Chapter 176: Chapter 141: Exchanging Information, Bygone Secrets, Completely Mad
After voicing her request, Irenia released her astral state, and her consciousness returned to her body.
Rainwater gathered, streaming slowly down the Energy Force Field she had erected.
The gushing sound of the water was the first time she had felt any peace in all her years as a fugitive.
Reinhardt’s Full Coverage Anti-Magic Steel Armor was hard and cold, but for a rare moment, Irenia felt a trace of the warmth the Human World had once offered her.
The Radiant Empire was hopelessly corrupt, and the contempt and oppression between the different social classes were severe.
But compared to the Wizard World, which would chew a person up and spit out their bones...
Irenia felt that even the cold, ruthless Imperial Knights had more humanity. Their armor was cold, but at least their hearts were warm.
Even if Reinhardt was a cold and ruthless bastard, at least he wouldn’t spend his days plotting to dissect her alive and steal her Death Star Bloodline.
Yes, a live dissection.
She had seen far too many things like that in the Wizard High Towers under Lord Anatol.
The Tormentors among the Mages would have called them professionals, and the sight would have made even a Demon cry.
It was no wonder that the Wizard Civilization, at its peak, had created something as terrifying as the Void Realm, only to end up playing with fire and getting burned.
After the destruction of Grillers World and the death of her father, Irenia had been lost for a long time. She had once believed her future lay on the path of a Wizard, but that fantasy shattered like a soap bubble the moment Florant tried to kill her.
Nestled in the crook of Reinhardt’s arm, she gazed at the flowing rain, lost in thought. Her mind drifted back to her time in the Hearn Territory, back to the days when she could curl up in her father’s arms without a care in the world.
And the young follower who had once carried her while fleeing for their lives under a rain of fire was now an Earth Knight, fighting for the great cause of the Empire and humanity. One of the Emperor’s Vengeful Angels.
’But... where does my future lie? What is my path?’
’Father...’
Reinhardt didn’t respond to her request. His brow furrowed slightly as he asked about something else instead.
"When did you and Robie meet?"
At the mention of Robie, Irenia snapped back to reality. She let go of Reinhardt’s arm, her expression sinking as she explained, "You mean that madman? It was about seven years ago. He was with a Judge in the Betika World, hunting a traitor.
"He’s had his eyes on me ever since, investigating me in secret.
"He’s the one who deliberately leaked my identity as the Daughter of the Death Star to Florant, hoping it would get me killed."
"The reason," Reinhardt said coldly.
Irenia took a deep breath. She glanced over at Florant, who was still chatting with Raphael, and lowered her voice. "Back when we saw him in Verne, did you notice those three skulls tied to his waist?
"Those were his parents and his mentor from the National Church Knight Order.
"To save his own skin, he made a deal with a Demon. He personally killed the three of them while they were gravely wounded, and that’s how he escaped. Ever since, he’s hidden his identity as a National Church Knight and joined the Judgment Court."
If Reinhardt remembered correctly, Robie’s father was the Sky Knight Duval...
Irenia knew Reinhardt wouldn’t be easily convinced and continued, "I ran into him during the retreat to the Holy Capital Star City. I’m the only surviving witness to what happened.
"He must have thought I was dead, which is why he could serve in the Judgment Court with a clear conscience.
"But ever since he ran into me again, he’s been like a mad dog that won’t let go.
"Reinhardt, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Robie is a complete lunatic now, nothing like he was back in the training camp. You’d best be careful if you run into him."
If one had to name the person who suffered the most miserable fate in the whole Frostfire Fortress conspiracy, it would undoubtedly be Robbie Hiling.
As the scion of a Sky Knight, he should have been one of heaven’s favored. Unfortunately, his parents doted on his older brother and never cared for him. This forged his contradictory nature—brave at times, and cowardly at others.
Reinhardt wasn’t surprised he had come to such an end.
Perhaps because it had been so long since she had spoken freely with someone, Reinhardt could sense a palpable feeling of relief coming from her just by standing at her side.
As the two of them headed back, Irenia’s brow furrowed.
"On my way here, I heard that the Secret Order and the Judgment Court also want a piece of the action in the ruins. I just hope we don’t run into him. When that lunatic snaps, he’s capable of anything."
In the end, she never asked whether Reinhardt had agreed to her request.
Perhaps she already knew the answer.
Reinhardt already knew that the Secret Order and the Judgment Court wanted a share of the spoils from the ruins. Leaving the Secret Order aside for a moment, even though the Judgment Court fell under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Administrative Region, a behemoth spanning three hundred worlds was bound to have extremely complex entanglements of interest.
Even within the Judgment Court itself, there were factions loyal to the Grand Governor, factions loyal to Cicero, factions pursuing Imperial orthodoxy, and countless other smaller splinter groups.
The Vengeance Angel Squad was merely the Vanguard Team sent by Grand Governor Sedon; Cicero would certainly send his own confidants to investigate as well.
The discovery of the Saint’s Remains was no small matter. The various ancient technologies within would provide a massive boost to the Imperial Administrative Region, not to mention their own personal forces and strength.
Moreover, members of the Vanguard Team could also acquire all sorts of Wizard’s Secret Treasures and Alchemy Equipment from within.
The Secret Order and the Imperial Administrative Region were allies—that much was true—but only a portion of the Order was aligned with the Grand Governor’s faction. The rest collaborated more closely with the National Church and the Judgment Court.
When the two returned, Florant’s smile was exceptionally warm. He strode toward Reinhardt and beamed. "After hearing the story of you and Irenia, Lord Reinhardt, I’ve been regretting that I wasn’t able to help you two reconnect back in Verne.
"Irenia, did your talk go well?"
The Witch, who had just been speaking so frankly with Reinhardt with a heavy heart, now had a faint blush on her cheeks. She glanced at Reinhardt and replied, "Teacher, the talk went very well."
Reinhardt’s face was hidden beneath his Full Coverage Helmet, so Florant couldn’t see his expression, but her choice of words sounded peculiar no matter how you looked at it.
’Well?’
’Anyone who didn’t know better would think they’d been discussing a business deal, not catching up on old times.’
However, Reinhardt knew the Eliza of the past. The woman was too good at hiding her true self; she had definitely concealed something during their conversation.
But none of that mattered.
Because the sincerity in her plea for help was not something that could be faked with lies or acting.
Or rather, with a gaze sharp enough to pierce a Demon’s disguise, Reinhardt knew that if Irenia had been acting, he wouldn’t have stood there wasting his breath on her for so long.
Comments