Free Web NovelChapter 21: The Death Network
Tak.
Archiv quickly leafed through the papers laid out before him, whilst the faint moonlight filled the room, which was thick with tension. fгeewebnovёl.com
William stood in front of the desk, clutching his small tablet with obvious nervousness.
William appeared to be in his early thirties; his long green hair fell down his back, whilst a small strand hung over his round eyes.
He raised his hand slowly, wiping the sweat from his forehead, whilst Arshaf’s eyes moved swiftly over the papers, turning the pages at the same pace without lifting his head.
"Agh..."
William swallowed hard when he saw Arshaf finally stop.
He leaned back in his chair, his cold eyes fixed on the window; a heavy silence hung over the room.
William took a deep breath immediately.
To escape the suffocating pressure, his gaze drifted towards the window.
The moon had risen high in the sky, casting a calm, beautiful light into the room.
For a brief moment... Arshav’s features seemed more relaxed, as if the sight of the moon had transported him to a distant memory... an unexpectedly beautiful one.
’I didn’t expect to see someone like him show that expression...’
William’s body stiffened slightly.
’No, don’t tell me he’s planning to kill me... I haven’t even got married yet, for heaven’s sake. No, no... Maybe I’m just overthinking it... but this is very much like what my grandfather used to say: when a person shows a moment of weakness... Run, my boy, before he kills you.’ fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
But the problem was, there was no way to escape.
He knew full well that fleeing from someone like Archief...
was impossible.
And so, he was left with only one option. To wait quietly for his death. And to pray, that it wouldn’t be painful.
The seconds dragged by in stifling silence, until William could hear his own heartbeat clearly.
For a moment, he thought this silence would last forever—
until he heard a faint sigh.
Archiv took his eyes off the moon, and his features returned to their former coldness.
’Just as I expected.’
Just as Archibald was about to say something—
William bowed his head in a flash.
’Sir, please forgive me! It wasn’t me who was flirting with the maids during working hours, it was Han! It was Han, I swear to you! It wasn’t me!’
Archive was taken aback by the situation for a moment. He could see that William was... actually crying.
But in the end, he could only shake his head wearily, as if such scenes had become so familiar to him that he could no longer bear them.
To be honest, he thought William was the biggest coward he’d ever met in his entire life.
If it weren’t for his exceptional skills at work, he would have got rid of him long ago.
Arshaf sighed lightly before saying:
"That’s not why you’re here." He paused briefly, then added, furrowing his brow: "And also... this is the last time I’m telling you this. Don’t cry in front of me."
"...."
William trembled slightly before lifting his head hesitantly.
"Sir... please don’t give me false hope, you—"
But his words stopped abruptly.
He felt a cold aura sweep through the room, causing his body to stiffen instantly.
"Stand up."
’Scary... I almost did it in my trousers.’
William stood up quickly, thanking God he hadn’t actually done it, because if he had... he might have died of sheer embarrassment before Archibald killed him.
Arshaf held out a stack of papers towards him.
"Right, take this. And tell me what you notice."
William approached, frowning slightly as he took the papers.
"Sir... why do you still use these primitive methods? You need to keep up with the times."
"Just do as I’ve told you." Archief said in a frighteningly low voice, before adding with deadly coldness: "Before I castrate you."
William’s breath caught in his throat.
"And I know full well that this is your greatest fear... isn’t it?"
"...."
William immediately straightened his posture.
"Yes, sir! You’re absolutely right!" He then coughed lightly and added quickly: "What’s the point of modern technology if a single sheet of paper can get the job done?"
"Shut up for a moment... and just carry out the order." Archief said sharply, struggling to keep his temper so as not to smash the place to smithereens.
Which made William clamp his mouth shut immediately.
"I must stop talking... before I find myself joining my grandfather in the afterlife."
He took a deep breath.
Then—his expression changed suddenly. His usual flippancy vanished, replaced by intense concentration, whilst his eyes began darting rapidly between the pages.
With every passing second, his expression grew more complex.
A frown. Concentration. Then stifled shock.
He was turning the pages faster and faster as he went on.
’No... it can’t be what I think it is...’
Several minutes passed in heavy silence.
Until a look of clear disbelief appeared on William’s face.
Archibald watched him silently for a moment, before finally breaking the silence:
"So... what have you discovered?"
William raised his head slowly. His voice was unusually serious this time.
"Sir... it is... the Web of Death."
