Hans let out a deafening roar, a sound so loud that everyone could feel their eardrums buzzing.
Homer was not the only one stunned. So were Peter, Caroline, Rebecca, William, and everyone else present.
Peter was sweating profusely on his forehead and his face was turning pale. Fear had crushed his innate pride and arrogance.
Who were these big men?
Why were all of them armed with firearms?
When did guns become so easily accessible these days?
Was it possible... that they were also military personnel like Homer was?
He found his legs trembling. He had felt uneasy ever since that group of men showed up.
However, he was unable to put his finger on it.
It was not until this moment that he realized that he had provoked people that he should not have provoked.
No matter who it was, those who dared to show their guns in public had no fear of retaliation.
What that man said was a cause for concern as well.
He threatened to shoot anyone who dared to move an inch.
Intuition told Peter that the man was not lying, and they would really open fire if prompted.
Who on earth were these people?
Peter's legs were shaking as the fear in his heart grew.
Homer was also scared witless. He would be lying if he said he was not afraid of having so many guns pointed at his head.
Left with no choice, he took out his own pistol and pointed it at Hans.
Hans pretended not to see it and continued walking toward him with a cold expression.
His custom-made boots echoed on the floor.
Hearing his footsteps, Homer's heart skipped a beat and he almost fainted.
"Stay where you are!" he yelled, pointing his pistol at Hans's head.
Hans ignored him and continued moving closer.
Not only did Hans turn a deaf ear to them, but the group of men behind him acted as if they did not even see them, smiling disdainfully all the while.
They acted as if Homer was holding a laughable toy gun, not a real pistol.
"I said, stay where you are!" Homer shouted in shock and fury.
In the end, he took out his military badge. "I'm from the military region and have the license to discharge this weapon!"
"Why don't you try firing it then?"
Hans walked up to Homer and looked at him with a cold expression.
With a single glance, Homer felt as if he had fallen into the icy waters of the Arctic; where no one could hear his cries for help. Dread and despair enveloped him.
Leo took a sip of the red wine in his glass and ate a few bites of fish. It was obvious that he was enjoying himself.
William was scared out of his wits by Hans and his men. He turned his head, only to find that Leo was eating and drinking as if nothing had happened. He became anxious and said, "They have guns. Why are you still acting like it's nothing?"
"How should I react then? Wet my pants in fear like them?"
Leo smiled and pointed to several men of distinguished status with wet pants nearby.
He paused for a moment before lowering his voice. "Dad, allow me to let you in on a secret. I know these men."
"You..."
William gaped at his adoptive son, who was still smiling and drinking. He could not believe that Leo had connections with these higher-ups in the military.
Homer's legs turned soft and he fell on the floor with a loud thud. He looked at Hans in a daze. "Then you are..."
These men were from the Emerdale Military Region, just like him.
The only difference was their ranks were much higher than his, so much so that he could not even see them on most days. And yet, the dark-skinned, muscular young man was their head. That meant he was...
"Hans Rickard. My brothers call me Hans," Hans said expressionlessly.
Homer's body quivered as if he had suffered a heavy blow.
He had never seen the commander-in-chief of the Emerdale Military Region but he had heard of his name. It was Hans Rickard.
Feeling defeated, he turned back and widened his eyes at the similarly lifeless Peter.
That damned asshole had ruined his military career!
Not even in a million years would he thought that the person he had provoked was the commander-in-chief of the Emerdale Military Region, Hans Rickard.
"Commander Rickard, I didn't know, I swear. It's my fault for not recognizing you and your men and offending you."
There was a loud noise as he knelt down and slapped himself in the face.
His face soon swelled up.
Even his eyes had turned red, and he kept insisting that he did not realize that it was them.
The ignorant were innocent, as the saying went. He hoped that Hans would forgive him.
But all Hans did was look down at him coldly and ask, "Do you know what day it is today?"
Homer looked confused as he shook his head. "What day is it?"
"The Commander of the Wyverns’ wedding day," Hans said, his voice turning ice-cold.
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