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[Allen.)]
Smoky words floated before the door and Allen's face, as harmless as a late spring breeze.
However, the one whose name was called felt a bone-deep chill.
But the Water God Style's information processing speed was swift.
After only a moment of shock, Allen immediately reacted.
'[Locate], target, Roxy!'
The next instant, the smoky words before his face stirred. The previously settled smoky vortex was agitated again by someone far away...
Stirring.
They formed words that floated in the center of his vision.
They did not respond to Allen's request.
Instead, they issued a comment, similar to the evaluations the system gave after each mission.
[Acquiring desire, masking thoughts, hiding intentions, leveraging situations, simultaneously pulling together all desired motives, causing violent fluctuations in the future timeline, minimizing uncontrollable potential threats during action.]
[Using a situation personally crafted, you coerced the Greyrat family of Buena Village and the Boreas family of the Fittoa territory to migrate according to your thoughts and intentions, traveling to the royal capital, once and for all avoiding the Great Teleportation.]
Allen stared intently at the system.
The smoky words, however, continuously returned a 'smile.'
But it was just a fleeting illusion.
It wasn't a smile.
It simply floated gently before Allen, soft, calm, without much emotional fluctuation, trying to tell Allen certain facts.
As they continuously dissipated, wisps of smoke vanished into the air.
[Allen, you have done your utmost to achieve the best possible outcome in the present moment.]
[Very good, maintain it, and believe in yourself.]
[No matter what happens in the future, do not panic, do not suppress, relax a little. It is not advisable to shoulder everything yourself; try to trust your companions.]
[And then...]
[Please remember.]
[You are...]
Allen suddenly roared with his inner voice, instinctively reaching out to grasp the vanishing smoke.
'Wait! Lala!!'
The result was, he grasped empty air.
His fingers shattered the last wisp of smoke, and the last line of words.
[...walking on the right path.]
The smoky words vanished without a trace.
Allen urgently called out the system's location several times, but received no further feedback.
He narrowed his eyes, propping himself against the door, his emotions fluctuating violently.
He hadn't expected affecting the future would not only make Human God go offline, but would also make Lala appear?
No, that's not right. Lala went offline too.
The dissipating smoke... the system panel window... currently looks more like...
...a channel, a manifestation of a channel connecting to the current world.
Human God and Lala, they actually share the same channel?
And it seems that causing changes in the future itself affects the stability of this channel?
The stability of the channel is affected, so the 'gaze,' 'sight,' and 'information' coming from that side are all blocked, manifesting as an 'offline' state.
Why?
Allen rubbed his forehead, his face changing between cloudy and clear as he pondered for a long time. However, because his head was bowed, he saw the sword he was holding.
He was silent for a moment.
He closed his eyes.
He inhaled. He exhaled.
Then he opened his eyes again.
The doubt and surprise in his eyes had vanished.
Was everything the best arrangement...?
Then first, do what needs to be done now.
Creak, the door opened.
Allen stepped into the bedroom, walked along the corridor, turned, went downstairs, and walked along the corridor again.
He stopped in front of the study door.
He tilted his head and looked at the doorknob, then smiled as he pushed the door open.
Inside, by the window, James sat before the table. His usually meticulously groomed hair was a little messy, and the nasolabial folds on his face looked deeper.
He stared blankly at the tabletop.
There was a chessboard there.
An endgame.
The black king and queen remained. Only one rook was broken. The minister was not dead. There were still three pawns.
The white pieces, however, had only a lone king left.
James stared fixedly at it.
The latter, hearing Allen enter, first felt his arm muscles suddenly tense. Then he abruptly reached out and grabbed the king piece in front of him. But then he realized he was showing too much 'weakness,' and forced himself to relax.
He did not look up. He merely said, his voice a little hoarse.
"You're here. Sit."
His weariness was evident. Then footsteps approached, getting closer and closer to his ear, step by step, step by step.
But they didn't go to the opposite side. Instead, they came to stand behind him.
James froze. He was about to look up, but then he saw two letters lightly tossed onto the tabletop.
He instinctively looked over.
Asura's simple royal crest entered James's eyes. For some reason, he felt a stinging sensation in his eyes.
The next instant, a hand reached out from behind, grabbing the king piece in his hand!
James was suddenly startled. He fiercely clutched the chess piece in his hand.
