While everyone was talking, Gregory Gu Jr., suspended in midair, was already scared half to death.
He watched as the Imperial Guards died swiftly, one after another, until the cries and wails faded away, leaving nothing but corpses covering the ground.
Once the enemy was completely wiped out, the thunderous roar of the Hayes Regiment’s weapons came to an abrupt halt. The air suddenly turned eerily silent, so quiet it made one's hair stand on end.
Emperor Jin Xuan stared in terror at the mountain of corpses piling up below, then at the cold-blooded, iron-willed general forged on the battlefield, feeling a fear he had never known before.
“Lord Alexander, I’ve already handed over that treacherous minister Gregory Gu Jr. to you, so please withdraw your troops! Whatever you want, I’ll give you. I—I can even give you the princess in marriage, grant you titles and honors!” Emperor Jin Xuan was practically begging Alexander Hayes.
Alexander Hayes looked up at Gregory Gu Jr. hanging in midair. Their eyes met, but the sparks that once flew between them were gone.
The terror in Gregory Gu Jr.’s eyes was almost laughable.
If he weren’t dangling in midair right now, Gregory Gu Jr. would probably be kneeling at Alexander Hayes’s feet, sobbing and begging for mercy.
Though he couldn’t kneel, Gregory Gu Jr. still cried and pleaded, “Prince Alexander, spare my life! I was blinded by greed and lost my senses, but I know I was wrong now! Please let me go—I’ll never dare oppose you again!”
Alexander Hayes looked up expressionlessly at Gregory Gu Jr. and asked, “Imperial Grand Tutor Gu, do you know what happens to a man who covets a woman he shouldn’t?”
Gregory Gu Jr.'s pupils contracted sharply. He hurriedly replied, "Prince Alexander, I dare not! I’ll never dare again!"
Alexander Hayes stared coldly at Gregory Gu Jr., raising his arm high, the pitch-black muzzle of his gun aimed directly at Gregory.
Facing the dark barrel, Gregory Gu Jr. felt his heart turn to ice. Hanging in midair, his body convulsed with terror, cold sweat soaking his ashen face as he screamed without dignity, "Don't kill me! I don't want to die! I—I still want to live!"
With ruthless precision, Alexander Hayes pulled the trigger, aiming straight at Gregory Gu Jr.
A deafening bang echoed. Gregory Gu Jr. let out a blood-curdling scream, his body twisting and convulsing midair. Crimson blood streamed down his trousers, dripping onto the marble tiles below, which were already stained with a pool of blood.
That shot shattered Gregory Gu Jr.'s manhood, his agonized screams filling the square.
Emperor Jin Xuan turned pale at the sight, shouting in terror, "Lord Alexander, you—you’ve already crippled Gregory Gu Jr.! Withdraw your troops at once! The palace walls and gates are reinforced—you’ll never break through!"
Alexander Hayes glanced at Emperor Jin Xuan, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. He waved his hand, and his men brought something down from the army’s wagon.
Whatever it was, it was covered in red silk. The moment the silk was lifted, Emperor Jin Xuan felt a chill run down his spine.
It was a massive iron tube, its dark mouth gaping wide. The barrel was incredibly thick.
This thing was far bigger than anything the Hayes Regiment carried. Its power was obvious, even without guessing.
It was the Scarlet Cannon, acquired by Lily Evans and Edward. Of the two purchased, one remained at the Firestorm Battalion’s mountain base, while the other had just arrived on the battlefield.
"Your Majesty, do you know what this is? Tsk, I bet you don’t. But you’ll see for yourself soon enough." Alexander Hayes stroked the Scarlet Cannon, looking up at Emperor Jin Xuan atop the city wall.
Emperor Jin Xuan’s face turned ashen, and his knees buckled. The Scarlet Cannon was now aimed directly at the palace gates.