Towards the second inner circle of the capital city, where the Ghost Sect’s estate existed with several buildings and architectures, at the center was a big pagoda that housed the hall where the general meetings of the Ghost Sect took place.
The hall of the Ghost Sect was filled with tension.
Elders, disciples, and division leaders sat in their respective places, their expressions heavy.
At the highest seat in the room, Sect Leader Olea Necrobane sat, her face unreadable.
By her side stood the Vice Sect Leader, his sharp gaze scanning the room.
The great pagoda’s stone walls carried the echoes of hushed whispers.
Incense burned at the corners, its bitter scent mixing with the unease in the air.
The Third Elder’s seat remained empty—a constant reminder of his absence.
Yet, the meeting had to continue.
An elder with a long beard and sharp eyes stood.
"Sect Leader, I must insist that we reconsider the decision to allow outsiders into our sect.
The Ghost Sect has always remained isolated for a reason.
Bringing in unknown individuals is dangerous!"
Another elder, dressed in black robes with red embroidery, nodded in agreement.
"Indeed.
Opening our gates will bring disaster.
We must not allow strangers to disrupt our traditions."
A younger disciple, standing behind the elders, whispered to another, "They are just afraid of change."
The Vice Sect Leader, his expression cold, stepped forward.
"Are you saying the Sect Leader does not understand the weight of her own decision?"
His voice was calm, yet carried a sharpness that silenced the murmurs in the hall.
"Or do you believe she is unfit to lead simply because she is young?"
The long-bearded elder frowned but did not back down.
"That is not what I meant, Vice Sect Leader.
We only wish to protect the sect."
"Protecting the sect does not mean rejecting progress," the Vice Sect Leader countered.
"The world outside is changing.
If we do not adapt, we will fall behind."
Another elder, a woman with silver hair, spoke up.
"But allowing outsiders means sharing our secrets.
The techniques we have guarded for generations could end up in the wrong hands."
A disciple muttered, "As if they haven’t already…" but immediately shut his mouth when an elder glared at him.
The Vice Sect Leader turned to the Sect Leader, who had been silent.
"Sect Leader, shall we entertain this endless debate, or shall we move forward with the decision?"
’Why is he still absent?’
Olea, seated at the head seat and uninterested in the conversation, was focused on her last nighttime visit to the Arcturus estate and on the fact that the Third Elder, who was sent for the assassination mission, had yet to arrive.
She didn’t know why, but perhaps to get some clue, she was expecting the Third Elder to never come.
Hoping that Kyle might live for at least another day to tell her more information.
"Sect Leader?"
One of the elders called out, clearly saying the sect leader’s name but not receiving a reply even after being addressed.
His clenched fist and sidelong glance towards the empty seat of the Third Elder only emphasized how his absence in today’s crucial meeting weakened their faction.
’Damn this young lad is just doing whatever she wants.
Where is the Third Elder?!’
Not only he but others in that faction opposing the decision of Olea to allow outsiders as outer disciples to enter the Ghost Sect—which traditionally followed the method of the elders themselves choosing disciples they found potential in at a time—felt the absence of the Third Elder clearly made their words weaker than others.
"Hm, the matter has been decided.
The gates will be opened to those deemed worthy.
We will not remain blind to the world beyond our walls."
Olea formally addressed the elders while standing from her seat.
With each passing moment, her expectations only fueled her wish for the Third Elder to truly die at the hands of Kyle, without even considering how he would be able to kill someone of that strength.
Yet his absence today in the meeting only meant that the Third Elder was probably dead.
Though she viewed it as a positive outcome, for the Third Elder, who was reported by the Vice Sect Leader to have reached the same strength as her, to die would clearly jeopardize her future actions, where she needed to get rid of Kyle for her vengeance.
She did not comprehend how Kyle was able to kill so many people or see through his strength.
No, she had seen it but found nothing; he appeared just like a normal mortal.
For him to eliminate so many people without breaking a sweat was already something that confused her.
While clearly ignoring the elders who stood with their lowered gazes and clenched jaws, she made her way out of the hall with her eyes looking towards the two small black and white swan-like kunai joining together.
There trembled a quiver between her lips, covered by the mask.
Swish
"Sect Leader, there is urgent news!"
Suddenly, with a puff of smoke, an individual, cloaked in black and appearing to be a disciple from the sect, arrived and knelt, urgency clear in his voice.
"What happened?"
Olea inquired, still keeping her gaze fixed on the two pendant-like marks belonging to her parents before putting them back into her dimensional ring as she turned towards the man.
"The princess’s palace just sent the dead body of the Third Elder, while Princess Aleriana declared the Ghost Sect as their enemy!"
the man stammered, recalling the letter and the decree sent with the dead body from the royal palace.
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Not only had the Third Elder been killed, but the princess, unexpectedly and despite their cooperation, had suddenly pulled her support from the Ghost Sect, declaring them as enemies.
’!?’
"What?"
Olea was clearly taken aback, given that per the plan, after the assassination of the child, they were going to frame this assassination attempt on the mistress of the Arcturus family.
Even though this plan had failed, the Ghost Sect was supposed to declare that it was the mistress of the Arcturus family who had requested this.
But suddenly, the princess pulled away her hands from the whole deal and even declared their biggest support, which was the Ghost Sect for the present, as her enemy—something that Olea did not expect.
’What happened in a night with her?’
Olea swiftly took the letter offered by the man before reading it, her eyes clearly showing a slight tremble as she saw the message loud and clear.
The message indicated that the princess, knowing her deteriorating position, had nevertheless decided to cut ties with the Ghost Sect and, moreover, declare them her enemy.
This was unexpected from her—an unexpected betrayal.
Knowing that it was not some plan B that could profit the princess in any way, it made Olea feel that this decision had something to do with the night the princess had gone through some thoughts to take such a reckless decision.
She then looked towards the Vice Sect Leader before ordering, "I need to talk with the Princess myself. Handle the Elders here."
With those words, her body blurred as she instantly disappeared, heading in the direction of the princess’s palace to get answers on why she would take such a rash decision.