The others in the mansion seemed mildly surprised at Silver and Shun's swift return. Most had anticipated they'd be taking Dominic O'Neill on immediately after their meeting with Glynn. Leon, however, was as unreadable as ever, his expression perfectly neutral.
"Need more time to plan?" he asked, his tone flat and detached. Without waiting for their reply, he added, "Thought so."
Silver sighed, rolling her eyes slightly, but Shun merely shrugged; Leon's disregard for others' responses was nothing new to him.
"If you need assistance, count me in," Leon added lazily, not bothering to look up from the Eternal Dynasty scroll of Reality Calculation. He had been openly carrying it around since the battle on the Capital Outskirts, abandoning any attempt at secrecy.
The group exchanged glances, their silent agreement almost palpable. Whether motivated by empathy, curiosity, or even the desire for gratitude from Vergil Killer and Vito Fool, they all recognized the importance of uncovering the truth.
"It's not really the fight that requires planning, though. We've pretty much…" Silver began, only for Shun to gently press his hand against hers, a subtle signal to keep Glynn's information confidential.
He suspected that Kael Franklin might have arrived at the same conclusion, likely with evidence that only he possessed. Shun understood why Kael might choose not to divulge it openly; once the true culprit was revealed, the fallout would be nearly impossible to contain. Besides, with Vito present, overhearing every word, sharing the truth now would be unwise.
Vito, while often ruled by emotion and haunted by his past, was logical enough to believe facts if backed by evidence. Shun was willing to share once he had more concrete intelligence from Dominic. Keeping the knowledge under wraps for another day wouldn't do any harm.
Silver caught onto his intention immediately, shifting course with a quick excuse. "It's just that Dominic had a history with our attendant Jayden…" she said, glancing at Dharma, who responded with an almost embarrassed yet mischievous grin.
Dharma cleared his throat, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You two are resourceful, I'll give you that. Hehahaha! It's true, Dominic and I go way back, but he could use a good thrashing now and then to check that arrogance of his."
Given Dharma's performance in their previous battle, it wasn't hard for the others to realise that their servant Jayden was no ordinary man. He was, undoubtedly, a complete ethereal warrior—perhaps even within the top 30.
"We'll need your insight for strategies, then," Silver replied, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Ah, nothing too special about that old codger," Dharma shrugged nonchalantly. "Just fight him seriously. Only one tip: avoid blocking his attacks. Just dodge—especially if he looks overly excited or angry."
Shun raised his eyebrows, hinting at something. Dharma caught on immediately, adding, "Maybe you could give it a go, Shun. Hehahaha."
The others looked momentarily perplexed, but none dwelled on it long enough to question further.
Osward stretched out on the couch, looking relaxed. "You two should have some fun upstairs before the big challenge. Overpreparation is no good."
It was something his mentor, Tom Smith, had often told him. Despite Tom's rigorous training methods, he occasionally encouraged Osward to take time off, even offering his funds for Osward's leisure.
After spending so much time with him, Osward had come to understand that Tom wasn't as harsh as most believed. Beneath the stoic, unyielding exterior lay traits that marked him as a warrior deserving of respect.
Ruby raised an eyebrow, smirking. Osward paused, realizing how his sentence could be phrased better.
"Oh, come on, Ruby," he retorted. "You're the one with a dirty mind."
Ruby chuckled, gracefully getting up from the couch. "The streets are bustling today; there must be a big sale going on. Rin, let's splurge on some new clothes—can't let those Lordrixis coins go to waste."
"Seriously?" Gideon interjected, shaking his head. "Why not spend it on something more meaningful? Look at Jaylen—he used his money to buy a new home for his parents." Though he usually kept a low profile, Gideon was a master of subtle manipulation, with a gift for swaying people both with his ethereal arm and his words.
"Spare us the guilt trip," Rin yawned, giving him a knowing look. "I'm well aware of what you did with your own share."
Gideon flushed. "No way..."
With a grin, Rin nudged Ruby, and the two headed for the door. "The Belkarn Clan knows everything," she declared playfully.
"Stalker," Gideon retorted, though Rin ignored him, clearly not in the mood for a drawn-out exchange.
As he watched his comrades banter with such ease, Shun began to understand why Silver treasured peace. If this tranquillity could stretch on indefinitely, perhaps he didn't need all that power or thirst for vengeance after all.
Silver stood beside him, her expression radiant and calm, but Shun could detect a subtle shift beneath her serene smile. After their recent exchange, he recognized a faint shadow of doubt, a trace of unease flickering in her eyes—an emotion rarely seen in her otherwise steady gaze.
...
The Bog
Beyond the borders of the kingdom, past the Starless Realm, lay the desolate Bog—a place seldom spoken of among the Lordrixis citizens. The perpetual darkness and choking mists marked it as a land forsaken, and yet, to those fleeing justice, it was a refuge. The tyrant's remnants had retreated to its depths after the great war, preferring to scrape by in the murk rather than face execution.
Among the bleak shadows, a lone woman strode through the muck, her elegance an anomaly in this harsh landscape. She moved with an eerie calm, as if untouched by the filth surrounding her.
Arriving at a formidable, decayed, yet relatively luxurious castle, the gates swung open as she approached, and she entered unchallenged. The echo of her footsteps carried her to a cavernous hall, where a single figure waited. Seated on a grim throne, his dark hair cascaded around a face as beautiful as it was cold.
"Oh, it's you…" he remarked, barely lifting his head. "You've changed so much. Almost didn't recognise that signature purple hair of yours."
"Antonio…" she said softly, her gaze resting on him with a strange mix of tenderness and sorrow. "Look at you. That is what I call a significant change. Had it not been for that infuriating smirk, I might not have known you at all."
Antonio's eyes narrowed, his brow arching. "Changed? I haven't changed at all. Are you mocking me?"
A laugh escaped her, light but edged with sorrow. "No, not mocking. Just... realizing some things never fade." She took a breath. "Antonio, whatever your reasons, this isn't you. At least, it's not the you I thought I knew."
He smirked, a touch of bitterness creeping in. "The 'me' you knew was nothing but your fantasy. Don't expect me to fit the mould of your foolish assumptions."
She shook her head, holding his gaze steadily. "Shun has found his peace. Isn't it time you sought yours?"
"Peace?" Antonio leaned forward, his voice low and tense. "Shun has what he wanted. And I intend to claim what's mine. You, Krystal Fritz, more than anyone, should understand the danger that still lurks. I can't let it go unchecked."
"Kolgwyn is dead, and for a good reason."
"I have to ensure it stays that way."