Chapter 456: Sect Potential Recruitment

Chapter 456: Chapter 456: Sect Potential Recruitment

Chapter 456 – Sect Potential Recruitment

Isolde cocked her head to one side, her black hair falling gently so that her X-shaped pupil was momentarily hidden. "Diaila Law?" she said, her tone making it clear she had no idea who that woman might be.

But Sarah knew who Diaila was. They were in the same class, after all. And that was exactly why she was even more surprised than Isolde.

"Why her?" she asked in a slightly incredulous tone. "Did something happen during the mission that explains this sudden interest in her?"

"Something did happen," Meadow nodded, crossing her arms under her chest. "Something worthy of Cassius killing her on the spot. But guess what our dear leader did? Nothing."

"Come on, what do you mean, nothing?" Cassius immediately defended himself. "I threatened her. And honestly, I wasn’t even offended. After all, tell me, darling." He now addressed his wife, smirking. "Would you feel offended if an ant wanted to bite you?"

"I would laugh," she replied. "Then I would crush her to show her that she is an ant."

"Well, dear, I didn’t go that far."

"That’s exactly why I am complaining!" Meadow said, clearly holding no affection for Diaila.

Sarah was neutral. However, if Meadow didn’t like her, she had no reason to like her either.

"Will you answer me, though?" Isolde spoke again, wanting to hear why her husband wanted that woman. "Who is this girl our dear Meadow seems to dislike so much?"

"A mundane woman from an unknown Tier Three Family who managed to enter the Academy simply because she was lucky enough to be in the good graces of an anomaly," Cassius said. "And also lucky enough to be spotted by Meadow and put on our team. Then lucky enough to survive the assault of multiple Rank Four beings, and even manage to kill one of that Faceless being’s clones."

At these words, Meadow’s and Sarah’s faces grew serious as they noticed a certain pattern.

Cassius was not even done.

"And also lucky enough to capture the interest of a god, and to be, or soon become, a Blessed."

"What?" Meadow blurted out.

"How come?"

The Last Born shrugged. "Shall I also add that she was lucky enough that I didn’t kill her when I felt her bloodlust towards me?"

All three of them were silent now.

"You see now, girls? You might not like Diaila, and that’s completely fair – she is not likable at all. But she is strangely lucky. So much so that maybe even I am affected by it in some way."

"But that can’t be the only thing that interests you about her, can it?" Isolde pointed out, resting her chin on her right palm. "What else about her makes you think she can be trusted? Because at this point, we are not recruiting people based mainly on their powers. We already have a group dynamic. We can’t destroy it by adding people who will do exactly that."

"And I think she will," Meadow chimed in. "That girl is selfish, Isolde. You should have seen her ready to turn on Cassius when we were attacked by that Rank Four dragon."

"Oh?" Isolde’s eyes went cold. "Is that so?"

Cassius rolled his eyes. And Meadow continued, "Yes. She only cares about that man, Julaibib. No one else."

"She is a killer," he said, giving his reasons. "She has the bloodlust, the broken mind, and the madness to be someone without mercy. That’s exactly what I want right now."

His expression turned deadly serious as his piercing gaze swept over the three women. "I want a killer, a murderer. Someone who can look an innocent person in the eye and kill them without a second thought. I don’t need morality here, and Diaila can be exactly that for me, for us. I want a wild card, because those are the people no one ever sees coming. Now, my dears, can’t you see? Even I never expected this woman to rank so highly in my evaluation, and if she managed to surprise even me, then that alone should tell you something."

Silence filled the meadows, the four exchanging hard stares.

If all of them knew one thing about Cassius, it was that he was ridiculously stubborn. It was extremely rare for him to decide something and for others to talk him out of it.

Only his goddess, Ananke, was able to do that.

And that goddess had no desire to do so for this particular decision.

Isolde stared at her husband, leaned in closer, and gazed deep into his crimson-pink eyes. "You are so damn stubborn, you know?"

Cassius smiled. "It’s that same stubbornness that helped me earn your love."

"That’s why I find myself unable to criticize it the way I want to," she sighed. "Still, Cass, are you sure about your decision?"

"I am," he said immediately. "And I will leave her to you, if that eases your mind."

"Hm?"

