Pill Hunt (4)

While the city was being policed by the new alliance, one of the alliance's most prominent members, the elder from the Eclair clan, was meeting with the leader of the Array Association and the mayor of Paraj. They sat across from each other with a table laden with a teapot and snacks between them. Both sides had cups of hot tea in hand, but only the elder was taking sips.

"This is good tea. I wonder if the child of my clan is also being treated to it."

The mayor and the association leader already saw this topic coming, but they held back a sigh at how quickly he touched on it.

"Unfortunately, he's still being sedated, so he hasn't had the chance to enjoy tea."

The association leader responded to the elder. He didn't know if the city's current situation was the Eclair clan's plan from the start, but he was sure that the crafty man in front of him would use it to his advantage.

"That really is a pity. To think that on his first trip to the city, such a fate would befall him. Even I've rarely seen someone undergoing qi deviation. It really makes you wonder what a coincidence it was that it happened on that stage."

Unlike Ensen, this elder was obviously experienced with his tongue, proof of his wisdom perhaps. It was a 2-on-1 situation, but in a debate, quality was better than quantity.

"Indeed, we were also surprised. He lunged out so suddenly without any regard for himself or the others onstage. If I wasn't prepared for accidents to occur, the incident could have been much worse."

"I see, then I suppose I should thank you for doing your job. It would have been horrible had you been negligent in your duties."

"Truly. It's a good thing I didn't let prior events bother me enough to disturb my focus."

Their words were clad in subtlety, but in essence the elder was saying that the association leader shouldn't be proud that he did his job while the association leader was criticizing the assassins sent by the Eclair clan for interfering with Emily. Their sharp exchange of words continued until the elder finished the cup of tea, after that, the topic changed to current events.

"Although it's a bit unfortunate, I'll be leaving the city as soon as this matter is sorted out, and I would like to have him back with me when I do so."

"I see no problem with that. I'm even willing to let him go without any gratitude in return if you're in a rush to leave."

"Haha, that's quite the interesting choice of words. Are you saying you won't allow me to reunite with my clan member for some sightseeing before our departure?"

"Of course not. How could I ever seek to hinder such a reunion? However, as much as it pains me to say this, I can't allow such an unstable element to roam freely in the city."

"I second this."

Since they had reached this point, the mayor also entered the conversation. The elder looked at him and gave him a smile that was anything but sincere.

"I see. In that case, I suppose I'll need to wait in the city for his condition to stabilize."

"Are you sure? Doesn't an esteemed figure such as yourself have other matters to attend to?"

"It can't be helped. I'm acting on the current Duke's request you see. He's still cheeky at times, but it's natural to help family."

Meanwhile, the search for the pill had shifted from locating the woman with red hair, to someone similar to her or knew someone like her. A top candidate was the mysterious red woman who saved Emily, so the alliance began investigating her supposed cult, but it didn't go as planned. They were able to find some of its members, but in every case, their target discovered that they had been found and broke out of the incomplete encirclement with a burning hot aura around them that nearly melted the ground.

The cult members called this the blessing of their goddess, and the alliance had to admit that it was quite the bothersome blessing. Sky Realm experts and a few Masters had also tried to capture them, but their perception seemed to be particularly sharp against these powerful figures so they always evaded them. The alliance couldn't help but think that maybe this goddess of theirs was actually aiding them, but their goddess would deny that claim. Her blessing could only be earned by the pure of heart, so it was actually their own abilities that allowed them to use that power. In the first place, her blessing wouldn't activate if she didn't want it to, but there was no one to bring up that point.

Regardless, since capturing her faithful was proving to be difficult, the alliance decided to target the other person connected to her.

It was night at Paraj, and in a certain room of the Myriad Flower Pavilion, a figure was lying on the bed. This room was one of the cheaper options of the inn, so it only came with a bedroom and a bathroom. Though it was still better than common inns, the current occupant of the room didn't seem to like it as there were little personal effects to prove that someone lived here. However, the extra set of eyes that looked at the room thought nothing of it, they were too busy checking for traps. It was odd since they were an intruder, but their eyes failed to conceal the fear inside them.

This intruder silently crept towards the figure, sensitive to the slightest breeze. Their mission was barely half complete once they reached her, but they couldn't wait to get this job over with. They eventually stopped by the bedside and slowly stretched out their hands, with one of them holding a cloth doused in a sleeping drug. There was not a hint of killing intent in their actions, and they had perfectly concealed their presence, but they made sure to hold their breath to erase any chance of getting caught. Unfortunately, their fears had come true long ago.

"Wake up."

With the snap of a finger next to their ear, the intruder suddenly noticed the figure before them become vague before the clear image of a bundle of pillows beneath the bed sheet appeared. Right as they realized what this meant, they felt a pair of fingers dig into their mouth and hold down their tongue.

"Don't resist and don't commit suicide. I'm really getting tired of having to toy around with the souls of all your comrades."

The intruder's training told them that they had to stay calm, but for the first time since they took this position, that training was failing them. They couldn't overcome the feeling of despair that engulfed their body, and they had never beaten their fear of death, so even if they wanted to resist, their body was paralyzed.

"Good. Don't worry, I just want you to do a favour for me, that's all. Do it, and I won't bother you again."

The intruder couldn't speak, but their terrified agreement was conveyed.

"Perfect."

A drop of blood was then placed on the intruder's forehead, before vanishing with the faint image of a crown that appeared.