After Aron had finished his talk with Anastasia, he began heading back in the direction he had initially come from. After a few meters, he arrived on the path where Jin, Jagu, Scarlett, and Evanora surrounded Emilia, a wounded Brutas and Esmeralda.
As soon as Aron's figure was visible, all eyes turned to him. Brutas and Esmeralda looked especially worried as they had no idea how his confrontation with Henry had gone.
"Let's return to the airship, we're done here." Aron didn't bother explaining a single thing and only said this as he walked past Emilia, Brutas and Esmeralda.
Everyone present except Evanora looked like they had wanted to question him over what was going on as they were now confused. However, when they saw Evanora simply following him; Jin, Jagu, and Scarlett could only pick up the aristocrat's weapons and start to leave as well.
"Our weapons!" Brutas blurted out while Esmeralda gave him a deathly glare since she only cared for leaving the scene in one piece. Brutas's statement caused Aron to stop walking and turn his head.
"You're free to purchase them back after the journey is over." Aron casually replied before walking away.
Brutas felt the urge to speak more but also felt as if his words were stuck in his throat. Every time he looked at Aron's casual expression, he was reminded how easily that expression could change into the cold, unfeeling one he experienced in the short battle he had with him.
In the end, he could only click his tongue in irritation as he was helped to stand by Emilia who, along with Esmeralda, just watched as Aron the others soon disappeared down the path.
Unbeknownst to them, except for Aron and Anastasia's exchange which he made sure to conceal the confrontation with the heirs was projected across numerous regions in all of Pesia once he learned the conditions behind them.
Projections are only activated when a set amount of mana is detected in a region and only stop when that mana settles. Hence, Aron could easily control what he wanted and didn't want to be projected. As for Anastasia, she simply knew because Aron had questioned her about it earlier but now, she could no longer share this or any information that would go against Aron.
.....
Once Aron and his group arrived back on the airship without him explaining a single word, Scarlett stepped forward and spoke.
"When are you planning on telling the rest of us what's going on. How did the plan drastically shift from confronting them to retreating? We had them, why not end it then and there, take their ship and finish the journey. The journey ends when we arrive at Galos Academy where aristocrats hold no power, we had nothing to lose, or did they make you an offer you couldn't refuse?" Scarlett asked in an annoyed tone and narrowed eyes.
From her point of view, Aron had done things in a strange pattern. At first, his actions seemed to have been for their benefit or the group at large but little by little his actions became odder and harder to read, some not even making any sense to them. And so, Aron was left with no choice but to at least answer her.
"Situations are bound to change, and plan's rarely go as planned so you shouldn't be all that surprised. I said I would gain you wealth; I've done just that and even more so after these weapons we've acquired. I don't remember promising you anything else, so what does it matter if I chose to let them go. Tell me one benefit killing them would have presented to me. Just one." Aron came to a stop right at the entrance that led into the ship and replied.
"..." Scarlett seemed to only get angrier from his statement, not because it was wrong but because it was true. Their goal from the start was wealth, which he delivered. Furthermore, she could not give him one solid reason about why killing four important aristocrats would benefit him, she could only think of possible consequences; she gave no answer but only clenched her fists.
"Not even one. Keep in mind, no one forced you to spare them, if you wanted to kill any of them, I would have had no reason to stop you. You chose to follow my lead and it's led us to this point thus far, if you're unsatisfied then simply find your own path and stay off mine." Aron honestly advised Scarlett before heading inside the airship.
Meanwhile, roughly a kilometer away on Henry's airship, he and the others were gathered in a hall with many servants tending to their wounds.
"What happened?" Henry, who was seated on a chair with his upper body exposed and being tended to, asked Brutas who sat next to him receiving the same treatment.
"That's what I'd like to ask you, he only walked past Esmeralda, Emilia and me then left without exchanging any words with us. He simply walked away like we weren't worth his time..." Brutas clenched his fist in anger as he remembered the loss he suffered to Aron not once but twice now.
"I was unconscious. When I awoke, Anastasia was leading me here. She only said he told her that we should cease pursuing him or else... To think he actually held her captive all this time and I didn't know." Henry explained before clenching his fist in anger.
"It's fine, big brother, although the conditions he kept me under weren't the best he didn't dare touch me. I personally feel we've wasted a lot of time on this, we should've been among the first to complete the journey. I think we should first focus on this or risk further humiliation by falling short in rank to some commoners." Anastasia explained bringing a smile to Henry's face and causing even Brutas to mellow down.
"You always know what to say, Anastasia, it's good to have you back." Emilia came into the room and pointed out before showing Anastasia a friendly and bright smile.
"It's good to be back, Emilia, thank you. How's Ez doing? And I haven't seen Juliet..." Anastasia asked in a friendly and polite tone, completely different from how she had acted when alone with her maid or when confronting Aron and the others.
"My sister is resting in her quarters; her pride is more wounded than anything else. As for Juliet, she's hunting. After hearing we suffered a loss, she went out to hunt again... She's peculiar and not easy to read but seems kind enough." Emilia shrugged as she gave this reply to Anastasia who smiled and nodded.
"She's strong, she'll be back to normal by tomorrow morning, don't worry. If you'll excuse me though, I need to freshen up and rest up a bit, we can properly discuss the way forward once everyone's here," said Anastasia before showing a gentle smile to everyone and then leaving the room.
"It is good to have your sister back, Henry, she's smart, kind, and just seems to always have a way out of every situation. I can't stop thinking she's the reason we were allowed to walk away. I really hope she didn't suffer when being held captive," Emilia muttered in a low tone causing Henry to sigh as well, Brutas remained silent but showed an even more concerned look at this thought.