360 The Haughty Crane (1/2)

”I know that affects us both, but I was sadly met with an unfortunate accident…”

Displaying a frown coupled with a bitter smile, I came out of the shadow and shrugged towards the two in black robes.

This act may make it seem like I didn't really care, but that was just how Crane behaved when he interacted with other demon seeds and even demons themselves, that was of course excluding 'his lord'.

”Huh? An accident you say? Did we really have to come up all the way here to find out about this little accident of yours?”

Irritation was apparent on the voice of the black-robed guy on the back as he removed his hood as well, revealing a face full of annoyance.

”Didn't I tell you to watch out already? Shut up! We still haven't heard about this accident for you to complain.”

The scar-faced one on the front shouted out at his partner as he looked at me with an impatient expression, he was obviously demanding an explanation.

”So, Care to explain why the captive we should receive is currently a corpse, Deputy Black Fire?”

Black Fire referred to the moniker of Crane and deputy commander was his rank within the circle of demons and demon seeds, and that was also the current identity that I had impersonated.

Relying on Long's 'Illusion' as well as his 'Elemental Manipulation', I was somewhat able to enact that current situation that would have similarly occurred if I was truly captured, though there were quite a bit of changes due to the lacking material that I currently had.

I was indeed familiar with Crane's personality thanks to the mind search we did, but my ability to duplicate it wasn't perfect. On the other hand, I also had to stand close to the corpse of the clone just to establish a 'Share' and make sure nothing gets screwed up.

With how imperfect everything was, I naturally had to show other subtle actions to make it foolproof, especially with how I was already catching a little hint of doubt from the scar face's words.

”Naturally, but firstly, you should know that this is really out of my hands, you know I would also be in trouble because of this so don't act like this only affects you…”

Acting haughty and asking for recompense was also part of Crane's nature, he was obviously one of the top dogs within the demon seeds so he really acted like it.

”I apologize for acting out of place, Deputy…”

Under the stare of the impatient Scarface, the other black-robed bowed lightly as he apologized.

”That's better. Now then, it's true that I have managed to capture this little pest that threatened the sacred order and was already prepared to hand him over to you as the commander has asked, but I didn't really expect him to commit suicide as soon as he understood the hopeless situation he was in…”

Saying that, I shook my head to show that it was simply out of my hand…

”According to your report to the commander himself, you should have already restrained him well enough for such actions to be futile, yet you are saying the exact opposite of that?”

Doubt was definitely growing within the scar face's eyes…

”That's only what I thought, this guy was definitely a 'Hunter', he even resisted the sacred blessing! That was why I used the Ancient Mark Predator's shackles to confine his mentality, yet he was still able to detonate it somehow! He screamed something like 'glory be to the hunters!' before blowing up his mind space to pieces…”