Under the glistening moon, I sat down and found Renata.
"So they said they were aiming for the Duke. Is that right?"
"That is true, my lord." Answered her.
"...Do we know who's behind them?"
"Most of them gave out a dead lead, but I can send the Shadows immediately to investigate further if my Lord wishes so."
'Hmm, that means most of them are small fries...'
It was weird. I could feel that something didn't sit well with me. I thought Helena or Howard was their target.
"Is it just me, or does this whole thing seem fishy, Assassin?"
"May I offer my insight, my lord?"
"Go on."
"They said the purpose of their attack was to execute the Duke of Dawson, but I believed that isn't the case."
"Then, is it the twins?"
"...I'm afraid not, my Lord." She bowed.
"Explain more."
"Yes, my Lord. Whoever planned for this surely knew even with those number of people, they wouldn't be able to reach the podium, much less threaten the Duke's life."
'Yes, that makes sense. For once, most of them weren't that strong and looked like third-rate assassins at best.'
"And then the woman. If they really wanted to declare war against Dawson in the open, they would have sent at least five or more Master Magicians to make sure the job was done. Instead, they send her alone to oversee the whole plan. Clearly, assassination was not the real goal of these people, but something else. At least not for whoever staged the riot."
'Come to think of it, that's right...It feels too flashy but sloppy, coming from this angle. But if they aren't coming for our neck, then why?'
I traced back my thoughts from there. Several possible scenarios flashed in my mind until I found the one that bugs me the most.
Basically, I've been so preoccupied with Helena's death that I completely forget one simple thing—Dawson's value in the kingdom's power struggle.
So far, the House of Dawson's role has been to become the spearhead of the neutral faction. In the first place, there's a reason why they could trust the Lion in the North as the one to represent such a delicate and dangerous seat.
George has been doing a magnificent job of cementing the idea, but everything started because of a certain someone.
Rygor Von Dawson. The Golden Lion of Dawson...
A figure many believed could reach the prominent state of a sainthood.
Before Dawson was known for its influence due to George, it was known to the world for its unshakable and impeccable military might, and the pillar to hold everything was Rygor Von Dawson himself.
"Renata, is it possible that the one they're aiming for is Rygor?"
"I believe that seems to be the case, my Lord. If they can cause a riot, surely words would reach the previous Duke's ears. And with him entering the water that has been muddled too much already..."
'It will get more chaotic and easier for the civil war to break out...'
I didn't know whether it was because I interfered with Helena's fate, but the scale was getting bigger, that's for sure.
"Let's find out the truth then." I met Renata's eyes. "Is she alive?"
And the fastest way we could do that was by wringing the leader dry.
"Yes, my Lord. She's yet to open her mouth, but I believe if my Lord is to torture her a couple more times, the woman will start singing in no time." Her gaze was gleaming bright in the sadistic glow.
"..." I didn't know what to say to such a genuine expression.
"Bring her in," I commanded, feeling weary already.
"You will not speak a word until I say so." I used Word Magic as soon as the Shadows brought the woman in.
Her once gorgeous hair was damp and dirty with blood, painting the once platinum blonde highlighted tips red in return.
The clear obsidian irises I saw from before were now almost buried behind the bruises that fashioned her face. Her once plump pink lips were black and blue, cracked and broken. Covered in dirty rags, the slender and long legs had long since lost their allure and were now full of cuts and dried blood instead.
I look at the woman straight in the eyes through the mask, watching her kneeling powerless beside the two Shadows.
"You should have opened your mouth...Even if you don't, you'll end up doing so anyway..."
That's right. She didn't have a choice.
What, do you think I might act soft and play nice with her just because she got roughed up and now looked like a poor damsel in distress? Spare me the bullshit...
"Are you ready?" I undo the binding on her.
"P-Please, anything but that hell! I will tell you anything and cooperate if I can, but I'm bound to a mana contract for life!" Horrified, she started begging.
A terrified and broken speech slurred out.
I threw a look at Renata to the side. "Do you know about this?"
"She didn't say a word even as we tortured her, my Lord." Denied Renata.
'What game is this bitch trying to play now?'
It felt like she was trying something, which didn't sit well with me.
So, I had to make sure even after I didn't catch anything unusual.
'Raise my mana sensitivity to the max.'
Every hair on my body stood as if trying to pluck themselves out. Meanwhile, my body trembled harshly beneath the costume as if trying to break out from the hulking mass of armor.
And then I noticed it. A foreign string of mana was connected to the woman's left eye.
'Enough. Enhance my eyes to see the mana flow better.' I turned down the mana sensitivity so the shaking would stop and enhanced my eyes further instead.
The world turned more vibrant than ever, and at long last, I could finally see what I wanted to see.
The room was silent as they waited for me, but I didn't care.
'What in the damn hell...'
A wriggling worm with ten tiny tentacles with eyeballs was burrowing out of the woman's eye, peeking directly at me. The tentacles moved around, trying to cover everything around us.
"Assassin. Close the curtain," I said, waving my hand to her.
It was a simple, quick test, and the worm did react to it. Some of the eyes followed Renata, and some were still studying me, following the brief moment when my hand moved.
'Holy shit...We got ourselves some freaking stalkers over here, fellas!'
"Kukuku..." I didn't know why, but I couldn't help but chuckle.
'Yeah, if I think magic can't even do shit like this, then I'm seriously underestimating this world.'
"If you stare into the abyss..." I moved forward and kneeled, gazing back to the other side.
Ten disgusting eyeballs were locked upon me.
"The Abyss will stare back at you."
'Wait for me...I'll be coming for you bastards soon enough.'
"Domain." With my command, a small domain expanded and covered the two of us. It was enough to cut the connection of the ethereal worm, turning it limp and fading dimly instead of crushing it.
"They've been watching us through her eyes," I explained to Renata, who had been waiting patiently from the side.
The woman's pupils widen in shock, further clarifying my point.
"I want to make sure we're completely ready before this, but luck isn't in our favor this time. We will speed up our plan to swallow Boreas's underworld..."
"By your will, my Lord!" To my sudden declaration, only the faithful answer returned.
"Execute the initial plan report to me as soon as they are done."
"Yes, my Lord...What about her?" Asked Renata, cold and sharp.
"We still have some digging to do, aren't we?"
"Over my dead body!!" She must've felt her own end was near. The woman was screaming murder and fought back with everything she had. "I will not give in! You can have my corpse instead, you bastard!"
"Shut up and don't move," I command.
Frozen still, she could only move her eyes around madly.
Meanwhile, I started to ramble on.
"You see...I'm going to take a look at your memory now, and it won't feel good. I never tried this on somebody else before, but I think it will feel like the last time."
A tinge of fear flashes within her. Yeah, I know; I did sound like a freaking maniac. I guess I got too much into the role or something.
'This isn't personal like the last time, so no hard feelings...That's why you should've opened your mouth...'
I meant it when I said there's no hard feelings. I did this not because I was angry like the last time but because we do need our answers...
"Show me her memory."
Thus, the torture began.