No Substitutes for the Bigshots' Dream Girl Anymore!-Chapter 1604: What Now?

Matthew Shaw, though also unaware of Hannah’s real name, was quite acquainted with the events that had transpired around her.

He briefly explained it all to Ashley Johnson, who indeed quickly analyzed the situation.

In short, it all boiled down to one thing – the royal family no longer trusted Wayne Lane.

His severe injuries were just one of the reasons. Most importantly, the royals believed he had deliberately let Hannah go because of personal feelings.

The discussion between Matthew Shaw and Ashley Johnson lasted until the dark of night.

During the conversation, they also mentioned Hannah’s live broadcast that they had been following earlier.

"I wonder how Hannah is doing now," Ashley Johnson sighed, resting her head on the table.

Back when the broadcast was live, there had been talks about meeting up offline, but who would have thought events would unfold so suddenly, resulting in the entire broadcasting platform being shut down.

With one hand tapping lightly on the table, Matthew Shaw turned to look out at the night through the glass window, "We should worry about when the border conflict will end first."

With his words, both of them sighed.

Deep down, they both understood...

The royal family’s arrogance and conceit over the years had already tortured themselves into decay, scarcely possessing any capital to sustain themselves.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have made the mecha academy students fill in.

"Seriously, should we just run away?" Ashley Johnson suddenly sat upright and blurted out.

Matthew Shaw turned to look at him, replying with a hint of amusement, "Run? To where? The royal family issued a decree long ago: within the empire, one is allowed in but not out – no one is permitted to leave."

This decree had been around for two years, coinciding with when Wayne Lane faced off against wanderers, so the enforcement wasn’t strict.

After all, he was the "God of War" – no one expected him to lose.

By the time news of Wayne Lane’s severe injury spread, the decree was tightened. At its most severe, civilians weren’t even allowed outside their homes.

And now, it remained the same.

Although they could leave their homes, trying to leave the empire was next to impossible.

Ashley Johnson’s spirit deflated instantly, "It’s all the royal family’s doing – do we really have to die alongside them?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Matthew Shaw sighed, "Who knows."

*

Border area.

The empire’s army and the wanderers faced a deadlock in their first confrontation due to Wayne Lane’s unexpected arrival.

The wanderers were strong, their years of wandering and scrambling in adverse environments endowing them with rich combat experience.

In contrast, the empire’s side, due to the unfamiliar land and water and a previously too comfortable life, had been forced to retreat multiple times.

Had Wayne Lane not made a sudden appearance, they would have surely lost.

Nighttime.

Wayne Lane’s containment gave the empire’s army just enough time to delay.

Fresh off the battlefield, Emma rushed over impatiently, her eyes reddened from crying, "Brother Wayne Lane, are you alright?"

Wayne Lane was inside, discussing the next moves with Sheffield Benedict and other team captains, when Emma’s abrupt intrusion made everyone subconsciously stop their discussion.

The atmosphere in the room was evidently tense.

Even the other captains felt Wayne Lane’s displeasure, yet Emma, unperturbed, approached and asked tenderly, "Brother Wayne Lane, are you hurt?"

Wayne Lane let out a sigh, trying to suppress the irritation in his chest, but his voice remained icy, "Emma, we are discussing something very important right now."

Sheffield Benedict sat to one side, lips slightly curled, quietly watching the drama unfold.

But Emma, seemingly oblivious to it all, persisted, "Can any matter be more important than your well-being?"