"You are less tolerant and less patient than me," Cassius replied, causing Isolde’s lips to twitch. "So you will look after her. If she does something wrong, just kill her. And in any case, at the beginning, she will need to sign a Death Contract that stops her from revealing anything about any of us or the Sect itself to anyone or anything."

"And betrayal means her soul is in my hands for eternity," Meadow added, and Cassius could have sworn that, for a brief instant, he saw worms crawling inside her left pink eye behind her glasses.

"How will we even recruit her?" Sarah asked an important question.

"I will do it," Isolde said, smiling murderously. "I am the most suited to recognize a killer. And besides, I am not recruiting her the way you did with Meadow or Sarah."

"Then how?" Cassius asked.

"She either accepts, or she dies," Isolde said flatly. "I am not explaining any benefits she might gain."

Cassius stayed silent for a heartbeat, then shrugged. "If you wish, darling."

Isolde flashed him a beautiful smile. A deadly one.

"Let’s not forget about William," Sarah continued. "I don’t think any of us has a problem with him joining."

’Good for you. I was ready to fight for another man in this sect, goddamnit! But William doesn’t look like the perfect one to help me with these women. Sigh.’

"The problem is how to recruit him," Meadow added. "He doesn’t seem interested in much besides the sword."

"Then that’s exactly what we will use," Cassius said. "I have some useful knowledge about the Sword..."

’From the time I played the Game.’

"...and I know what can make William interested enough to join us."

’Besides, tomorrow is Saturday, Origin Store Day. I have the Coin of Maybe, Tysche, and my Luck Points.’ Cassius narrowed his eyes. ’I might fish out some information or artifacts related to swords and use them to ensure my success with William. I need his lethality, but also his loyalty. In the game, there was hardly anyone more loyal than William. Once he swears his allegiance... no one and nothing will make him falter.’

That was why Cassius had chosen him over other men. Will’s potential was immense, and his character was great. A bit stoic, but better than most.

"And who will recruit him?" Sarah asked.

Cassius looked at Meadow and grinned. "What do you say, our Halfmortal?"

Meadow’s body slowly straightened.

"How about you go pull William into our Sect?" he said. "Preferably before Monday, since all of us will be going back to the Academy to get ready for the Wastelands. All except Isolde."

"No way I am leaving you alone when we’ve only just gotten back together," Isolde shook her head. "I don’t care about my year. At this point, they can teach me nothing that will help me. No wonder the Twins are never at school and always outside. At some point, the academy has nothing new to offer."

"Then you will...?" Cassius drawled.

"I will ask the Dean to allow me to come," Isolde said. "As your master, she will accept, right?"

Cassius’s lips twitched as he remembered his severe master. "Well, I hope so."

"Can I come too?" Meadow said meekly.

"And me?" Sarah added in the same tone.

But Cassius immediately refused them both. "No," he said, serious. "This is Tier Four. That’s not to say you are too weak, you are not. But Meadow, you need to get used to your power first, and Sarah... Sarah, you might be useful, but direct combat is not your thing, you know? It can be hard to keep you safe when we are dealing with a Tier Four Fractured Land. Especially since we don’t know why this particular Fractured Land hasn’t been cleared for hundreds of years."

’Even I don’t know.’

"I will control this eye soon," Meadow said with a resolute face. "And I can’t stay. Omm and Jeanne are going. I need a way in. I might use my own family if it comes down to it."

"I want to get stronger and better. I believe this could help me," Sarah added.

"If it doesn’t kill you," Cassius said sharply, knowing the danger.

But the women knew the danger too, and still wanted to go.

The Last Born sighed, looking at Isolde for help. The Soundless Slayer shrugged.

"We will talk about it later," he relented, waving his hand. "For now, our recruits are the subject of discussion. Isolde, you take care of Diaila, and you, Meadow, take care of William. Is that okay?"

"Aye."

"Alright."

"When will you do it?" Cassius asked next.

Isolde grinned, and her Mercure Mask appeared in her hand. "During the night, my love."

Meadow tilted her head upward, looking at the blinding sun. She lifted her hand, clenching it.

"I will need a day to get used to my new power. So maybe Sunday," she said, and as she unclenched her hand, the three watched green and black worms slip out of it, falling to the ground and squirming and twisting around Meadow.

Cassius gulped.

"Queen’s skirt..."

—End of Chapter 456—