Kole's eyes narrowed into slits.
He had an ominous premonition.
Thoughts after thought clashed in his mind rapidly.
"What do you mean? Did she do something wrong? I don't remember her getting involved in something dangerous."
At the same time, he cursed in his mind for not realizing — Viscount Turner was dead!
Along with his death, Alice's noble title would be in jeopardy, since she didn't have much strength to be called a Viscount and couldn't take up her father's mantle.
However, the Turners were still wealthy, and the last remaining heir of the family was Alice, who had a claim over everything!
If someone wanted to capture whatever the Turners had, all they had to do was marry Alice — By Nook or Crook!
This was terrible news!
And it was obvious; that Ryan was working with someone else behind the scenes to make the most out of Viscount's death.
What can I do? Report it to Caroline, Tempest Order? But she had already made it clear, the Tempest Order won't interfere with the bureaucracy of Treon.
I can't ask for my mother's help either!
Kill! Kill! Kill!... A cold light flashed through his eyes which he quickly hid behind his confused façade.
The Dominator in him made it very clear — his possessions were his to keep! Whoever dares to touch it — Kill!
He wasn't a bloodthirsty maniac, but he hated the political intricacies.
The only solution he could find in this head-grinding world was violence.
Ryan chuckled, "It looks like Heir Akerse is very concerned about Miss Alice. Don't worry, we aren't here to harm her, but just to check on her condition and ask a few questions."
A meaningful glint flashed in Ryan's eyes as he looked at the lady asleep peacefully.
Eleanor stepped forward by Alice's bedside and stretched her hands to loosen the blindfold ever so slightly, as she added curtly:
"Though the questioning will happen when she has recovered, which should be very soon since she is mostly alright."
"The investigation will follow like it was supposed to be... Don't tell me you are planning to interfere in the workings of law and order, Heir Akerse?" Ryan shot Kole a look that meant, 'Try if you dare'.
Kole's expression was ugly, but he tried hard to control it and made himself look neutral.
If I get through this and manage to maintain my sanity, I swear I will make each of these people pay!...
Suddenly he developed a heavy loathing for all the hidden schemes that these bureaucrats weaved beneath their masks of gentleness.
Snorting inwardly, Kole dominated his emotions to clear his head and suppress the turbulent waves of headache.
Revealing a gentle smile, Kole replied with a shit-eating grin:
"Of course not! I am a law-abiding citizen. I don't dare to claim anyone is above the law… Not even you, Sir Ryan."
With that, Kole pressed down on his half-top hat and passed by the Chief Inspector, the corners of his lips curling upwards as he cast his gaze over Ryan for one last time before disappearing into the corridors.
Habitually taking the pocket watch out of his inner compartments of the coat, Kole glanced at it as he revealed a lopsided grin, "Tick Tock Tick Tock!"
Appearing outside the Cathedral, he gazed far into the west, his dark eyes locked on the sun, which had half-drowned in the ocean.
With a step, he vanished from his spot and appeared on a rooftop gazing in the direction of the setting sun as a brilliant orange hue fell upon his handsome visage.
A gentle breeze rolled in the air, threatening to blow his hat away, which Kole prevented by pressing down on his hat with his hand. The corners of his coat fluttered in the air.
Putting his free hand inside the pockets of his coat, he retracted a clenched fist.
Opening his palm, 48 crystal clear beads floated around him.
48 Creation Seeds!
For Tier 1-A, one had to consume 1 Creation Seed. For Tier 1-B, the number increases to 2; for Tier 1-C, they would need 4; for Tier 2-A, they would have to consume 8… and so on, till they reach Tier 3-A, where one would need to consume 64 Creation Seeds!
After reaching Tier 3-A and having a total concentration of 127 Creations Seeds in their bodies, one didn't need to consume more Creation Seeds to advance but use a different method to cultivate their strength.
As for the number of Creation Seeds surrounding Kole? He had more, but this was all he needed to advance from Tier 2-A to Tier 2-C. He didn't feel ready to advance to Tier 3-A yet, even though he had all the required Creation Seeds.
Kole had gotten 8 Creation Seeds from the Gradoz zealot that he thought was Otto Moore.
The Gradoz zealot was a Tier 2-A Ascendant. In total, he had consumed almost 15 Creation Seeds just like the current Kole, and his strength was more or less equal to Kole.
If only he wasn't insane, he would've given Kole a tougher fight.
However, after his death, during the process of submerging into Subspace, the rest of Creation Seeds were lost. Even when Kole had tried his best to retract as many as possible, he could only gather 8 out of 15 from the Gradoz zealot.
26 Creation Seeds came from head butler Hugh, who was a Tier 2-B Ascendant and had consumed almost 31 Creation Seeds. Again, Kole could only gather 26 out of 31 as the rest were lost in Subspace.
But the biggest harvest came from Morris Turner!
Although Kole didn't know what realm the Viscount was at, it was evident he had long passed Tier 3-A, which needed one to consume 127 Creation Seeds in total!
Kole had been able to scavenge 113 Creation Seeds from Viscount Turner!
In total, Kole's Creation Seeds count had reached an astonishing 147!
He needed 48 Creation Seeds to advance to Tier 2-C in one fell swoop and 64 more to reach Tier 3-A.
After which, he didn't need to worry about Creation Seeds anymore, and he would still be left with 35 Creation Seeds!
If he could sell each for a couple of thousands of pounds, he will be able to make 50 thousand pounds at the very least! But he quickly shook his head to distract those thoughts.
Such heavy numbers, along with the recent happening in Stormwatch would raise too many eyebrows.
Habitually taking out a cigar from the Subspace, he lit it with a lighter and inhaled deeply.
He let out a puff of smoke and chuckled while gazing toward the ocean.
In the distance, ferries, ships, and metallic behemoths in the shape of vessels floated along with the wind while riding the waves that had an orange tint because of the setting sun in the background. They bellowed a cloud of dark smoke in their wake as the sound of steam engines thundered in the air. Seagulls flew in the sky, creating a mesmerizing image.
"Soon…"
...
A/N: Oh well, that was a lot of mathematics. Just think Kole needs 16 to reach 2-B, 32 to 2-C, and 64 to 3-A. After which he won't need C.S.
In total, he needs 16+32=48 C.S. to reach Tier 2-C in one swoop since he is at 2-A, currently.
As for Tier 3-A, he would be needing 64 more, which he already has.
It was confusing but it will end after this arc, after all, Ascendants don't need C.S. to advance after reaching a total concentration of 127 Creation Seeds in their bodies/reaching Tier 3-A. I had to go with this system because 127 is an important number that would come at a later time.