorganized by Julia and Yumi's intrusion. This distraction was part of Nicholas plans all along. A distracted group cannot function. The few vigilant terrorists opened fire at Lazarus Mann's charging men. Both parties exchanged gun fires. As gunfire erupted in the distance, chaos
Peace had finally returned to the United Republic of Niklauria after the turbulent times under the Cavanaugh brothers' rule. Nicholas took charge of rebuilding the nation, working tirelessly to repair the damages caused by years of instability and terror under Harry's reign. Infrastructure was restored, homes were rebuilt, and essential services were reinstated. The scars left by the Cavanaugh brothers began to heal, and a sense of security and normalcy returned to the lives of the citizens.Over the course of two months, the nation gradually recovered from the aftermath of the conflict. Four months had gone by since the Crimson raiders was dissolved and Erik, arrested and sentenced. Nicholas's reign as king over these past couple months had been marked by resilience, compassion, and dedication. .During that period of time, The Phoenix family prospered in the wake of the conflict. With the restoration of peace and stability, they were able to focus on rebuilding their lives and