Chapter 1175
“Colonel Haywood, you know full well that with your rank and position, you can’t just go around killing people on a whim,” Chantelle warned coldly.
She added, “Besides, your friend Andarov used banned weaponry on Holtrien soil, which is a serious offense. You can be sure Mr. McCormick won’t just let that slide.”
Left with no other option, Chantelle had to drop Derek’s name to try to rein Xavier in.
However, Xavier was not intimidated at all. His voice dripped with venom as he said, “Ms. Garcia, I respect Mr. McCormick–he governs this province, and I’ll give him that. But do you think the Haywoods’ name should be trampled like dirt? Especially by some no-name punk who doesn’t know his place?"
“I’ll chop him into pieces, and if I have to, I’ll apologize to Mr. McCormick myself. But with the military accolades I’ve earned, the Haywood family’s backing, and my deep ties in the defense department, killing this bug wouldn’t even cause a blip on the radar.”
Chantelle’s stomach twisted. Xavier was not just brutish–he was cunning and calculating beneath it all.
Before swinging his sword, he had already mapped out every consequence and connection.
Gritting her teeth, she said sharply, “Colonel Haywood, I don’t care what personal reasons you think you have. You’re not touching Andrew today. Mr. McCormick sent me here to protect him, and I will not stand aside.”
Xavier’s voice thundered, “Ms. Garcia, move! I don’t want to clash with you over a worthless bug.”
Aspen urgently pulled at Andrew’s arm. “Let’s go back inside, now!”
However, Andrew stood up and ignored her completely. Instead, he gently moved Chantelle aside and walked straight toward Xavier, earning a death glare from her.
Andrew said, “You go around calling people bugs and talking like some noble patriot. You talk about honor and justice like it’s your religion, screaming about glory and serving your country…”
He smirked. “But Xavier, don’t you think all that sounds just a little fake? A little pathetic?”
Aspen gasped while Chantelle cursed under her breath, but Andrew kept walking–right up to Xavier’s giant sword. He stopped just two inches from the blade, eyes locked with Xavier’s, his expression flat and unflinching.
He added, “If you’re a real soldier and a true colonel, then you should know Seth brought his own death upon himself. I never held any deep grudge against the Haywoods. All of this started with you guys, using your status as one of the Five Apex Families to bully others.”
Xavier’s lips curled into a cold smile, laced with mockery. “And now you wanna talk things out? Don’t you think it’s too late for that? Did you think begging would save you? That you’d get to walk away?”
He had to admit that this so-called bug had enough guts to stand this close to a bloodstained sword without flinching. He would have to make his death extra painful.
Andrew shook his head. “You’re getting it all wrong. I’m not here to beg, and–I’m definitely not here to explain myself. I just wanted to make it clear–you think you’re standing on some moral high ground, trying to execute me in the name of justice.
“But in my eyes, you’re nothing. Neither you nor your precious Haywoods mean a damn thing to me. You wanna play? Then let’s play. I’m not afraid. Colonel? Military backing? I’ll still kill you–and your bosses won't be able to do a damn thing about it.”
By the time he finished, Andrew was full of scorn. He looked at Xavier the way one might look at a roach.
Xavier roared, “Andrew, you arrogant bastard go to hell!"
He raised his massive sword high, ready to bring it crashing down.
This man had risen through the military ranks by slaughtering his enemies and racking up victories. He had seen it all, done it all–and he was about to do it again.