Capítulo 1223: Chapter 1223: That Really Hurt (Part 1)

Seeing the message on the smartwatch, a barely noticeable smile flashed in Abel’s eyes as he rushed forward, grabbing Huangfu Jue’s arm.

“Duke, please calm down. Let’s talk things over with General Barton!” he said, while turning his face towards General Barton with a conciliatory smile, “General Barton, don’t get excited, we can discuss this matter… can we discuss this calmly?”

As he spoke, he raised his arm, turning the smartwatch towards Huangfu Jue, while slipping the phone to Gan Yuan.

Opposite, General Barton merely thought Abel was scared, and coldly smiled.

Abel used his body to block his small actions, and coupled with his performance, anyone would think he was terrified. Thus, apart from Huangfu Jue and Gan Yuan, who was seated in the back, no one noticed Abel’s subtle moves.

Huangfu Jue glanced at the information on his watch, quickly understanding the situation, and immediately flung Abel, who was “blocking him,” to the side.

“Step aside!”

Abel stumbled back several steps, collapsing onto the floor.

Huangfu Jue focused his gaze back on General Barton’s face.

“General Barton, this is your last chance now!”

“Ha…” General Barton laughed heartily, “Huangfu Jue, you really are stubborn. Fine, the last chance, is it?”

He suddenly reached out to grab the gun from the table, stood up from the chair, and aimed the gun at Huangfu Jue.

“The last minute, if you don’t want him dead, sign the document for me immediately!”

By this time, General Barton had lost patience for any further charade, and with the gun in hand, he was already showing his menacing side.

He lifted his right hand, slowly pressing down on the trigger of the phone, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his lips.

“Now, I’ll count down from three, and if you still don’t pick up the pen to sign, hmph!”

General Barton squinted slightly, aiming the gun at Huangfu Jue.

“Three!”

Standing behind him, Major General O’Leary’s expression changed, and he shouted in a low voice, “General!”

General Barton slightly turned his gaze, giving Major General O’Leary a sidelong glance, “What do you want to say?”

“Your… Your Highness the Princess and they came to negotiate with us. If we do this, how are we going to maintain our standing internationally in the future? Don’t you… don’t you consider the reputation of the Northwest Army?”

O’Leary frowned, speaking with a sincere tone.

When he first followed General Barton, he was just a small lieutenant, climbing all the way up within the Northwest Army to his current position.

He had deep feelings for this Northwest land where he was born and raised, but his upright nature could not accept General Barton’s actions.

This was nowhere near a negotiation; it was clearly coercion!

General Barton raised his eyebrows in displeasure, turning his face to look at Major General O’Leary.

“O’Leary, are you questioning me now?”

His tone carried anger, yet more so it was frosty.

None of these many officials dared to speak up, and he, the one with the least seniority, dared to question like this.

“I…”

Major General O’Leary looked at Huangfu Jue and Gan Yuan across the table, then at the people around him with faces of helpless silence, as images of his wife and daughter flashed through his mind, causing him considerable distress.

On one hand, there were his wife and daughter; on the other hand, there was the Duke he respected, along with Gan Yuan, who represented the future of the nation.

Family versus duty, it’s always a difficult choice.

At this moment, what should he choose?

If he continued to oppose General Barton, not only his life but his wife and children might also be in danger, but if he did nothing, how could he live with his conscience?