Chapter 283: Who Are They?

"..." Lariel stood frozen on the spot, his mind racing non-stop, trying to understand just what kind of mess they were in.

His gaze swept over his fallen subordinates and the human couple he had wrongly accused. He believed the enemy was playing tricks again just now; he still couldn’t help but doubt the woman’s identity, especially after the attacker called her ’Miss Hero’. However, like the knight, he had important things to do, so he could only set the thought aside for now.

"...I’m also leaving. I have to investigate the rest of my people."

"Ok, don’t forget to return and share your findings," Asad replied.

"I will." Lariel nodded before taking his leave.

Asad sighed and turned toward Soren. "Mr. Everly, thank you for your cooperation."

’And thank you for your assistance. If you hadn’t noticed the abnormality and warned us, we would have walked straight into their trap.’ He added mentally, recalling what Soren said to him and the knight when the interrogation of the elves started.

"No need to thank me," Soren said, smiling. "I’m just glad that the misunderstanding was resolved and we managed to catch the hidden snake. However, given how easily they are moving through the city, I think it would be wise to reconsider the safety of the tournament." He paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts. "I strongly recommend only using guards with high cultivation bases and strong mental defenses or willpower, and calling for help. I also recommend closing the arena to the general public. With an enemy who can control even elves at will, leaving the stadium packed with ordinary citizens is a recipe for disaster. We are unaware of their actual capabilities or numbers. If they are a terror organization, they might be planning something horrific, such as... a massacre, since similar events have happened before."

"..." Lord Asad went silent at Soren’s words. ’He’s more intelligent than I gave him credit for.’

"Thank you for your advice." He smiled. "I will take it into consideration."

"Mm. And..." Soren paused, hesitating. "Would it be possible to provide us with a safe place to stay? I don’t want to stay in a hotel and put others in danger."

"Alright, consider it done." Lord Asad nodded. "However, you have to wait for a bit since I have to clean this mess up first." He gestured to the bodies lying on the floor.

"Then, let me give you a hand," Soren suggested. "It will be quicker that way."

"Good, I will take you up on that offer." Lord Asad smiled. "Let’s get to work then."

───────

"This will be your temporary residence. If you need anything, you can call me using this button." An elderly butler in a pristine uniform bowed politely. "I will take my leave now. Please rest comfortably."

"Thank you."

Soren bowed back politely and saw him off before closing the door.

"Malakor." He called out, and the next moment, Malakor materialized in front of him, but in a smaller form. "You know what to do."

Malakor nodded, dispersed into shadows, and disappeared from the room.

Soren sighed and looked down at Ethea. "Let’s wash up and go to sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day."

"Mmm." Ethea nodded.

Soren smiled and helped her through the rest of their nightly routine. Soon after, they both lay side by side on the bed, gazing up at the dark ceiling.

Soren inhaled deeply and turned his head left, locking eyes with Ethea. After a brief silence, he reached with his left hand, placing it on her right. Gently, he slid his fingers between hers, intertwining their hands.

"Goodnight, Ethea," he murmured softly.

She smiled, her eyes fluttering closed. "Goodnight, dear."

"..."

A few minutes passed.

’Shall we start now?’

’Yes.’ Ethea replied. ’Is there anything you want to ask?’

’Mm. It is obvious he or she recognized you after failing to possess you. That means they are your enemy. What I am curious about is who they are. Were they involved in the incident back then? Are you able to talk about them?’

’...Yes, I can.’ Ethea answered after a pause. ’And no, they weren’t involved in the incident. Probably.’

’What do you mean?’

’They... They are a small group known as the Outcasts.’ Ethea explained. ’Most of their members are people who were abandoned by society. Criminals, experiments, people with abilities that made them too dangerous to live among normal people. They gather together because no one else would accept them.’

’...They are dangerous, but they are not like other criminal factions who mainly operate for money or power. They have no interest in ruling the world. They simply want to destroy the people and systems that made them suffer.

Soren stayed silent, absorbing the info.

’They do whatever they want, whenever they want. Most of the time, there is no greater plan behind their actions. Just chaos, revenge, and the twisted belief that the world deserves to burn. But when they do have a goal... it is never something simple. They are patient when they need to be. And they always leave behind more damage than anyone expects. I...’

’...’ Soren sensed the fluctuation in her tone.

’I experienced it myself, years ago when I was in my final year at the Etenia Academy.’ Ethea paused, as if reliving the memory. ’...We were out on a secret mission assigned by the academy as part of the exam. Our task was to investigate a cluster of villages near the border. We arrived at our destination, but nothing seemed wrong at first. The villagers were going about their day, working the fields, tending to their homes. Yet something still felt off.’

She paused, her grip on his fingers tightening slightly.

’...It wasn’t until we attempted to speak with them that we realized it. They behaved as normal people, engaging in conversation and responding smoothly. Yet, once our focus was elsewhere, something shifted. They... They would lose their ’life’. They continued moving, but their eyes lacked any human spark. It was like watching puppets on invisible strings, carrying out their routines just to fool anyone watching.’