It was hard to believe that things would be as organized as they claimed them to be. So naturally, they weren't.
Similar steps were taken all over the world, to hide incompetence was just one. To avoid panic and growth, internal strifes and mutiny, all of these were strongly related to the matter.
"Do any of you know about the Dark Moon?" I asked the ones in front of me, and all of them tilted their head.
"I don't know."
"Haven't heard."
I looked at Noa and she shook her head. A sigh of relief left me.
It seemed the Dark Moon was still running well. If it collapsed a lot of people would have put everyone in the organization at stake. I knew I could trust glasses, the way to contact me I had given him back when I had just left to become an adventurer was still with him.
If something had happened then he would have contacted me. Unless he lost it.
Did he lose it?
Fuck, he didn't lose it now, did he?
I knew I couldn't trust glasses.
There were many things to consider. Fighting with the Outer Gods was one thing, but keeping myself hidden till everything fell into place was another. I was, by all means, a trump card.
It would be impossible to do everything alone, but I was certain that if everything went to shit then on both sides I alone would be the one left standing.
I crossed my arms and dived into thought. Coming up to the front right now was not the right move. Not as Eugene Hall at least.
Instead of someone coming from hell and back, it would be better to assume the position of an enigma only for the time being.
Only until.
I knew exactly how and who was going to betray us. Once that scum was cherry-picked and thrown away it would be the best to be frontal about everything.
"All of you…" I muttered. "You're going to become my co-conspirators from now on."
The kids and Noa looked at me, their eyes filled with doubt and anticipation.
"Co-conspirators? What are you planning?"
"I thought you would be frontal and kick everyone's ass."
"I am dying to, Noa, I am dying to."
But not yet.
It wasn't the perfect time to do so yet. Not when someone could still hold us back.
"There's going to be factions of scum. Currently, in the public's eyes that role is held on tight by Albert. But true scum is still lurking behind."
I crossed my legs and glared at each of them.
Even with a second glance, none of them seemed untrustworthy. Noa, Na-Ri, and Emily were without question helpful, one was my sister another my lover, and the third was my sister's childhood friend.
But the other three.
Only Kevin was untrustworthy.
Untrustworthy with my sister, not my secrets.
"People… tend to be radical. Rich and poor, left and right, black and white, good and evil, they tend to see two sides and divide themselves extremely into that."
The kids all waited for me to continue.
It was impossible for man to not divide oneself into such distinctions. Even those who said the world was grey saw others as people who saw the grey and people who didn't.
"Maybe a few can overlook this, but most can't. By presenting two factions straight away, Albert and Charlotte are keeping most people in check. One presenting a society of elitism and another of altruism. It is a long-tested and long-running divide."
Something people have long bought into, incorrectly so. An intrinsic quality that sets one apart from another even though it made them no less people.
Now two extremes already existed, which would completely remove the chance of the third group of traitors gaining power since both groups would see them antagonistically. Heretics, even.
But that didn't erase the fact that many of them would still exist. A bunch of ideas floated around together, to them, the extremists and themselves were just people who didn't see the grey and those who did.
"These people that turn their back on us. The ones that are currently dwelling in the dark…"
The ones that ran under the gaze of the moon.
"I am going to lord over them. No one, other than the few of you and the ones I will tell myself shall know anything about my existence."
The ones around narrowed their eyes.
"You're going to tell most people yourself, aren't you?" Asked Noa.
"Probably…"
I did trust a bunch of them.
"Tsk. I thought we could keep our little secret for longer."
I winked at Noa. "We can more secrets."
"If you're going to wink take those sunglasses off."
"Yeah, it's night. Why do you need sunglasses."
"Right, right. My bad, it just looks very cool. I'll leave first, but before that..."
I stared at Noa.
"What?"
"Come with me, lets make some more secrets."
"Ew! What are you planning to do?" Na-Ri snapped.
"Just a date kiddo. You know, a date? You don't even have a boyfriend, what would you know?"
***
A pair of footsteps rang in the grand chamber of the world tree that connected the dozens of different worlds with its portals.
"Senior? Is that you?"
The veiled woman standing at the entrance to the chamber turned behind and saw two of her old juniors standing side by side.
"Albert and Luka, are you off somewhere?"
"Ah, yes," answered Luka. "Albert thinks he knows where one of the Outer Gods is."
The veiled woman gently nodded at his words.
Her veil slightly fluttered from a stray gust of wind and the two watching turned away.
The lady held her veil back in place as the other two sighed with relief.
"Wood might not be a reliable material for such places…" said Albert.
"It wouldn't be a world tree then."
"What are you doing here, though, senior?"
The veiled lady hid a smile.
"I am waiting for a guest."
"Is that so… well our world's portal is not at this place—"
"It's alright, I am waiting on a different one. Don't let me hold you back."
Albert looked at Luka before nodding. Luka had always wondered about the tension in the group here since they both took on different roles, but he didn't let it hold him back.
Albert and Luka headed toward another portal leading to a ruined world.
"Senior, you should not stay out here too long."
"Worry about yourself."
Albert and Luka stepped into one portal, and just as their backs crossed through, a foot came in through another.
The veiled lady rushed ahead.
"Noa Roselle," she said.
"Eh? Lady Lethe—?"
The veiled lady grasped Noa's collars and yanked her closer.
"Where is that man?"
Noa clenched her teeth and looked away.
"In… your office, probably…"
And off the veiled lady ran.
***
[A/N: That's all for Volume 8! Thanks a lot for reading!!]
Foll𝑜w current novℯls on fre𝒆web(n)ovel.co(m)