Free Web NovelChapter 182: Give Him What He Wants (2)
"You can’t be serious," Sable said, shaking her head. "We can’t just hand ourselves over to him!"
Shinon held up a hand, silencing their protests. "Listen, I know it sounds risky. But if we play our cards right, we might just turn the tables on him."
Selena crossed her arms, still unsure about the plan. "And how exactly do you propose we do that?"
"As I said, we’ll give him what he wants. That’s all you need to know," Shinon said, a sly smile as he looked directly at Marcus.
Marcus felt a surge of anger rising within him. He knew Shinon was toying with him, but he had to remain composed. He couldn’t afford to react in a way that would reveal his previous actions of siding with Alex and making it easier for him to invade the settlement.
Sable, Lova, Nova, and Selena exchanged curious glances, sensing the tension in the room. They were unsure of what Shinon had in mind, but they knew he had a plan and trusted him.
Shinon continued, his voice low and calculating. "You see, there could be traitors among us. We must be cautious and ensure our plan remains a secret."
Marcus clenched his fists, trying to maintain a façade of composure. He couldn’t let Shinon’s words get to him, not when so much was at stake.
The tension in the room was palpable as Shinon’s words hung in the air. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on him, their expressions a mix of surprise and suspicion. The suggestion that there could be a traitor among them was unsettling, to say the least.
"Are you accusing someone-" Nova began to speak, but Shinon interrupted her.
"I’m not accusing anyone," he said calmly. "I’m just saying that someone must have aided Alex in his invasion. And given the access and abilities that the Phoenixes possess, it would be logical to consider the possibility that the traitor might be from within your ranks."
"This is a serious accusation, Shinon," Sable chimed in. "Do you have any evidence to support your claim?"
"No, it’s just a hunch," Shinon shook his head. "But we can’t afford to ignore any possibilities. We need to be vigilant and ensure no leaks in our security, and for that reason, I’m not disclosing the plan I have to deal with Aric."
Lova stepped forward, her eyes flashing towards Marcus as she finally realised why he wasn’t opposing Shinon like usual.
"If there is a traitor, we need to find them and deal with them before they cause any more harm," she said firmly. "We should make a public example out of them."
"I’ll start investigating," Nova nodded in agreement. "I’ll look into any suspicious activities or communications that might have occurred before the invasion."
Selena remained silent, her mind clearly racing with thoughts. Finally, she spoke up. "If there is a traitor, then it makes sense for Shinon to not disclose his plans before us. We don’t want the bastard to tip off Aric."
While everyone was slandering him unknowingly, Marcus was fuming. However, whenever he turned to face Shinon and saw him smirking, his rage only flared up.
Everyone talked about how they’ll capture the traitor and what they should do with Aric. But after listening for a while, Shinon knew it was time to dip.
"I’m sorry, everyone," Shinon finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "But I think I’ve heard enough for now. I need to go and start preparing for our confrontation with Aric."
Sable nodded understandingly. "Of course, Shinon. Thank you for being here."
As Shinon got up to leave, he noticed Lova’s eyes narrowing slightly. She was a skilled fighter, and he knew she probably wanted to be involved in the planning and strategising. But he had something specific he needed to discuss with Selena.
"Selena," he said, turning to her, "can you come with me for a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss in private."
Selena looked surprised but nodded, getting up from her seat. Lova’s jealousy became even more apparent as she watched Shinon and Selena leave the room together.
As they stepped outside, Shinon glanced around to ensure no one else was within earshot.
"Selena," he began, his voice serious yet gentle, "remember the acid-spitters we encountered in the forest when... you know we weren’t on such good terms?"
"Of course. I do," Selena nodded. "We were there to subdue the zombie tree, but you dealt with it before I could."
"Yeah, well, I need your help with something related to those spitters."
Selena looked at him curiously. "What is it that you need from the acid spitters?"
"I need their glands," he said quietly. "The corrosive acids they produce are the core component for a new weapon I’m developing. I was hoping you would accompany me as the collection will be faster with two people."
Selena considered his request for a moment before nodding. "Alright! I don’t see it being a problem. But there’s something else I wanted to ask you... if that’s okay."
"Go ahead," Shinon smiled, knowing what Selena was curious about.
"What you said in the meeting... about a traitor among us. Was that true?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Yes, it’s true," he admitted. "And I’m not the only one who knows the traitor’s identity."
"Wait... so you know who the traitor is?" Selena’s asked as her eyes widened in surprise. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
"I do," he said. "In fact, I dropped several hints during the meeting, and I’m pretty sure Lova had caught on to the breadcrumbs."
Selena looked surprised. "You did?"
"Yes," Shinon smiled slightly. "I wanted to see if the traitor would reveal themselves. But it seems they are being cautious."
Selena frowned, her mind clearly working through the possibilities. "Do you think they might try to sabotage your plan regarding Aric?"
"Obviously. That’s why I did not inform anyone about my plans. If they don’t know it, they can’t ruin it." Shinon said, heading towards the workshop. "Alright, that’s enough for the day. I’ll see you tomorrow!"
