Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 1: Between Heart, Desire, and Hatred, part 5
...—Verena—...
Xavier landed his foot right in front of the Imperial Army's 11th Division Headquarters. Even though it was past midnight, dozens of night duty soldiers were active on guard and patrol. Some of them immediately approached Xavier, warning that he was an intruder. However, that vigilance instantly dissipated as they approached.
“What Commander Nizivia is here?” ask Xavier without further ado.
“No, Commander. Commander Nizivia is not back yet. According to what we heard from colleagues who heard it directly from Vice-Commander Edelweiss, Commander Nizivia will only return the day after dusk.”
“Oh, fine, thanks for the information.” Xavier immediately shot into the air without waiting for the response of the soldiers. He's headed north. If there's nothing in Verena, Nizivia's most likely to her village.
In just three minutes, Xavier was already at his destination. He floated right in the middle of the village ceiling, his red eyes peeking at the detail of every corner of the village. Xavier doesn't know where to find Nizivia in this village. Therefore, his vision must not escape the existence of the girl. Xavier even used [Reverse Law] to make his gaze penetrate the invisible shield—if any.
However, Xavier did not discover Nizivia's whereabouts at all. He even came down and went to the girl's house, but her uncle's answer was negative. Xavier also checked the house, but in fact the uncle did not lie. Nizivia wasn't in her house.
Xavier stepped away with a frowning forehead. If Nizivia doesn't want to see him, the girl can stay away as she senses Xavier's presence. No one can protect themselves from [Complete Sensory] detection. Even if Xavier made his body unfeelable, it had no effect on [Complete Sensory]. It being one of the ten Supreme Magic was not without an obvious reason.
“So, that's what you want..” Xavier muttered in annoyance. “Then what can be done,” he said while on the air. “I'll use my own way.” And Xavier was whizzing away at high speed.
There was no clear purpose in his mind. However, for sure, he knew that he had to be ready to choose one of the two things that were important to him. The feeling inside him was not a crazy assumption, it was purely Xavier's instinct. The thing he was always worried about, it was not impossible that it would happen.
...—Morning | Royal Palace, Evrillia, Elf Kingdom—...
The total explosive runes found to this day are 287 pieces, spread flat outside and inside the city. A total of 118 have been successfully overcome, the rest will be dealt with immediately. As soon as Camelia reported. Evillia believed fully in the woman; she did not need to hear reports from others to verify them. But there was something unusual this morning. Menez has not shown himself at all.
“Except Alstroemeria, you can go,” said Evillia to the ninth Captain of Black Shadow who knelt a dozen steps from the throne, then turned to Camelia. “I've prepared some documents on my desk, leave that to Gefory Lharkantz.”
Camelia nodded. Along with the departure of the eight Captain Black Shadow, Camelia melted into a shadow and seeped into the floor. Their departure left only Alstroemeria and Evillia alone in the Elf Kingdom throne room.
“Your Majesty?” Alstromeria called full question ‒ she was still kneeling on the floor.
Evillia did not respond; she just looked flat at the prettiest elf—of course not according to her— in the entire Elf Kingdom.
If it had to choose one person out of all its citizens as a traitor, it was obvious Evillia would choose that woman. Indeed, he was not suspicious at all. None of his actions are questionable. Like the other elves, Alstroemeria always showed that she did everything for the sake of the kingdom, for the sake of the nation.
However, compared to anything else, Evillia was more trusting of instincts. Moreover, Alstroemeria was recruited by Evana— himself not the previous king. That one fact alone is enough to question the loyalty of Alstroemeria. Indeed, the fact that he killed Evana was not leaked to the public, but it could be that Alstroemeria already knew first.
“Ya,” response Evillia flat. “Last night he went to see you. You should know where Menez is now.”
“Menez said he went to find out more about the Land of Dream,” explained Alstroemeria with his eyes closed. “She didn't tell me first because she thought she'd be back before sunrise soon. However, if he does not return before then, it means that Menez is currently in the Land of Dreams. Menez says he probably won't be back for a few days if he gets stuck there.”
Smooth speech. His expression was not suspicious at all. There's nothing to dispute. Moreover, Menez is strong. Alstroemeria will not be able to defeat him. However, Menez is quite close to Alstroemeria. If Evillia was in the position of the elf and wanted to weaken the Elf Kingdom, it was certain that the first step she had to take was to overcome Menez. If Evillia is in the position of Alstroemeria, he does not need to make extra effort to overcome Menez.
“So, yes...”
However, even though he suspected the woman before him, Evillia had no proof. Of course he could unilaterally deal with it, but Alstroemeria was someone well-respected among the elves. Without clear evidence, the supporters of Alstroemeria certainly will not be silent. Maybe they did something crazy like defected to her. They are currently on the verge of an enemy invasion, it would be unhealthy if until there were such internal problems.
“Captain Alstroemeria,” says Evillia suddenly with a loud volume and firm intonation. “I have an important task for you.”
The two eyebrows of the captain spontaneously intertwined. “What task is it, Your Majesty?” tanyanya.
“I want you to be the gatekeeper of the Great Forest of Amarest for a week. You may bring a maximum of five of your subordinates ‒ the rest of your subordinates are required to help the others find all the explosive runes.”
Alstroemeria's forehead frowned, but she made no comment. Head nodded. “Then excuse me, Your Majesty.”
As Alstromeria's body stepped away, Evillia's eyes peeked intensely at her back. Although there was still no evidence, Evillia was determined to completely get rid of Alstroemeria. If doing so unilaterally poses a risk, the solution is clearly to make the evidence itself. If there is no real evidence, then false evidence is.
Evillia is not at all someone who is reluctant to dirty her hands ‒ she has proven it again and again.
...* * *...
Nizivia opened her eyes reluctantly. He was in the basement of his former home—not far from the house where his uncle lives now. Therefore, it was not the sunlight that made Nizivia's eyes open forcibly, but the ball of light that was in Lumeira's hands.
“We have to go this second as well, Nizivia, Edelweiss and my deputy will still lead the troops as planned. Only, Monica would leave the Elf Kingdom in a few hours. If we delay, we'll lose the chance to kidnap her. If Monica gets to Haikal Headquarters, it's going to be more than just tough. Moreover, Evillia seemed to want to get rid of my spies. Could be the last intel we got.”
Spontaneous Nizivia sat herself down. “Ni-Nizivia will get ready.”
“Alright, I'll wait for you outside.”
...—End of Chapter 1—...