After the fright that she had when I purposely broke open that cube, 30 minutes had already passed before the Moonlight Queen Lunaria calmed down.
The compressed Dark Energy which I extracted from her became another cultivation resource for Nysia. That amount might harm Lunaria but for us, it's a higher type of cultivation resource.
"How are you feeling?"
I asked Lunaria while passing her a new set of clothes she could change into. Well, what she's wearing couldn't hide that anymore after ripping it in desperation like that. As a Rank 5 Mortal, the hole that should have been visible with the removal of the cube closed by itself. It's not a wound anyway. The cube was probably made from some special material.
"I… I'm good."
"I see. Stay here for now. No one knows where you disappeared to yet."
Lunaria nodded at my reminder. She was surely scared of me now. I couldn't blame her for that but now that she's kind of clear of the suspicion, I don't see any point scaring her further.
About her mother. We need to meet her to know more. For now, who we need to be wary of were those from the Empire, specifically the Imperial Advisor Kreed. He might've passed the 2 assessments we set up but given that he's close to that Emperor, that's one suspicion placed on his head.
After giving Lunaria the clothes, I turned around and walked over to Nysia, slipping my arms to hug her from behind.
"Then, I'm going back out there, Nysia."
Expressing my affection for her like this before going out, Nysia's slightly stressed look eased a bit as she turned her head to me and smiled.
"Un. Help Lexie out there and take care, I'll watch over from here ."
"Leave it to me."
Taking her reminder to heart, I released my arms and turned to leave the room.
I already decided my first destination. The Imperial Princess Leianne.
The third assessment has already been cancelled due to the numerous variables that appeared.
During the 30 minutes that have passed, more and more black-cloaked figures appeared which fought the League Members without stating any reason why as if they're trying to cover something up.
Earlier, in one of the screens that were showing live footage, Princess Leianne was also being attacked by black-cloaked figures. Compared to the Moonlight Queen, she also received a tap from the triplets. That's why I couldn't help but wonder what's going on with her.
It's like everything has been planned since the start. Lunaria is just the cherry on top of icing on the cake. A lot more was going on.
Matthew came to the Imperial Princess' rescue back there and repelled those black-cloaked figures. As soon as those black-cloaked figures dispersed, he informed me and asked what's going on.
I didn't tell him immediately and just told him to wait for me, together with the Imperial Princess.
Lexie and the other Core Pilots managed to corner those 5 figures, more of them showed up from one of the rooms which put Lexie and the others in disadvantage. Though there's no casualty, the floor where they fought had the regenium-coated outer wall broken.
When they broke it, all the black-cloaked figures at that area jumped out of the building. Just like Noble Spirits and King Realm, once one reaches the Diamond-rank, anyone will be capable of flight.
However, before they could pull out their Metagens to complete their escape, the Defense System of the Nysia Tower which Nysia activated as well as the Core Pilots and Elite Members waiting outside, all of them were gunned down. This is the League's HQ. Of course, the outside is heavily guarded.
While watching it earlier, we were expecting external help that would save them but no one came to their rescue.
With all those baffling actions, I might need to keep overthinking to come up with a scenario that could best describe what's happening here.
Maybe they're really just covering up their attempt on both The Moonlight Queen Lunaria and the Imperial Princess Leianne.
However, everything was caught on a camera. After reviewing the clips and footages, those who placed the Exit Modules were all taken into custody already. Of course, no one's important among them, they're all mixed with the 60 standard Metagen Pilots that they brought.
During all the chaos the other four delegates; Sen, Elise, Viper and Kreed, never left their rooms. Among them, only Sen could be called guilty. One of those we've taken in custody specifically came from his room, he's maybe stupid or confident enough that he would get away scot-free.
I already decided to turn him as an example of our decisiveness. With evidence piled up on him, even if there were other members present here, they wouldn't risk exposing themselves by saving a stupid genius like that. Until now, with the disappearance of Lunaria, no one knows that I brought her to Nysia. He's probably wondering where she disappeared to.
That organization probably thought it's only Nysia they have to be wary about. However, with me here, she got a reliable helper.
For now, we decided to keep that information to ourselves, make an illusion that she never met Nysia.
-
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"Those black-cloaked figures have all been either killed or captured. They're all part of the secret organization. I bet you could already guess how they managed to slip inside."
Once I got inside their room, Matthew was standing on one side like a guard while the Imperial Princess was sitting on the bed. She's wearing a different dress than earlier. With her sky-blue hair tied to a ponytail at her back, she's wearing a white straight dress with her shoulders exposed. If they added some frills and flowery patterns, it would look like a bridal gown.
