My Substitute CEO Bride (Nash and Hera) novel Chapter 1975

“Torah, we’ve been fooled by this old man! The so-called Savior Project is actually just a ploy to transfer the dangers of the Illuminion to the Eastern world!”

“W-What?”

Torah let go of Cormick’s arm and gazed at Val, flabbergasted.

Val continued sipping on his coffee calmly.

“Val, what Admiral Cormick just said…”

Val nodded.

Now, all three of them fell silent.

Just then, Chester walked in through the door as well.

“Oh, everyone’s here? Why did you summon us so urgently, Val?”

Val leaned back in his chair and gazed at the three coolly.

Chester turned to look at Cormick and Torah. Cormick’s silence was not surprising, but given how quiet Torah was today, he knew that something unpleasant had gone down.

Val jerked Chester out of his reverie as he said sharply, “I shall be sharing how the Savior Project is going to work with everybody.”

Torah wanted to leave, but a mysterious force washed over him and pinned him down.

Val added, “The fundamental purpose of the Savior Project is to remove the Illuminion’s presence from our country and overthrow the royal family. However, the Illuminion’s presence is not easy to remove.

"Cormick, I’m sure you have found out their most recent movements. Share them with us!”

“My throat felt like someone had wrapped their hand around it!” Torah wheezed.

The three got to their feet and turned to Val again. Chester, who was now the calmest one among them, asked, “Why did you tell us all this, Val? Wouldn’t it have been easier to keep us in the dark and have us continue being your pawns?”

Val shook his head.

“I really do understand how you feel, Chester, Torah, and Cormick. I’m finding it difficult to accept as well, but let me tell you about another future I foresaw. In that future, we will still be blamed for the Illuminion's influence in other countries even though we successfully executed the Savior Project. The final outcome is that the people we saved will have us brought before the guillotine for various reasons.

"It was then that I finally realized that I couldn't continue being a selfless hero. I’ve got a personal agenda, which is you three. After spending nearly a dozen years with you guys, I don’t want to see things end that way.

“Today, I decided to share this with you three for no reason other than because I trust you. I no longer wish to use my powers to control you, nor do I wish to continue keeping you in the dark.

“I have seen this scene multiple times, and now, I'm begging you to accept my selfishness. I don’t want to die, nor do I want to see you die. As for the rest, it’s out of our control!”