Chapter 150: Slave Collar

In an office at the military base, Cillian Forrest sat in his chair, his gaze fixed on Evan Adler, who stood before him.

Evan Adler stood ramrod straight, his mind racing.

’What’s going on? Why does the Marshal want to see me?!’

His own father had dragged him out of bed first thing in the morning and practically thrown him over here.

’I haven’t done anything wrong recently, have I? And my legion hasn’t caused any trouble, right?’

Evan Adler racked his brain but couldn’t figure it out. After all, there was no reason for his Third Legion to have any conflict with the First Legion.

"Marshal," Evan Adler began tentatively, "is there something you needed to see me about?"

’Whatever it is, just say it already, sir.’

’Don’t just stare at me like that. I’m not that brave.’

"Has Sophie Wexler been seeking you out often recently?" Cillian Forrest asked.

As soon as the words left Cillian’s mouth, Evan Adler’s tense nerves immediately relaxed.

’That scared me to death! I was worried it was something serious, but he’s just asking about Miss Wexler.’

’The Marshal must have been too busy lately and neglected Miss Wexler. See? Now that he has a moment, he’s asking me for news about her.’

"It was my Disorder Period recently, so I saw Miss Wexler quite often," Evan Adler said.

"Miss Wexler is a wonderful person. She helped soothe us every time and never once refused."

"What’s more, Miss Wexler even helped cleanse the toxins from the soldiers in our legion."

Because of that, everyone in their legion now held Miss Wexler in high regard.

"When was the last time you saw her?" Cillian Forrest asked. "Did she act any differently than usual?"

"The last time?" Evan Adler lowered his eyes, recalling. "Three days ago, I think. It was the final soothing session for my Disorder Period."

"As for anything different?"

Cillian Forrest’s hands, resting in his lap, clenched into fists. His gaze was fixed on him.

Evan Adler said, "There wasn’t anything different."

’Miss Wexler is always so easygoing and pleasant to be around. How could she have been acting differently?’

’Wait a minute,’ Evan Adler’s eyes suddenly lit up.

’Actually, there was one thing.’

’But Miss Wexler specifically told me not to tell anyone. I can’t betray her.’

Cillian Forrest noticed the flicker of unease that crossed Evan Adler’s face. "What are you trying to hide?"

Hearing Cillian’s question, Evan Adler immediately waved his hands. "N-nothing." He gave a forced laugh. "What could I possibly have to hide?"

"What did Sophie Wexler say to you?" Cillian Forrest stared into his eyes, asking word by word, "Or what did she ask you?"

Evan Adler’s lips were pressed tightly together. His eyes darted around, but he didn’t speak.

Cillian Forrest sat in his seat, his long fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. After a long moment, a voice spoke up. "Did Sophie Wexler tell you not to say anything?"

Evan Adler: "???"

Evan Adler: "!!!"

His eyes widened instantly. ’No way. I just thought about it for a second, and he figured it out?’

Seeing his expression, Cillian Forrest was certain in an instant.

’A few days ago, Sophie Wexler must have said something to Evan Adler. Maybe he’ll know where she went.’

"Evan Adler."

Evan Adler snapped to attention, a conditioned reflex. "Marshal!"

"Are you still not going to talk?"

Feeling the intense gaze and the crushing pressure before him, Evan Adler bit his lip hard.

Time ticked by, second by second. Inside, Evan Adler was screaming: ’Miss Wexler, your husband is terrifying! Truly terrifying!’

’It’s not that I want to tell him! He’s forcing it out of me!’

’He’s insisting, and he’s the Marshal... I... I really can’t refuse him!’

Cillian Forrest saw his look of grim resignation and was just about to relent and tell him to forget it.

"Miss Wexler just asked me about the Slave Collar," Evan Adler finally caved under the pressure.

Upon hearing this, Cillian Forrest’s expression froze. ’Slave Collar?!’

Evan Adler was the one who had been in frequent contact with her recently. He had hoped he might get some clues from him about her whereabouts, but he never would have expected it to be about the Slave Collar.

Seeing Cillian Forrest remain silent, his eyes downcast and lost in thought, Evan Adler asked tentatively, "Marshal?"

Cillian Forrest raised his eyes to look at him. "What did she ask you?"

"Oh, that," Evan Adler began to answer. "Miss Wexler said she had a friend whose partner had a Slave Collar put on them by mistake. She asked if I knew how to remove it."

Since he had already started talking, he figured saying one thing was the same as saying a hundred. So, Evan Adler simply told him everything.

Including the origin of the Slave Collar he’d mentioned, and the part about Salencia—Evan told him every last detail.

Then, as if a thought occurred to him, he asked, "Marshal, you must know about the Slave Collar too. Why didn’t Miss Wexler ask you about it?"

Although the Slave Collar is banned now and few common people know about it, quite a number of people in the upper echelons of society are aware of it.

’If I know about it, then the Marshal definitely knows about it too.’

’Including how to remove it. Asking the Marshal about this would be much more helpful than asking me.’

’Could it be that Miss Wexler never mentioned her friend’s situation to the Marshal?’

"That was all. In the end, I gave Miss Wexler a pass for her to give to her friend. Nothing else was said after that." Afraid Cillian Forrest wouldn’t believe him, Evan Adler even raised his hand in a gesture of assurance.

"I understand. You can go back now. And thank you for today."

Having been thanked, Evan Adler walked out in a complete daze.

’Huh?’

’So he called me all the way here just to ask what Miss Wexler said to me?’

’Then why did the Marshal have such a strange expression when he heard about the Slave Collar?’

’And come to think of it, I haven’t seen Miss Wexler these past two days either. Where is she?’

’Will Miss Wexler blame me for letting it slip? For not keeping her secret?’

The more Evan Adler thought about it, the guiltier he felt. He picked up his communicator and sent a message to Sophie Wexler, confessing that he had told Cillian Forrest about the neck ring.

But after sending it, he waited and waited, but no reply from Sophie Wexler came.

「Meanwhile, in the office.」

Cillian Forrest sat in his chair, the top button of his collar undone at some point.

The neck ring, hidden by his clothes, was now exposed.

The small panel on it emitted a faint glow, indicating the presence of spiritual power.

’She was looking for a way to remove the neck ring. She was looking for a way to remove it for me.’

’I had already stopped letting it bother me, but she had remembered it all this time.’

’She told Evan Adler it was for her friend’s partner.’

’Was it because she didn’t want anyone else to know he wore a neck ring?’

’She went looking for it all by herself, and told Evan not to tell anyone.’

’Was it because she wanted to give me a surprise?’

’She had tried so hard to find a way to remove the neck ring.’

’I’m sure she was thinking of removing the neck ring for me.’

’Because she had told me more than once. She had promised me.’

Once she found what she was looking for, Cillian Forrest could just imagine her happiness.

But just when she was so happy, having done all this for him, she found out that he was the very Imperial Marshal she had always wanted to get away from.

’What must she have felt at that moment?’

’Would she regret helping me find a way to remove the neck ring?’

’Would she regret helping him cleanse the toxins from his Spiritual Sea?’

’Would she regret... signing the marriage agreement with him?’