Chapter 429: Chapter 429 "The Power of Betrayal"_1
The next day, the solitary confinement corridor.
"Such a small room, do you expect me to sleep on the toilet?"
"Believe me, this is already considered lenient treatment," Aiden said, moving a chair to sit in the corridor, facing Halo through the barred window above the solitary cell. "While it’s still relatively quiet, let me give you some prison training. Remember the rules written on this paper, please memorize them." He finished speaking and stuffed the paper through the food delivery slot.
Without even glancing at the paper, Halo stared at Aiden expressionlessly, "Is this one of your original jokes?"
"Don’t mimic my speech. I’m having you remember the rules so you won’t have to stay in a room so small you must sleep next to the toilet. You could move around like the other prisoners," Aiden explained with a shrug. "Of course, if you’re always kept in solitary, or always locked on a rack or against a wall, then you won’t need to remember any rules."
Halo didn’t continue on this topic but instead asked, "Kid, where is the Goddess of Conspiracy?"
"You’re asking this because you’re ready to agree to the deal?" Aiden asked in return.
"I’ve roughly scrolled through my memories and now I feel less unfamiliar with you. Your scent is repulsive to me, but... when you make deals with people, they seem to be reasonably fair. Otherwise, those prisoners wouldn’t willingly follow your orders," Halo said, staring at him.
"Thank you for your fair judgment," Aiden nodded.
It seemed that the Revenge Goddess also inherited Halo’s memories of life in prison and retained some impression of him.
"Well then, since you brought it up, you should be the one to give in first, kid," Halo said. "Tell me, where is my nemesis?"
"I can’t tell you right now where the Goddess of Conspiracy is, but I can tell you that Mr. Bloodcoat—the man who took your Divine Power—is in Sunset City in the southern part of Gistas, according to my intelligence," Aiden replied.
Of course, he couldn’t reveal that Melifilia was right below this prison. Not to mention that was the secret of the Heretic Tribunal; if the Revenge Goddess found out that the person responsible for her downfall was right beneath her feet, who knows what this madwoman would do.
"Is this information reliable?" Halo asked with skepticism.
"The source is considered reliable. The latest intelligence update was a year ago, and I’m currently verifying it with my own intelligence network," Aiden replied.
"Your intelligence network can find a person in a city?"
"In that regard, I happen to have a very solid network of intelligence," Aiden responded confidently. "You can rest easy."
Heinz Hoffman is currently busy negotiating with forces within the country that oppose the King, paving the way for Sera to return to the country. However, the Royal Secret Police also had many operatives in Sunset City where the Republicans were active. He had already used telegraphy to contact reliable department heads to search for the suspicious cult and Mr. Bloodcoat’s whereabouts. Even the local Inquisition had joined the search.
If Mr. Bloodcoat alone had prior notice, he might have a chance to completely avoid being hunted. But if he had formed a cult in search of Professor Dodge, there was no way he could possibly hide.
As long as Sera was still hiding in his prison, Heinz would presumably still take his requests seriously during this period.
"What’s that damn maggot doing there?" Halo continued to probe.
"I’ve already made a concession; now it’s your turn, ma’am," Aiden said, spreading his hands.
"What do you want to know?"
"Can you tell me detailed intelligence about the ’Hatred’ authority?"
"You answered just one question, and now you expect me to reveal my hand?" Halo said coldly.
"Not yours, but that of the maggot you just cursed," Aiden shrugged. "I want to deal with him, and you want to skin him. If you tell me about the authority, I’ll be able to defeat him."
"Watch your wording, the savor of your scheming is too strong," Halo frowned in disgust. "You indeed want him dead, but you’re not prepared to let me reclaim the authority that easily, are you?"
"That depends on the circumstances," Aiden replied. "Anyway, we’re both using each other, so let’s not worry about whether I’m scheming. Communications should be an exchange; if only you ask questions, that’s an interrogation. And forgive me for being blunt, but you don’t have much intelligence to trade with me."
The Revenge Goddess, too, was a ruler whose thinking deviated from the norm. If she regained her authority, the danger would probably not be much less than that of the Goddess of Conspiracy. Besides, she was currently occupying the body of a prisoner in his jail, so Aiden couldn’t rashly collaborate directly with her.
After a moment of silence, Halo spoke, "I can tell you about one of the abilities first. Which one do you want to know?"
"Betrayal," Aiden chose without hesitation.
This ability was one of the most dangerous ones Halo had previously displayed, and it was also the one Aiden understood the least in terms of details and principles. Unlike "Revenge," which had to be activated passively and "Sacrifice," which required an active offering, "Betrayal" seemed to be able to control others directly.
"The ’Betrayal’ authority? Is that what you’re most wary of?" Halo replied nonchalantly. "Actually, this authority isn’t that big of a deal. In simple terms, it’s about reversing a person’s mental inclination."
"Please be a bit more specific," Aiden requested.
"To put it simply, it’s about making a person’s specific thought completely the opposite. It can make someone who wants to go east suddenly want to go west, turn a loyal dog into one that bites back at its master, make loved ones become enemies. The deeper the love, the deeper the hatred after the betrayal," Halo explained.
"I heard they said you controlled their bodies at the time? Was that also due to the ’Betrayal’ authority?" Aiden asked.
"Yes. I applied the authority to their subconscious, making them subconsciously act contrary to their consciousness. The clearer the consciousness knows what not to do, the more the body will prioritize doing it," Halo said, his face showing a smile that was far from benevolent. "In other words, letting the body betray the mind, forcing a person to actively do what they would rather die than do. It can make the bravest men kneel before hated enemies, or make the most loyal women willingly undress before men they despise, while preserving their agony."
"Subconscious..." Aiden mused. "From what you’re saying, this authority could be applied in many ways?"
"Depending on the level of authority and proficiency, it can do a lot," Halo nodded. "Human spirit is a collection of desires: wanting to eat, to drink, to satisfy sexual urges, to be respected, to see the smile of loved ones, to see the pain of enemies... even the instinct to survive. Just imagine, what wonderful results could come from reversing one, or several, of these desires?"
