Inside the main hall of Mirror Lake Manor, everyone sat around a long table, over a dozen eyes staring collectively at the magical phantom projected into the air by the Recording Stone.
“These are annihilation marks of highly condensed Chaotic Energy,” the leader of the Inquisition team judged after observing for only a few seconds, his tone certain. “It is a textbook case, almost identical to the Abyss Erosion phenomenon recorded in ancient texts.”
“It seems we underestimated the strength of the kidnappers.” The Night Owl Battalion commander’s expression was grim. “With this level of destruction… if we were to rush in and contact them without preparation, we would likely suffer heavy losses.”
Professor Thorn’s eyebrows knitted together as he raised his own question.
“I am more interested in knowing what kind of situation would force the kidnappers to use taboo power of this level. I doubt hijacking students requires such a massive effort.”
“Perhaps there is infighting among them? Or, to be more complex, a third party has intervened…” the Night Owl commander speculated.
Dean Duncan raised his hand, halting the discussion of everyone present.
“The original plan remains unchanged, but notify all units to remain vigilant and be ready to respond to weapons of mass destruction at any time. I will contact the relevant personnel at the Academy shortly to analyze this footage together.”
“Understood.”
***
In a natural stone cave in the Northwest Deep Valley of the Frostwhisper Forest, the seven kidnapped students were tied up and held deep within the cavern. Their eyes held various expressions, ranging from terror to emptiness.
A crackling campfire burned at the cave entrance. A man draped in a coat of crow feathers, his face hidden behind a crow mask, sat lazily before the fire, listening listlessly to his subordinate’s report.
The Ninth Seat of the Court of Destruction, code-named “Crow Man.”
“The message has been sent. At noon tomorrow, we will exchange these seven brats for our two brothers, Dark Blade and Murmur, who are currently held on the third level of the Black Prison. If they refuse to cooperate, we will kill one person every hour. The location is set at Black Pine Hollow.”
The subordinate bowed respectfully and spoke in a low voice.
Crow Man nodded slowly, his voice behind the iron-gray mask raspy and cold. “Those two brothers have endured much for the Holy Pillar. But now, we hold seven cards in our hands, many of which are ‘noble tickets.’ It remains to be seen how the Empire will choose.
Let us see which is more important: two convicted cultists, or the young master of the Falkenberg family and the grandson of old General Mendoza…”
He could hardly wait.
After the subordinate withdrew, Crow Man’s cold gaze swept over the captives in the corner, lingering for a moment on Leo, whose face was ashen.
Another small leader responsible for security walked to the campfire and whispered, “My Lord, the Empire’s Night Owls and mages are spreading a net and scouting the perimeter. I am afraid the Turbulent Runes we laid out won’t hold them back for long… Moreover, the Silent Purifiers of the Inquisition are involved. They have sharp noses and have likely caught a scent.”
Crow Man nodded slowly. “As expected, the dogs of the Holy Light are always particularly sensitive to smells. Maintain the interference and let them sniff around slowly. Stalling until tomorrow at noon is enough.”
After a pause, he let out a short laugh.
“This forest is vast. Once our two brothers return, there will be plenty of paths to take.”
“Understood, My Lord…” The leader bowed and departed.
Having finished his instructions, Crow Man slowly stood up. Appearing to do so unintentionally, he passed through the soundproof barrier and strolled toward the students in the corner.
Several students who had been sobbing quietly immediately stopped their crying and shrank back in terror.
Leo sat leaning against the rock wall. His face was pale, and his expensive formal attire was covered in stains, completely stripped of the high-spirited air he possessed before their departure.
“Ah, Carlos Mendoza, good afternoon.” Crow Man leaned over slightly, his voice carrying a hint of casualness, as calm as if he were simply exchange pleasantries with a neighbor. “Give my regards to old General Mendoza. I heard his health has been a bit poor lately.”
Carlos swallowed hard, not daring to respond.
Crow Man did not care, strolling toward the other students as if he were taking a leisurely walk.
“Oliwen Hilson… Life in your family hasn’t been easy, has it?”
Oliwen’s eyes widened, and he trembled. “You… you investigated me?”
Crow Man smiled, his voice tinged with the playfulness of a cat catching a mouse.
“Of course, Mr. Hilson. Your eldest brother is very talented, and your father holds high expectations for his other children… Growing up in such an environment must be very stressful, wouldn’t you say?”
As he spoke, he ignored Oliwen’s reaction and walked slowly toward his next target.
Leo shifted his gaze away to avoid looking at him. However, those black leather boots still stopped within his peripheral vision, causing him to tremble involuntarily.
The eyes behind Crow Man’s mask gazed calmly at Leo. That look was not like one directed at a priceless bargaining chip, but rather a scrutiny of a faulty magical tool.
Leo’s breathing gradually became rapid. He lowered his head as if his body were being seized by an invisible pressure.
Crow Man leaned down slowly and spoke one word at a time in a voice only the two of them could hear, his tone like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
“Little master, it seems I did not receive your ‘gift’… especially that most important little pet.”
Leo’s body jerked violently. His voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a suppressed sense of panic and fear. “I… I did as I was told…”
He had done everything exactly as requested. It was clearly that useless girl Lina who failed to control the timing; it had nothing to do with him!
“Shh — ” Crow Man interrupted his whispered defense. “The Court of Destruction only looks at results. Results, do you understand?”
Leo’s face turned from white to a sickly green. He heard the underlying threat in those words.
The other students did not hear any clear words; they only saw the masked man lean down to say something, causing Leo’s expression to turn hideous.
Immediately after, Crow Man straightened his back, his voice rising slightly so it was loud enough to reach the others’ ears.
“The brat of the Falkenberg family, tsk tsk. Look at you now… If your father knew you were here like a stray dog, would he be so angry that he’d smash his collection room?”
These words sounded like the routine humiliation of a noble child. Several surrounding students cast sympathetic glances, though more of them remained numb.
But before turning to leave, Crow Man’s lips moved slightly. A few sentences were compressed by magic into a line, piercing into Leo’s ear like an ice pick.
“The trade continues. I have your ‘little tail’ in my hand. If you want to remain unharmed by tomorrow noon, remember: you have never met me before and know nothing of the plan. Otherwise…”
The end of the sentence was intentionally drawn out before coming to an abrupt halt.
Leo’s entire body went stiff. A layer of cold sweat broke out on his back as he bit his lip hard.
Crow Man no longer looked at him, acting as if the threat had never happened. After ‘greeting’ the other students, he returned to the campfire and sat down, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
‘The oracle was not false. The Son of the End we have sought for years actually exists in this world, and he is so close…’
Crow Man closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were tinged with a layer of fanaticism.
‘But there is no rush. Take it slow. There is still a chance for everything…’
Suddenly, Crow Man’s body tensed. He whipped his head around, his gaze piercing a certain direction within the cave as a clear look of suspicion and uncertainty surfaced in his eyes.
“Wait… something is watching this place. It isn’t a magical detection spell, nor is it a prying eye of the Holy Light…”
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