[What do you even intend to do? Help or not help?]
'I don't know.' Varian shrugged and his eyes slowly grew indifferent. 'The Duke seems like a good person. But I can't judge a guy who lived a few centuries in a few hours.'
[But the Lord of Barix wants to attack. He'll be spilling a lot of blood.]
'There doesn't have to be a good guy and a bad guy in a conflict. Both can be bad.' Varian chuckled and returned to his quarters.
[You're being indifferent to an impending massacre. Doesn't that prick your conscience?]
Varian tapped his mattress and jumped on it. Putting his hands behind his neck, he rested his head on his palms.
"Conscience? I guess not. It's a risky conflict involving a rank 5 and rank 4s. Even if I want to, I don't have the power to go against them. What's more…I don't want to. I just want to get the treasure and get out of here."
[You don't look like a hero at all.]
— — — —
Batch after batch, powerhouses belonging to the Barix Province entered the capital city as guests. They were given accommodation close to the palace.
The marriage was the first step in the Duke's dream of Centaurus revival. The marriage was Lord Barix's dream of revenge.
"Two days." Looking at the palace spires, a man muttered under his under breath and disappeared into the crowd.
"Two days." In the top room of the most luxurious inn, the veiled woman narrowed her eyes.
With a tap from her finger, invisible ripples spread from under her feet and slowly enveloped the entire planet. With the second tap, the atmosphere of the planet was covered.
"I hope there aren't any accidents." She muttered.
At the same time, a few men and women who sneaked into the capital city in disguise began to move.
With the help of some aids, these drug lords mixed some special ingredients into the foods and potions of the soldiers.
It was a dose small enough to remain undetected but through sufficient accumulation, large enough to affect even a rank 3.
For this gamble, the drug lords bet everything. With the Duchy cleaning off the drug mafia with an iron fist, this was their only chance to rebel.
The main reason they were even able to get this far was the insider help, primarily from Chief Akira.
"When the signal comes, use your full forces and attack the Imperial Guards." In the basement of a pub, Akira met up with a few drug lords.
In an inn just a few buildings away, the red-robed man returned to his room. In front of him was the projection of a woman.
A legendary woman who reached the rank 9 and reigned as the deputy leader of a scary organization under the Jai Empire.
Even though he was called a legendary figure among his peers, facing her, even he felt tremendous pressure.
Forget someone like him, even rank 8s, no, even rank 9s would feel intimidated.
When he opened his mouth to speak, Zahara Onyx's voice already reached him. "An annoying woman is keeping an eye on you."
"W-What?" He couldn't believe his ears. "But I clearly covered my traces. Even though I was injured, no one shoul—"
"I'm not discussing with you, I'm informing you." Zahara's face couldn't be seen in the transmission. All he could see was a figure shrouded in pale purple light.
But in that light, two beautiful red eyes were visible. It was as if the light from those eyes was breaking even the purple light covering her.
"I was too presumptous and didn't show proper respect. Please punish me!" The man lowered his head.
Zahara waved her hand dismissively. It was a surprise even for her that 'She' would come here personally. To be honest, even now, it's still a conjecture. But Zahara always believed in her intuition.
It's not that she couldn't understand her behavior. Even though this man, Crimson Specter, was just a Duchy-level agent, his brother overlooked the entire kingdom and was a rank 8.
His rank wasn't important to that woman, but the information he held was important.
Or was she also looking for…
Zahara Onyx shook her head and focused back on the red-robed man.
As if waiting for it, he started. "W-What should I do? If someone even your Highness speaks of appears, then I…I am willing to throw away my life at any second but I don't want to fail my task."
"There will be no failure. Either you come home with what you're asked or you get buried there." Zahara sneered. "I'll take care of her. But you still have to take care of her clone."
"C-Clone? How strong would it be?"
"Rank 6 or Rank 5 since she'd be in a hurry."
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
Rank 6 if she's a bit more focused. But the minimum was rank 5? Was this still supposed to be a normal conversation?
"I could've sent a Shade over, but they're all under tight watch. Any movement now will be dangerous and expose their position. What's more, it'll bring unnecessary attention to that Duchy." Zahara said in a light tone.
The man wondered if she even remembered the name of Centaurus. But perhaps not. She'd be dealing with the entire alliance. What's a mere duchy in her eyes?
He still wondered why she personally ordered him on this mission.
But he didn't dare to ask and risk his life. Bowing deeply, he said in reverence. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Zahara Onyx just repeated her instructions. "Princess Eshala asked me to take care of this matter. You better not fail me."
Hearing that name, the man's body shivered and he slammed his head against the floor. "YES!"
Zahara Onyx was a legend but Princess Eshala Starlight was someone akin to a myth.
Crimson Specter wasn't even qualified to learn about her. All he knew was that she…crossed the celestial ranks more than five hundred years ago.
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