Love at the Wrong Table by Emmanuel Lowe

Chapter 2011

Just as Emmanuel had promised, early the next morning, Quintus arrived

with a hundred elite members of the Blade Battalion to join Mackenzie.

“Mackenzie, I’m here!” Quintus greeted her enthusiastically, moving in for a

warm hug.

But seeing Rhett’s stern gaze fixed on him, he chuckled awkwardly.

O

“Mackenzie, from today onward, I’ll be your knight in shining armor,

My–Dear–Princess!”

“Alright, I’ll be counting on you then!” Mackenzie smiled, flashing him a radiant

grin, far warmer than her usual reserved demeanor.

She knew deep down that Quintus had always truly loved her, and he was a

man of good character. Since he still harbored feelings for her, she decided

to maintain a friendly relationship with him.

Sure enough, just her smile left him flustered. “Mackenzie, you’ve changed!”

he stammered.

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“What? You don’t like the new me?” she teased. “Is it because I lost my figure

after having a baby? Or is it because I’m not as aloof anymore, and now you

think I’m boring?”

“No, no, not at all!” Quintus waved his hands frantically. “I’m not a glutton for

punishment! Treat me well, really well!”

Mackenzie laughed generously. “Have you guys eaten yet? How about I take

you to a farm restaurant and treat you all to a meal?”

“Really?” His eyes lit up with excitement. He immediately turned to his men

and ordered, “The goddess has spoken–first, we feast, then we work!”

“Hooray!” The members of the Blade Battalion cheered excitedly.

These guys hadn’t originally come from the military; they had joined the Wolf

Warrior Unit out of loyalty to Emmanuel. And now that Mackenzie was treating

them so well, they couldn’t be happier.

Mackenzie smiled again, her mood much lighter.

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Behind her, Phett, arms crossed, watched the men who had once fought

alongside him and couldn’t help but smile too..

He knew he had made the right choice. Freedom was the only way to find

true happiness, and these smiles were something he hadn’t seen during his

time in Dark Night Islands.

After their meal, Mackenzie returned to the Silvergate relief center.

This time, with such a formidable crew accompanying her, Anthony didn’t

dare act up. Instead, he politely explained the situation to her.

“Ms, Quillen, we had planned to use your donated supplies to make up for

what was stolen during the looting. Now that you know about it, I won’t hide

anything from you. I just hope you’ll show some mercy and help me transport

the remaining supplies to Riverhaven. Please, I’m begging you!”

He clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture, genuinely asking for her

help.

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Mackenzie didn’t hoggle or push for mole. She simply nodded.

“Great”

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Anthony was visibly relieved. He immediately added, “Ms. Quillen, if you help

me out this time, I’ll definitely vote for you when the time comes!”

Mackenzie only nodded in acknowledgment before saying, “Send out the

trasport team. We’ll escort the supplies ourselves to ensure they reach

Riverhoven safely

“Got it!”

Anthony agreed but still seemed a bit worried. “But we can’t risk everything

on this one trip. Right now, all we have are your donations. If we lose that, I

won’t be able to explain myself!*

Mackenzie frowned, considering his concerns. “If we transport too little, the

bandits might not bother with us. If that happens, we won’t be able to help

the disaster area at all. We need to take enough to lure them out.”

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Chapter 2011 Personal Escort Do

*Well…”

Anthony, clearly not the decisive type, began to waver again.

“If you want my help, you have to follow my lead and trust me!” Mackenzie

suddenly became assertive. Think about it—if we go, and you hold back the rest of the supplies, how are you going to get them to Riverhaven later? If

you’re blamed for this, there’ll be no way out.”

Anthony sighed, realizing she had a point. Gritting his teeth, he finally said,

“Alright, Ms. Quillen, I trust you. I’ll arrange for all the supplies bound for

Riverhaven to be sent in one go. This is make–or–break!”

“Good!”

Mackenzie gave him an approving nod.

Time was of the essence when it came to disaster relief.

That very afternoon, the convoy set off. More than thirty transport trucks rolled out, flanked by several buses acting as escort vehicles. The convoy

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Chapter 2011 Perepal Escort Duty

“Well…

Anthony, clearly not the decisive type, began to waver again.

“If you want my help, you have to follow my lead and trust me!” Mackenzie

suddenly became assertive. “Think about it–if we go, and you hold back the

rest of the supplies, how are you going to get them to Riverhaven later? If

you’re blamed for this, there’ll be no way out.”

Anthony sighed, realizing she had a point. Gritting his teeth, he finally said,

“Alright, Ms. Quillen, I trust you. I’ll arrange for all the supplies bound for

Riverhaven to be sent in one go. This is make–or–break!”

