Chapter 50: Hidden Motives (1/2)

Roeselawik

Late release 'cause I got sick.

“Hidden motive? What do you mean by that?” Aria asks in confusion.

Zakira raises her eyebrows slightly.

“You don’t understand? I thought you people will already know about this because of the various speculations made by the news channels... about the treaty,” She says.

“Wait, all of that is true!? But the government told us that the treaty is to improve international relations?” Aria says, looking shocked.

Come on, Aria. You seriously believed that?

“Well, isn’t it obvious that they are lying?” Zakira asks while raising her eyebrows further up.

This time, Rebecca speaks up...

“Yes, most people do think that the government is lying. So, does that mean that they really are trying to study the system of students who participated in this year's system ceremony?” Rebecca asks.

“Yes...”

Damn...

“... but not each and every individual,” Zakira says.

“What do you mean by that?” I ask.

“I meant what I said. Not every person who participated in the system ceremony this year will be studied...”

Suddenly, relief spreads inside me... Though I don’t know the reason for it.

Shouldn’t it be good for me if the authorities find out that my system is broken? Wouldn’t they just help me!?

Then why do I feel that I shouldn’t tell them about my system anymore?

Hmm...

“But you are looking for clues related to the disturbances at WST, right? Then isn’t there a risk of skipping some important clues this way?” Aria asks with a frown.

Yeah, that should be the case. One reason for my surprise when I heard of the theory that the government might try to study the systems of everyone who were present at this year's system ceremony, was that how are they going to manage that.

Including all the system-dependent countries, just the sheer number of people should pose a great problem for the government, well, that is, if they do things secretively.

“No, there is not any risk...” Zakira answers Aria.

“... as we have already pinpointed the location from where the disturbances started occurring,” Zakira says lightly.

Everyone gets silent and stare at Zakira with wide eyes.

“Y-You have pinpointed the location... where all this started occurring?” I ask, getting nervous all of a sudden.

Please don’t tell me Zakira is here to arrest me or something.

“Yes, we have. And I guess there should be no doubt as to where that location is?” She asks as her gaze falling on all of us.

“Our city... Clayacre,” Rebecca answers while nodding.

Fuck...

“Correct. And that is the reason why we: the vampires, elves and the beastkins have arrived here earlier than you were expecting us to,” Zakira says.

“And how did you guys find out that it is our city from where the disturbances raised?” Aria asks.

For a split second, I thought Zakira looks a little reluctant to answer but she sounds normal when she speaks...

“Hmm... you know that there was a huge burst of magical energy from WST on the night of the system ceremony, right?

“Well, after some investigation, we founded out the WST is not the only tower that had an energy burst that night. Peculiarly, there was also a secondary system tower, which released magical energy of the exact same signature but of much lesser power to come under the notice of anyone at that time...”

Suddenly, a memory resurfaced into my mind of a room with walls made from black rocks and blue and pink colored veins spreading on it like the roots of a tree. There was a small dome-shaped cave in the middle of that room with its entrance shining pure white with light... and I also remember the extreme pain I felt when I got infused with my system.

“... and after a bit more research, we found out that that secondary tower is in your city,” Zakira finishes explaining.

......

“I-I get why you all are here...but is the mixed race magical tournament is being conducted to study our systems?” Aria asks in a low voice.

I can tell just from the way Aria looks that she is scared from the prospect of her system being studied... like everyone else.

“Well, I won’t say that this is not done to promote friendship between different races as well, but yes... the main purpose of this tournament is to make things easier for us to analyze the magical patterns and the specifications of the system of students,” Zakira answers.