Chapter 224: Defection Orders

Last night in the Control Centre.

The two rulers excused themselves and went back to their accommodations; Lucen also arranged a room for Uon to stay in the facility, as well as for Everly.

Lucen stayed with Samuel and Ed, watching the second floor, the ascenders and the ongoing trial.

"Are you sure this kid will be okay?" Lucen asked. "I sent two of my most promising kids into this mess thanks to your nagging," he added, looking at Ed.

Ed shrugged. "I can’t tell anymore." He looked at Moon, spacing out before his food. "I can’t be there for him any longer; it’s now their job to support him," he said with a hint of disdain.

"That will be hard; he’s come from a place they might never be able to touch," Lucen said regretfully. "A peer, this kid may never be able to find one for a very long time."

Ed’s breath turned heavy. "Maybe he’s destined for loneliness." Not denying Lucen’s claims. It might be true for someone like Moon.

Those who could truly understand what he was going through were either dead or stood on the other side of the uneven chessboard as his enemies.

That day, the three of them stayed watching the lands between the two factions; no movements from either side came.

It was a dead day for both of them thanks to the prank the rift had played on Moon, according to his own words.

Time passed, and morning was approaching.

Yet, when it was time to call it a day, "Why do I sense that nasty bastard nearby?" Ed suddenly said.

Gradually, Lucen and Samuel had a sudden change in their expressions. Though the one on Samuel’s was close to suddenly smelling something bad, at most.

"Oh, I see some old faces." The voice rang out before the owner entered the room.

Soon, the door opened.

Two men made their way into the Control Centre.

One was a youth in and out; his hair and eyes were blue in color with a horn like a piece of precious stone protruding from his forehead.

His hair was short and neatly arranged, unlike Enzo’s.

The other was different in many ways; he had a young face, yet he was walking like an old man with bad knees. His hair and eyes seemed to have the bluishness stolen from them; their color was still blue, but it was dead, not bright or vibrant.

Blue that had darkened and lost its sheen.

Even the horn on his forehead, or where it should have been, was only an empty scar.

They both wore black tuxedos, neat ties over their necks and silky shirts underneath.

Two guests from the Dokkaebi.

"Samuel, oh, Samuel, is this where you were hiding?" the older man said in a tone that was vague, slow and heavy.

"Do I have a reason to hide from a cripple?" Samuel asked sternly, not fazed in the slightest by the sight.

"Oh my, you didn’t miss training your tongue." The man chuckled mockingly.

"Oh my, your voice and tone are as disgusting as ever." Ed cut off whatever conversation was about to start. "Did you crawl your way up here?" he mocked.

"Edmond, you snake," the old man cursed. "Was it your idea to hide here?" he asked, a question he knew the answer to.

"Hide from what, man? You can’t even walk properly." Ed leaned in his chair.

"Lazzaro, I don’t remember inviting you here." Lucen finally spoke. "What do you think you’re doing?" he asked.

The man called Lazzaro walked slowly to one of the seats, bending his knees with difficulty. "You’re saying I can’t watch my great-grandson’s trial in person?" he asked.

"No wonder, no wonder, he’s as disgusting as you have always been." Ed shook his head. "When did you even have children in your condition?" He lowered his voice and leaned forward. "Did you use a friend’s help?"

The young man accompanying Lazzaro gritted his teeth; the horn on his forehead radiated.

"CESAR, SIT DOWN!" Lazzaro snapped, growling.

"Wow, it runs in the family, yearning to live crippled, that is," Ed mocked again.

Lucen watched silently. It was now evident how politely Ed treated him when compared to how he usually talked.

"All these years changed nothing, Edmond," Lazzaro said slowly with the same discomfort-inducing tone. "You look older, yet your venomous tongue and mind are still the same."

"Your voice is still disgusting to hear," Ed said dismissively. "Also, he’s the one who reduced your sorry excuse for a person to this state; don’t throw your hate on me." He pointed at Samuel.

Lazzaro didn’t talk to Ed again, shifting his attention back to Samuel. "Yeah, you were the one who did this and left me to live." He smiled. "How about we do a trade, Samuel?"

"No," Samuel answered, not sparing him a glance.

"That mustache doesn’t suit you; either way, I have something you want." Lazzaro spoke in a more casual tone than his usual slow tone. "You’re known for your generosity."

"Keeping you alive was generous enough, don’t you think?" Samuel replied in a sharp tone.

Lazzaro leaned back. "Indeed." He nodded before his face hardened. "You want that kid to live; you’re betting on him to achieve heights closer to yours."

Lazzaro chuckled. "I heard you even let these kids break the rules to fight him; that’s when I was sure he was the one you chose."

"My offer is as follows." Lazzaro pointed at the cylinders of screens. "He lives or dies; you choose."

Ed looked at Samuel, then at Lazzaro. "You walking around with an empty skull?" he asked. "Since when do you think we actively protect anyone we trained?" he exclaimed.

"Since today," Lazzaro said firmly. "Edmond, don’t play your games with me... Not this time; it will not work."

He turned to Samuel. "Your presence here is enough to assure every assumption I had," he said. "What do you say, Samuel?" he asked.

Samuel finally looked Lazzaro in the eye. "Just kill him then," he said in a tone closer to an order. His eyes turned to the screens again.

The sky of the second floor was now turning bright again; the night was over.

"I guess I have no choice then." Lazzaro looked at Lucen. "I tried; they didn’t listen, so don’t hold this against me."

That said, in that very moment, almost everyone from the lower or middle clans on the Defence Faction received an order.

A direct order from their clan.

[Change sides, Join Assault.]

The message was different from one individual to the other, but the orders were the same. Some held urgency, some held fear.

Others treated it like a golden opportunity to build a relationship with a higher political power.

Even those who were rooted members on Moon’s side.

Dorbish, Colten, Lexie and Roran... All four of them received the same message.

"Lazzaro," Lucen said slowly; his anger was evident in his voice. "Do you think this is a joke?" he said threateningly.

Lazzaro chuckled. "I mean no offence, but look at me; does my state allow for jokes?"

"Sir Lucen, I know that you also support that kid, but you also sent some children to his side," Lazzaro said softly. "This is just a trial; they can just quit and leave safely." He shrugged.