Chapter 295: Mastermind [1]
"Will you be able to finish it?"
Looking at the food on Alicia’s plate, Diana couldn’t help but ask the question.
"I can."
Though Alicia spoke the words, in reality she had no confidence in her appetite.
They had already filled their stomachs in the academy’s cafeteria, but after roaming through the market for a while, Kael had suggested trying the very restaurant that they were currently in.
And Kael’s way of talking, as usual, left no room for denial.
The both of them ended up coming here, and then came the news of the involvement of the various cults in the attacks against Syma and businesses related to them.
Alicia just helplessly watched the visual of the man who could be considered one of the leaders of the cults.
The very same people were responsible for the deaths of countless innocents all across the world.
And it was due to these cults that the Frosts had been humiliated before the entire world.
Alicia couldn’t imagine what her father might have been feeling at the moment, knowing that the people who had tried to destroy his pride were now presenting themselves before the world to see.
"How does he even fit so much food in his stomach?"
Diana questioned while slightly leaning on the table.
Alicia just glanced at Diana without giving a reply, because the same question had surfaced in her mind before.
Despite eating at both the cafeteria as well as the restaurant, Kael still suggested trying the street food.
Now, even though neither Alicia nor Diana had any appetite to eat from the stalls, they couldn’t exactly refuse the offer either, because the person in question was Kael.
It had been years since they had been together like this, and Alicia didn’t want to ruin the moment due to her small stomach.
Little did she know that it was due to Kael’s unique cultivation method and his higher rank that he naturally had a greater appetite than them.
"My stomach’s about to burst open."
Diana sighed before sitting straight and slightly rubbing her stomach with her left hand.
"Are you planning to avenge Allan’s death?"
Placing the cutlery back in its place, Alicia whispered in a small voice, turning the atmosphere into something that felt a lot more serious than before.
The moment Diana heard the words, her expression changed into one of a slight frown.
"Is that even a question to be asked?"
Alicia silently looked at Diana with eyes that said a lot more than words could.
"You don’t have to pity me."
Diana, noticing the expression on Alicia’s face, smiled in return while simply shrugging her shoulders.
"What has your father... the emperor said about—"
"He’s being a lot quieter than before."
Diana, knowing what Alicia wanted to hear, decided to be honest with her friend.
"I think this attack... it’s far more complicated than what’s being shown on the news."
Diana’s statement made Alicia raise her brows in question.
"It’s obvious that not everything will be presented before the public."
Alicia’s words made Diana sigh in return.
Just as Diana was going to speak further, one of the restaurant’s staff arrived before them to clean the table.
Diana waited for the person to do his job, as she used the time to sort the words in her mind.
Within a minute, the staff had cleared the table, leaving Alicia and Diana alone, though two cups of tea were placed before them.
It wasn’t the usual tea, but something that was made out of some sort of leaves, at least that’s what Diana thought after taking the first sip.
"You are right that not everything is presented before the public. But—"
Diana paused before moving her gaze across her vicinity to see whether someone was eavesdropping on them.
Though the chances of their conversation being heard by someone were close to negligible, Diana always had a habit of verifying her surroundings.
It was something that was taught to her since childhood and was ingrained in her very blood.
"According to what I had learned, everyone is clueless about this attack. Even the authorities, who normally have details about everything going on in the world, have no idea who had orchestrated the attack, or what the reason behind it was."
Alicia quietly listened to Diana’s words, though the frown on her face deepened with every passing moment.
"Aren’t the cults behind the attack?"
Alicia’s question was something that Diana had already seen coming, as she looked at the Frost with knowing eyes.
"The cults... they are the very reason that father is being a lot more silent than ever before."
Diana clarified, making Alicia look at her with confused eyes.
"After Allan’s death, I had locked myself in my room and didn’t come out to eat or talk with anyone. As father was worried about me, he had begun to repeatedly appear before my room and tried his best to convince me."
Hearing Diana explain her situation, Alicia gave a bitter smile, making Diana pause at the end.
"What is it?"
"I shouldn’t have listened to you. I should have visited you—"
"It’s alright. I just needed some space."
Placing her hand on Alicia’s shoulder, Diana reassured the girl.
"Let me continue, or else I will forget what I wanted to say."
Diana uttered the words with a slight chuckle, making Alicia laugh along with her.
As Alicia nodded her head, Diana cleared her throat before placing one of her hands under her chin and leaning on the table between the two of them.
"At first I ignored father to the best extent of my abilities, but later I had begun to pity him. I couldn’t bring myself to hurt him more than he already was after seeing my state, so in the end, I opened the door and let him in. And that was when father tried to console me while discussing everything about the attacks at the same time."
Taking another sip from her cup, Diana gently placed it on the table before focusing her eyes on Alicia again.
"That was when I learned about all the hidden intricacies behind the attack. About the involvement of the cults in the attacks... the authorities had already discovered clues about it. Everyone among the major powerhouses was already aware of the cults being one of the forces behind the attack."
