Mistaken Match: Marrying the Enigmatic CEO by Ruby Fennimore

Chapter 2311 Eric Lannister

All eyes were on Santiago and Yorick as they chased after the figure in black.

At that very moment, a firm hand suddenly gripped Gautier’s shoulder from behind.

Fit YU %I

Finished

Gautier’s heart nearly stopped. He hadn't sensed anyone approaching-whoever it was, their martial prowess was

completely beyond his understanding. He turned his head, and his shock intensified tenfold.

It was Ezra!

Panic set in. Could Ezra have figured out that he was the one who had goaded Magnus into trying to kill him?

Was this payback?

But before he could react, Ezra simply shoved him aside and muttered, “Now’s your chance-run!”

Gautier was stunned. Why was Ezra helping him?

There was no tto ponder. If he didn’t seize this opportunity, he might never get another.

“Think you can just walk away? Not happening.”

Emmanuel, already on high alert, unleashed a devastating palm strike across the distance.

But Ezra had anticipated this. He had his Imperial Guard fighters intercept the attack, absorbing most of its force.

In the end, he himself met the final remnants of the blow with both palms, dispersing it completely.

Emmanuel tensed, ready to give chase.

“Emmanuel!” matters!”

zie's urgent voice snapped him back to the bigger picture. “We have more pressing

She was right. For all he knew, Ezra was baiting him into pursuit-luring him away, trapping him in some

elaborate scheme.

Gautier wasn’t going anywhere. His twould come. But Zovince-Chanaea-that was the real battlefield today.

Xarri had already warned him that the 80,000-strong army stationed at Summerton Palace had just begun their

march on the capital. If they weren't stopped, everything would fall.

“Zen Master!” Ethan stepped forward hurriedly, his voice steady but urgent. “The prayer ceremony must be

postponed. There's something critical | must attend to.”

“Peace be with you, Mr. Hale.” Zen Master had no need for details. He realized today was a day of crisis for

Chanaea. Hands pressed together in a solemn bow, he declared, “As you command, Mr. Hale. The Chapel of Oros

will handle matters here. May your journey bring peace to the land and harmony to its people. May fortune and

virtue guide you.”

Ethan returned the bow, then turned and descended the mountain, flanked by Emmanuel for protection.

The Grand Hunt Alliance fighters surrounded them, their every step mirroring Emmanuel’s. But no one dared

move.

“We can’t just let them leavel”

The moment one fool took the initiative

Wham!

Finished

Emmanuel didn’t even spare a glance. With a casual flick of his palm, a surge of internal strength blasted the

man off his feet, sending him flying dozens of feet before crashing into eight others like a bowling strike.

The rest struggled to get up. The one who had been struck directly, however, didn’t move again.

Gasp!

The crowd collectively gasped in horror.

This was what it meant to face the doom slayer. Who still dared to stand in his way?

The only thing they could do was watch as Emmanuel and Ethan disappeared down the mountain.

Meanwhile, at the foot of the mountain, the man in black had successfully shaken off the battered Santiago and

Yorick, dragging Gwain to a secluded spot far from prying eyes.

Gwain was still catching his breath, but inwardly, he was reeling. The masked man’s mastery of combat and

movement was leagues beyond his own. So, this is Chanaea... A land filled with hidden talents, where the

grandmasters lurk in the shadows, revealing themselves only when necessary.

As soon as his feet found solid ground, Gwain clasped his hands in respect. “Thank you for saving me, sir. May |

ask your name? If fate allows, I—"

Smack!

A loud slap echoed through the night as the man in black struck him across the face.

For a moment, Gwain was stunned. He, Gwain of the Lannister family, had just been slapped like spunching

bag?

“You've disgraced the Lannister name!”

The masked man’s voice had changed. Or rather-this was his real voice.

A shock like lightning through his spine left Gwain paralyzed. He suddenly recognized the man before him. And

just like that, all his anger vanished; terror took its place. Inmediately, he looked at the man in surprise and fear,

like a child who had done something wrong.

The man in black ripped off his mask and pulled back his hood, revealing a middle-aged face glowing with health

and a level of cultivation that spoke of unfathomable martial mastery.

Gwain gasped. “F-Father! It's you!”

It had been years since he last saw Eric. His father had always kept a low profile, so much so that Gwain had

convinced himself he had already caught up-perhaps even surpassed him.

But tonight had shattered that illusion. His father was far beyond Sage level. Far beyond him.

you did not carn, a nthat placed you alongside a 5-Star Honored Battle General. And what did you do with

it? You were utterly destroyed by Emmanuel today, humiliated beyond measure. You even lost to Victor's son!

You have shamedbeyond words.” he reprimanded, his voice cutting deep like a blade.

Gwain stood stiff, his head bowed. Though resentment simmered in his eyes, he did not dare talk back.

“You've had too little real combat experience!” Eric let out a weary sigh. “It’s all Artemis’ fault. Thirty years of

so-called ‘peaceful development-and now, an entire generation has grown up like fragile hothouse plants. No

matter how well they score on exams, when it comes to real battles, they can’t even unleash their full potential!”

“Exactly!” Gwain’s eyes lit up with excitement as he cagerly agreed. “It's the pro-surrender faction that ruined

Chanaea-and ruined me! Father, believe me, | only lack combat experience. Once | gain enough, | will definitely

defeat Xarri and Emmanuel!”

“Good, that’s the spirit!” Eric gave a nod of approval. “But defeating them is just a minor goal. Our true ambition

is to dismantle the pro-surrender faction left behind by Artemis. The Lannister family must seize control of

Chanaea’s power for ourselves!”

Gwain’s heart pounded. He was completely caught off guard. “But Father, hasn't the Lannister family always

stayed out of politics?”

“Hahaha!” Eric threw back his head and laughed. “That's just what we tell the world! | never explained it to you,

but I didn’t expect even you to believe it!”

Gwain stood there, stunned. For over 20 years, he had been living in a fairy tale. Tonight, his father was dragging

him into reality.

“Back then, you were still a child, and there were too many prying eyes. | couldn't tell you the truth. But now

that it’s just the two of us, you deserve to know everything!” Eric placed a firm hand on Gwain’s shoulder, his

gaze turning sharp. “Since your great-grandfather’s time, the Lannister family has been planning to seize control

of Chanaea.

family. But in the our granduncle even fought on the battlefield, trying to wrest military power for our

family. But in the end, he and the Nine Saints were slaughtered by Lucian!”

Gwain froze. He had never even heard of this before.

“It was too humiliating,” Eric explained with a scoff. “Since Lucian and the president at the tnever exposed

the truth, we had no reason to bring it up, either.”

His voice dropped lower, laced with cold intent. “Not only that, but our family has been working closely with the

Holy Trinity. The Warlord himself is an old friend of mine. Together, the Lannister family and the Holy Trinity will

seize Chanaea’s power and divide it between us.”

Gwain’s blood boiled with excitement. With this kind of backing, he would have plenty of chances to cross swords

with Emmanuel again-to crush that arrogant b*stard and reclaim both his honor and the Lannister

name!

Still, he had one lingering doubt. “Father, with your level of martial skill, why aren’t you ranked among the New

Seven Saints?”

Eric burst into laughter. “Hahahaha... The Lannister family has long stood at the pinnacle of Chanaea’s martial

arts world. Those so-called rankings and titles-do you think they're decided by anyone but us?”