However, the 'usurping' hand actually began to slowly pry his fingers open. James felt a surge of panic in his heart and instinctively used his battle aura to struggle.
Casually, another hand reached into his sight.
Slowly, powerfully, irresistibly, effortlessly...
...prying his fingers open one by one.
James's body began to tremble, sweat beaded on his forehead. He wanted to use his other hand to fight back, but he found his entire body stiff as wood, unable to move.
He could only watch helplessly as his fingers were pried open one by one.
Thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinky finger.
And then, utterly clean, spotless.
The 'king,' a symbol of power, was casually taken by the other party.
He clenched his fist, then released it.
The exquisite chess piece, made from an elephant's tusk, was ground to dust, flowing down through the gaps between his fingers.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The sand-like dust flowed. With a gentle sweep of the wind from the window, it completely vanished from James's sight.
As if it had never existed.
"Time's up, James. I told you, I'd give you ten days, didn't I?"
This voice, which he had heard every day for the past ten days like a nightmare, lightly drifted into James's ear. He felt the oppressive chill at the back of his neck intensify. He abruptly turned to look at the calendar on the table beside him.
—May 10th.
The letter, in his peripheral vision, was picked up by the person behind him, passing before his eyes.
Undoubtedly, it was a letter from the First Prince.
The First Prince, why did he write to Allen? Why did he write to him alone?
Why??
Footsteps sounded again. Allen's back filled his entire vision, gradually shrinking as he walked towards the door.
James's face stiffened, then his entire body trembled violently. He quickly stood up, but knocked the table and chessboard over in the process. He stumbled to Allen's side.
"You... what are you doing! Why aren't you playing chess with me today!! Why?!?"
"Speak! Allen Boreas Greyrat!!"
"What are you doing? Are you going to the First Prince's mansion? What did he write to you in that letter?"
"An invitation? This isn't an invitation! Impossible! The First Prince wouldn't invite you alone to his mansion. I am the head of the Boreas family! Why are you leaving?! Allen!!"
"Why aren't you answering me?! I'm your father! I'm your father!!"
"You want to play chess with me, don't you? Come! Come!! Play your favorite fast chess today! Don't leave!"
"Don't leave! Allen! Don't go! Allen!!"
"Allen!! Don't force me!! Don't force me!!!"
His voice grew higher with each sentence, waves of sound layered upon waves, until finally, it became a frantic roar.
However, Allen completely ignored James throughout. When James grabbed his arm, he even pulled James along as he walked out of the mansion.
His gait was leisurely, his steps seemingly precisely measured, not an inch more, not an inch less.
He descended from the second floor to the first.
He stepped out the main door, watched by the jealous gazes of his 'relatives' in the hall.
He walked into the courtyard.
He passed through the central courtyard.
Finally, he reached the main gate of the Boreas mansion.
He reached out and clung to the railing, intending to open the gate. But James beside him grabbed his hand.
The latter's hair was disheveled, covering his face. He roared hoarsely at Allen.
"The First Prince's letter cannot be an invitation to you!! His Highness wouldn't bypass me to recruit you! What are you doing going out with that letter?? Rebellious son!! Go back!! Play chess with me!!"
However, what answered him was only the narrowed eyes, the faint smile, and the calm words.
"James, don't you understand yet?"
"Whether it's 'fast chess' or 'slow chess,' you cannot beat me."
Creak, the main gate slowly opened. Screech, the unpleasant sound of shoe soles tearing echoed.
Allen actually dragged James, who was surging with battle aura, along with the iron gate itself, from their spot.
The iron bars in his hand twisted and bent, but Allen's movements were unwavering.
Just like his voice, and the 'earnest teachings' he had given every day for the past ten days.
One strike, one strike stabbed into James's heart.
Creak, creak, the iron gate still wailed.
"You can't beat me at chess. It's okay, that's not your fault."
Rip, rip, the soles of his shoes were already worn out.
"The capable rise. That is an eternal truth."
Tear, tear, the iron gate railing was twisted into a pretzel.
"In the future, you can live a leisurely life, playing chess at home, pondering strategies. I can let you, I can also wait for you."
Clang!!!
The iron gate was yanked down by Allen, falling to the ground with James.
The latter looked up at Allen, his face ashen.
Allen stepped out of the gate, tilting his head to look at him.
