Since the main room in the Red Brigade base was being used, the rest of the elders had gathered in one of the dining rooms. They were sitting at a round table with tea in front of each of them, but it had hardly been touched as the conversations hadn’t died down since the interrogation had started.
“I don’t understand why we are wasting our time!” Elder Targress said. His whole face was shaking as he slammed the table in the same spot over and over again. “There are no other white-haired ones among the Clan, nor among anyone of significance. Only those with no names! We should just get rid of them all, including the kid! It’s too high of a risk for that to happen to the rest of our disciples! Especially if they are from the Demonic faction!”
Elder Targress had been the most vocal about getting rid of Raze without a second thought, and he had every reason to be, since he was Von’s father. With his position in mind, he tried to state points that didn’t make him seem so biased in the situation, even though everyone at the table knew this fact.
“With us having greater power than the normal folk in this town, we have a responsibility not to act so brazen,” Elder Yon replied. “If we go killing people due to one suspect, out of fear for what might happen to us, then we will completely lose the trust of the people, and the situation could turn very sour fast for us.”
Some of the elders nodded in agreement, while the others just turned their heads, placing both hands on the cup in front of them, sipping their tea while mumbling under their breath.
“Can I ask Elder Yon, why are you putting so much trust into these Alters?” Elder Nimpard asked. “Are we to just blindly trust the outcome of their result without running our own investigation? These people are strangers to us.”
“Strangers to you, but not to those in the Dark faction,” Yon answered. “Many in the Dark faction, including Clans much bigger than us, use them. If they can trust them, why can’t we?”
As if to end their conversation, the door was slid open as a Clan member entered the room. He placed both of his hands together, bowing down.
“The Interrogators say they are ready to see you and deliver the result!”
All six of the Elders got up from their seats and started to make their way to the main interrogation room. By their side, there were also six warriors, one of them including Sonny in the group.
As they stepped into the main hall, they could see Raze standing still, cuffed, with two standing by his side.
“We have heard that you have managed to come up with a result?” Yon asked.
“Yes,” Hilly replied. “You will be glad to know that the young boy here is innocent. He was simply a bystander in his family’s death, in fact, a survivor who has been through a lot. As for your disciple, there could be many reasons as to who it was. Another person with white hair, one trying to frame this young man perhaps? But what has happened to your disciple is impossible for this young person to do. We can confirm with certainty, and I will happily put my balls on the line, that this young man is innocent!”
“Balls?” Elder Yon replied, finding the phrasing a bit strange to the point where it made his face blush a little.
“What is this!” Targress stepped up, walking in front of the others. “How can we just believe what they say just like that? Tell me, how did you manage to come to the conclusion that he’s innocent? Where’s the proof?”
“Our methods are not allowed to be exposed,” Charlotte answered, trying to calm down the situation. They had been in a similar scenario before, and it was best that they all cooled their heads.
“Targress, I told you before we must respect the outcome,” Elder Yon stated. “Young Raze, I apologize for suspecting you, and I hope we can leave this matter behind us.”
“Stupid fools,” Himmy said under his breath. “If you want proof of his innocence, then where is the proof of his crimes?”
Targress was shaking all over, his heart beating rapidly at this moment as well.
“No!” Targress proclaimed loudly. “We can’t accept your ruling, and we can’t accept your timidness anymore. With this, I ask for a vote of no confidence in the current head Elder. Those who are in agreement, raise their hand.”
Raze was unsure what was going on, but judging by the look on the other Clan members’ faces, this wasn’t good news at all.
Soon after, four of the elders raised their hands.
“What is the meaning of this? How could you all go against me over a matter like this!” Yon exclaimed, shocked and sweat running down the side of his face. 𝐎𝓥𝐞𝗅xt.𝑪𝑶𝗆
“You put the people before the Clan,” one of the elders mentioned. “In order for us to become a Clan of significance, we need to focus on the world of Pagna warriors, not the general public. You have long become satisfied with our current position, and you no longer have ambition to rise.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” Yon replied. “Do we not live happy lives?”
Judging by the expressions and the votes, next to none of them were in agreement with him.
“You can’t do this!” Yon claimed. “In order to have a vote of no confidence, all previous head Elders that are still alive must also be present.”
Immediately, a smile appeared on Targress’s face.
“Ah yes, just as you said, all previous head Elders that are alive must be present, but I’m sure he will soon be very dead.”
—
At the temple, having reached the top of the staircase, a squad of fifteen Red Brigade Clan members had arrived, swords by their side. They were here on orders and were ready to do what needed to be done.
—
Back in the room, the Clan members were wondering what was taking place.
“It looks like there is a new head Elder. Restrain Elder Yon for the time being, unless you want to be banished from the Clan.”
Drawing their swords, one of them was pointed right under Elder Yon’s neck.
“Are you the bringer of bad luck or something, kid?” Himmy asked. “I mean, betrayal for the head position is a common thing, but why did it have to happen while we were here?”
With the Clan members now doing as he asked, Elder Targress had a smile on his face as he stepped forward and looked at Raze.
“And you, the one who harmed my son!” Targress shifted his feet and crossed the distance of five meters in a moment, lifting Raze up by the scruff of his clothes. Raze had almost forgotten these old men, they were also Pagna warriors.
“I will make you go through a hell that’s far worse than what he’s going through!” Targress smiled, but he noticed that even while lifted off the ground, with his feet dangling, Raze lifted his cuffed hands and pointed them toward his stomach, placing them on his skin.
“You think you can do something in a situation like this? I can tell your heart’s beating fast, kid, you’re scared out of your boots.” Targress was clearly enjoying this.
“Is this a situation where I have permission?” Raze asked, softly.
It was surprising for Himmy; a small smirk appeared across his face.
“I don’t see how else we’re going to get out of this situation.”
With both palms pressed against his stomach, dark aura started to float around his hands.
“Dual Dark Pulse!” Raze shouted.
A ripple of dark aura went off, and the strike had hit Targress right in the stomach. His feet lifted off the ground, and he was chucked across the room, falling on his back and lying on the floor, while Raze landed on his feet.
“That was… it was… Dark magic!” Charlotte said.