Chapter 34: Gross

The silence was awkward.

Neither Julien nor Arthur knew what to speak, and as for me…

I was staring at Alfred’s eyes without averting my gaze.

Alfred did the same.

“Dissecting you would surely give me a way to understand the mechanics behind controlling the mana essence.”

His eyes had…pure indifference.

He spoke as if it was second nature to him, and it indeed was.

Shink!

Arthur and all my fifty other men drew their weapons in a fluid action.

Alfred’s words did look like a provocation.

But…

“I am not stupid enough to think of defeating you all, now that you have already entered my base.”

He looked at Arthur for a second, his eyes wandering down to the sword in Arthur’s hand.

Even Julien had drawn a dagger, making a poor combat stance.

“But one thing I am sure of is to just kill us all.”

Alfred’s eyes became a darker shade of green.

“Won’t it be romantic to burn together?”

His voice was low, more like a growl.

The silence stretched between us–

“Well, I am still single, and…”

I looked at Arthur, giving him the signal.

In a flash, Arthur was behind Alfred. His sword landed under the latter’s neck.

“I don’t plan on dying here with a bunch of old fogies.”

Completing my sentence, I returned to my usual way of talking—

As Kael.

Alfred’s eyes turned blank, like the life in them had been sniffed out.

Then he murmured some words, and his voice was even colder than before.

“Your dog is a lot stronger than an Immortal should be.”

He stated.

“I had clearly underestimated your strength. This guy…”

Alfred touched the blade of the sword on his neck and tried to lower it.

Seeing my casual attitude, Arthur let the blade drop by an inch, not letting it go any further down.

“Arthur, is it? You are much stronger—probably even stronger than a Sovereign.”

I raised a brow.

It should have been impossible for someone to compare the power of individuals at higher levels while himself being at a far lower level in cultivation.

Not only did Alfred judge Arthur as someone stronger than normal Immortals, but he could also somehow tell that the latter was clearly much stronger than even a Sovereign.

Strange.

Did he have some tool to detect something like—

“How did I notice it? Is that what you are thinking about?”

Reading my thoughts, Alfred asked indifferently.

But there was a touch of amusement in his words.

“What I am currently wearing is a type of armour that can negate a direct impact on my body by anyone below the rank of a Sovereign.

Though it can only fend off a single attack, it’s still a powerful feature.”

This…

Was this the reason this guy didn’t fear Arthur when he saw him with us at the beginning?

Was he confident about surviving the initial attack and damaging us before fleeing away if things had gone south?

That explained his indifference all this time.

“And even if the person attacking is a Sovereign, the armour will blast itself before being destroyed, thereby damaging the person who attacks me with a force equal to his attack.”

That was some serious-level protection.

I really want armour like that.

“The surprising thing is, he didn’t even need to apply force to destroy the barrier.

If my guess is right, he should have swung his sword with a speed far faster than what an average Sovereign can produce.”

It was the first time I was seeing genuine appreciation in Alfred’s eyes.

“I think we might now be able to share some common ground.”

“And why the change of heart?”

I was curious about what he felt.

“Now I know that you guys aren’t all talk. If this guy—Arthur—has the power to fight against Sovereigns on equal grounds, then your boss should be even stronger than him to make such a monster bow before him.”

I felt a little proud…

And guilty!

Is this how it feels to scam people?

It’s truly a fascinating experience.

“Arthur Dimitri, I had heard rumours about you, and it seems they weren’t unfounded. So…”

Alfred tried to walk toward me, but Arthur’s sword held him down.

As I dismissed my hand, Arthur lowered his blade, and so did the other fifty men in the room.

Seeing that he was free, Alfred rubbed his neck where a thin line of blood had appeared, and lowering his hand—

He fucking licked it?!

Gross.

“Are you confident enough to protect me and my research, even if my acts garner a combined assault from all the major powerhouses of this world?”

He let the words sink in.

“If you are ready to go to such an extent, then…”

Alfred’s mouth elongated in a creepy grin.

“You have me!”

Why did it feel more like a proposal?

Don’t tell me this guy swings that way.

Cough…

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that.

You are equally important for us, so it surely isn’t in our interest to let you die.”

Alfred nodded at my words.

“We would be taking our leave then. A few of my men will be permanently staying here; I hope you don’t have a problem with that.”

Alfred shook his head in affirmation.

“Also, give me all the details of the remaining bases under your control and inform them of Lonatu joining us.

You are now a member of D.X., and you would have all the freedom to do your own things.

The only people above you would be us three and the Boss.”

I gestured toward Julien and Arthur.

“You didn’t mention who your—my—boss is.”

Ah.

That…

I was going to!

“First prove your worth, and maybe you would get to meet him in real.

For now, you can just call him—

X.”

I outstretched my hands in devotion.

I mean, I had to look a little like some mad follower of my Boss…

Following myself…

I really feel like a narcissist.

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