His lip movements delivered the 'judgment' of the future Boreas family head.
—I'll let you live a few more years. This slow chess, what if you manage to turn the tables?
James, the position of family head, I've taken it first.
Why did he speak with his lips only?
Because outside the gate stood a full circle of nobles. Everyone stared in astonishment at the future head of Boreas, who hadn't stepped out of his house for ten days, and the most outstanding young man of the future.
Today's 'betting banquet' had already opened in the afternoon.
But before the betting was fully set up, the main person had already stepped out of the Boreas mansion's main gate.
Allen gave the nobles a reserved smile, his face bearing the clear innocence characteristic of a young man. He turned and walked away from the crowd.
And James stared blankly at Allen's retreating back. After a long moment, he actually flung the iron gate off himself!
Clang!
He scrambled up from the ground, acting like a madman, roaring at Allen.
"I'll kill you!! I'll kill you!!!"
Before he could even shout a few more words, he was pulled back by the hurriedly running Boreas scions and the butler. His frantic cries faded into the distance.
But they were still clear.
"I'll kill you!!!!!"
"Allen Boreas Greyrat!!!!"
"I'll kill you!!!!!"
The nobles were dumbfounded. Their expressions were incredibly vivid as they watched this farce.
By the time they came to their senses.
Allen's figure had already vanished from the Boreas mansion's main gate.
Outside the crowd.
About ten meters away.
Allen walked forward, along the street, turned a corner, and walked towards the royal palace.
—10:07 AM.
He passed by a commercial street with few shops, but they were exquisite and elegant.
A group of adventurers, all men with blades at their waists, happened to walk out of a weapon shop, laughing as they followed behind Allen.
—10:17 AM.
He passed by the Flower Street, specially designed for the Upper Noble District, with all sorts of colorful attractions.
Some errand boys, who seemed to be buying things for the girls, happened to walk out of a brothel, carrying bundles.
—10:35 AM.
He passed by the aristocratic theater gate in the noble district, where the 'Silver Theater' was located.
Knights in colorful, exaggerated costumes happened to walk out, discussing the play that was about to be performed.
—11:12 AM.
He passed by the exquisite bridge over the Artir River's tributary.
Boatmen, with short knives at their waists, emerged from the boats at the nearby dock, shouting about going to the pleasure district for a good time.
Time continuously flowed.
The random people trailing behind Allen grew more numerous, while the carriages of nobles passing by on the roadside gradually disappeared.
The former group, arriving in small batches from the Adventurer Resettlement Zone over these ten days, sought a 'living' amidst the information asymmetry created by the city walls separating the districts.
The latter group headed towards the 'Boreas Mansion Banquet,' which had been deliberately hyped by interested parties, effectively a street for betting on outcomes. Amidst their agitated emotions, they came to witness the 'excitement.'
And Allen simply smiled as he continued on his way.
As he passed a quiet street, he suddenly took a step and turned into an alleyway.
Seeing this, everyone behind him changed their expressions. They all started running, converging suddenly from all corners of the wide street, rushing towards the alley where Allen was.
One turn!
The leading seven darted into the alleyway, but then abruptly stopped.
In the intelligence, the nobleman who had gained 'false fame' due to the power games of the nobility stood facing them.
His dark gray eyes cast a gaze full of amusement.
'The numbers are about right.'
Cold light drew an arc before him.
The seven assassins from the Adventurer Resettlement Zone stomped their feet, and their figures shot forward.
The next instant, they had only just raised one leg.
A wind, from nowhere, swept across their faces.
Clack.
Allen stomped his foot at the alley's mouth, looking at the corpses close by.
'Looks like the same group.' James didn't agree to Pilemon's and the Second Prince's instigation.
'But, it doesn't matter.'
'This place smells foul.'
Amidst his inner thoughts, footsteps faded.
'It's time to bring some bloody cleansing to this royal capital.'
Behind him, corpses rained down.
Continuously falling.
Splattering blood-colored flowers across the neat alley and street.
This was the trajectory of 'light.'
And before the light.
There were more 'corpses' still fleeing.
Clack! The 'king' on the chessboard crushed the 'knight's' corpse.
Declaring the end of the game.
The Dawn Knights' Order's office residence was a small mansion on the edge of the royal palace.
The reception hall, two people conversing.
