What is greater than God,
More evil than the Devil,
The poor have it,
The rich need it
and If you eat it, you'll die?
A month later after the Civil War in Eden Kingdom, many people migrated to Drakon. One group led by General Dean Fang occupied Rathir's mansion, for they had the young dukes Lars and Russell in their entourage.
When Russell was brought to his fraternal twin brother, he badly wanted to run away because... Lars apparently has a brother complex!
They were currently in the huge mess hall, preparing to welcome Lea who had been working non-stop with Raize, Victor and the Spirits over the remnants of the Apostles in Eden Kingdom underground.
In the hall, Dean Fang and Kiel Fang sat side by side, while the Paterson's on their right. The King of Eden was also forced to participate, much to his chagrin.
Of course, the twins Russell and Lars sat by each other with the latter trying to dote the former. Russell was wearing a terrible expression, very different from his villainous self when he first showed himself in front of Lea. If there was anything he was afraid of, it was Lars. Despite their brotherly affections for one another, he was incredibly reluctant to reciprocate his brother's abnormal feelings.
There were so many problems about it; First of all, they were siblings! Second of all, they were both men! Even if he transmigrated into this world, he has always been straight. But who can tell him how to abandon his only family...
Either way, many other people were present in the Great Hall and that included Ulla, Ulyssis, Bright, Liam, Leron, Ashe, Yun Na and Imhe (who was lazing around underneath the huge long table, and beside her, Nia was acting like a good lazy dog).
Ulyssis was whispering things into Ulla's ear that only the two of them could hear. Sitting diagonal to them, Bright had a frown lacing his handsome face. "Found your man and no longer talking to me." He pouted, stretching his nostrils like that of a monkey.
Ulla glanced at him but immediately went back to focusing on what Ulyssis was telling her.
Bright could only harrumph. On his left, Yun Na was fearfully staring at Liam throwing his knives in the air like they were nothing. She was so scared one might end up on her head that she couldn't be bothered with anything else. After all, Liam was sitting on her left.
Beside Liam, Ashe was staring at Leron's irritated face, reading his thoughts silently. He had been following behind Kiel's group ever since they were saved from treason, but he did not bother participating in the war. He was not obligated to.
Since his mother was gone, Lea, Victor and Nia were the only ones familiar to him. And from the last contact he had with his mother, he had a feeling he had to help Lea gather Ingrid's fragmented souls. Although he found this job tedious, especially when it has been a long time since one fragment presented itself.
While he was staring at Leron, he suddenly had an idea.
"Hey." Ashe suddenly called to Leron, of which the latter turned his head. Without an answer, Leron simply raised a brow. He was supposed to be a prisoner for all his crimes, but thanks to all the powerful individuals in the room, he couldn't do anything drastically.
Ashe did not mind Leron's attitude. He has lived for far too long to mind such little things, so he said, "I can bring you to your father now if you want."
When Leron heard this, he was so surprised that his eyes grew wide. "...I'm a captive, you know. Are you aware of what you are saying?"
Ashe's expression did not change, merely looking straight at Leron. "Of course I know. But there's hardly any use of you here now. If you wait some more, you'll just rot."
"Why should I agree to you?"
"It's up to you. Just saying, I can get you to your father as you have no more uses here."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Enough questions asked. Talk to those two if you are not deciding anytime soon." Ashe pointed to Ulla and Ulyssis where one can see an epitome of lovebirds.
These two never really cease flirting anywhere and at anytime!
Leron turned to look at the lovebirds, his frown deepening. He was a little reluctant to reconcile with his father as well because it has been far too long. However, the Apostles' was gone, his home was gone and so was his occupation. He became nothing in one night.
He relied on an organization to achieve his aspirations, but where did it get him? Nowhere. Maybe it was indeed time to go back to his father, he must be very old now...
Thinking over and over about his father caused him to feel soft, and eventually decided to approach Ulyssis, the Prince of Felicity Domain. As he called for their attention, he tried to hide his emotions as he said, "Greetings, Prince Tigres and..." He trailed, waiting for Ulla's introduction.
But Ulla merely glanced at him, not bothering to say anything. So it was Ulyssis who replied, "Ulla, my fiance. What can I do for you, Mr Godwind?"
Leron did not mind Ulla's rude attitude because he understood where she was angry at him from. From what he had gathered from staying with them in Eden Kingdom's capital city, Ulla and his father were very close. She was probably mad for all the bad things he's done all these years, causing his father to worry over him so much and burdening his father for all his sins.
His obsession over getting his revenge to the world ended when he saw a glimpse of Eden Kingdom's destruction and the elimination of most Apostles'. These incidents gave him a rude awakening as if slapping him across his face.
He kidnapped people, threw them to become slaves or experimental subjects, and these things were done without remorse borne from the hatred to humanity. However, seeing so many die, he suddenly didn't have the will to do any more killings. He suddenly missed his father who always reminded him to choose another path where he could simply think for himself and smile.