“Good!”

”

Mackenzie gave him an approving nod.

*

Time was of the essence when it came to disaster relief.

That very afternoon, the convoy set off. More than thirty transport trucks

rolled out, flanked by several buses acting as escort vehicles. The convoy

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19:00 Sat Hey DODG

resembled a massive, unstoppable train as it made its way toward

Riverhaven,

Since Anthony chose to trust Mackenzie, he decided to join the convoy and

personally escort the supplies. Along the way, he briefed Mackenzie about

the geography of the West End.

“Ms. Quillen, up ahead is Gourd Pass, where two mountains meet. The terrain

is remote and rough. That’s where the last supply convoy was ambushed.

Anthony said, growing more anxious.

Mackenzie studied the landscape. The roads were in terrible condition–while

small vehicles could make it through, the larger trucks would struggle.

It was indeed a prime spot for an ambush.

“I don’t quite get it. Most of these relief supplies are second–hand goods,

aside from the food. What good would it do for the bandits to steal them?*

Mackenzie didn’t call for a stop; instead, she asked out of curiosity.

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Chapter 2011 Personal Escort Duty

cort Duty

“You wouldn’t understand, Ms. Quillen,” Anthony explained. “You’ve grown

accustomed to a comfortable lifestyle. You have no idea how limited

supplies are in the West End. On top of that, we’re close to some

impoverished countries where even second–hand goods can fetch a decent

price.”

Mackenzie nodded thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, a group of strange–looking men perched atop the mountains,

eyeing the convoy below like predators stalking their prey. One of the

lookouts quickly reported to a man in a felt hat. “Boss, we’ve got another

delivery coming through! And it’s a big one this time. If we pull this off, we’ll be

set for a while!”

The man in the felt hat stepped out from a peculiar structure on the

mountain, his eyes gleaming as he surveyed the slow–moving convoy.

However, the sight of the large buses following the trucks made him hesitate.

He knew this shipment was more heavily guarded.

Chapter 2011 Persond Facon Day

“Should we blow the road, like usual?” one of his henchmen asked.

“Do it,” he ordered with a wave.

Two small, nimble men immediately started down the mountain to carry out

the task.

In the meantime, Rhett, who had been resting in one of the buses, suddenly

opened his eyes. He spotted the two men darting down the mountainside

and immediately leaped off the moving bus, startling Anthony.

“Wow, Ms. Quillen, your guy’s got some serious skills! Jumping out like that at

high speed, and he’s faster than the bus!” Anthony exclaimed in awe.

Mackenzie ignored his comments, her eyes locked on Rhett as he sprinted

ahead.

If he jumped off so suddenly, he must have noticed something.

Sure enough, following Rhett’s gaze, she saw the two small men, rigging the

road with explosives. Are they really planning to blow up the path?

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19.00 Sat, Nov 30 B

Chapter 2011 Personal Escort Duty

“Should we blow the road, like usual?” one of his henchmen asked.

“Do it,” he ordered with a wave.

Two small, nimble men immediately started down the mountain to carry out

the task.

In the meantime, Rhett, who had been resting in one of the buses, suddenly

opened his eyes. He spotted the two men darting down the mountainside

and immediately leaped off the moving bus, startling Anthony.

“Wow, Ms. Quillen, your guy’s got some serious skills! Jumping out like that at

high speed, and he’s faster than the bus!” Anthony exclaimed in awe.

Mackenzie ignored his comments, her eyes locked on Rhett as he sprinted

ahead.

If he jumped off so suddenly, he must have noticed something.

Sure enough, following Rhett’s gaze, she saw the two small men, rigging the

road with explosives. Are they really planning to blow up the path?

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Chapter 2011 Personal Earort Duty

“Heh, let’s stop them right here!”

The two men quickly set up the explosives. But just as they were about to

light the fuse, a hand suddenly grabbed their wrists.

“Who’s there?!”

They jumped in shock, wondering how someone had appeared in front of

them without their noticing.

Snap!

Rhett didn’t bother answering. He simply twisted their wrists, disarming them

and tossing the lit fuse away. He then confiscated the explosives.

“Why hasn’t there been an explosion yet?”

The impatient bandits waiting on the mountain began to grow restless.

The man in the felt hat, however, seemed to sense something was off.

“Forget it. This shipment’s too well–guarded. Let them pass,” he ordered.

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Chapter 2011 Personal Escort Duty

“What?” His men were stunned.

23%2

We’ve got a juicy piece of meat right in front of us, and our boss is seriously

telling us to hold back and not take a bite?