—12:23 PM.
Lilfa, the Water Emperor who served as the King's Royal Guard, frowned as he arranged the chess pieces.
"Isn't Asura's luxurious life good? Why do you always want to return to that barren northern land? What good is the Sword Sanctuary to those brainless Sword God Style practitioners?"
By the chessboard, the Golden Sword quietly gleamed.
Sinos was silent, saying nothing.
Lilfa, seeing this, was about to say something else. Suddenly, footsteps sounded from outside the door.
Sinos and Lilfa simultaneously looked up at the main door.
The next instant, the door was suddenly pushed open!
The newcomer was Chermon. His usually composed self was now sweating on his forehead, looking overtly urgent. He didn't even greet them, quickly speaking.
"Martial Uncle! There's been bloodshed in the Upper Noble District—"
Lilfa frowned, interrupting.
"What's the rush? Did you catch anyone?"
Chermon paused, glancing at both Sinos and Lilfa.
His meaning was clear.
The latter two's faces changed dramatically. They both stood up with a whoosh.
Footsteps stirred a sticky sound of water.
The narrow alleyway—seven mutilated corpses.
The street outside—nine mutilated corpses.
The bridge over the river—four mutilated corpses.
The theater entrance—two mutilated corpses.
The commercial street—two mutilated corpses.
The traces on the ground were very clear. Bloody footprints extended forward. The lingering marks clearly told the story of what happened.
—The killer was calm and composed. The victims fled in panic, but were caught and slaughtered, one by one.
However, the corpses didn't look particularly gruesome. Because they had all been cleanly beheaded with a single strike.
Hence, it wasn't overly bloody.
It was just a one-sided massacre.
Sword God Style, the Sword of Light.
Clean execution, above King rank.
A trail of blood extended all the way from the outer street.
It finally reached its end.
The destination was also easy to discern.
Who was the most prestigious Sword King in the royal capital recently?
Clack. Footsteps landed in front of the Boreas mansion's main gate. Sinos's face was extremely grim, while Lilfa's was filled with outrage.
Outside the mansion gate, the nobles stood watching from a distance, their faces pale.
And at the gate, which had been completely pulled off, the Water Kings, their faces utterly pale, stood bewildered, waiting for the Sword Emperors to arrive.
No one was injured.
Because there was simply no time for a fight to break out.
And the situation inside the mansion also made it difficult for everyone to make a proper judgment; they could only wait for someone truly decisive to arrive.
Sinos swept his gaze over everyone. A 'Dawn' knight quickly stepped forward, about to report.
But Lilfa beside him was already walking angrily into the mansion, following the bloody footprints on the ground.
Sinos followed.
The central courtyard wasn't large.
Footsteps following footsteps. In a few strides, the two reached the main door inside the mansion.
On the floor, bloody footprints extended all the way into the reception hall on the first floor.
Lilfa narrowed his eyes. With a flash, he stood at the open doorway.
However, as his foot landed, his body abruptly stiffened.
Sinos, seeing this, gritted his teeth and quickly followed, about to step past Lilfa.
But he, too, froze his movement.
He slowly lowered his raised foot.
His boot touched the ground.
Within his sight, the situation in the reception hall could be seen at a glance:
To the left and right of the long table, the Mistress of Boreas, Boreas's second son, and Boreas's butler sat around the table, their bodies tense.
Hearing footsteps, they all turned to look.
—Everyone's face was bloodless, their expressions bewildered as if they were in a cloud.
At the end of the long table.
At the head seat.
Allen sat, sipping tea. Viscous blood covered half his face. Mist wafted before him.
The tea was still hot.
He looked up at Sinos and Lilfa.
"You're here, Martial Uncles."
"Sit."
Lilfa's forehead twitched. He did not move.
Sinos, however, merely stared blankly at the steaming teapot on the table. His gaze swept along the tabletop.
Candlesticks meticulously crafted by artisans, fragrant spices, red wine from the Milis territory, enamel glass cups reflecting light.
—The noble family's reception table was perfectly arranged; the items were meticulously placed.
The master of the royal capital's Boreas mansion, James Boreas Greyrat, was quietly watching the two.
Right by Allen's hand.
Only a head, placed on the square table.
The severed neck, also very neat.
The placement, also very meticulous.
You see.
The blood, was still warm.
===
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