บท 34: CHAPTER 33 – Moles.
The news about there being a survivor among the dead bodies of the children in the Lucious massacre was something that was spread when a girl, Riya Kritya—the girl that Vanessa had saved—suddenly woke up with a scream, making the people mourning their dead children shocked.
They were in disbelief at first, unable to believe that Riya was really alive; they thought that she had turned into an undead, which, although rare, does happen when people die from death energy.
But as they heard her mumbles and terrified screams, they realized that she was really alive.
That news, however, wasn't supposed to be spread out as the girl, who somehow survived, was probably a physique or bloodline holder—someone pretty rare to find—because they couldn't think of any other reason for her surviving it otherwise.
Vanessa showed her desire to keep the girl and maintain confidentiality about any information related to her.
Having a physique or a bloodline was a good thing, but the problem here was that this girl probably had a death-related physique, which the church abhorred, and so did many people who followed the church's teaching.
So, until this girl was strong enough to defend herself, Vanessa wanted her to stay hidden.
But it was then that everyone noticed another problem—the girl was traumatized by the last incident. By the mention of anything related to that, she would have strokes, choking on her breaths.
This news, however, was supposed to stay hidden, yet Vestian, who lived in the imperial capital of the Drakathor Empire, got the news, and he even arrived the next day.
This had clearly proved one of Alex's doubts: even among the people handpicked by his mother, there were moles.
Maybe they were being blackmailed, forced, or controlled, but they were still doing something they weren't supposed to.
Alex, however, let those people be for now, as they would bring more people Vestian, but the guy Vestian wasn't going to be let off the hook so easily. He was going to face punishment for sticking his nose where he wasn't supposed to be.
'How dare he make things go a bit awry from what I had thought?!'
This was the only thing in Alex's mind as he saw Riya spilling things she wasn't supposed to. The problem was that this was now within the recording, but Alex didn't think about it for too long and spoke.
"Aunt Alenia, move me behind them."
He spoke hurriedly, and Alenia, who was gritting her teeth as she looked at what was going on, and how Vestian had jumped on the girl, nodded her head and snapped her finger, making Alex jump out of the shadow behind Vestian and Thomas, who couldn't even sense his presence before that exact moment.
"My lord! Snap out of it. You will kill the girl—"
It was the moment when Thomas had tried to snap Vestian away from Riya, not because he was worried about her but because he didn't want Vestian to get his hand spoiled by the blood of a heretic.
No matter how kind-hearted Thomas was, he abhorred devils, and Riya, who had awakened a death-related physique or bloodline, was related to devils, hence a heretic for him.
But before both Vestian and Thomas could even stabilize themselves...
"What is this? I was looking for an individual concerned about my well-being—so much so that they rushed here without delay—yet all I see is someone skulking about another's home, imposing upon a defenseless girl who has yet to recover from her trauma."
The moment those words were heard, both Thomas and Vestian froze, their eyes snapping toward the source of the voice, only to find Alex standing right behind them, scrutinizing them, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
"Oh, is this not Alex Drakathor, the child said to be incapable of recovering from mental trauma like others his age? Yet, why does he appear perfectly fine to me?" Vestina soon spoke, straightening his back and dusting his clothes, pretending as if he wasn't just about to kill a girl, using Alex's words against him, making Alex squint his eyes.
He knew that Vestian wasn't a simple guy; no way a simple guy would be the villain of the novel in the first part of the story, but that didn't mean Alex didn't have a way to deal with this guy.
All Vestian had was a sharp tongue that struck people in a way that would hurt the most, but Alex was not just a normal person.
So, Alex shot back, "Even someone burdened by trauma like myself couldn't remain still when I saw what you were doing to that poor girl."
His words did make Vestian frown, but he soon shrugged it off.
"I was merely investigating a heretic. Using force against those connected to death magic is necessary, as they are skilled deceivers who know how to manipulate others into believing that—" Vestina, unbothered by anything, justified his actions, but his words were cut off by Alex.
"Are you attempting to label her as evil when you, unlike the girl who has done nothing wrong, are employing an art as dark as mind control?"
The moment those words were heard, the expression on the faces of Thomas and Vestian froze, and so did the atmosphere.
'W-What the hell is this guy blabbering about—?!'
Thomas, who, after seeing the calm attitude and masterful control of the situation by Vestian, had calmed down, couldn't believe his ears. His eyes moved toward Vestian, hoping to see his lord frowning or getting ready to retort, only to have his thoughts and his world pause.
'W-What...?'
He wasn't sure what was happening, but for the first time, he saw killing intent flashing in his lord's eyes, making him fear the worst.
'I-Is that guy speaking the tru—'
But again, before he could complete his thoughts, Vestian yelled in anger.
"What blasphemy is this?! Why would I, a candidate for the papacy, ever involve myself with such a dark art?! I came here solely out of duty, to make amends for those who suffered due to my negligence. Yet, all I see is the son of a great figure attempting to frame me—"
Vestian, unable to take the blame that Alex was pushing at him, tried to walk out of the room, stomping his feet in anger, only to be cut off by Alex again.
"You know, Vestian, people tend to raise their voices when they are cornered or when they know they are in the wrong. And they often try to flee, just as you are doing now," Alex began as he moved toward Vestian, closing their distance, leaving Thomas frozen in his spot, unable to absorb what was happening.
"Should I take your actions as an admission that you, a candidate pope, were indeed using mind control?" Added Alex as he saw Vestian pausing mid-step, and a devilish smile formed on his lips.
"No, I would never use mind control on anyone. I despise those who practice such dark arts." Vestian spoke without turning back, and having answered Alex's question, he was about to move forward, calling Thomas with a cold light flashing past his eyes.
'Alex Drakathor...' he muttered inwardly, but before he could do any of what he wanted to...
*Beep**Beep**Beep*...
A sharp, continuous beeping sound echoed through the room, making his expression freeze in shock. He knew perfectly well what device made that sound. They were used by churches the most after all...
"My lord..."
Thomas's voice, filled with horror, shock, and betrayal, only made his doubt certain, making him close his eyes.
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