"Yes. What about the other delegates? Who else was attacked?"
The Imperial Princess answered and asked in return. From her current demeanor, she's calm at least. There's no hint of uneasiness or panic in her eyes. As if the attempt on her life was insignificant.
"The Moonlight Queen disappeared when she was being pursued by a group of black-cloaked figures."
"She didn't fight back?"
"That's the strange thing. She only kept on escaping when those figures were chasing after her, a lot different when you were attacked."
The triplets and Lunaria have cubes embedded into them. I guess they're a special case. If this Imperial Princess was also a member, why was she attacked? Was she also trying to leave or was it just an act to avoid suspicion?
I looked at Matthew and he's still silently listening in without giving his own input. He's probably determining what to believe.
"If I told you I am a former member, will you believe me?"
"It depends. Anyone can easily say he is a former member or create a scenario that can help him avoid suspicion... Yes, like having his fellow members attack him."
"You're quite wise. I guess that's to be expected for the fourth Hero. Matthew."
The Imperial Princess smiled at my answer before turning to Matthew.
"Daisuke. Everyone closely related to the Emperor has a part in that organization but they can't be called as a member except her."
"Why are you telling me this now? We had that discussion earlier."
Part of the organization but not a member…
Is that why the triplets didn't put the Imperial Advisor as a suspected member?
Among the three Heroes, Matthew is the most clear-headed. If he's taking her side and can even have him talk in a long sentence, he surely believed in her.
"Circumstances."
Matthew could only shake his head at me.
"You don't know the extent of the ambition of my father. He created this situation just by a simple suggestion."
After seeing that I'm not convinced at Matthew's answer, the Imperial Princess came to his rescue by dropping another piece of information.
Though I already heard about it from Lunaria. I have to act like I'm hearing it for the first time.
Also, this confirmed Lunaria's words about the Emperor starting it.
"Explain."
"He roused the three Guardians' injured spirit to grab onto a possibility to surpass the strongest Mythic-rank Nysia Athonae."
"So you're telling me he's the mastermind behind the organization?"
"No. I'm afraid you won't find any traces of him in it."
Ah. Of course, he'd cut any evidence that would tie everything to him. However, how come even his daughter knew about that suggestion he made?
"I see. He's a great schemer. Tell me, is he already a Mythic-rank?"
"That… How did you…?"
"The way you described him sounds like someone who will sit at the back to watch the show he himself orchestrated while keeping all his cards to himself. A great schemer. Does he want to rule this world?"
Maybe he's like me but I have a more straightforward goal. To even keep his advancement to Mythic-rank a secret. Nysia's news channels were too outdated. There's a lot of gaps in it that was probably being used by that Emperor.
"Yes. He's using everything and everyone for his own benefit."
"And why are you telling me this?"
"Stop him. I can only offer my meager strength for the upcoming chaos in exchange. But please, stop him before he sends this world into a platter before snatching it back in its destroyed state."
The Imperial Princess bowed in front of me. However, no matter how beautiful that word is, I can't feel any sincerity in it. As if it's just honey-coated words, it sounds beautiful but it's not her real intention.
"No. I mean why are you telling me this and not the League Head?"
"You're unfathomable. Also, you and her. Your relationship isn't that of a superior and her subordinate."
I turned to Matthew. He's already bowed to me while having an apologetic expression. He told her about my relationship with Nysia
"The Imperial Princess is someone we can trust, she's also pushing for the welfare of this world."
With his rare long sentence, Matthew explained in sincerity.
"But Matthew, how did she know all of those when the two pieces of information she gave us were supposed to be a well-kept secret of her father?"
Though I directed the question to Matthew, I'm looking at the Imperial Princess and want her to answer it. The crux is whether she will answer truthfully or not.
"Because I once shared his vision and helped some of it to be realized…"
"What changed?"
"This world, it's just one of the many, right? I have a bigger ambition than him."
"But that doesn't necessitate for you to oppose him. You can just let him be while pursuing your own ambition. Could it be that you wanted to use someone else as your sword?"
"That…"
"You're his daughter, if you claimed he's a schemer, then you are probably one as well. You might even have Matthew believe you. Unless you told me the real reason why you are revealing all of this to me, I will never trust you... Now if you'll excuse me."
Under absolute power, even if they kept on scheming, it would all be useless if they died before realizing their goals. Should I?
There were still those four I have to deal with, though this girl gave additional information, the question about why she was also attacked wasn't answered. Matthew heard what I said, I wonder what will he do now?
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