Leron recovered himself from his musing, and replied to Ulyssis, "If I may, would it be possible to leave for my father...?" He looked up at Ulyssis and Ulla worriedly.
When he thought it was Ulyssis who was gonna give him an answer, it was Ulla who said her piece.
"You rude child! Since you were only led astray by the Apostles, you don't have to pay with your life. But I hope you remember all that you've done. Don't you dare forget your sins!" After that, she no longer looked at him, content on staring at the mahogany table.
Leron was called a child for his thoughtless actions, but he was nearing his 30's. He did not mind Ulla's words, he needed to hear some scolding and he welcomed them like he was willing to embrace his father once again.
He regretted going to the wrong path so much.
When Ulyssis noticed Leron's eyes, he knew Leron was feeling guilty, remorseful, regret and everything else that could bring a man to decide against living once again. But he also understood that Leron was not going to kill himself because he still has a father waiting for him out there.
Without bothering with anything else, Ulyssis decreed, "Go."
As soon as Leron heard this, he was so overjoyed that manly tears spilled all over his face. Ulla glanced at him with disgust, but there was also relief in the corner of her eyes. She truly wished the Headmaster can finally be at ease, and stop worrying for his son all the time. He doesn't deserve it.
Then moments later, Ashe disappeared with Leron.
And just as they were gone, Lea and everyone else arrived with several strangers from the Apostles'. Everyone in the mess hall immediately stirred, as if a great king made his presence.
Greetings came in droves to which Lea replied with a simple nod. Her expressionless face still the same, eliciting some intimidation to certain people. Intimidation akin to fear.
Bright immediately brightened up when he saw Lea, he stood up from his seat and run to her side. His face had a smile to dazzling that Raize who was following Lea from behind found very irritating.
Lea turned to Bright and smiled at him softly. "Were you able to calm the children down?" She asked, as if she was asking about their children, but that's just what a few in the mess hall secretly thought.
Bright bobbed his head. "Yes! It was no problem."
She thought so too because Bright was the type of person nobody can really hate, and children would get along with him very well. She quietly stared at him, feeling like he was waiting for something.
Bright still kept staring at her expectantly.
Lea slowly lifted her hand to pat Bright's head, but amidst her action, Raize grabbed her hand.
Bright obviously looked disappointed.
"Raize?" Lea asked, as Raize was not letting go.
He brought down her hand to the side, briefly glancing at Bright before saying: "You don't need to ruffle him like a dog."
At this, Bright looked even more disappointed.
"...Okay. Then I guess I'll have to thank him another way." As Lea said so, her hand swiftly moved to touch Bright's chest.
Slowly, Bright felt warm and peaceful. He looked at Lea in bewilderment, his blue eyes asking her what she was doing. However, she merely smiled at him in kind.
Raize did not stop her this time, merely putting his hands in his pockets as he studied the mess hall. His eyes remained on Kiel for a moment before moving on to the other. Ulla gave him a nod, which he returned in the same manner.
"A-are.. you fixing my core or something? Because I feel different..." Bright slowly said, awe lacing his face. Truth be told, when he was still at Izaya's mansion, he had been training to get used to essence manipulation. But his capability with it was not any good and he ended up cracking his core.
He never told anyone, of course. But because of this, he trained on his martial arts even more but he was really no good at fighting. He couldn't quite bring himself to hurt living things as much as possible.
Lea gave him a nod, slowly explaining. "I didn't think you would need your core functioning anytime soon, but might as well. At the same time, I've left a larger 'tracking string' on you, so the range of which I can detect you can go very far."
Pleased with what he was hearing, Bright's smile deepened. His eyes only reflecting her.
Due to Lea's influence, aside from completely restoring Bright's core, his core enhanced to level 6. Previously, it was merely level 3; just a little above some beasts.
"Are you done?" Raize interrupted.
Bright pouted at Raize's attitude of always interrupting his moments with Lea, even though it was already sparse enough! "We're done!" He answered, glaring at Raize.
The latter merely nod however, completely wasting Bright's little tantrum.
"Then we can begin discussing what these future leaders plan on continents Sabrina and Ingrid." He announced, already serious for the long-awaited discussion.
"Right. Well then, bring the men." Lea ordered, followed by several people wearing the Apostles' uniform. They weren't struggling to free themselves at all; rather, they were forced into silence while unable to move their muscles at will.
Along the line of captives, the Elders were at the end. Their haggard expressions caused some people in the mess hall to let out sharp gasps as if they were looking at dead people, walking and looking as if nothing concerned them at all.
Amongst everyone, the King silently sympathized with the prisoners. His eyes whispering 'You guys must have been handled very harshly by the devil... Poor you... I can totally understand.'
The King's heart clenched when he saw Lea glance at him for a moment; he immediately erased all thoughts in his head, only remaining properly in his seat like a good student he was.
It was soon time to do the big reveal through interrogation. None shall be left unanswered.
"Nothing."