Chapter 24: Hectic

Hmph.

The atmosphere felt charged, heavy enough to bring down rain. Yet there were only six of them, Arthur and his disciples Scar, Purple, and Julien, facing two researchers: Mingle and Emma.

“The autopsy report regarding Isaac’s death has been completed, Mr. Arthur. Though it was scheduled for this afternoon, I delivered it now as you instructed.”

Following Mingle’s words, Scar grew more attentive than ever. He’d recently maintained the Blessing from the scarlet moon for an entire minute, and while he stood there, his body still absorbed it subtly. Yet instead of boosting his strength, he trembled from within.

Emma passed Arthur some papers. After reading, the celestial-looking man smiled and waved for Mingle and Emma to elaborate.

“Uhm… I’m not sure how to put this, but the cause of death is… very obvious. He was split in two.”

Emma said, and Scar’s heart skipped a beat.

Hearing about the man who raised him dying was painful enough, but Scar was also impatient to learn who killed Isaac, so he could make them pay for it.

“What split him in two drew our attention. The cut was clean and precise, beyond what any ordinary blade could achieve.”

The moment Emma stopped, Mingle continued. He drew out a sheet of analyzed data and showed it to Arthur.

“We gathered data on every sword capable of making such a cut. Only two fit the criteria, and neither could have been involved under the circumstances.”

Emma continued after Mingle. “It wasn’t a simple cut. The flesh melted away. The wound was clean, too clean. No blood poured out; it hardened and clotted the moment the strike landed.”

All of this was getting on Scar’s nerves. He wanted a direct answer.

“Enough. You keep circling the point. Just tell me… what killed my old man?”

Emma sighed in disbelief. “I serve the Sun Phoenix, not you. You can’t just yell at me, you walking earthquake.”

Scar scoffed, but Mingle cut through their bickering.

Actually, as it turned out, Mingle’s family, the Advents, had been serving the Rover family for decades, and Emma’s Inheritance made her a loyal servant to the Sun Phoenix. Worse, both Emma and Mingle had known Scar’s true identity all this time.

“The Sun Phoenix’s loyalty is the Rover’s loyalty… and that loyalty extends to you, Scar,” Arthur said, patting Scar on the head.

Emma exhaled deeply.

“Okay, okay… we can’t say for sure who killed Isaac, but from the way it happened… the killer used an Inheritance that can slash.”

Scar hardly heard Emma’s words before desperation forced him to speak.

“Was it lightning?”

Emma adjusted her big glasses. “No. My Kin of Thoth would have revealed that immediately. And judging by his last emotions, he welcomed death, like it was inevitable and he felt no remorse.”

Tsk.

Irritation burned hotter in Scar. His mind raced through possibilities: other allies of Dain, or maybe it wasn’t Dain at all.

Soon, Julien’s words cut through the air.

“You think this has nothing to do with the possessions? What if one of the students got taken over and used their hunger for victory to murder him?”

Purple hurried her words immediately, speaking in contrast to Julien’s words.

“Impossible. Adisa is the only one who didn’t act like a mindless victory-seeker. And if the culprit is who I think it is, their influence wouldn’t reach this far.”

Scar wasn’t really listening. He considered Julien’s theory, but it didn’t fit. Isaac had been getting those random bruises for a while before he was killed.

Arthur reached out and gripped Scar’s shoulder, snapping him from his daze.

“Why don’t you kids go enjoy yourselves tomorrow? You’ve already fought twice, your chances of getting another duel are slim.”

Ha.

“You may have the opportunity to show Scar around. He rarely went out when he was younger.”

He turned to Purple next.

“Before you go on with your little fun, why don’t you tell the council what you know? You seem to know a lot more than you’re admitting.”

Purple greeted him warmly, sweeping her braids behind her head.

“I won’t do it for free. You can praise the Vey family for our loyalty to humans… make sure it doesn’t create enemies. We don’t need unnecessary attention.”

Arthur smiled in return.

“Typical of a Vey. You’ve got yourself a contract.”

The atmosphere lightened slightly. Mingle and Emma said goodbye and returned to their research, while Purple and Julien resumed training. Scar, though, remained with Arthur for a conversation.

“This isn’t enough info. You’ll need someone to look into it properly. What if someone saw them go in?” Scar poured out his heart.

“Relax. Amber’s already handling it. She’ll inform us as soon as she uncovers something.”

Scar’s expression darkened. Amber? Even Arthur’s daughter knew his secret?

Staring at his confused face, Arthur spoke again.

“Don’t worry, kid. Rovers don’t abandon blood. Even if we clash, we still stand for each other when it matters.” He assured Scar.

He would’ve cursed Arthur if not for that convenient word adults used to justify their bullshit: “respect.”

“Let me guess. The Rovers came to ’help’ my parents… and I bet they’re alive and thriving.”

His training for the day was over. He didn’t say another word or even look into Arthur’s eyes. But Arthur knew Scar’s anger was justified. His parents were slaughtered despite being Rovers, and the family hadn’t even tried to avenge them.

…

Scar didn’t go back to the Rover estate after leaving, and Julien surprisingly never mentioned it. They just spent the morning playing cards.

However, Purple found herself before the Supreme Council. She didn’t look as relaxed as usual and surprisingly appeared more elegant and confident despite wearing the same uniform she wore every day. Anything for the Vey family’s reputation.

“Tell us what you know.”

With nine council members around her, she answered questions carefully and deeply. Very different from Scar, who wasn’t permitted to speak at all.

“He’s extremely powerful, but not many people know about him because his case was kept under special protection. After all, he belongs to a Council member.”

Confused glances passed between the members. The person Purple actually wanted wasn’t there. Aina Zheng.

“He is called V. He’s an Outlaw and he bears the Inheritance known as the Will of the Underworld. He’s confined in Xadrez, but the current circumstances suggest that if it is indeed him, the protections around his imprisonment have weakened.”

Xadrez was where they sent Akumas who went out of control. Not many knew about it. Just knowing it existed spoke volumes about your connections.

“Considering the Xadrez is hidden beneath the academy, it’s only natural that he would begin his work here.”

The council, Karl Velanora especially, hammered her with questions. She answered what she was able to. What she couldn’t answer? She hid behind the Vey family’s reputation, claiming it would look bad.

“Approaching him directly would be suicide. He’s most likely to attack during the Epic Competition, when souls are plentiful. If you value your soul, don’t act before then.”

Hmph.

“What clan did you say V belongs to?” A council member asked.

A soft smile tugged on Purple’s lips, ignoring the question entirely.

“Remember, the Vey family contributed to this mission. No glory should be claimed without us.”

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