Aeon's voice contained an inexplicable authority. Yet hearing it, Alina did not falter, though a question or two popped up in her mind; because it was unusual for this lone mercenary to express himself this way.
From the moment she met him three months ago up to this point… this was the first time Aeon let out such a provoking thought.
As someone who knew the written will of her father, with such contents that were deeply engraved to her soul, specifically regarding this person, Alina understood where Aeon was coming from.
[ Use him however you want. ]
Even though she didn't know why her father remained vague about Aeon, at least some things were transparent in this mercenary-heir beneficial relationship.
"If I claim you to be mine, would you tell me everything I need to know?"
Unlike when Aeon was told that Cain's death was merely due to him getting punched, his expression this time was in a constant standstill that nobody in the world seemed to be able to shake.
"No," Aeon responded curtly, and quite frankly.
Alina snorted, but the tension between the two of them had yet to subside.
What Alina needed to know was as broad as her father's will, which seemed more like a bunch of instructions on how to interact with and contain this mercenary as if he was a dangerous entity rather than how to run the Eurasia Grand Agency as its sole heir.
"Tsk. How boring. But why do I feel like I was rejected as an innocent girl?" Alina's mood turned sour for a moment.
She then let go of Aeon before returning to her exclusive seat as the Head Judge of the Summit Grand Court. After that, as she gently tapped a multifunctional [AI-powered chip] implanted behind her one ear, Alina gazed at the projection of the poll regarding the fate of the relatives of the deceased students who had broken the Summit Rules.
Meanwhile, returning to his usual self, as he remained standing by her side, Aeon focused on his academy-manufactured phone and quickly voted based on his own criteria.
An hour had passed since then, striking the starry midnight.
***
[ Transgressors' Relatives' Fate ]
Poll Results:
[1] …Of Kendrick Zakir – …
[2] …Of Rodrick Kang – …
[3] …Of Sophie Kim – …
[4] …Of Rain Zareen – …
[5] …Of Cain Argos – …
The power held by a royal student was absolute, and it was not only limited within the confines of the Summit Academy. Unless the malice of any kind was directly done to one of them, then three other options were added besides 'death penalty' or… in extreme cases, 'bloodline culling.'
[1] Of Kendrick Zakir – [D.]
A. Death Penalty – 49%
B. Exile to the Celestial Stream – less than 1%
C. Human Rights Revocation – 0%
D. Human Commodity – 51%
[2] Of Rodrick Kang – [A.]
A. Death Penalty – 66%
B. Exile to the Celestial Stream – less than 1%
C. Human Rights Revocation – 1%
D. Human Commodity – 33%
[3] Of Sophie Kim – [D.]
A. Death Penalty – 0%
B. Exile to the Celestial Stream – less than 1%
C. Human Rights Revocation – 2%
D. Human Commodity – 98%
[4] Of Rain Zareen – [D.]
A. Death Penalty – 0%
B. Exile to the Celestial Stream – less than 1%
C. Human Rights Revocation – 3%
D. Human Commodity – 97%
[5] Of Cain Argos – [A.]
A. Bloodline Culling – 100%
B. Exile to the Celestial Stream – less than 1%
C. Human Rights Revocation – 0%
D. Human Commodity – 0%
***
With each choice having its own explanations, the entire student body anonymously cast their votes.
Seeing the results, Alina couldn't help but be curious about Aeon's vote, which prompted her to ask, "Aeon, what did you vote for each one of them?"
Since the results were already decided, and there was no reason for him to hide it, not that he could do so, to begin with, Aeon responded, "Exile to the Celestial Stream, Young Miss."
Hearing this, Alina chuckled.
"Why? Do you think they'll be like you? That they could come in and then come out alive of that godforsaken land? You're probably the only one being referred to that less than one percent."
The reason why the total percentage for each subject was more than 100% was that the royal students—Alina, the Yu Heirs, and some others—did not belong to the same statistics.
Just like how the heirs had the power to bend or create their own rules, much as remove someone not to their liking, they were deemed to be separated even in these mundane and social matters.
"I am not sure, Young Miss. However, that way, even with a stroke of luck, they can possibly survive and thrive." Aeon, as stern as he looks, focused his gaze on Alina.
He then added, "Apart from other options, it's either death or that."
Even if Alina didn't know much about Aeon, she was at least told by her father through his written will that this mercenary, now a mere student, had explored the Celestial Stream, which was also located in Antarctica.
Celestial Stream – it was one of the aftermaths of the Goddess' arrival; it's a concave, massive hole of darkness littered with star-like resplendent dots of light.
In other words, an abyss of uncertainty and dread.
Based on the proven data collected through extreme expeditions, it became known as the land of celestial wonders and the dead.
In such a distant and dark place, star mana… or godent powers, if left unchecked, would occasionally ran rampant, which could lead to irreversible and devastating phenomenon known as the soul burst.
Soul Burst, in a way that could be understood in the Old World's way, was similar to the condition of an astronaut in the vacuum of space without a space suit—agonizing death through body decompression.
"I see. So you think they can survive, huh? Well, I guess you don't look down on others or easily compare them to you. Nonetheless, the majority's decision, unless I or the other royal heirs wanted some sort of gimmick, couldn't be reversed."
"Comparison is the thief of joy, Young Miss," Aeon said bluntly.
"Tsk. Whatever you say." Alina shook her head, expressing her displeased expression towards Aeon, who seemed to have returned to his duty-mode personality like a robotic human.
Around the same time, three gentle knocks were heard on the Court of Summit's main door.
"Alina, can I enter?"
It was a feminine voice spoken with authority.
***
"Help yourself," Alina said, her voice peculiarly polite.
In the next moment, the door opened, revealing a petite, fair-skinned girl with a pair of glimmering purple eyes under platinum-rimmed eyeglasses; her long black hair was dancing with the cold winds of the night.
As she closed the door while embracing a book, she momentarily gazed at Aeon, who seemed at a loss for words at this seemingly unknown presence.
It was then that Alina's action snapped Aeon out of his own thoughts.
Raising her body from her seat, as this particular, innocent-looking girl took slow strides with delight to approach them, Alina momentarily closed her eyes…
And similar to ordinary students, she lowered her head in utmost consideration.
She then said, not meeting the girl's eyes,
"I greet the heir of the Orion World."