"You two are still too early to beat me."
Alita had tied up her children. They had been beaten by her, rather brutally at that. Calira pouted while Sebastian was knocked unconscious.
"Now, it's time to assist Alexander—"
"There's no point."
Stone came into the room, being supported by Alicia. She looked fairly content, despite carrying the old man.
(I think I know what happened...)
Alita thought, not wanting to ask.
"What do you mean by no point?"
Stone looked down at the ground without saying a word.
"John?"
"Alexander isn't around anymore."
From behind, Anastasia walked into the room, also looking down.
"Lady Anastasia? Weren't you with Alexander?"
"Lady Anastasia!"
Calira shouted with a smile of relief on her face. Sebastian woke up. Dazed, he shouted and cried upon seeing his master.
"LADY ANASTASIA!"
Anastasia tried to form a smile, however, it did not work.
Alita soon caught on. She narrowed her eyes.
"By not around, do you mean—"
"He's dead."
Shoya threw the corpse of Alexander into the room. It was apparent that he was tortured before he was stabbed in the heart.
Sebastian looked away from the body, vomiting, while everyone else either looked at Alexander or Shoya, shocked.
"Are you crazy?! You killed someone from the King family?! You and your family won't be safe anymore!"
Alita screamed.
Unlike the woman, the boy was calm. He took off his eyepatch—his eye was fully healed—and untied his hair.
"Feels weird."
He muttered to himself, commenting on his sight.
Alita grabbed him and pulled her toward him.
"Don't ignore me!"
"Did you like Alexander or something?"
"No, but still..."
Alita was not mourning but worried for Shoya's wellbeing. If it got out, Shoya would be in danger. IF it got out.
"If you don't want me to suffer the consequences, then don't tell anyone."
He said, putting his stuff in his pocket.
Alicia noticed something.
"Shoya, you're shaking..."
The boy's fingers were trembling, and he seemed cold and nonchalant. It was his first time killing another human. It was different from a monster.
Even if he hated Alexander with his whole heart, even if he didn't care for him in the slightest, it still shook him.
"I can't hide it from his family when they ask, can I?!"
Suddenly, Shoya's pocket vibrated. He took his phone out and answered the phone.
"Hello?"
He listened and then put the phone on speaker.
[Don't worry, I have that one covered.]
A voice spoke.
"Who's this?"
Everyone had the same question in mind. To Anastasia, the voice sounded somewhat familiar.
[That isn't important, however, what is important is that the Dragon King shall cover for you all! It took a bit of influence from me, though.]
They all stayed silent until Shoya spoke.
"You convinced him? I'm surprised you could."
[It took a bit of convincing from our gluttonous girl but it worked.]
"You mean she just beat him up more."
Shoya cringed.
"The Dragon King will cover for us? What does that mean? There's no way the prideful, almighty Dragon King would stay quiet when one of his own was killed!"
Alita was the one who could not accept the situation. Of course, everyone else did not understand either. The biggest questions to them were, 'is it true?' and 'who could influence the Dragon King?'
[That's all from me Shoya.]
"Sorry that I had to ask a favour from you."
[It's fine. I see the seal I placed on you broke. Well, don't be hesitant to ask for my help. Unlike the others, I'm nice.]
"Thanks, Lili."
[No problem. Introduce me to your lovers next time, though! And don't forget the gift I gave you!]
"Lovers? I never told you about—"
The call ended.
"How did she know I had two girlfriends? I only told her about Anastasia?"
"Shoya, who was that?"
Calira asked.
"She's someone who could influence the Dragon King."
"Of course, we know that! But who is she?"
Anastasia then came to a conclusion.
"To be able to influence the Dragon King, a Mortal Sin, it would have to be another Mortal Sin or... an Emperor."
"I'll let you entertain yourselves."
He said.
"Anyhow, as long as Alexander King's death doesn't get out to the public, then nothing bad will happen. The King family won't say anything to preserve their pride. It's all up to you guys. Whether you want to keep the secret or not."
"But—!"
"Alita."
John Stone spoke to her.
"Just give up. Sir Alexander was killed and it's already done. We do not speak a word of this. You may be stronger than me, but as a servant, I outrank you."
The woman bit her lip, frustrated.
"Yes..."
Shoya sighed, looking at the ring in his hand. It was the gift he received from Lilith.
Looking over at Anastasia, he blushed slightly.
"Hey, Anastasia."
She shivered.
"Y-yes?!"
He smiled nervously.
"I'm sorry. I may have scared you back there."
"W-well, you kind of did..."
"As an apology, I'll give you this."
He took her hand and put the ring on her.
"A ring?"
"A gift from me."
She was amazed by how beautiful it was. It was a black ring with a white gem. The gem sparkled when brought up to the light. She had never seen anything like it.
"Don't you think you're too young to get married?"
Alicia jumped in with a mischievous smile.
"What do you mean, Alicia? I just gave her a ring."
"It's not about the ring, it's about where you put it."
When Anastasia noticed, her entire face flushed red as she marched toward Shoya.
"You idiot!"
"I didn't do it on purpos—ack!"
That lifted the tense pressure in the room. Everyone laughed.
·———·
In Nagasaki, in the destroyed underground ruins, Kyoka Kamish was in the large wyvern's nest. Miners were working, attempting to find ore within the cave. She walked toward the large hole in the nest, which led to another room. In that room was a sole statue of a woman.
There was a faint aura around it. Kamish smirked upon seeing the statue.
"I have finally found you, Master."
She bowed to it.
"It has been more than 2000 years since the last time I saw you. I have been alive all that time, attempting to find you, all this time. I travelled the world, assuming different identities, looking for you."
Kamish raised her head, admiring the woman's statue. A tear leaked from her eye.
"Master Solomon. The time of your awakening is near and when you do, I shall be with you, as your loyal servant."
If Kamish had not been looking at the statue, she would have not noticed. The statue proceeded to smile.
Solomon was present.
The woman cried, happy that her master heard everything she said.
"Soon, Master, soon! Soon, you will be free in this world once more!"
·———·
"Get ready, you two."
Regulus told his two servants.
They were equipped with different gear. Faith had guns with her while Ophelia had a spear.
"We already are."
The black-haired maid said.
He smiled.
"Good. Before going for the Key, we need to finish this first."
"We could ask some other Tarots to help. I mean, we could have Luminous or Selena help us out."
Faith suggested.
"It's fine, I already brought someone. Come out now."
From behind the group, a boy appeared. He looked to be in his early teens. His hair was platinum and his eyes were silver. On his back was a staff.
"Argent? Didn't you disappear after you failed to capture the Key last year?"
Ophelia asked, shocked.
Argent smirked.
"Let's just say that Father put me in a special training program."
"Hey, hey, now's not the time for fighting. Our target appeared."
Regulus said.
"We're in a secluded area, where their base is. Can't we just destroy the whole thing?"
"That wouldn't be fun, would it?"
He asked Faith.
"Let's enjoy this the best we can."