Chapter 723 - 667: The Head of Military Intelligence (1/2)
Four individuals seat in a large circular room, three seated and the last was standing near the one and only door leading inside.
King Isadore Malfront pushed back his long golden hair, slumped on the chair, and let out a long sigh. He had large black bags under his eyes, his complexion looking worse than ever before.
”It's a disaster!” He said, helplessness and puzzlement lingering in his half-opened eyes.
The competition has been postponed longer than expected. It has been two days since the twenty-eight participants passed the fourth trial. Before continuing, Arthur did a thorough inspection of the remaining trials and dispatched the two Mythical Beings and Gutcha around the city. They were to ascertain that no Time Wraiths were lurking nearby, and so far, fortunately, there have been no sightings or attacks.
”The Mirage Era Hall is as empty and soulless as a graveyard. No signs of intruders, no signs of fighting. It's definitely the Time Wraiths' doing.” Said the King as he grit his teeth, clearly infuriated but too physically tired to display his anger.
Dan, the Overgod and Isadore's personal guard, was fixing his oversized straw hat and chewing sum gun without a care in the world.
Lucy and Arthur, on the other hand, wore serious faces and deep frowns. Shu Ru managed to survive but she's still unconscious and expected to remain as such for a while. The abrupt and unanticipated appearance of the Time Wraiths was a shock to everyone, including the MoonStar couple. However, what was more surprising is the fall of the Mirage Era Hall Sect.
Not a soul was left in the sect, everyone seemed to have disappeared into thin air. The treasury was untouched and, in fact, no one from the other sects in the capital noticed the peculiar occurrence. Only when Dan went and checked the sect did this shocking news break out.
”Was it only the Mirage Era Hall?” Asked Arthur even though he already knew the answer.
”Yes. If it was an enemy… an organization, even, then we could've retaliated. But Time Wraiths? Ah damn!”
Isadore kept silent for a brief period then he jerked his head forward and, slightly excited, asked,
”Aren't you two part of Black Rose? Maybe you could find some-”
Before he could finish, sadly, he was interrupted by a stern Arthur.
”No. There were complications between us and them. It's best we don't cross paths with any of the big heads there.”
”Then what do you want me to do about this?” Retorted back the King.
”I don't know. We're not the rulers, you are.”
”Yeah, but at least help me out! All eyes are looking at Green-leaf. With the competition and you two staying here.”
”They can only look. None will dare to act… not even the Holy Dominion.” Coldly said Lucy, snorting and standing up. She didn't even look at Isadore, her body soon vanishing.
”Will you be continuing the competition?” Gingerly asked the young blonde king.
”Of course. I have nothing else to do.”
”What about Astria?”
”What about it?” Spat back Arthur, narrowing his eyes.
”Err- didn't you want to go there? You said your clone is there, right? I thought you're in a hurry.”
”Indeed I am.” Arthur spread his hands and took out a strange object which Isadore recognized as the Magical Warping Device. It is what, back then, Gutcha used to go from The Green-Leaf middle Realm to Astria.
”Its coordinates changed… meaning that it's no longer there. I need to locate it first.”
”And how are you going to do that? Ah- never mind, I forgot that you're good at Spatial Magic too.”
”Well, technically, I'm not the one searching for it.”
…
”Hello.”
Lucy didn't apparate inside the dusty and small room, which was filled with countless books, so much that it was hard to move around.
She knocked thrice then opened the door, softly greeting the bespectacled woman sitting behind a desk, wholly engrossed in reading a thick book.
”Greetings, Madam Lucy.”
Rey, the boy who, in the past, worked along with the Black Magicians, politely and respectfully greeted Lucy, bowing his head and stepping back.
He was no longer a boy, his raven-black hair grew much longer and, thanks to the seed of Dark Magic Arthur had granted him, he became much stronger. He still stuck next to Robin, never leaving her side and dutifully doing his job as a guard.
”Yy-yes, Hello Madam.”
Robin was fl.u.s.tered, trying to stand up and bow but was stopped by a gesture from the silver-haired White Specter.
”Everything's alright?”
Lucy went and sat opposite the black-haired woman, who looked even more tired than poor Isadore.
”Still nothing, madam Lucy. Even with the device Arthur had given me, I couldn't find anything remotely useful. What I can tell, however, is that Astria is no longer in the System's universe.”